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Tom Hunting
Hunting performing with Exodus in 2018
Background information
Born	(1965-04-10) April 10, 1965 (age 59)
Genres	Thrash metal
Occupation	Drummer
Years active	1979–present
Member of	Exodus

Thomas Hunting (born April 10, 1965) is an American musician. He is the drummer and only remaining original member of the thrash metal band Exodus.

Career

Hunting is the only original member of Exodus left, although he departed from the band on two occasions. He first left the band due to an illness in 1989 and was replaced by John Tempesta, but returned in 1997 with Paul Baloff, Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt, and new bassist Jack Gibson for the Another Lesson in Violence tour. Hunting (along with Steve "Zetro" Souza, and Rick Hunolt) once again left Exodus in 2005, and was replaced with drummer Paul Bostaph, who had left Slayer when Dave Lombardo rejoined the band. Later, in 2007, Hunting rejoined the band when Bostaph left to rejoin Testament. He has said that he is great friends with Bostaph.

Hunting has played on played on eight out of eleven of Exodus' studio albums: Bonded by Blood (1985), Pleasures of the Flesh (1987), Fabulous Disaster (1989), Tempo of the Damned (2004), The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A (2007), Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010), Blood In, Blood Out (2014) and Persona Non Grata (2021). He also appeared on the 2008 album Let There Be Blood, which is a re-recording of the entire Bonded by Blood album.

Hunting has cited Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Keith Moon of The Who, Neil Peart of Rush, Michael Derosier of Heart, and Clive Burr of Iron Maiden as his main influences.

Health

In February 2021, Hunting was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach. On April 13, three days after his 56th birthday, he revealed his diagnosis. A week later, Exodus launched a GoFundMe campaign, which passed the $80,000 mark in less than a week, with Metallica guitarist and former bandmate Kirk Hammett donating $5,000, and Fozzy vocalist and professional wrestler Chris Jericho donating among others. On May 20, Steve "Zetro" Souza said that Hunting was fairing well in his cancer treatment.

Hunting underwent a successful total gastrectomy on July 12, less than five months after starting the treatment process. He said that he had four rounds of chemotherapy and that the cancer shrunk to less than half the size it was in March, and would have four more treatments before resuming his activities. On July 26, Gary Holt declared Hunting cancer free; however, Hunting clarified that despite being told that everything was removed from his stomach, he said that it was "presumptuous" to say cancer free before being scheduled for four more outro chemo treatments and a scan to show that he no longer lives with cancer. Holt acknowledged his previous statement by saying that he may have in his excitement "jumped the gun", but expressed optimism towards Hunting's progress in his recovery.

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Biography: Exodus". Allmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
2. "Tom Hunting (Exodus)".
3. "Blowin' Wind with Exodus' Tom Hunting: "I don't think we're going to tap out any time real soon but I don't see myself being 56 and playing "Bonded by Blood.""". April 26, 2013.
4. "EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING Diagnosed With Squamous Cell Carcinoma". Blabbermouth.net. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
5. Hartmann, Graham. "Exodus Launch GoFundMe for Tom Hunting's Cancer Battle". Loudwire. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
6. "EXODUS DRUMMER TOM HUNTING GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES RAISES $80,000 IN LESS THAN A WEEK – "I'M OVERCOME WITH GRATITUDE AND EMOTION FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT"". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
7. Trapp, Philip. "Exodus Drummer Tom Hunting 'Doing Really Good' in Cancer Update". Loudwire. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
8. Peters, Daniel. "Exodus drummer Tom Hunting to undergo full gastrectomy for cancer treatment". NME. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
9. "EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING Undergoes Successful Total Gastrectomy". Blabbermouth.net. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
10. "EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING Is Now Cancer Free". Blabbermouth.net. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
11. "EXODUS Drummer TOM HUNTING: 'It's Presumptuous To Say' I Am 'Cancer Free At This Point'". Blabbermouth.net. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.

• Living people
• American heavy metal drummers
• Exodus (American band) members
• 1965 births
• 20th-century American drummers
• American male drummers
• 20th-century American male musicians
• Angel Witch members