Joey Belladonna
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Joey Belladonna | |
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![]() Belladonna in 2013 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Joseph Bellardini |
Born | Oswego, New York, U.S. | October 30, 1960
Genres | Heavy metal, thrash metal, power metal |
Occupation(s) | musician, singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals , drums |
Years active | 1984–present |
Joey Belladonna (born Joseph Bellardini, October 30, 1960) is an American thrash metal musician, best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the cover band Chief Big Way. Belladonna possesses a tenor vocal range.[1]
Early life
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."[2]
Career
Anthrax
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).
Belladonna returned to the band when the "classic" lineup reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006.[3]
His voice has been featured on six studio albums and several EPs that have sold a total of 8 million copies worldwide. During Belladonna's first tenure with Anthrax, the band was nominated for three Grammys, and he was voted the #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.[4]
Since his return, Anthrax has been nominated for 3 additional Grammy awards.
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." [5]
Belladonna also plays drums and sings lead vocals in a cover band named Chief Big Way which features mainly classic rock hits from the 70s and 80s. The band, based around Syracuse, New York, plays small neighborhood bars.[6]
Discography
Belladonna solo
Title | Date of release | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Belladonna | 1995 | Mausoleum | Backing 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 Fear | 1998 | USG Records | Backing musicians include Peter Scheithauer on guitar, Fleisch on bass guitar, and Stet Howland on drums. |
03 | 2003 | independent | Includes co-writer Matt Zuber on lead, rhythm and bass guitars and Joey Belladonna on drums. |
Artifacts I | 2004 | independent | Backing 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. |
Anthrax
Title | Date of release | Label | Chart positions | US sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spreading the Disease | October 1985 | Island | 113 | |
Among the Living | March 22, 1987 | 62 | Gold | |
State of Euphoria | September 18, 1988 | 30 | Gold | |
Persistence of Time | August 21, 1990 | 24 | Gold | |
Worship Music | September 12, 2011 | Megaforce | 12 | |
For All Kings | February 26, 2016 | Megaforce, Nuclear Blast | 9 |
EPs
- Armed and Dangerous (1985)
- I'm the Man (1987) (includes live tracks)
- Penikufesin (1989) (only released in Europe, collection of State of Euphoria sessions)
- Attack of the Killer B's (1991) (promo release, includes live tracks)
- Anthems (2013)
Compilation albums
- Fistful of Anthrax (1987) (only released in Japan, this is Fistful of Metal with two Joey Belladonna-fronted songs added)
- Attack of the Killer B's (1991) (collection of live, rarities and previously unreleased material)
- Moshers: 1986-1991 (1998) (import release)
- Return of the Killer A's (1999)
- Madhouse - The Very Best of Anthrax (2001)
- The Collection (2002)
- Universal Masters Collection (2002)
- Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) (2005)
- Sin-Atra (2011)
Live albums
- Live: The Island Years (1994) (recorded live in 1991 and 1992)
- Alive 2 (2005)
VHS/DVDs
- US Speed Metal Attack (1986) (split video with Agent Steel and Overkill, recorded live in Germany)
- Oidivnikufesin (1987) (recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon)
- Through Time (1990)
- Live Noize (1991) (recorded live on the Persistence of Time tour)
- White Noise: The Videos (1994) (released only in Japan, complete collection of the Sound of White Noise music videos)
- Attack of the Killer A's (1999) (includes live performances of the Persistence of Time tour)
- Rock Legends (2004)
- Anthrax Anthralogy: The DVD (2005) (includes live performances)
- Alive 2 (2005) (DVD version)
References
- ^ "A case of Anthrax". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "ON THE SPOT – Anthrax: Joey Belladonna Interview".
- ^ Modern Guitars Archived October 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Blabbermouth". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ "Interview: Anthrax's Joey Belladonna – "I'm a great choice to have as a last resort" - EspyRock".
- ^ Citizen, Maria Norris | Special to The. "Joey Belladonna talks balancing Anthrax and Chief Big Way, who comes to Auburn Friday". Auburn Citizen.
- 1960 births
- Anthrax (American band) members
- American heavy metal singers
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- American people of Italian descent
- American tenors
- Italian American heavy metal musicians
- Living people
- People from Oswego, New York
- Singers from New York (state)
- Thrash metal musicians
- Waysted members