ANTHRAX Drummer Forced To Miss Australian Tour; JON DETTE To Step In

February 19, 2013

ANTHRAX has tapped former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and current ANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette (pictured below) to sit behind the kit for the veteran thrash metal band's Australian tour, which will kick off on February 21 in Brisbane. Dette is "an animal" who is "going to make history" as a temporary replacement for longtime ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, who "is dealing with personal issues right now and can't leave" the U.S., according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. "[Charlie is] really bummed about not being able to head down there," says Ian.

Dette previously filled in for Benante on ANTHRAX's European tour last fall as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD.

Fan-filmed video footage of ANTHRAX's November 21, 2012 concert at Zénith in Paris, France — featuring Dette on the drums — can be seen below.

Dette joined SLAYER in 1996 when Paul Bostaph left to work on his side project, THE TRUTH ABOUT SEAFOOD. Dette performed with SLAYER at the 1996 Ozzfest to promote the band's covers album, "Undisputed Attitude".

Prior to joining SLAYER, Dette appeared on TESTAMENT's "Live At The Fillmore" album, which came out in 1995.

Benante and his wife were arrested on July 27, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elkhart, Indiana for domestic battery in front of a child. The drummer later issued a statement through his attorney claiming that he "was assaulted several times during an altercation that sent him to the emergency room with a gash at the back of his head that required several staples to close."

Charlie and ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello (who is Benante's nephew) missed several shows on ANTHRAX's North American tour in February 2012 in order to spend time with Charlie's mother, who was terminally ill. On February 4, 2012, Benante informed fans via his official web site that his mother passed away.

More recently, Benante was forced to miss a number of shows on last summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival while he was recovering from a minor hand injury. Filling in for him was SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.

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