Anthrax FIRED Him… He Ended Up MOWING LAWNS!
The story of why Anthrax fired Joey Belladonna in 1992.
Anthrax-Public Enemy Bring the Noize collaboration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnnmeRTn8M0&t=30s&pp=ygUgcm9jayBuIHJvbGwgdHJ1ZSBzdG9yaWVzIGFudGhyYXjSBwkJBAsBhyohjO8%3D
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What happens when you’re the voice of one of the biggest metal bands in the world, and then one day, it’s all gone? For Joey Belladonna, frontman of Anthrax, that was reality. He went from commanding tens of thousands of fans to mowing lawns at a horse barn, in one of the strangest rise-and-fall stories in metal.
By 1991, Anthrax were one of the “Big Four” of thrash alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Their dark, acclaimed album Persistence of Time hit number 24 on the Billboard charts, and they were co-headlining the massive Clash of the Titans tour. Fronting them was Joey Belladonna, whose melodic tenor stood out in a genre of guttural barkers. After he joined in 1984, their trajectory went vertical with Among the Living, followed by State of Euphoria and the Grammy-nominated Persistence of Time. From the outside, Anthrax looked bulletproof. Inside, things were cracking.
Their usual writing method had Charlie Benante on music, Scott Ian and Frank Bello shaping arrangements, Scott on lyrics, and Joey working out vocals. This time, it wasn’t clicking. The Persistence sessions felt strained. Scott’s lyrics were deeply personal, and he felt Joey’s interpretations didn’t match his intent. On top of that, the band had already confronted Joey about drugs and alcohol back in 1988 and quietly floated Armored Saint’s John Bush as a possible replacement.
During the “Bring the Noise” collaboration with Public Enemy, Scott saw Joey looking out of place while the rest of the band dove into rap-metal territory. It raised a hard question: where did Joey fit in the future of Anthrax? Meanwhile, money and tour offers were rolling in, but Scott felt the core of the band was “rotten.” Firing Joey became, in his words, a slow burn rather than a single explosion.
Complicating everything, Anthrax were in the middle of signing a huge deal with Elektra Records reportedly worth $10 million. They’d already decided to let Joey go, but feared telling the label. When they finally did, Elektra backed them, and Joey still received an equal share of the advance as recognition of his role in getting them there.
The actual firing was handled by their manager Jonny Z, something Scott later regretted not doing himself. Joey was blindsided. “I didn’t quit!” he said later. “It was unexpected and it wasn’t my idea.” The band moved on with John Bush, scoring their highest Billboard debut with 1993’s Sound of White Noise.
Joey’s path was very different. Instead of spiraling, he took a maintenance job at a horse barn with his wife. His main duty: mowing the massive grounds. He later said he didn’t need the money, but wanted purpose and structure. At the same time, he kept playing in his solo project and cover band Chief Big Way, staying musically active without bitterness.
Years later, the classic lineup reunited for tours and eventually brought Joey back permanently. Anthrax’s 2011 album Worship Music and 2016’s For All Kings proved the chemistry was still there. Yet for Joey, the past never fully disappeared. He’s admitted it’s hard being around people who once decided he shouldn’t be there at all. Still, he’s back where he always wanted to be—front and center with Anthrax, after one of the strangest detours in thrash metal history.
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@rnrtruestories
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Here’s the Anthrax Public Enemy video I reference https://youtu.be/lnnmeRTn8M0?si=ZyYfbHAimyadLEYx
@atranfanatic
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Always called them Bushthrax when Joey was gone. Over the years I've learned to tolerate the Bush years, but so glad Joey got back in Anthrax where he belongs! With all that said State of Euphoria has always been my favorite Anthrax album! Who Cares Wins is a banger of a track!
@captainhilarity1252
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Gung hoe
@tleeg74
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Joey is a great vocalist.
