What might appear an not likely pairing to maximum, is a fit made to reserve for Steven “Zetro” Souza. The Dublin, California local and lead singer of heavy steel band, Exodus may just now not be happier with calling the 95361 “house.”
An avid Harley rider, Souza first came about upon the Central Valley whilst out on rides with some friends.
“We might trip bikes anyplace. So this man tells me there’s this position in Riverbank known as Flavors and the costs are such a lot inexpensive than they’re within the Bay Space,” he shared of the well known Riverbank dispensary.
Like many that’ve grown up within the Bay Space and are saddened by means of the expansion there, Souza shared there have been many stuff about Oakdale that drew him to buy a house right here.
“There’s no Walmarts right here. There’s no Goals right here,” he stated. “I’m now not essentially known. We’ve had a pair instances; it occurs but it surely’s now not overly so. I’m very approachable to any of the fanatics.”
The heavy steel artist additional famous that once he was once rising up in Dublin, the inhabitants was once 11,000 as opposed to the 70,000 residing there now.
And whilst he will not be as massively known in his new ‘fatherland’ of Oakdale, Souza shared with regards to 40 years later, he nonetheless appreciates the fanatics of the band’s track.
“I all the time be sure that an enjoy with me isn’t a foul enjoy,” he stated of assembly fanatics. “I attempt to pay attention to what everyone has to mention and simply be cool with it.”
Whilst he’s recognized all through the heavy steel scene, Souza stated his love of track began on the younger age of 8 when his father purchased him Led Zeppelin’s album ‘IV.’
“You understand how you suppose that positive folks had been made to do positive issues? And I utterly imagine in that, truthfully,” he stated of his love and profession within the track business. “I all the time had it in me.”
Describing his father as a biker who listened to Black Sabbath, the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin within the storage, he stated that was once the track that contributed to shaping him.
“So I were given into that and I all the time listened to the heavier stuff,” Souza stated, noting that all through that point artists similar to David Bowie, Alice Cooper and Kiss had been thought to be “acid rock.”
Creating a profession of track would turn out to be what he liked maximum, beginning with a band by means of the identify of Legacy.
Over the process simply shy of the previous 40 years, “Zetro” Souza has carried out with a couple of bands, but maximum of his albums and excursions had been with Exodus. After a short lived damage Exodus were given again in combination in 2002.
“My investments had been other at this level,” Souza stated, sharing that with a spouse and 3 youngsters to give a boost to, he had joined the Carpenters Union within the East Bay. It was once a industry which got here with just right pay, stable paintings and a retirement plan.
As success would have it, for a short lived stint of 2 years, the rock-n-roller was once in a position to play with Exodus whilst keeping up his process as a chippie.
“It gave the impression each and every time I went on excursion, I got here house with much less cash than if I labored. I had a good financial savings account and it was once getting depleted,” he shared.
In 2004 “Zetro” returned to being Steven Souza, husband, father and chippie. However then in 2014 the album, Blood In, Blood Out demo’d and he returned because the lead singer of Exodus.
“I even instructed my boss, stay my gear heat for 6 months. My final episode with those guys become a monetary nightmare for me and I don’t need that,” he shared. “Then after the primary excursion we did, I used to be like … They realized the best way to become profitable.”
Now 10 years later, Souza continues to excursion with Exodus and can go back to the studio to document one thing new later this spring.
“What I do, is I will be able to do that so long as I will be able to do that, as a result of I’m nonetheless just right,” he stated, sharing he works at now not simplest staying in form, however staying wholesome and dealing at his craft steadily. “Track is without end. So long as Exodus remains to be hanging out just right stuff, there’s going to be an target market for that. Therefore the Stones, therefore the Who, therefore whoever. We’re nonetheless sporting it; we will nonetheless ship so it doesn’t topic.”
The longtime musician stated a headlining efficiency of 1 hour, fifteen to 1 hour, twenty mins of heavy steel track, is not like the rest. Describing coming off degree coated in sweat from the depth of the track and what they offer to the group.
“The entire spirit of rock ‘n roll is more or less lowered,” he stated. “Heavy steel hasn’t ever misplaced that. Heavy steel track is so, the group turns into as a lot part of the display because the band is.”
Prior to every efficiency he is going over the expectancies of the steel display with the group.
“You animals, and I see ya. Any person is going down, select ‘em up,” Souza shared of what he says to every crowd. “Any person will get hit and feels woozy, lend a hand ‘em out. We’re all on this in combination. Everyone wanna crowd surf, ya we adore ‘em. Those guys up right here, those safety guys, they want one thing to do. Once they’re coming over, give them one thing to do, however make certain everyone lands as it should be and no person’s crushing any one’s heads over right here. Are all of us just right? Are we able to proceed the violence? … and I do this each and every evening.”
For now, it one thing that also works smartly for him.
“I suppose when I will be able to’t do it at that stage anymore, I suppose I’ll have the ability to inform myself truthfully. I’m going to be 60 and I’m killing it now higher than I’ve ever killed it,” he confided.
But when he’s now not traveling, “Zetro” is maximum glad in his Oakdale house.
“I’ve been sitting in visitors since I used to be 16 years outdated and I’m finished with it,” he stated. “Since I don’t have to head anyplace, I’m cool right here. I’m at ease right here.”
He admitted when now not at the street, he enjoys peace and quiet and now not having a large number of folks round him.
“I really like this house. It’s very cool and laid again.”
