Charlie Benante

Last updated

Charlie Benante
2017 Anthrax - Charlie Benante - by 2eight - DSC1986 (cropped).jpg
Benante in 2017
Background information
Birth nameCharles Lance Benante
Born (1962-11-27) November 27, 1962 (age 61)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1982–present
Member of Anthrax, Stormtroopers of Death, Metal Allegiance, Pantera (touring member)
Website charliebenante.com

Charles Lee Benante is an American musician, best known as the drummer for thrash metal band Anthrax and crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death. Known as one of the pioneers of double bass drumming and credited for popularizing the blast beat technique, he is Anthrax's main composer and has released eleven studio albums with the band. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Benante joined the reunited Pantera in 2022, replacing original drummer Vinnie Paul, who died in 2018.

Contents

Career

Benante joined Anthrax in 1983, prior to the recording of the band's debut album Fistful of Metal , and has appeared on every release by the band. He is known for having a very fast double kick technique and has been credited as one of the pioneers of double bass, as well as with popularizing the blast beat technique with thrash metal. [1] [2] [3]

He is also a guitarist, having contributed lead guitar to S.O.D.'s Speak English or Die album. Along with his musician duties, Benante is also a graphic artist and has created many of Anthrax's album covers and T-shirt designs.

In 2021, Benante released a solo album entitled Silver Linings. Paul Stenning referred to the album as "a very worthy memento of attacking a crazy year with a positive outlook." [6]

On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Benante had joined the reunited Pantera by filling in for original drummer, and his close friend, Vinnie Paul. [7]

Personal life

Benante is a fan of the 1975 film Jaws , and owns a sizeable collection of the film's merchandise. He was featured in the documentary The Shark Is Still Working , which was included on the Jaws 2012 Blu-ray release.

Throughout the course of 2012, Benante faced several personal issues that forced him to miss several concerts with Anthrax. Early on in the year his mother died, which also resulted in Frank Bello (Benante's mother being Bello's grandmother) taking some time off during the band's tour in Argentina. [8] Benante stepped out again during the summer's Rockstar Mayhem Fest run after suffering a "minor hand injury". [9] Also during the summer, Benante was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife in front of his daughter which had them both arrested. [10] [11] Benante later missed the band's UK and European tour in order to take care of "personal stuff" according to Scott Ian. In 2013, it was announced that Benante would be sitting out Australian tour dates, also for personal reasons. [12] Concern was raised in 2012 by MetalSucks over Benante's well-being and future with the band. [13] In March 2019, it was confirmed that Benante was dating Butcher Babies frontwoman Carla Harvey.

In 2020, Benante had a cameo in the music video for "Everything She Wants," a Wham!-cover performed by Alien Ant Farm. [14]

On April 21, 2023, Benante’s sister Rosie died. [15]

Equipment

Benante with Pantera in 2023 Pantera July 13, 2023 Cadott, WI Rockfest (53047910161) (cropped).jpg
Benante with Pantera in 2023

Benante uses and endorses Tama drums and hardware, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, [16] Evans Drumheads, [17] and Roland electronics.

Prior to switching to Tama's Speed Cobra pedals in 2010, Benante was one of the few drummers who used Tama's HP35 Camco chain-drive pedals, equipment he had used since 1984. [18]

Discography

Solo

TitleRelease dateLabelChart positionsUS sales
Silver LiningsMay 14, 2021 Megaforce Records
Moving Pitchers (EP)April 23, 2022 Megaforce Records

Stormtroopers of Death albums

TitleRelease dateLabelChart positionsUS sales
Speak English or Die December 1985 Megaforce Records
Live at Budokan [Live]October 24, 1995Megaforce Records
Bigger than the Devil May 22, 1999 Nuclear Blast Records

Stormtroopers of Death videos

TitleRelease dateLabelChart positionsUS sales
Kill Yourself: The Movie (DVD or VHS)January 23, 2001Nuclear Blast Records
Speak English or Live (DVD)September 25, 2001Nuclear Blast Records
20 Years of DysfunctionJuly 26, 2005Nuclear Blast Records

With Anthrax

Others

Related Research Articles

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

Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast. The band's current lineup consists of Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. Ian and Benante are the only two members to appear on all of Anthrax's albums, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing Lilker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pantera</span> American heavy metal band

Pantera is an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas, formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers, and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-known lineup consisted of the Abbott brothers along with Brown and Anselmo, who joined in 1982 and 1986 respectively. The band is credited for developing and popularizing the subgenre of groove metal in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history, Pantera has sold around 20 million records worldwide and has received four Grammy nominations.

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

Fistful of Metal is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in January 1984 by Megaforce Records and Music for Nations internationally. The album includes a cover of Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen". This is the band's only album to feature original frontman Neil Turbin and original bassist Dan Lilker, who were replaced by Matt Fallon and Frank Bello, respectively. Former original guitarist Greg Walls claims that Anthrax "ripped him off" as he claims he wrote the material on the album.

<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>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.

<i>State of Euphoria</i> 1988 studio album by Anthrax

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.

Stormtroopers of Death was an American crossover thrash band formed in New York City in 1985. They are credited as being amongst the first groups to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style often referred to as crossover thrash. The band is also known for reuniting Anthrax members, guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante, with their former bassist Dan Lilker. Their instrumental song "March of the S.O.D." from their 1985 debut album, Speak English or Die, was the Headbangers Ball intro anthem for many years. Another song from the same album, "Chromatic Death", was also used during the show as a segue between ads and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Lilker</span> American musician

Daniel Adam Lilker is an American musician best known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist. He has played bass in numerous heavy metal bands, including Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, S.O.D. and Holy Moses, and grindcore bands Brutal Truth and Exit-13.

