Joey Belladonna: ‘Something Magical Happens’ When Anthrax Are Together

Anthrax will join Slayer and Megadeth for the Jägermeister Fall Music Tour, which runs through the end of September into October. It's like the Big Four sans Metallica, so the lineup should suit metalheads just fine. It's also the same bill that comprised the original Clash of the Titans Tour from 1991.

It's a 20-date trek which finds vocalist Joey Belladonna back singing with Anthrax. One thing fans shouldn't expect, though, is Anthrax to perform one album in its entirety the way Slayer and Megadeth did on the American Carnage Tour. Anthrax have 50 minutes to plow through and they plan to make every millisecond count with a hit parade of songs like 'Indians,' 'Caught in a Mosh' and 'Among the Living.'

"For me, it is great to be in the fold with the guys and it's a great package and when we get together, something magical happens. It's a necessary thing. I think everyone needs to see it this way. There is no reason it shouldn't have happened a long time ago," Belladonna told Noisecreep. "We will do the greatest hits thing, but we [won't do] a whole record."

A new Belladonna-fronted album is on the horizon as well, which is great news for all 'Thrax fans. "That is the next thing in line, with more touring and hopefully everything will get intact and find the schedule to put it together," Belladonna admitted.

Belladona mused on what made the his era of Anthrax the fan-favorite of all their lineups, saying, "You can't predict it. When I got in the band, I didn't know who they were, and two days later I was singing on a record. It took on quite the life, and it feels good to be a part of this."

Belladonna also joked about wanting to pull out some old or new songs. "We're like, 'Do you know it?' 'No.' 'Do you?' 'No!' After a while, if you don't play songs, they are hard to remember entirely. We all know so many songs and it will be a lengthy set regardless! They can put [lyrics] up on a prompter! That would come in handy."

The vocalist also admits that the biggest difference between Joey Belladonna of the first Clash of the Titans Tour and the Joey Belladonna of today is a positive one. "I sing a helluva lot better and am much more involved with the music aspect," he said. "Everyone is mature -- and speaking of vocals alone, I feel so much better, even though I was fine before. We are not phoning it in. I can't do that."

The Anthrax tour dates will include two headlining shows in addition to the Jägermeister tour.