Joey Belladonna

An Exclusive Interview with AMZ's Vinnie Apicella

"The Ultimate Threat-Spreading the 'Disease' no longer, former Anthrax singer now looks to spread 'Fear' with his latest project!"

Joey Belladonna, former front man for once-prestigious thrash-metal, mosh-pit pioneers Anthrax, once again takes another stab into the decaying market with his newest band, simply titled, "Belladonna." His original plans unfolded back in 1995 with an ill-fated, self-titled release, through the fledging Mausoleum records, and never materialized into anything substantial. But if nothing else, it was a good learning experience for Joey, and so here he is today, a little wiser, and more determined than ever to make a statement for the metal tradition that he, along with his one-time band mates, helped put on the map several years earlier.

With his new record, "Spells of Fear," Belladonna and his new group dispel any such fears about returning to compete in a market that doesn't typically welcome decade-old artists' comeback attempts with open arms. But here they now stand, with an enthusiastic new label behind them, and a completely retooled band that's taken Belladonna to exciting new musical heights. Rightfully enthusiastic about this latest project, Joey tackles topics ranging from his somewhat inglorious departure from Anthrax in '91, his earliest experiences as a solo artist, as well as the new found creative freedom afforded him with his own band, their highly anticipated future goals, and the open-door policy.

AMZ - There's been a fairly lengthy lapse of time from when you left Anthrax to doing your first self-titled solo album, as well as between that first solo album and this current release, "Spells of Fear." Why so much time? Did you find it difficult to get adapted or need some time off?

Joey - For a while I was trying to get a into a pattern of just playing with other people - trying to get a flow of some people I wanted to play with, who would be good for what I wanted to do. There were a lot of people who'd wanted to play, but maybe didn't have the time, not that I had so much of that, but I had more material to avoid that kind of problem. There also wasn't a lot of label interest since I had gotten out of Anthrax. The music started to take a turn . . . it was harder to sell, that's all, but it wasn't that far off of what I had been doing.

AMZ - I'd like to try to concentrate on moving forward here, but I will be alluding to Anthrax from time to time, since it's important to address where it is you came from to better establish where you're headed. I understand what you mean about the changes in the music industry around the time you left Anthrax, going through a transitional period, and then record label skepticism. I kind of got the feeling that maybe you and the band split at the right time since it seemed as though Anthrax reached their peak a few albums earlier, and then just sort of steadily swooned since then.

Joey - For me, it wasn't my decision to leave the group, it was their idea. They wanted to make a change in the style of vocals. For me, I do what I do, and I tried to do the best I could with that, so if they wanted something different, then I guess that's what they needed to do. I think we could've still maintained a large audience, and still had the fan base, if we had just kept doing what we were doing with the best efforts of those involved. I really can't say much more about that kind of thing as much as I'm sad to say that it happened . . . I wish it could've continued. I kind of missed being with that kind of thing; I really loved playing with the band.

AMZ - Together, you certainly put out some terrific albums, and developed a solid following for yourselves.

Joey - But I enjoy doing what I'm doing now too. It's a great experience putting out your own material, having the freedom to do it when you want to do it, with whom, and what style of music; you can branch off. I don't have to look over my shoulder and say, "Is this what you want?" Even though I digged doing it with those guys (Anthrax) that way, it was a different frame of writing.

AMZ - There's a lot to be said for creative freedom, and what better way to attain it than starting up your own band. Now you've moved onto bigger and better things, and as far as that goes, I've noticed a distinction between your two solo releases. The original self-titled one through Mausoleum Records in '95, seemed like a more straightforward metal record. With comparison to "Spells of Fear," it seems this one's got a bit of a modern slant to it, even though it's still directed toward the heavy metal sound. Was the change a conscious effort on your part?

