Joey Belladonna (born Joseph Bellardini; October 13, 1960) is an American singer, best known as the vocalist for
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band
Anthrax
Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium ''Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The sk ...
. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the
cover band
A cover band (or covers band) is a band that plays songs recorded by someone else, sometimes mimicking the original as accurately as possible, and sometimes re-interpreting or changing the original. These remade songs are known as cover songs. Ne ...
Chief Big Way. Belladonna has six
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
nominations and is known for his wild, energetic stage behavior, and tenor vocal range.
Early life
Belladonna was born in
Oswego, New York
Oswego () is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 16,921 at the 2020 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in Upstate New York, about 35 miles (55km) northwest of Syracuse. It promotes itself as "The Port C ...
. He is Italian-American on his father's side and Native American on his mother's side. In his youth, Belladonna looked up to bands such as
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
,
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
and
Rush
Rush(es) may refer to:
Places
United States
* Rush, Colorado
* Rush, Kentucky
* Rush, New York
* Rush City, Minnesota
* Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary), Illinois
* Rush Creek (Marin County, California), a stream
* Rush Creek (Mono Cou ...
; bands that Belladonna said created "stuff that was very intricate but yet catchy and hooky you know, with great vocals."
Career
Bible Black
In 1983, Belladonna, still using his birth name Joey Bellardini at the time, became the vocalist for the band
Bible Black
is an eroge video game developed by ActiveSoft and published on July 14, 2000. Sei Shoujo is the original creator of the game's artwork, character design and penned the original script for the game.
Milky Studio has since adapted the ga ...
, founded by former
Elf
An elf () is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology. They are subsequently mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's Icelandic Prose Edda. He distinguishes "ligh ...
and
Rainbow
A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows c ...
members,
Craig Gruber and
Gary Driscoll
John Gary Driscoll (18 April 1946 – 8 June 1987) was an American R&B-style rock drummer who performed in a number of successful bands from the 1960s until his unsolved death by murder on June 10, 1987.
He first entered the music scene when ...
, and future
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock or acid rock style, and ...
guitarist
Andrew "Duck" MacDonald. Belladonna's predecessors in the band were
Jeff Fenholt, who later had brief stints with
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
and
Joshua
Joshua () or Yehoshua ( ''Yəhōšuaʿ'', Tiberian: ''Yŏhōšuaʿ,'' lit. 'Yahweh is salvation') ''Yēšūaʿ''; syr, ܝܫܘܥ ܒܪ ܢܘܢ ''Yəšūʿ bar Nōn''; el, Ἰησοῦς, ar , يُوشَعُ ٱبْنُ نُونٍ '' Yūšaʿ ...
, and Louis Marullo, aka
Eric Adams
Eric Leroy Adams (born September 1, 1960) is an American politician and retired police captain serving as the 110th mayor of New York City since January 1, 2022.
Adams was an officer in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York C ...
, who left to join
Manowar
Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy (particularly sword and sorcery) and mythology (particularly Norse mythology and Greco-Roman mythology), as well as ...
. Belladonna recorded the songs "Deceiver" and "Midnight Dance" with Bible Black. The band never officially released an album.
Anthrax
![Anthrax Rockavaria 2016 (3 von 12)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Anthrax_Rockavaria_2016_%283_von_12%29.jpg)
Belladonna was the lead singer of Anthrax from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the classic-lineup (also featuring
Dan Spitz
Daniel Alan Spitz (born January 28, 1963) is an American musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the thrash metal band Anthrax from 1983 to 1995 and from 2005 to 2008. Spitz also founded the Christian music group Red Lamb, whi ...
,
Scott Ian
Scott Ian (born Scott Ian Rosenfeld, December 31, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the thrash metal band Anthrax. Ian is the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroo ...
,
Frank Bello
Frank Bello (born July 9, 1965) is an American musician who plays bass for the thrash metal band Anthrax.
Early life
Bello is the nephew of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. He had a younger brother Anthony, who was murdered in the Bronx, New Yo ...
and
Charlie Benante
Charles Lee Benante (born November 27, 1962) is an American musician best known as the drummer for thrash metal band Anthrax, and crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death. Alongside rhythm guitarist and band leader Scott Ian, Benante has co ...
).
After he was replaced by
John Bush, he spent the next decade touring in minivans and taking odd jobs.
