Joey Belladonna
Today we’re taking a look at singer Joey Belladonna, the powerful, melodic voice of "Anthrax".
(Photo: Elsie Roymans)
From cover bands in upstate New York to classic thrash albums, two departures and a lasting reunion, and tribute shows celebrating the music he grew up with. Here are 40 facts about Belladonna and his journey.
1. He was born Joseph Bellardini on October 13, 1960, in "Oswego", New York. He later adopted Belladonna as his stage name.
2. His father is of Italian descent, while his mother is Native American, with "Iroquois" ancestry. Belladonna has said that his maternal heritage is an important part of his identity, even though he does not regularly practice its traditions.
3. Growing up, he listened to "The Beatles", "Led Zeppelin", "Kansas", and "Rush". He was drawn to intricate musicianship, memorable melodies, and powerful vocals long before he entered the world of thrash metal.
4. He did not receive classical vocal training. In a 1988 interview, he said that his formal singing experience consisted of performing in his high school choir.
5. He gained his early experience in local bands and cover acts, including "Blitzkrieg". His repertoire was rooted mainly in classic rock and hard rock.
6. In the summer of 1984, he sang with "Bible Black", whose lineup included musicians associated with "Rainbow". He described its music as influenced by "Black Sabbath", "Deep Purple", and Ronnie James Dio’s years with "Rainbow".
7. In late 1984, he was invited to meet "Anthrax" at "Pyramid Sound" studios in Ithaca, New York. Producer Carl Canedy, the drummer of "The Rods", connected him with the band, which was looking for a singer following the departures of Neil Turbin and Matt Fallon.
8. Belladonna arrived without knowing "Anthrax" or its music. To demonstrate his voice, he sang passages from "Journey" songs and Steve Perry’s solo repertoire, before going on to record "Medusa". The band was impressed by his voice despite his different musical background.
9. His arrival gave "Anthrax" a high, clean, melodic voice over its fast, aggressive riffs. His hard rock influences remained central to his style and helped make him one of thrash metal’s most recognizable singers.
10. His arrival established the classic "Anthrax" lineup: Belladonna on vocals, Scott Ian and Dan Spitz on guitars, Frank Bello on bass, and Charlie Benante on drums. This lineup recorded the band’s next four studio albums.
"Anthrax", 1985 (Photo: Geoffrey Thomas / Metal Forces)
11. In February 1985, "Armed and Dangerous" became the first "Anthrax" EP to feature Belladonna. Alongside new material, it included a cover of "God Save the Queen" by "Sex Pistols" and new recordings of songs from the band’s debut album.
12. On October 30, 1985, "Anthrax" released its second studio album, "Spreading the Disease", its first with Belladonna. It reached No. 113 on the Billboard 200 and included "Madhouse", "A.I.R.", "Medusa", and "Armed and Dangerous".
13. The video for "Madhouse", set in a psychiatric hospital, became one of the defining "Anthrax" videos of the 1980s. The song has remained a regular part of the band’s live repertoire.
14. In March 1987, "Anthrax" released its third album, "Among the Living", produced by Eddie Kramer and the band. It reached No. 62 in the United States, later earned gold certification, and became a landmark thrash album with songs including "Caught in a Mosh", "I Am the Law", and "Indians".
15. "Indians" addresses the injustices inflicted on Native Americans and the importance of preserving their pride and heritage. For Belladonna, whose mother is Native American, the subject had a particularly personal significance.
16. The EP "I’m the Man" also came out in 1987, marking one of the earliest fusions of metal and rap. During live performances of the title track, Belladonna moved to the drums while Benante and other band members handled the rap vocals.
17. In September 1988, "Anthrax" released its fourth studio album, "State of Euphoria". It reached No. 30 in the United States and earned gold certification. Its cover of "Antisocial" by "Trust" became one of the band’s most popular live songs.
18. Belladonna also appeared in the horror film "Pledge Night", playing the younger version of Sid. His "Anthrax" bandmates contributed music to the film.
19. In August 1990, "Anthrax" released its fifth studio album, "Persistence of Time". Heavier and darker than its predecessors, it reached No. 24 in the United States and earned gold certification. It included "In My World", "Belly of the Beast", and a cover of Joe Jackson’s "Got the Time".
20. "Persistence of Time" earned "Anthrax" its first Grammy nomination, in the Best Metal Performance category at the 1991 ceremony.
21. In 1991, Belladonna participated in the recordings released on "Attack of the Killer B’s". The collection included the collaboration with "Public Enemy" on "Bring the Noise", a milestone in the fusion of hip-hop and metal.
