Joey Belladonna at 66: then voice that helped define Anthrax

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3 hours ago Nathan

Born on October 13, 1960, in Oswego, New York, Joey Belladonna turns 66 with a place firmly established in thrash metal history.
Best known as the lead singer of Anthrax, he helped shape the identity of one of the genre’s most influential bands, bringing a melodic, high-register vocal style to music built on speed, aggression and razor-sharp riffs.

There is an interesting detail behind his stage name: he was born Joseph Bellardini. The name by which metal fans know him became synonymous with Anthrax during the band’s rise in the mid-1980s, when the New York group was helping redefine the boundaries of heavy metal alongside Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth — the four bands collectively known as the Big Four of thrash.

Either way, he joined Anthrax in 1984, replacing original vocalist Neil Turbin, and made his recording debut with the band on Spreading the Disease in 1985. The album represented a major step forward, combining the intensity of thrash with sharper songwriting and memorable vocal melodies. His arrival helped establish the classic Anthrax sound, which reached another level with Among the Living in 1987.
Featuring songs such as Caught in a Mosh, Indians and I Am the Law, Among the Living became one of the defining records of the thrash metal movement. Belladonna’s soaring vocals gave the music a character distinct from the harsher approaches associated with some of the band’s contemporaries. While the guitars raced and the rhythm section drove relentlessly forward, his voice could cut through the chaos with remarkable clarity.

The band continued its run with State of Euphoria in 1988 and Persistence of Time in 1990, the latter earning Anthrax a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. By then, the group had become a major force in American metal, capable of combining serious subject matter, social commentary and an irreverent sense of humour.
Yet Joey Belladonna’s relationship with Anthrax was never straightforward. He left the band in 1992, after the classic lineup’s most successful period, and was replaced by John Bush. The change marked a significant shift in Anthrax’s sound, with Bush bringing a lower, more forceful vocal approach to the band’s subsequent albums.

He continued pursuing music outside Anthrax, while the possibility of a reunion remained a recurring subject among fans. He returned for the band’s 2005–2007 reunion period, rejoining the classic lineup for performances that revived the chemistry of its best-known era. After another departure, he returned permanently in 2010, restoring the voice that many listeners associate most strongly with Anthrax’s golden age.
His return was confirmed on record with Worship Music in 2011, an album widely regarded as a strong comeback. The record demonstrated that the band’s classic vocal identity could still work within a contemporary metal setting. Its track I’m Alive earned Anthrax another Grammy nomination, while Worship Music itself reinforced the band’s ability to remain relevant without abandoning its roots.
Anthrax’s Grammy history also reflects the group’s longevity: the band has received six nominations, spanning releases and performances across several decades. From Persistence of Time to its cover of AC/DC’s T.N.T. and the 2013 track I’m Alive, the nominations trace a career that continued well beyond the initial thrash explosion.

Joey Belladonna has also maintained musical interests outside Anthrax, including solo work and projects that explore classic rock and progressive influences. His vocal approach has often drawn comparisons to melodic hard-rock singers, a quality that helps explain why his contribution to Anthrax has always been more than simply delivering lyrics at high speed.
At 66, he represents a distinctive chapter in metal history: a singer whose melodic instincts helped make some of thrash’s most aggressive music memorable, and whose repeated returns to Anthrax underline the enduring connection between a band and the voice that helped define its identity.
The Big Four have never sounded alike, and that is precisely the point. If Metallica brought scale, Slayer relentless extremity and Megadeth intricate precision, Anthrax added its own combination of speed, humour and street-level energy. Belladonna’s voice was central to that identity — and remains one of the defining sounds of classic thrash metal.