Belladonna returned to the band when the "classic" lineup reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. He found out on the internet that he had been replaced again by
Dan Nelson.
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
''Metal Forces'' is a British publication founded in 1983 which promotes the music genres heavy metal and hard rock. ''Metal Forces'' was well known for its coverage of unsigned bands through its ''Demolition'' feature and championed the likes of ...
'' magazine.
In early 2010, Belladonna officially rejoined Anthrax in time for the "Big Four" shows at the
Sonisphere festival
The Sonisphere Festival was a touring rock music festival which took place across Europe between the months of June and August. The festival was owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It was jointly promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live. It ...
. Following these and other shows, Belladonna returned to the studio with the band to record new vocals for their long-awaited album ''
Worship Music
Contemporary worship music (CWM), also known as praise and worship music, is a defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past 60 years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are fr ...
''.
Since his return, Anthrax has been nominated for three 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
Mastering, a form of audio post production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device (the master), the source from which all copies will be produced (via meth ...
, 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."
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
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
, plays small neighborhood bars.
Discography
Belladonna solo
Anthrax
EPs
*''
Armed and Dangerous'' (1985)
*''
I'm the Man'' (1987) (includes live tracks)
*''
Penikufesin
''Penikufesin'' is the third Extended play, EP by the American thrash metal band Anthrax (American band), Anthrax. Culled from the ''State of Euphoria'' sessions, it was released in August 1989 on Megaforce Records/Island Records.
Background
The ...
'' (1989) (only released in Europe, collection of ''
State of Euphoria
''State of Euphoria'' is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on September 19, 1988, through Megaforce/ Island Records.
Album information
''State of Euphoria'' was produced by Anthrax and Mark Dods ...
'' sessions)
*''
Attack of the Killer B's
''Attack of the Killer B's'' is a compilation album of B-sides, covers and rarities by the thrash metal band Anthrax and the band's last audio album released before vocalist John Bush replaced longtime Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna in 1992. T ...
'' (1991) (promo release, includes live tracks)
*''
Anthems
An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short s ...
'' (2013)
Compilation albums
*''Fistful of Anthrax'' (1987) (only released in Japan, this is ''
Fistful of Metal
''Fistful of Metal'' is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in January 1984 by Megaforce Records (US only) and Music for Nations internationally. The album includes a cover of Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen". Thi ...
'' with two Joey Belladonna-fronted songs added)
*''
Attack of the Killer B's
''Attack of the Killer B's'' is a compilation album of B-sides, covers and rarities by the thrash metal band Anthrax and the band's last audio album released before vocalist John Bush replaced longtime Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna in 1992. T ...
'' (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
''Alive 2 (2005)'' is the third full-length live album and second full-length live DVD from the band Anthrax. It features the reunion of their lineup from the ''Among the Living'' era, including then-former vocalist Joey Belladonna and former ...
'' (2005)
VHS/DVDs
*''US Speed Metal Attack'' (1986) (split video with
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1984 by vocalist John Cyriis with drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full-length albums and one EP before disbanding in 1988. They were most notable for Cyriis' hi ...
and
Overkill, recorded live in Germany)
*''Oidivnikufesin'' (1987) (recorded live at
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
)
*''Through Time'' (1990)
*''Live Noize'' (1991) (recorded live on the ''
Persistence of Time
''Persistence of Time'' is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on August 21, 1990 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records and was nominated in 1991 for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance ...
'' tour)
*''White Noise: The Videos'' (1994) (released only in Japan, complete collection of the ''
Sound of White Noise
''Sound of White Noise'' is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 via Elektra Records. It is the band's first album to feature vocalist John Bush, who replaced longtime Anthrax vocalist Joey Bellado ...
'' music videos)
*''Return of the Killer A's'' (1999) (includes live performances of the ''
Persistence of Time
''Persistence of Time'' is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on August 21, 1990 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records and was nominated in 1991 for a Grammy Award in the Best Metal Performance ...
'' tour)
*''Rock Legends'' (2004)
*''Anthrax Anthralogy: The DVD'' (2005) (includes live performances)
*''Alive 2'' (2005) (DVD version)
References
External links
Joey Belladonnaon
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Belladonna, Joey
1960 births
Anthrax (American band) members
American heavy metal singers
20th-century American singers
21st-century American singers
American tenors
Living people
People from Oswego, New York
Singers from New York (state)
Thrash metal musicians
Waysted members
American people of Italian descent