Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City. Formed in 1980, as Acid, the band was originally consisted of lead singer Joe Gelione, guitarist Scott Ian, bassist Dan Lilker and drummer Dave Weiss.

The band was renamed to Anthrax on July 18, 1981, and consisted of Scott on lead guitar, Lilker on rhythm guitar and Weiss. In August, lead singer John Connelly and bassist Paul Kahn.

The band has been through many personnel changes, and currently includes Scott on rhythm guitar, drummer Charlie Benante (since 1983), bassist Frank Bello (since 1984), lead singer Joey Belladonna (who first joined in 1984) and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais (since 2013).

History 1981–1992 Anthrax was formed on July 18, 1981, by Scott Ian, Dan Lilker and Dave Weiss. One month later, John Connelly and Paul Kahn took over on vocals and bass, respectively, and Lilker switched to guitar.

The band went through many lineup changes in its early stages – Connelly was replaced by Dirk Kennedy, followed by Ian's brother Jason Rosenfeld, then Tommy Wise; Greg Walls spent two years with the group on lead guitar (Ian switched to rhythm guitar), followed briefly by Bob Berry; Kahn was replaced by Kenny Kushner, before Lilker took over on bass when Walls joined; and Weiss was replaced by Greg D'Angelo.

The band eventually settled in 1983 with a lineup including Ian and Lilker, lead vocalist Neil Turbin, who joined in August 1982, drummer Charlie Benante and lead guitarist Dan Spitz.

After signing with Jon Zazula's new thrash metal label Megaforce Records later in the year, Anthrax recorded its debut album Fistful of Metal.

Shortly after its January 1984 release, Turbin fired Lilker without consulting with the other members of the band, although Ian has since admitted that "there were issues" with the bassist. He was replaced by Frank Bello, band's roadie and Benante's nephew.

Tensions continued to grow between Turbin and the rest of the group as they toured throughout 1984, leading to his eventual departure on August 10. Turbin was briefly replaced by Matt Fallon, before Joey Belladonna joined later in the year.

After recording four studio albums with the band, Belladonna was fired from Anthrax in 1992 due to stylistic changes the group intended to take, with John Bush taking his place.

1992 onwards Dan Spitz left Anthrax on July 16, 1995 to become a professional watchmaker.

Guitars on Stomp 442 were recorded by Ian, Benante, Paul Crook and Pantera's Dimebag Darrell. Crook remained with Anthrax for touring and recording after the release of Stomp 442, although never became an official member. He was replaced on August 15, 2001, by former Boiler Room guitarist Rob Caggiano.

Bello briefly left on March 4, 2004, with Joey Vera temporarily taking his place. It was announced in September 2005 that Spitz, Bello and Belladonna would return to Anthrax for a reunion tour and potentially new recordings.

Alive 2 was recorded on the tour, but by January 24, 2007, the reunion had fallen through as Belladonna had reportedly chosen not to continue working with the other members.

On December 10, 2007, the group had enlisted Dan Nelson as its new lead vocalist and brought back Caggiano.

However, after recording a new album with the band, Nelson left on July 21, 2009, and was replaced for future tour dates by Bush.

On May 10, 2010, Belladonna returned to Anthrax the following year, making his first appearance at June's "big four" show and re-recording vocals on the album Worship Music.

Caggiano left the band on January 4, 2013, with Shadows Fall lead guitarist Jon Donais taking his place a week later.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstruments Release contributionsScott Ian1980–presentall Anthrax releasesCharlie Benante1983–presentFrank Belloall Anthrax releases from Armed and Dangerous (1985) onwardsJoey Belladonnalead vocalsJonathan Donais2013–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsDan Lilker1980–1984Dave Weiss1980—1981drums rowspan="7" Joe Gelionelead vocalsJohn Connelly1981Paul Kahnbass guitarKenny Kushner1981–1982Dirk Kennedylead vocalsJason Rosenfeld1982Greg D'Angelo1982–1983drumsGreg WallsguitarAnthrax (1983)|Fistful of Metal (1984) Tommy Wise1982lead vocalsNeil Turbin1982–1984Bob Berry1983lead guitarDan SpitzMatt Fallon1984lead vocalsSpreading the Disease (1985) John Bushall Anthrax releases from Sound of White Noise (1993) to The Greater of Two Evils (2004)Rob CaggianoDan Nelson2007–2009lead vocalsWorship Music (2011)

