Charles Billy (born June 23, 1962) is an American singer who is best known as the lead vocalist for thrash metal band Testament. Formed in the 1980s, Testament has become one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene. Billy joined the band in 1986, and he and guitarist Eric Peterson are the only members to appear on all of their fourteen studio albums.
Although Testament's lineup has changed over the years, Billy is one of the two constant members of the band along with guitarist and founder Eric Peterson; they are the only two members of Testament to appear on all of the band's studio albums.
Work outside of Testament
Prior to Legacy and Testament, Billy was the vocalist for a local metal band called Guilt which also featured future Hericane Alice and Medicine Wheel guitarist Danny Gill. No records by the band exist but they recorded one demo in 1984 and contributed the song "Down to the City" to the U.S. Metal Vol. IV compilation on Shrapnel Records. He also played in high school bands.
Billy has also appeared on the solo projects of James Murphy, playing on both albums as a guest musician.
In 2006, Billy provided vocals on the Sadus song "Crazy" and, along with several other musicians from other bands, did a cover of Iron Maiden's "Fear of the Dark" for their Numbers from the Beast tribute album. On Light This City's 2008 release, Stormchaser, he provides vocals on the song "Firehaven."
He also joined with musicians including his brothers Eddie and Andy Billy, Steve Souza, Greg Bustamante, Steve Robello, Dan Cunningham, Willy Lange to form the band Dublin Death Patrol.
In 2008, Billy was featured as a guest vocalist on "Firehaven" from the album Stormchaser by the Bay Area San Francisco band, Light This City.
In 2014, Billy provided guest vocals on the song "Trend Killer" on Swedish melodeath band The Haunted's album Exit Wounds.
In 2014, Billy appeared on fellow thrash metal band Exodus's Blood In, Blood Out and provided guest vocals on the track "BTK." He had previously filled in Zetro on vocals for Exodus' performance on October 28, 2004, at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, where the band opened for Megadeth.
In 2015, Billy appeared on Metal Allegiance's self-titled album and provided featured vocals on the track "Can't Kill the Devil."[11]
In 2021, Billy provided additional voices for the Disney+ television series "What If...?", part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[13]
In 2022, Billy appeared on the Matt Heafy song "Behold Our Power".[14]
In 2022, Billy appeared on deathcore band Shadow of Intent's song "Blood in the Sands of Time" from their Elegy album which was released on January 14.[15]
In an August 2021 interview on The Jasta Show, Billy revealed that he might release a solo album in the future and hinted that its musical direction would be different from the traditional thrash metal style of Testament.[16]
Billy's vocal style has changed considerably over the years from a clear, high-pitched thrash style to a lower register approaching a death grunt. Since the Low album, he has mixed both styles, sometimes within the same song.[17]
Awards and honors
In 2013, California State Assemblyman Jim Frazier honored Billy on the State Assembly floor for his positive influence on the Native American community.[18]
Billy was born to a Native American father and a Mexican mother.[21] He is of the Pomo Native Americans,[22] an indigenous people of Northern California, and is proud of his Native American heritage, sometimes giving a shoutout to his "Native brothers and sisters" in the audience. The song "Trail of Tears" is a tribute to his heritage, as are "Allegiance" and "Native Blood". Billy is first cousins with Stephen Carpenter, co-founder and lead guitarist of alternative metal band Deftones.
In 2001, Billy was diagnosed with germ cellseminoma; his was a rare medical situation since this type of cancer usually manifests in men's testicular region, while in Billy's case the tumor appeared in the chest region near his heart. In August 2001, friends organized the Thrash of the Titans benefit concert, held to raise money for Billy's medical expenses.[23] Following chemotherapy, he has since been given a clean bill of health and continued to work with Testament.
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