<i>Weve Come for You All</i> 2003 studio album by Anthrax

We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on May 6, 2003 through Nuclear Blast in Europe and Sanctuary Records in North America. This was the first Anthrax record to feature Rob Caggiano on lead guitar and their last studio album with John Bush on vocals. The album was recorded over a one-year span at the BearTracks Recording Studio in Suffern, New York. The cover art was designed by comic book artist Alex Ross, while the production was handled by Scrap 60 Productions team. The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey and Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell made guest appearances on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Bello</span> American bassist

Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Bello was also in Helmet from 2004 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Hoglan</span> American drummer

Eugene Victor Hoglan II is an American drummer, acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including use of abstract devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms. Though his playing style is very technically demanding, he retains high accuracy at extreme tempos, earning him the nicknames "The Atomic Clock" and "Human Drum Machine".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinnie Paul</span> American drummer (1964–2018)

Vincent Paul Abbott was an American musician best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the heavy metal band Pantera. He also co-founded Damageplan in 2003 with his younger brother, 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, and was a member of Hellyeah for 12 years from 2006 until his death in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Bittner</span> American drummer

Jason Bittner is an American musician, best known as the drummer for metal band Shadows Fall. He is also the current drummer for Overkill since 2017 and Category 7 as of 2024. He was also the drummer for the thrash metal bands Toxik from 2013 to 2014 and Flotsam and Jetsam from 2014 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhorder</span> American thrash/groove metal band

Exhorder is an American heavy metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are considered progenitors of the groove-oriented thrash sound later made famous by bands such as Pantera and Machine Head, and their music has been regarded as a large influence on the New Orleans metal scene. Initially active from 1985 to 1994 and reformed from 2008 to 2011, Exhorder has since reformed in 2017. To date, the band has released four studio albums: Slaughter in the Vatican (1990), The Law (1992), Mourn the Southern Skies (2019) and Defectum Omnium (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhouse (song)</span> 1985 single by Anthrax

"Madhouse" is a song by American thrash metal band Anthrax, released in 1985 on Megaforce Records and Island Records.

<i>Worship Music</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Anthrax

Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released on September 12, 2011 internationally, and on September 13 in the United States. It was the band's first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All, the first full-length Anthrax album since the return of longtime vocalist Joey Belladonna, and the final album with guitarist Rob Caggiano prior to his departure in January 2013.

<i>Anthems</i> (Anthrax EP) 2013 EP by Anthrax

Anthems is the sixth EP by American thrash metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 19, 2013 through Megaforce Records in North America, and three days later in Europe by Nuclear Blast. This was the group's last release to feature lead guitarist Rob Caggiano, who left the band subsequently. The record features cover songs from some of the band's favorite acts of the 1970s, along with two versions of "Crawl", a song from their previous studio album, Worship Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headbangers Ball Tour</span> 1989 concert tour

The Headbangers Ball Tour was a North American tour presented by MTV's Headbangers Ball, which took place in April and May 1989. It was headlined by American thrash metal band Anthrax, and supported by Exodus and Helloween.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Dette</span> American drummer

Jonathan Dette is an American heavy metal drummer best known for his time in Slayer and Testament. Over the years, he has also been chosen to fill-in with Anthrax, Heathen, and Iced Earth. Dette also played with Evildead and Impellitteri for several years.

References

  1. 1 2 "CHARLIE BENANTE: ANTHRAX is "regrouping with JOHN BUSH"". Metal Injection. October 23, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Anthrax's Charlie Benante Remembers Vinnie Paul: He "Was the Glue in Pantera"". Revolver. June 23, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Eglinton, Mark (March 9, 2009). "Anthrax's Charlie Benante Talks About The Birth Of The Blast Beat". The Quietus. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  4. Blabbermouth (May 18, 2021). "CHARLIE BENANTE: How I Became ANTHRAX's Main Music Writer". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  5. Prato, Greg (February 26, 2013). "Charlie Benante of Anthrax". Songfacts.
  6. "CHARLIE BENANTE – Silver Linings".
  7. "It's Official: ZAKK WYLDE And CHARLIE BENANTE To Tour With PANTERA's Surviving Members". Blabbermouth.net . July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  8. Shadows Fall Drummer Jason Bittner To Play With Anthrax In Argentina
  9. Members Of Slipknot And Anthrax To Miss Mayhem Fest Dates
  10. ANTHRAX’S CHARLIE BENANTE AND WIFE ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY IN FRONT OF A CHILD
  11. MORE DETAILS ON THE ARREST OF CHARLIE BENANTE AND WIFE
  12. Anthrax Drummer Charlie Benante Sitting Out Australian Tour Dates Due to ‘Personal Issues’
  13. What’s Going on between Charlie Benante and Anthrax?
  14. "Alien Ant Farm Deliver Cameo-Filled Video for Wham! Cover". Loudwire . May 29, 2020.
  15. "Charlie Benante on Instagram: My Oldest Sister Rosie left us Friday, she was the strongest, Smartest, most resilient woman you could meet".
  16. Vic Firth Signature Artist: Charlie Benante. Archived September 19, 2012, at archive.today Retrieved on May 10, 2011.
  17. EvansDrumheads.com: Charlie Benante. Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on May 24, 2009.
  18. "This is the question. Well, recently Tama discontinued the pedals that I've been playing since like 1984, the Camco ones. And I was really, really bummed out about this. And I'm hoping they will bring those back fairly soon, or else my career is over (laughs)." – Special Interview: Charlie Benante Archived February 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved on September 25, 2008.