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstruments NotesPaul Crook1995–2000Crook joined the band as Dan Spitz's guitar tech in 1989, he took on lead guitar duties after Spitz's departure in 1995. He played lead guitar on select tracks on Stomp 442 (1995) and Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) the latter of which he co-produced. He also served as an understudy in 2022.Dave Sabo2000Sabo toured with Anthrax during 2000, when regular guitarist Crook was touring with Sebastian Bach.Joey VeraVera toured with Anthrax after Bello's departure in 2004, and again in 2008 and 2012.Jason BittnerdrumsBittner first filled in for Benante on the final two shows of the "Among the Living" lineup reunion tour in January 2006 when Benante's daughter was born, and two more in February 2012. Bittner also did the entire summer 2012 Rockstar Mayhem tour and subsequent fall 2012 tour until Benante returned in October after another battle with carpal tunnel.Andreas Kisser2011Kisser substituted for Ian at eleven shows in July 2011, following the birth of the founding guitarist's first child.Gene HoglandrumsHoglan filled in for Benante, who was spending time with his terminally ill mother, at shows in January 2012. He filled in again in 2018 when Benante was forced to take a break from touring due to his carpal tunnel syndrome.Jon DetteDette has substituted for Benante on various tours between November 2012 and May 2017. Dette filled in for Benante again in 2018 when Benante was forced to take a break from touring due to his carpal tunnel syndrome.Derek Roddy2023Roddy substituted for Benante in 2023 for medical reasons.Darby Todd2026Todd filled in for Benante while he was touring with Pantera.Mike Heller2026Heller substituted for Benante in 2026 for medical reasons.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1980–1981 Joe Gelione – lead vocals Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker – bass guitar David Weiss – drums rowspan="5" July—late 1981 John Connelly – lead vocals Scott Ian – lead guitar Dan Lilker – rhythm guitar Paul Kahn – bass guitar David Weiss – drumsLate 1981–February 1982 Dirk Kennedy – lead vocals Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker — guitar Kenny Kushner – bass guitar David Weiss – drumsFebruary–July 1982 Jason Rosenfeld – lead vocals Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker — guitar Kenny Kushner – bass guitar David Weiss – drumsJuly 1982 Tommy Wise – lead vocals Greg Walls – guitar Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker – bass guitar Greg D’Angelo – drumsAugust 1982–July 1983 Neil Turbin – lead vocals Greg Walls – guitar Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker – bass guitar Greg D’Angelo – drums Anthrax (1983)July–September 1983Neil Turbin – lead vocals Rob Berry – guitar Scott Ian – guitar Dan Lilker – bass guitar Greg D’Angelo – drumsSeptember 1983–January 1984 Neil Turbin – lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar Dan Lilker – bass guitar Charlie Benante – drums Fistful of Metal (1984)January–August 1984 Neil Turbin – lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar Frank Bello – bass guitar Charlie Benante – drums rowspan="2" August–November 1984 Matt Fallon – lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar Frank Bello – bass guitar Charlie Benante – drumsDecember 1984–August 1992 Joey Belladonna — lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar, backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums Armed and Dangerous (1985) Spreading the Disease (1985) Among the Living (1987) I'm the Man (1987) State of Euphoria (1988) Penikufesin (1989) Persistence of Time (1990) Live: The Island Years (1994) Caught in a Mosh: BBC Live in Concert (2007)September 1992–July 1995 John Bush – lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums Sound of White Noise (1993)July 1995–August 2001 John Bush – lead vocals Paul Crook - lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums Stomp 442 (1995) Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) Inside Out (1999)August 2001–March 2004 John Bush – lead vocals Rob Caggiano – lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums We've Come for You All (2003) Music of Mass Destruction (2004) The Greater of Two Evils (2004)March 2004–March 2005 John Bush – lead vocals Rob Caggiano – lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Joey Vera – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drumsMarch 2005–January 2007 Joey Belladonna – lead vocals Dan Spitz – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums Alive 2 (2005)Band hiatus between January–December 2007December 2007–July 2009 Dan Nelson – lead vocals Rob Caggiano – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums rowspan="2" August 2009–May 2010 John Bush – lead vocals Rob Caggiano – lead guitar Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drumsMay 2010–January 2013 Joey Belladonna – lead vocals Rob Caggiano – lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (2010) Worship Music (2011) Anthems (2013)January 2013–present Joey Belladonna – lead vocals Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, occasional backing vocals Scott Ian – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Frank Bello – bass guitar, backing vocals Charlie Benante – drums Chile on Hell (2014) For All Kings (2016) Kings Among Scotland (2018) XL (2022)

References

External links Anthrax official website