Who would have predicted that a band that formed three decades ago would be one of the biggest stories in metal in 2011? Or a band that changed singers twice since its previous album, which was released all the way back in 2003? That’s what we have with Anthrax, which welcomed back singer Joey Belladonna, frontman during the band’s most successful years, in 2010 in time for the first Big 4 shows (with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth) and, in September 2011, released its first album with him in 21 years, the phenomenal “Worship Music.” Prior to the launch of the band’s fall tour with fellow thrash veterans Testament and Death Angel, Belladonna checked in with Live Metal’s Greg Maki to talk about his return, the new album and more.
LIVE METAL: Right now, with your return, the new album debuting at number 12 and the Big 4, there seems to be a real buzz around Anthrax like there hasn’t been in a long time. Can you feel that within the band, and if you can, how exciting a time is it for you?
JOEY BELLADONNA: Well, it feels like what we were aiming for long ago. I always thought that we could succeed in some way or another. We were a great band. I think we’re all aiming for the right thing right now. When you get a good rapport off a record, it’s nice to move forward with that in your hands.
Probably the biggest story in metal in quite some time, obviously, is the whole Big 4 thing. Is that something that you thought would ever happen? Several years ago, if someone had said that, would you have believed them?
No. You try not to dictate gearing up for any tour or who wants to do what. Many times, you may think you’d like to do things, but it just doesn’t pan out that way. It’s tough to regulate those plans.
Going back to last year, before you rejoined the band, how did it go down? Who approached you and what did they say?
(Drummer) Charlie (Benante) mentioned that management wanted to speak to me about something, and I took the initiative to call him myself. I figured they had some kind of idea about putting the band together, at least performing something. It was one of those things where we had to take it one step at a time and just see if everybody’s on the same page, and make it work. It’s pretty easy to do if everybody’s looking and thinking in the same direction.
What’s the biggest difference between this reunion and the one that occurred five, six years ago?
Yeah, I don’t know what that one was, really. That just seemed like, let’s go out and play some shows for the fans. Give ‘em a reunion or something. I have no idea. No one seemed to really have any definitive plans.
Going to the new album, “Worship Music,” I think it’s an amazing album, and your performance in particular, I think, is incredible. I know it came together in an unconventional way. How did your process of working go? Did you hear the songs as they were completed before with the original vocals or did they just give you the music and let you go?
Before we went out, I got to hear some of the songs—maybe five songs. We were doing “Fight ‘Em” live, so we kind of had an idea how to do that. That one, of course, became a full song and finished, so that one came together pretty easy.
For me, I just heard some of the stuff, then I walked away from it after the tour for a little bit and had some time at the house just to mess around with it. Mainly, me and Jay Ruston, the producer, picked a 12- to 13-day period, and they were spread out over a couple months. We just walked in, me and him alone, just kind of put the headphones on, printed up the words and took it song by song. It was kind of like “Spreading the Disease” almost. Just kind of walked in—I think I was a little bit more familiar with a little bit of the songs this time around because back then I had no idea what I was doing.
It works good for me. I don’t have a problem with it that way because it’s like if me and you were in a room, we would come up with a riff, start making some good vocal ideas and start hammering away at it. Of course, I have the lyrics in front of me, so I can just go with it from there. Jay and me worked together great. There was no one around. It was a nice, mellow, less stress—some people are there sometimes, you just feel like you’re trying to entertain, impress or something. Or you get impatient because they’re sitting and you’re working—it’s a weird thing. I think that was one of the cool things: I didn’t have to worry about that.
Your voice is pretty unmistakable, so obviously your stamp is on all of these songs. But are there any where there are things you did that really helped you make the song your own more than others?
I have to take whatever key the song gives me, and I have to really just do my best with it. There’s really not a lot of room to finagle the actual song or arrangement itself. So I just have to do my best with what’s handed to me. Sometimes, you get lyrics that might be a tight squeeze, and you might move one or leave one out. But nothing major. I kind of left everything as it was handed to me. Of course, then I have to come up with my own flow, my own key and my own twists and turns for how to make the song work for me vocally in the key. But nothing unusual.
What kinds of things, if any, over the years, have you done to take care of and maintain your voice? If anything, on this album, it sounds stronger than it ever has.
I just think I took the album and I went for it a little bit more appropriate than what the songs were calling for. I didn’t really have any other preparation, so to speak. Since I left, I’ve been doing less heavier stuff by far than Anthrax stuff, so I don’t know if there’s any certain training or any kind of preference for me. I guess I just heard the songs and that’s how they came out. I had no idea what I was even going to sound like myself. Prior to that, I really didn’t do a lot of originals to get the idea of where I really sit with a band.
Since you’ve been back, you’ve performed the song “Only” in concert. I was curious if there were any other songs from that era that you are interested in performing live, or if you prefer to stick to the songs that you helped create.
I obviously prefer whatever I’ve done before, because it just seems like anything I do other than what I’ve sang on seems like you have the spotlight on you to find out if you’re gonna cover it right or if you’re gonna get the range—all these comparisons. To me, it wears me out. I try not to worry about it, I really don’t worry about it, but it’s still in the air. Then I could have those guys prepping me in a weird way, like you’re being coached or some shit. I’ve got enough going on with my own stuff, and I feel much more comfortable with what I’ve done. I don’t have any problems singing the stuff. I almost, at one point, had four or five that I may have done. We just never got around to it. I’m not saying the music isn’t fitting. There’s a lot of good songs. It’s just too bad that you’ve got to do someone else’s approach.
During the time you were not in the band, how closely did you follow what they were doing?
I had plenty ideas of what they’ve done. I heard a record here and there. I don’t think I’ve heard every record solidly through in a sitting. I’ve heard a lot of songs randomly. I’ve seen some of the touring, saw some footage and stuff. I didn’t get too far involved, but I got enough information on what they were doing.
You’ve got the tour coming up this fall with Testament and Death Angel. For thrash fans, that’s quite a tour. Are you looking forward to that?
Yeah, that’s gonna be fun. Just getting geared up for it now. The venues seem to be suited for a nice, tight sound. It’s gonna be fun. We’ll have a lot of laughs, and I think it’s gonna be really great nights.
You’ve also continued to play some solo shows this year. Is there another album in the works anytime soon?
I have material that’s quite interesting, really. It’s cool. I dug everything I’ve been doing. I just haven’t had time with everyone’s schedule for whoever needs to be on it to get in and fool around with any of it. Then I get sidetracked doing the cover band I play in on the weekends, doing drumming and singing. I do all classic stuff. People always wander off into other things, so no one ever seems to get anything done. Then, of course, Anthrax came in, and I really want to make sure I put most of my time into that. I’ve never stopped doing all these, but we never really seem to put enough time into it to wrap anything up. I guess it’s OK. It’s never rushed. You can sit and listen to a few things, and decide if songs are decent. I love doing stuff on my own because it’s always challenging, you feel creative, and I don’t have a lot of people telling me I can’t do that or that’s not gonna work—that kind of stuff. It’s a little bit more mellow, not that that’s right or wrong.
Is there any sort of long-term plan for Anthrax now, or are you just kind of taking things as they come?
I’m hoping to strap in and do this thing like we used to do it. Let’s stop shuffling the cards around, and let’s do this. I think if we put our face first here, I think we can make something happen. This is too good to watch it kind of sputter. I don’t think it’s going to. I think it’s going to rock as much as it can.
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