22. In March 1992, the "My Dinner with Anthrax" episode of "Married... with Children" aired. Belladonna and his bandmates played themselves, visited the Bundy household, and performed "In My World".
23. In 1992, Belladonna was fired from "Anthrax" and replaced by John Bush, the singer of "Armored Saint". Ian later explained that the decision stemmed from a sense of creative stagnation and a desire to change direction; Belladonna has said that the split remained painful for him.
24. After the split, he formed a project called "Belladonna". Its debut album, "Belladonna", came out in 1995, allowing him to work as a singer and songwriter outside "Anthrax".
25. During his years away from "Anthrax", he continued performing in cover bands and also worked in maintenance at a horse farm alongside his wife, Krista. He has said that he did not find the work embarrassing and enjoyed doing it.
26. In the late 1990s, he released his second solo album, "Spells of Fear", with guitarist Peter Scheithauer and drummer Stet Howland. It continued the work of the "Belladonna" project but did not match the commercial success of his albums with "Anthrax".
27. In 1999, he briefly collaborated with "Anthrax" again, joining Bush to sing "Ball of Confusion" by "The Temptations" for the compilation "Return of the Killer A’s". A proposed tour featuring both singers did not go ahead in that form.
28. In 2003, he independently released "03", his third solo album. Belladonna sang and played drums, while Matt Zuber played guitars and bass and contributed to the songwriting.
29. In 2005, the classic "Anthrax" lineup reunited, bringing Belladonna back onstage with Ian, Spitz, Bello, and Benante. The reunion was documented on the live album and concert film "Alive 2", and the band continued performing with this lineup in 2006.
30. That first reunion did not lead to a lasting return to the studio. The collaboration with Belladonna ended again in early 2007, and Dan Nelson was subsequently chosen as the band’s singer.
31. Belladonna’s return to "Anthrax" was announced in May 2010. This time, he rejoined as a permanent member, ahead of "The Big Four" shows and to record vocals for the new album.
32. In June 2010, he performed with "Anthrax" at "The Big Four" shows alongside "Metallica", "Megadeth", and "Slayer". The Sofia concert was documented in a film and a live album featuring all four bands.
33. In September 2011, "Anthrax" released its tenth studio album, "Worship Music", its first with Belladonna since 1990. The material had undergone a lengthy development process with other singers before he recorded his vocals. The album reached No. 12 in the United States and sold approximately 28,000 copies in its first week.
34. "In the End", from "Worship Music", was dedicated to the memories of Dio and Dimebag Darrell. Belladonna brought his melodic, dramatic singing to the song alongside the band’s heavy sound.
35. In March 2013, "Anthrax" released the EP "Anthems", featuring covers of songs by "Rush", "Thin Lizzy", "AC/DC", "Boston", "Cheap Trick", and "Journey". These performances gave Belladonna a direct return to the music he grew up with.
36. Between 2013 and 2015, "Anthrax" received further Grammy nominations for "I’m Alive", "T.N.T.", and "Neon Knights", the last of which appeared on the Dio tribute album "This Is Your Life". These brought the band’s total to six nominations, all for recordings featuring Belladonna.
37. On February 26, 2016, "Anthrax" released its eleventh studio album, "For All Kings", with Jonathan Donais on lead guitar. It reached No. 9 in the United States and sold approximately 34,000 copies in its first week, marking the band’s first return to the Top 10 since 1993.
38. Even after rejoining "Anthrax", he continued singing and playing drums in "Chief Big Way". In a 2019 interview, he said the group performed around 60 classic rock songs over four uninterrupted hours. Singing and playing with the band allows him to keep practicing and performing music he loves.
39. In 2020, he began performing with a "Journey" tribute act, initially called "Journey Beyond" and later renamed "Beyond Frontiers". He teamed up with keyboardist Doug Carter and musicians from Lee Greenwood’s band, building a full evening around "Journey" songs and Perry’s vocals. He also developed tribute shows celebrating Dio, "Black Sabbath", and "Rainbow", which he performed in 2025 and 2026.
(Photo: Joey Belladonna official website)
40. On September 18, 2026, "Anthrax" released its twelfth studio album, "Cursum Perficio", its seventh with Belladonna. Produced by Jay Ruston, it was the band’s first album since "For All Kings". The single "It’s for the Kids" was accompanied by a video that revisited the imagery and atmosphere of 1985’s "Madhouse".
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