Joey - It's just because of different musicians on each album. When you're around a different environment of players who have the style and experience of the current band . . . I was playing with guys who had never even done that before and it was probably a risky move. But at the same time, you've got people who were willing to give it a shot and try hard but unfortunately we fell flat. For this new project, we've got players who've been around a little bit longer with a little bit more experience, so you get good playing and good results, even though I don't feel like I'm that far from it.

AMZ - But this has to be a great feeling for you to have arrived at the point you are now, obviously more experienced and still playing the kind of music you love to play.

Joey - Oh yeah, in having the whole ramification taking place, you have everything you need to do laid out. I don't try to skate off on my style as far as the vocals. I have my own style and I try to achieve that style to the best of my ability without really falling away from it. The people I'm playing with have that same style musically, so it's like we're gonna write that kind of music. The people who want to hear this style of music aren't really hearing much of it.

AMZ - Exactly, and your voice is really one of a kind, perfectly suited to what heavy metal represented, only now, most of the vocalists don't sing, and opt for that "angry wail" type of vocal.

Joey - Yeah, and I don't do that either. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't feel right about it.

AMZ - Sure, because you're still technically a singer!

Joey - Yeah and I don't mind doing that. It's still as much of a challenge for me as anything else.

AMZ - Let's discuss a little about the new band members, all of which represent a complete overhaul from your last backup as a solo artist. I've heard of Peter Schiethauer, who's been recognized as an excellent guitar player, and of course Stet Howland on drums from W.A.S.P. How did you hook up with them?

Joey - I actually knew Stet back before Anthrax, but we didn't really stay in touch. We just talked one day and said, "Hey, we should put a band together," but we never ended up following up on it. Peter had done a record with Stet, and they talked about getting together, and the next thing I knew I got a phone call and we started writing. We put the record together quite quickly and started blowin' stuff out-like three or four songs a day! Fleisch, the bass player, is a friend of Peter's and came right along with him. That's just the way it went - a pretty quick process.

AMZ - It's obvious for anyone who's heard the new record that you've assembled some pretty talented musicians here. Is this going to be a touring band or is this a one-off recording where the rest will go their own way?

Joey - We're definitely looking to tour. We've had a tour in the making overseas since a few months ago, I think for early this year, after our album's released there in January. I like doing a lot of touring. My last band did a cool two-month tour with Motorhead. Maybe over the summer we'll get out there in support of Testament. But with this release, we've already had more doors open for us, to have people along who understand what we're doing and what's going on without not knowing.

AMZ - Any reference to your former label Mausoleum in that last statement? They folded a while ago didn't they?

Joey - Yeah, that's all I can say; Lights are on but nobody's home. I know nothing about it. It was just over and done with unfortunately. We had a few offers during that time we signed on with them; CMC had a deal for us, but things happen for a reason. I don't say it was that bad, but unfortunately we didn't get the push that we needed. Maybe that album would still have a chance if they were behind it, pushing it, but you never know.

AMZ - How has it been since you hooked up with DeRock Records? It seems to be working out a lot better.

Joey - Yeah, without even going into detail on that one. In fact, Steve and Shelly, who run the label at this point, they've been behind me all the way. They had a sense of what we wanted to do and have been very supportive. They liked the music, and wanted us to do it without us really trying to muscle our way. Before, we didn't even get a chance to even enjoy it!

AMZ - It's too bad 'cause that was really a good record. Do you find it difficult or limiting to be labeled as "metal?"

Joey - A lot of people-this guy had heard that for the new record, after hearing the first record, said, "I heard you were gonna come out with this sort of Journey thing." And I'm like, "wow"-and he gets this record, and it's a little different than that!

AMZ - I remember also hearing that somewhere . . .

Joey - Anthrax said stuff like, "He used to listen to Journey. I mean, I used to listen to it; I like a lot of stuff with vocal oriented lyrics. It plays different roles in my head, but it doesn't mean I wanna play it.

AMZ - Of course you can have different musical influences and still play what you feel is best for you.