@CyclopsMetal
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Wanting to replace Joey with someone more modern and versatile and then picking Bush was puzzling. That's why it didn't work past a few songs on White Noise. Bush was as much of a traditional metal style vocalist as Joey…..but Joey had a very distinctive voice that had already become known as the sound of Anthrax. And Bush was the sound of Armored Saint…..Thankfully both are now back there they belong.
@e-legalcanadian
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
While I somewhat enjoyed The Sound of White Noise, John Bush era Anthrax was absolutely the worst era of Anthrax, overall… I mean, Hell, they really weren't even the same band anymore… they weren't Anthrax.
Glad Joey came back, but unfortunately, due to the new direction the band took, musically, during his hiatus, Anthrax's new music sucks as well.
Saw them in concert in March and I was glad that they mostly played their old stuff, because it would've been a terrible show otherwise.
@samycovo3170
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Give John Bush the respect he deserves! 3 and a half perfect albums during his tenure (Volume 8 being only half good)
BBB
Bring back Bush!
@TOGade-dj6jh
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
The new song is promising, I’m certain they will deliver another massive Anthrax album.
🤘🏼🇸🇪🤘🏼
@timjames9963
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
This is a really great video, thanks. Just one fact check – Dan Spitz left in 1995 before the release of Stomp 442, not 1997.
@DeviantmindOG
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
He looks like he cuts his hair with a lawnmower
@j.w.m.415
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Best thing Anthrax ever did was get rid of that second rate hair metal vocalist. John Bush not only made better songs, he performed Belladonna's songs on stage better too.
@michiel2722
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Wish Jon Bush was back in Antrax. Can't stand the Joey era and Sound of White Noise was an absolute masterpiece.
@BrianM-44041
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Meh. .owing lawns is quite relaxing. Good for joey. I hope he finds peace.
@jimg.708
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I remember in 1992 hearing on MTV News that the split with Joey was due to 'creative differences'.
And so, we were not there to know all the details of what happened during those times.
Though 4:50 is quite a stretch, in itself.
As to Scott wishing Joey did more in the Bring the Noise video. Uhm, the guy had no lyrics to sing. But Scott did most of the rapping so…? what's the problem?
I wouldn't say Joey not doing more for that travesty of a song (rap isn't music, but that's a whole different discussion itself) made him any less fitting to be a singer for Anthrax, by any means.
It's unfortunate something that was meant to be fun like 'I'm The Man' is later taken to such extremes by some people that 'oh… Joey doesn't fit the band anymore' when Joey isn't even the singer on bring the noise.'
It's not like Jon Bush stepped up to do anything rappy that I recalled either.
Anthrax basically went through 12 years of being off of my radar with that split. Sound of white noise left me disappointed that Anthrax sold out to grunge. Or so it felt anyway.
Some genres are better left to their own devices, and should simply have never been mixed to such extremes.
It's great PE fans and anthrax fans like that song, but honestly. That really is a niche audience in itself. And why blow it out of proportion? Honestly the rest of the Attack of the Killer Bs was better anyway. Milk with Joey singing it trumps bring the noise- no question.
And 2:46
That's what happens when a guitar player writes lyrics for a singer to sing, instead of just letting the singer write lyrics of their own, and express them accordingly.
If Scott had such a problem with it, he should have worked that out with Joey so that the expressions came out right in the end.
@ccomega929
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
i was so glad when they got Joey back. i honestly skip over the John era stuff.
@chiefmegadeth
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Love ya, Joey! Legend and sad they let him go, happy he came back and completed the band
Amazing voice! Anthrax is Joey, without him it wasn't the same
@Gaelic_Warrior
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
"A Fistful Of Metal" will always be their best in my opinion..
@moshkteer
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
belladonnas voice was the only reason I cant stand anthrax, same for megadeth
@hilarygarrison6139
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
John Bush is the perfect singer-for Armored Saint. I couldn't see him doing Bring the Noise or anything fun like that.
