Joey Belladonna Rejoins Anthrax

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Former Vocalist Joey Belladonna Rejoins Anthrax

posted May 10, 2010 at 11:49 AM by Diamond Oz. (55 Comments)

American thrash metal legends Anthrax have surprised their fans by announcing that former lead singer Joey Belladonna, who sang for the band between 1985 and 1992, and once again during 2005 to 2007, has offically rejoined the band, putting to rest the expectation that John Bush was going to become a full time member once again.

"I am super excited about this," said guitarist Scott Ian. "Joey and the rest of the band came to see me play at a club in New York, I hadn't seen Joey for years, since the end of the reunion tour. Joey taps me on the shoulder, instant big hug, it felt like no time had gone by. The band dynamic is an interesting one - in Anthrax, Joey and I spent so many years of our lives together, we grew up together, we know each other so well, so it was like no time was lost. We've got an unusual luxury of hindsight. We finished an album a year ago, we've lived with those 12 songs since then, and we can look back on them and see what we really love and what we can make even better, especially with Joey back in the fold."

Belladonna added: "I had been in touch with Charlie and Frank, then I got a call from their manager who said that everyone wanted me back in the band. I thought, 'are you guys for real? You want me up there, fronting the band like it was before?' I was thrilled. We've already started to reconnect with the old ways of having conversations. Everything is easy going and feels really good."

"We're going to do these summer shows and gel as a band," explained Charlie Benante, "get comfortable playing with each other again, and the energy from that should go right into making new music."

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55 Comments on "Joey Belladonna Rejoins Anthrax"

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1. Diamond Oz writes:

I knew I should have gone to Sonisphere last year...

# May 10, 2010 @ 11:52 AM ET | IP Logged

2. Jay3730 writes:

I'm going to the Switzerland stop for Sonisphere and the Big Four tour this year. :) David Ellefson rejoining Megadeth and now Joey rejoining Anthrax, it will be an awesome show no doubt.

# May 10, 2010 @ 12:08 PM ET | IP Logged

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3. DeathCrush writes:

THis is big news. Joey Belladonna is anthrax! Cannot wait to see them

# May 10, 2010 @ 12:11 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

4. heavyhepp writes:

Yes this is great news. I always like belladonna era the best. Bush is a great singer too though.

# May 10, 2010 @ 12:30 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

5. Blindgreed1 writes:

Joey aint what he used to be... Sorry Oz...

# May 10, 2010 @ 12:48 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior News Correspondent

6. Diamond Oz writes:

I meant I should have gone to Sonisphere last year because John Bush was singing then. I saw Anthrax with Belladonna in 2005 and while the band was great, Belladonna... wasn't.

# May 10, 2010 @ 1:02 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

7. BodomFan writes:

personally i think they should have gone with John Bush, he was always my favorite Anthrax singer. Joey's just...well, he sounds kinda crappy live. oh well, just have to make do with the new Armored Saint album

# May 10, 2010 @ 1:12 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

8. ThrashattheHeart writes:

This is the greatest thing ever!!!! One of the best vocalistis ever rejoins one of the best bands ever. I hope they tour soon, that'd be one sick show.

# May 10, 2010 @ 2:07 PM ET | IP Logged

9. Dyingfetus69 writes:

They were okay in the 80's, however most overrated thrash band ever.

# May 10, 2010 @ 2:09 PM ET | IP Logged

10. travlow1 writes:

^^^^Whatever. Anyways I like both Joey and John. Would prefer John over Joey but should be good either way. I'm just glad there still around. Keep rockin'

# May 10, 2010 @ 2:14 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

11. IrishMetal writes:

Haven't seen Joey, but saw John at Graspop, and the dude had a fvckin powerful voice.

# May 10, 2010 @ 2:20 PM ET | IP Logged

12. duncan hills writes:

met anthrax at soni last year with bush... hopefully this time with joey! what a f***ing amazing turn of events!!

# May 10, 2010 @ 2:52 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

13. KMADD writes:

Man im stoked rather he sounds sloppy or not i dont care i have yet to see a belladonna fronted anthrax and i will drive to chicago, louisville, St Louis fukk even Milwaukee to see this shiit!!!!