Joey - When I was with Anthrax, I took my influence and my style and put into it some more aggression. Call it "metal," some people call it "hard rock"; It's got more. We're concentrating on stuff that grooves, but is still heavy.

AMZ - Getting back to the touring aspect again . . .

Joey - Probably around around February. There's been quite a bit of talk about touring, but I don't know any specifics yet. It'd be nice to try to put a package together. I wouldn't mind doing the Ozz-Fest. We'll just have to wait and see how things unfold.

AMZ - So right now you're definitely ready to get out there on stage.

Joey - I think we're close to being ready. We really haven't prepared strictly for it. I mean, we did this record without really rehearsing for it, so there was never a time where we played live together for this record. Each member put down their own tracks.

AMZ - Do you have any preferences as to who you'd like to tour with? Would you consider doing something with a current act or are you more comfortable with an early thrash-type, like Testament?

Joey -Oh, I'd love to go out with Fear Factory and I'd love to go out with Slayer-even a band like Slayer, they've got their own crowd. We'd have to step up a little bit, you know, for that kind of thing. The Clash of the Titans, back when that was going on, we had a lot of onlookers looking around-Megadeth's crowd, Slayer's crowd. With Fear Factory, I don't know their crowd, but like with us, they could be totally into what we do; I mean live, it's a totally different ballgame. It's heavier, there's much more energy involved, more aggression taking place. They need to hear us. In Europe, a lot of bands are just crankin' over there - even ours. The new album's wasn't even out yet and was getting good reviews. Even with Testament, they're so strong in Europe, having both of us thrown together could be a great package.

AMZ -Would you be considering performing some of the old classics on stage?

Joey - I'd love to. I did it on the Motorhead tour. There were people who didn't know it was me and then they'd go, "Hey, wait a minute. That's that dude, man!"

AMZ - Do you ever keep in touch with the old Anthrax band members? How about Dan Spitz (who left shortly after Joey)?

Joey - Dan Spitz called me not too long ago. To kind of touch base. And pay his respects. (Laughs) Like five years later. Hey, it's never too late! When I met with those guys the first time after five years, six years, it was cool as hell. But again, I'm not striving for that.

AMZ - One of my favorite albums was "Spreading the Disease." I think that one was very influential to a lot of people.

Joey - That's my favorite too, believe me. I would like to do another. "Disease" was a great record and one of the most openly sung for me-that was, in the end, it was more me than on any of the other records, only because there wasn't much dictating at that time. I got in there and they accepted me for who I was, and it was my first time doing it. But later on, it got more like, "Can you do this?" or "A little more like this!" So when you start doing that, it's hard to know what to do - try it this way or that way. It's possible they might've had John Bush in mind all that time (laugh)! Obviously, they got somebody like that and settled on a style that they're happy with. We're two different people.

AMZ - I've gotta admit I was kind of disgusted when you first left the band and John Bush was hired to replace you. Since I liked Armored Saint as well as you guys, I was sad because it was like ruining two good things for something new that was uncertain at best. But I knew once he started singing for them, it was going to almost sound so much like Armored Saint, and little if any, of the early Anthrax I grew up with.

Joey - Not quite the same anymore. You can just hear that. I think he's doing something with them again. Who knows where that'll lead.

AMZ - So you'd be willing to leave the door open for all possibilities, including the one of working with Anthrax again?

Joey - Yeah, I like to play and all that stuff. It was never my band and I never had much to say, but there were some good moments there - a lot of good moments. I learned a lot before it went down. I just think it'd be cool 'cause a lot of people would dig it. Right now, I'm just happy doing what I'm doing, but I wouldn't say I'm too good for that or that I'd never want to do that. Who knows?

AMZ - But focusing back on the here and now, it's great to hear you're still out doing your own thing. The new album sounds awesome and I'm glad things are working better for the band now and doing what you've wanted to do.

Joey - I dig our own stuff. It rocks, you know? I can't wait to get out there and play live for people. We'd like to get a chance, that's for sure!