@butterbagboy
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Joey is great but bush era sounds real good, he was a good sonic fit, best frontman swap ever
@DonaldRogers-y9y
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
He never mowed lawns but his own after he left Anthrax he went solo and I seen him when he played drums the whole show and sang it was killer.
@SASQUATCHBROTHERS
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Thrash was not about gutterL growls , just saying
@John85Bender
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I had a friend who lived in NY and hung out with him a lot. I missed a call from him one night and called him back the next day and he said, I got Joey to call you but you didn’t pick up your phone.
@nimagpie
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Yeah, they even say in their documentary that Scott and Charlie's egos were out of control and they wanted to follow the trend at the time, grunge rock. They blamed Joey for a lot of things. He was the fall guy, they had limited success with John Bush.
@Chemosh418
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
His drinking got in the way of his performing, like robin Crosby.
@adamsilva711
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
You skipped the sonispnere big show 4 in 2004(?) where John Bush agreed to sing and Scott wanted him back extremely badly.. Had John agreed then I believe he would still be in the band.
@ErikStone1
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Back in 2013, I met Joey Belladonna in an Airport. He was just walking through the terminal killing time. He was all by himself, and everyone was ignoring him. I saw him and freaked out, so of course I approached him to get a photo with him (sorry, Joey). He was really nice. I'll never forget it.
@ArchaicPassages
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I don’t care what anybody is saying about Scott Ian. The guy helped Metallica finish their east cost tour of Kill em All by lending his gear since their was stolen. That alone is good enough for me.
@zachpeat5076
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
They sucked after Joey left
@Ghostrider-71
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Great synopsis and commentary. Anthrax is a great band. Thank you for posting.
@EC5-g5m
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Hes the complete opposite of Sebitchin Bach😂
@michaelhalford9709
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Damn i just remember i saw Belladonna open for Motorhead at Lulu's in Kitchener Ontario. The 90s were a blur for me lol. Great show Joey was amazing as usual.
@matthewgarrison-perkins5377
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Half the big 4 went commercial, Megadeth started slowing down, Slayer was changing their sound into a more tribal, bassy kinda sound. Glam was dying, thrash was on its last legs, hard rockers like AC/DC, Aerosmith and Queensryche were getting alot of nationwide radio airplay due to more commercially viable music. Then the twin blades of the Seattle sound and what would become Nu Metal dealt a killing blow to most of the thrash and glam acts. Unless you only got your music news from MTV, Rolling Stone and Metal Edge. To which watching TMZ for Physics news is an equivalent.
@anonymoussource5344
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Getting rid of Dan Spitz and Joey was THE mistake in the band’s career. Sound of White Noise was the biggest mistake as well. Bands that tried to follow Metallica’s footsteps destroyed their careers.
@PitViperX1977
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
I love John Bush, Armored Saint is legendary and he has a phenomenal voice but I never understood this. I remember being in HS when Sounds of White Noise dropped and there are a few good songs on it but it’s nothing like the Anthrax albums leading up to it. Anthrax’s secret weapon IS Joey!!! His voice and even stage presence is what sets them apart from every other thrash band. Even today, some great singers in the big thrash bands but none of them do what Joey does.
I think they decided to go in a different direction. Something slightly more mainstream, they gave into the trend with a more “alternative” vibe and Joey wasn’t fitting into that bullshit so they got rid of him. Which says a lot…I’ve had a few talks with Billy Milano and the MOD camp, there’s 2 sides to every story but the more you find out the more you realize there might be some truth to both Scott and Charlie being douchebags.
@gerrygarvey6792
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
There is no Anthrax without Joey
@michaellazor5667
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
If any of you haven't heard the Worship Music album, stop what you're doing and buy the album. It's worth every moment. No grunge, or groove-metal vibes. Just kick ass metal.
@raygilbertflies
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Among the Living is the last Album I bought or listened to. I didn't like anything they did after that.
@brianbauer7560
May 18, 2026 at 12:19 pm
State Of Euphoria is an amazing album