# May 10, 2010 @ 3:18 PM ET | IP Logged

14. Finally 73 writes:

Well its great to hear Joey is back. Loved the reunion dvd. Sure his voice isn't what it used to be but Anthrax belongs with this line-up. Bush is a great vocalist but out of the 4 studio albums he did with them, Only the sound of white noise stands the test of time......the others were just rebuish. 'Nuff said

# May 10, 2010 @ 3:41 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

15. ...thomas writes:

they should have stuck with bush

# May 10, 2010 @ 4:46 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

16. wilco writes:

think john is busy with his own band
love that joey is back
yeah i know he is getting older but maybe now anthrax get their sh** in order now

did see him on the reunion tour and did like them live

# May 10, 2010 @ 6:32 PM ET | IP Logged

17. death metal jim writes:

Those guys are stupid he will be fired in six months!

# May 10, 2010 @ 7:08 PM ET | IP Logged

18. ZT* writes:

can these idiots just get their sh** together already? f***ing christ....

# May 10, 2010 @ 7:13 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

19. deathfreak writes:

Ehh.... Bush was better.

# May 10, 2010 @ 10:54 PM ET | IP Logged

20. Morgan_55 writes:

This is great. Get ready for the Big Four.

# May 10, 2010 @ 11:49 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

21. HeadbangerHippy writes:

Weird, I thought Bush was with them over the summer shows... Oh well, not complaining, I can't go to the shows, and I like both vocalists quite a bit. I enjoy the Belladonna wtritten material, but singing wise both get my vote. I wanna see this new album get released though!

# May 11, 2010 @ 12:21 AM ET | IP Logged

22. Broken Glass writes:

Sigh, whatever. Joey will be on the outs in a couple months. I mean Christ, they've been sitting on unreleasable album for like a year now, and all they managed to do is cycle through their list of singers one more time. SSDD with this band.

# May 11, 2010 @ 12:24 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

23. Jackrum writes:

Like Oz i saw Anthrax in 2005, Belladonna wasnt great and the bnd was lacking in the kind of aggressive vocals that John bush brought to them

# May 11, 2010 @ 2:40 AM ET | IP Logged

24. Metal in my Blood writes:

I saw an episode of "That Metal Show" and Scott Ian was the guest and they asked him who was the true singer of Anthrax and he said Bush was. Man I wish these guys would make up their minds!!!!! I don't know if I should get excited about this because in about a day or so they're going to announce that they kicked out Belladonna and got John Bush back!!!

# May 11, 2010 @ 12:29 PM ET | IP Logged

25. RTB writes:

18^ LOL
Never a huge anthrax fan, but thought bush in his prime was a tad bit better.....
Hated the rap duet with PE...ughhh

# May 11, 2010 @ 12:49 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

26. ThrashattheHeart writes:

Look at it this way, now we have Joey in Anthrax and John in Armoured Saint fulltime... I think thats pretty great.

# May 11, 2010 @ 2:14 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

27. Blindgreed1 writes:

It just hit me. Belladonna translates from Italian to "attractive woman" in English. They chose attractive over Bush. lol.

# May 11, 2010 @ 4:29 PM ET | IP Logged

28. !Nailgun! writes:

I love Joey era of Anthrax. I loved Sound of White Noise with John Bush. Everything after that was downhill. I just wish they would make up the minds who they want to sing for them.

# May 11, 2010 @ 4:57 PM ET | IP Logged

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29. Demise writes:

there's only one kind of bad bush its the kind with George in front of it :O

# May 11, 2010 @ 6:48 PM ET | IP Logged

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30. OlafBerzerker writes:

id rather see SOD get it going again. ....... Bush is a beauty while belladona just sang on the better Anthrax albums. By the time Scott Not and co got to the bush they were already flaccid.

# May 11, 2010 @ 10:32 PM ET | IP Logged

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31. xDecapitation writes:

Oh my...

~ c==3

# May 11, 2010 @ 11:49 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

32. WOLF7 writes:

I can see... THE FUTURE!

August 1, 2010:
Anthrax parts ways with Joey Belladonna

# May 12, 2010 @ 3:30 AM ET | IP Logged

33. ??? writes:

this is f***ing amazing, joey is agreat singer its good to see hes back

# May 12, 2010 @ 10:35 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

34. Hammerheart writes:

It doesn't matter to me, as long as it's either John Bush or Joey Belladonna on vocals; I love 'em both.

# May 12, 2010 @ 12:34 PM ET | IP Logged

35. duncan hills writes:

#27 YES MATE haha brilliant.
bush is better but he's just not anthrax. bush didn't give us all their classics, joey did.
while bush may be a better singer let him stick with armored saint. belladonna is the classic thrax singer.
i personally think dio is a better singer than ozzy but ozzy is the classic sabbath singer.

# May 12, 2010 @ 2:07 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

36. deathbringer writes:

Mr. John Aragon, you can stop spamming the comments now. Not a single one of your links will be posted.

