How a singer who didn't know his band's genre became a thrash metal icon
In short: Born Joseph Bellardini in Oswego, New York, Joey Belladonna joined Anthrax in 1984 without knowing their musical style. Despite his unfamiliarity with the genre, his powerful tenor voice helped define the band's classic era, leading to multiple Grammy nominations and millions of records sold worldwide throughout his storied career.
Before joining the thrash metal scene, Belladonna performed with the band Bible Black in 1983, recording tracks like Deceiver. His transition to Anthrax occurred in early 1984 after the group dismissed their original vocalist, Neil Turbin. Although Belladonna was initially unaware of the band's specific sound, he successfully adapted his vocal approach within days to match their intensity. This period established him as a core member of the band's classic lineup, which included Scott Ian, Dan Spitz, Frank Bello, and Charlie Benante.
During his first tenure, which lasted until 1992, the band achieved significant commercial success, earning three gold-certified albums and two Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance. Despite this, creative differences led to his departure. In the following decade, Belladonna maintained a humble lifestyle, touring in minivans with cover bands and working as a maintenance man in a horse barn. His career saw several shifts, including a return for a reunion tour in 2005 and his official rejoining of the band in 2010 for the high-profile Sonisphere festival.
Beyond his work with Anthrax, Belladonna has pursued solo projects and remains active in the local music scene around Syracuse, New York. He performs in cover bands such as Chief Big Way and Beyond Frontiers, focusing on classic rock and tributes to artists like Ronnie James Dio. He continues to prioritize his own creative output, noting that he possesses a substantial collection of demoed material for future solo records. Throughout his journey, he has maintained a distinct, recognizable vocal style that he credits to his own artistic identity rather than imitation.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Joey Belladonna
- Also: Wikidata — Joey Belladonna · CC0
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