Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
On the 70000TONS OF METAL cruise this year, Anthrax performed the second of two gigs without bassist Frank Bello, who departed early to attend the 2026 Grammy Awards, as per Blabbermouth. Joey Vera of Armored Saint, who had previously toured with Anthrax in 2004 and early 2005 while Bello had taken a hiatus from the band, filled in for Bello for the January 31 performance on the 70000TONS OF METAL pool deck stage. Frank was nominated for 2026 “Best Rock Performance” Grammy with Yungblud for a live cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes“. The performance was captured on tape during Ozzy Osbourne‘s farewell show, “Back To The Beginning,” in July of last year. “Changes” was first heard on Sabbath’s fourth album, “Vol. 4” (1972).
Yungblud‘s performance was a passionate tribute to Osbourne, backed by an all-star band that includes Bello, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, Sleep Token’s II on drums, and Adam Wakeman, who has played keys for both Ozzy and Black Sabbath. On October 12, 2024, Frank performed with Anthrax for the first time in about a year and a half at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California. On September 27, 2024, Bello and Anthrax were scheduled to perform at the Louder Than Life event in Louisville, Kentucky; however, bad weather forced the cancellation of their show. Bello last performed with Anthrax in May 2023 at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prior to Aftershock.
In April 2024 and early May 2024, Bello skipped out Anthrax’s South American tour as well as two U.S. festival appearances due to “personal reasons.” Dan Lilker, the original bassist and founding member of Anthrax, filled in for those performances, making his first appearance with the band in forty years. Along with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and guitarist Scott Ian, Lilker was a member of Stormtroopers Of Death and co-wrote and performed on Anthrax’s debut album “Fistful Of Metal.” Bello performed bass for Norwegian black metal stalwarts Satyricon for the band’s summer 2024 European festival appearances, including Hellfest in France and Tons Of Rock in Norway.
