ANTHRAX: BELLADONNA-Era Lineup To Reunite For OZZFEST 2005?

January 23, 2005

According to a posting at the S.O.D. & M.O.D. Fansite, Sharon Osbourne has promised ANTHRAX a slot at this year's Ozzfest if they play at the 10-year anniversary edition of festival with the classic lineup that was responsible for some of the band's most successful albums:

Joey Belladonna - Vocals
Dan Spitz - Guitars
Frank Bello - Bass
Scott Ian - Guitars
Charlie Benante – Drums

A reunion of the Belladonna-era lineup has been rumored for quite some time, with SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner going so far as to say that Benante admitted that such a tour was in the works in a conversation with Bittner last month immediately following the public memorial for slain DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

In his regular online column, dubbed "Blast Beat", Benante jokingly dismissed the rumors with the following statement:

"I keep hearing about this 'reunion' [with former vocalist Joey Belladonna]. I guess things got a bit outta hand. We were talking about doing a KISS reunion. We're all going to wear KISS makeup and go out and do a KISS reunion tour. I'll be Eric Singer doing Peter Criss and YES, I'll also be singing 'Black Diamond' and 'Beck' (haha). I need to figure out a way to play in 8-inch heels. I think that's how the rumors started, maybe it was Jason from [SHADOWS FALL]? Who knows what evil thoughts lurk in the minds of... never mind."

In a Jan. 22 posting on his official message board, former M.O.D. frontman Billy Milano — who played with Ian and Benante in S.O.D. — commented on the reunion rumors with the following: "Yes, as I said two months ago the Cheese is back and will be gasping a long last breath after they botch what little fan base they have left by subjecting us to Joey Belladonna's cheesy schtick and Danny Spitz's retarded leads.

"Mind you, Spitz will be representing GOD and the '700 Club' in this reunion and that might help them in the end.

"The fact still remains, reunion or not, Belladonna, Spitz, Bello, Ian and Chief Bitchy [Charlie] are still grasping for their place in metal history which is obviously falling further and further away from them as they resort to more and more desperate gimmicks to gain a fan base that just isn't there. This was the reason for the S.O.D. reunion.

"Any self-respecting S.O.D. fan should realize this by now, ANTHRAX are just plain shit and are only as good as the ideas they steal from whatever trend is happening.

"Remember, Charlie is the reason there is no S.O.D. They say that ANTHRAX is the logical alternative to the S.O.D. void. The facts are this. S.O.D. has infinitely more credibility then ANTHTRAX ever thought they had. No metal band takes ANTHRAX seriously and it's their own fault.

"The reunion is happening — then they'll complain how America doesn't know metal.

"I can't wait for them to fade in obscurity — but rest assured, S.O.D. will live forever."

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