Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna recently shared that he never quit the band, but that he “got sideswiped out of there.” Belladonna shared this during a conversation on the Beer Rum & Rock N Roll podcast. Joey was in Anthrax from 1984 to 1992, he then returned and played from 2005 to 2007, and then returned again in 2010 (and has been with the band since).
Per this conversation with the podcast, Joey Belladonna speaks to that initial split from the band; speaking to his exiting from Anthrax, Joey shared the following (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“I didn’t quit… Like, I wanted to sit around for 13 years while these guys just kept [going]. People don’t wanna hear it, but that’s the truth. Why would I quit?
“Forget about that record without me; I could have been on that record regardless of what they came up with. Let’s just pretend they didn’t even write that record yet. That record would have been cool too regardless of what you’re already familiar with. I’m not saying whatever was on there wasn’t right. I was in that car that rode into that record. I got sideswiped out of there.
“So, yeah, I didn’t quit. I didn’t quit anything. I don’t want anybody thinking that, ’cause I wouldn’t even have the heart to do that.”
Considering those who have taken on the role of vocalist throughout Anthrax’s history – who has been your favorite singer in the band? Belladonna has been the singer on the following Anthrax albums: Spreading the Disease (1985), Among the Living (1987), State of Euphoria (1988), Persistence of Time (1990), Worship Music (2011), and For All Kings (2016).
In other band related news, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian recently shared that, if his band S.O.D. were to release music today, he thinks they would get cancelled. You can also check out the full interview featuring Joey Belladonna below.
‘[…] Certain sections of people would cancel it’: Scott Ian Feels S.O.D. Wouldn’t Be Welcomed Today
Scott Ian Says Big Four Shows + ‘Worship Music’ Kept Anthrax Going