# May 13, 2010 @ 11:02 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

37. metalgod666 writes:

good for you joey

# May 13, 2010 @ 4:42 PM ET | IP Logged

38. ZT* writes:

"id rather see SOD get it going again"

Ha, sorry dude, SOD are dead and buried.

# May 13, 2010 @ 10:02 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

39. Rubyred writes:

All the best to the legendary ANTHRAX musicians Belladonna (cool name) and Ian with their band Reunion and new album. cheers!

# May 13, 2010 @ 10:47 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

40. Ricks writes:

Waiting for new album still...

# May 14, 2010 @ 11:02 AM ET | IP Logged

41. fistfull of metal! writes:

It doesn't matter about these tour dates to me cuz I can't go all I care about uf iif the new album ever comes out

# May 14, 2010 @ 8:49 PM ET | IP Logged

42. Spine writes:

Oh Crap, Belladona just doesnt cut it. John Bush is the man. Dissapointed, glad I just saw them with Bush.

# May 15, 2010 @ 4:26 AM ET | IP Logged

43. mr.kickass writes:

kickass..

# May 15, 2010 @ 12:58 PM ET | IP Logged

44. fistful of metal writes:

no doubt bush is better but joey is anthrax, it was a different band with bush much like sabbath was different with dio but dio was a better singer. but none of it matters if they dont put out an album anytime soon, maybe scott ian should be the new singer

# May 15, 2010 @ 11:41 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

45. MetalBro4Life writes:

This is f***ing lame! And Dio just died! f*** this, I'm getting out of metal!

# May 16, 2010 @ 1:56 AM ET | IP Logged

46. MetalUndergroundSux writes:

They are doing dates, and that is all. They do not even like each other and the reunion was not even very successful. AND Dio is NOT dead. Do 10 seconds of online research instead of just believing whatever is posted on a site like this.

# May 16, 2010 @ 11:45 AM ET | IP Logged

47. AJ Kivett writes:

YES! Joey was my favorite singer for Anthrax. They need to tour and come here! \m/(O_O)\m/

# May 16, 2010 @ 3:27 PM ET | IP Logged

48. metal fan writes:

I also saw them with Joey back in 05-07 and he wasnt bad at all...He IS the voice of Anthrax and Im sure there was a lot of pressure for them to have Joey back for the BIG FOUR tour because John is good, but the tour is celebrating the original four, and for Anthrax , they needed Joey to be relevant...Im glad he is back !

# May 16, 2010 @ 8:38 PM ET | IP Logged

49. slimelord writes:

yeah joey came back because metallica offered each band 20% more payment if they got their original members back for the event.

# May 16, 2010 @ 8:57 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

50. WOLF7 writes:

Ok, I agree it's great Joey's back, but this is not going to last. As simple as that. He's out of the band before the end of the year, just like before

# May 17, 2010 @ 4:49 AM ET | IP Logged

51. Lenman writes:

This is good for Amored Saint fans maybe they will tour now that John has no other gig to worry about. I would rather see Amored Saint over Anthrax any day. I have seen them both and Amored Saint live blows Anthrax away.

# May 17, 2010 @ 5:34 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

52. killernofiller writes:

WHY? When you've got John Bush, why let The Poodle back in? Makes no f*cking sense to me. To each their own, I know alot of people prefer the Belladonna incarnation of 'thrax, but I always thought Bush was better by light years...live AND on record.

# May 18, 2010 @ 7:22 PM ET | IP Logged

53. Mr. Undead writes:

As must as I hate to say this... After all these years of following this band... I think they need to call it a day. I met them... I saw them play... They are great! I think Bush is the better singer out of them all. Even on the "Old Songs". He sounds better than Joey. But within 2 years they have 3 singers. Hell, just have guest singers at every show. Have fans come up on stage and sing... It's more drama than a soap opera.

# May 19, 2010 @ 11:26 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

54. Reverend_Averatu writes:

So he rejoined, until he throws a tantrum or breaks a nail. Bring back the BUSH. 'Stomp 442' and 'Sound of white noise' kick a$$ without the screaching balls in a vice gayness.

# May 22, 2010 @ 8:00 AM ET | IP Logged

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55. Reverend_Averatu writes:

@Dyingfetus69. Metallica are the most over rated thrash band of all time. We call them Metali-kaka. A thrash band HAS TO HAVE a good drummer, Anthrax has Charley, even Hammet eluded that Ulrich sux.

# May 22, 2010 @ 8:09 AM ET | IP Logged

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Former Vocalist Joey Belladonna Rejoins Anthrax

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