Joey Belladonna

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Joey Belladonna
Anthrax - 2019214184014 2019-08-02 Wacken - 2815 - AK8I3637 (cropped).jpg
Belladonna at Wacken Open Air 2019
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Bellardini
Born (1960-10-13) October 13, 1960 (age 63)
Oswego, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1984–present
Member of
  • Anthrax
  • Belladonna
  • Beyond Frontiers
  • Chief Big Way
Formerly ofBible Black

Joey Belladonna (born Joseph Bellardini; October 13, 1960) is an American singer, best known as the vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the cover band Chief Big Way and the vocalist for the cover band Beyond Frontiers. Belladonna has six Grammy Award nominations and is known for his wild, energetic stage behavior, and tenor vocal range. [1]

Contents

Early life

Belladonna was born Joseph Bellardini in Oswego, New York. [2] He is Italian American on his father's side and Native American (Iroquois) on his mother's side. [3] In his youth, Belladonna looked up to bands such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Kansas and Rush; bands that Belladonna said created "stuff that was very intricate but yet catchy and hooky you know, with great vocals." [4]

Career

Bible Black

In 1983, Belladonna, still using his birth name Joey Bellardini at the time, became the vocalist for the band Bible Black, founded by Craig Gruber and Gary Driscoll (former members of Elf and Rainbow) and Andrew "Duck" MacDonald (who later joined Blue Cheer). Belladonna's predecessors in the band were Jeff Fenholt, who later had brief stints with Black Sabbath and Joshua, and Louis Marullo, aka Eric Adams, who left to join Manowar. Belladonna recorded the songs "Deceiver" and "Midnight Dance" with Bible Black. The band never officially released an album.

Anthrax

Belladonna (left) and Scott Ian performing with Anthrax in 2005 Anthrax live2.jpg
Belladonna (left) and Scott Ian performing with Anthrax in 2005
Belladonna with Anthrax in 2016 Anthrax Rockavaria 2016 (3 von 12).jpg
Belladonna with Anthrax in 2016

Belladonna was the lead singer of Anthrax from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the classic-lineup (also featuring Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Benante).

After he was replaced by John Bush, he spent the next decade touring in minivans and taking odd jobs. [5]

Belladonna returned to the band when the "classic" lineup reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. [6] He found out on the internet that he had been replaced again by Dan Nelson. [5]

His voice has been featured on six studio albums and several EPs that have sold a total of eight million copies worldwide. During Belladonna's first tenure with Anthrax, the band was nominated for three Grammys, and he was voted the No. 1 metal singer two years in a row in Metal Forces magazine.

In early 2010, Belladonna officially rejoined Anthrax in time for the "Big Four" shows at the Sonisphere festival. Following these and other shows, Belladonna returned to the studio with the band to record new vocals for their long-awaited album Worship Music . [7]

Since his return, Anthrax has been nominated for three additional Grammy awards. [8]

Belladonna / solo career

After his departure from Anthrax in 1992, Belladonna continued to make music in 'Belladonna', a solo project of which he has been the only consistent member.

In the mid-1990s, Belladonna released its self-titled debut album, which was well received by both critics and fans alike. The second album, Spells of Fear, was released in 1998 and was heavily criticized for bad production and poor musicianship. Demo recordings of a third album, which was never professionally mastered, was self-released by the band in 2003. It was a return to better songwriting and musicianship and like the debut album it was well received by the fans.


When asked whether he plans to release any more solo material in the future despite having re-joined Anthrax as a full-time member, Belladonna responded with:

"Yeah definitely. I'm working on some stuff and I have almost a full record worth of material sitting right here which is very well demoed up but it is still far from done in its own way. I just keep running out of time whether someone's schedule is messed up or whatever it is happening at the time and it's unfortunate. Now of course Anthrax is back on the go so I just don't have the time to sit for hours with the material but there is definitely some cool metal here. By the time I get to do these songs I'll probably have a fresh batch of ideas and songs to put on top of those. (...) I'd like to put another record out some day, put something out that I can again call my own as I have some great ideas." [9]

Belladonna also plays drums and sings lead vocals in a cover band named Chief Big Way which features mainly classic rock hits from the 1970s and 80s. The band, based around Syracuse, New York, plays small neighborhood bars. [10] He also sings in a Journey cover band called Beyond Frontiers. [11]

Discography

Belladonna solo

TitleRelease dateLabelNotes
Belladonna1995MausoleumBacking musicians include Darin Scott on guitar, John Hamilton on bass, and Scott Schroeter on drums. Joe Andrews was credited on bass guitar, but did not play on the recording.
Spells of Fear1998USG RecordsBacking musicians include Peter Scheithauer on guitar, Fleisch on bass guitar, and Stet Howland on drums.
032003independentIncludes co-writer Matt Zuber on lead, rhythm and bass guitars and Joey Belladonna on drums.
Artifacts I2004independentBacking musicians include Paul Crook (guitar), Paul Mocci (bass) and Jeff Tortora (drums). The tracks are demo versions for Belladonna album recorded in 1995. Some songs are previously unreleased.
Artifacts 22006independent

Anthrax

TitleRelease dateLabelChart positionsUS sales
Spreading the Disease October 1985Island113
Among the Living March 22, 198762Gold
State of Euphoria September 18, 198830Gold
Persistence of Time August 21, 199024Gold
Worship Music September 12, 2011Megaforce12
For All Kings February 26, 2016Megaforce, Nuclear Blast9

EPs

Compilation albums

Live albums

VHS/DVDs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax (American band)</span> American thrash metal band

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<i>Fistful of Metal</i> 1984 studio album by Anthrax

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<i>Spreading the Disease</i> 1985 studio album by Anthrax

Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in October 1985 by Megaforce Records and Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello. A special two-disc edition of the album was released in 2015, celebrating its 30th anniversary.

<i>Armed and Dangerous</i> (EP) 1985 EP by Anthrax

Armed and Dangerous is the first EP by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in February 1985 through Megaforce Records. The band produced the album with Carl Canedy and Jon Zazula acting as executive producer. This is the first Anthrax release to feature Joey Belladonna on vocals, and the first Anthrax release to feature Frank Bello on bass guitar.

<i>Among the Living</i> 1987 studio album by Anthrax

Among the Living is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 16, 1987, by Megaforce Records in the US and by Island Records in the rest of the world. The album is dedicated to Cliff Burton of Metallica, who died in a bus accident six months before its release while Metallica were on tour with Anthrax as the opening act.

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<i>Persistence of Time</i> 1990 studio album by Anthrax

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<i>Attack of the Killer Bs</i> 1991 compilation album by Anthrax

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<i>Live: The Island Years</i> 1994 live album by Anthrax

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<i>The Greater of Two Evils</i> 2004 studio album by Anthrax

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References

  1. ↑ "A case of Anthrax". thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Joey Belladonna Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ Hartmann, Graham (July 4, 2020). "14 Native American Rock artist in Rock + Metal". Loudwire . Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "ON THE SPOT – Anthrax: Joey Belladonna Interview". February 11, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Anthrax and Joey Belladonna Keep It In the Family | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. September 14, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ Modern Guitars Archived October 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Blabbermouth". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Joe Belladonna". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Interview: Anthrax's Joey Belladonna – "I'm a great choice to have as a last resort" – EspyRock".
  10. ↑ Norris, Maria (March 6, 2014). "Joey Belladonna talks balancing Anthrax and Chief Big Way, who comes to Auburn Friday". Auburn Citizen.
  11. ↑ Gaudiosi, Jeff (October 11, 2021). "A Conversation with Anthrax Vocalist Joey Belladonna". Misplaced Straws.
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