Bible Black In 1983, Belladonna, still using his birth name, became the vocalist for the band
Bible Black, founded by
Craig Gruber and
Gary Driscoll (former members of
Elf and
Rainbow) and
Andrew "Duck" MacDonald (who later joined
Blue Cheer). Belladonna's predecessors in the band were
Jeff Fenholt, who later had brief stints with
Black Sabbath and
Joshua, and Louis Marullo, aka
Eric Adams, who left to join
Manowar. Belladonna recorded the songs "Deceiver" and "Midnight Dance" with Bible Black. The band never officially released an album.
Anthrax performing with Anthrax in 2005 Belladonna was the lead singer of
Anthrax from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the classic-lineup (also featuring
Dan Spitz,
Scott Ian,
Frank Bello and
Charlie Benante). During this time, the band was nominated for the
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1991 and 1992. After he was replaced by
John Bush, he spent the next decade touring in minivans and taking odd jobs. Belladonna returned to the band when the "classic" lineup reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. He found out on the internet that he had been replaced again by
Dan Nelson. Since his return, Anthrax has been nominated for three additional Grammy awards.
Belladonna / solo career After his departure from Anthrax in 1992, Belladonna continued to make music in 'Belladonna', a solo project of which he has been the only consistent member. In the mid-1990s, Belladonna released its self-titled debut album, which was well received by both critics and fans alike. The second album,
Spells of Fear, was released in 1998 and was heavily criticized for bad production and poor musicianship. Demo recordings of a third album, which was never professionally mastered, were self-released by the band in 2003. It was a return to better songwriting and musicianship and like the debut album it was well received by the fans. When asked whether he plans to release any more solo material in the future despite having re-joined Anthrax as a full-time member, Belladonna responded with:"Yeah definitely. I'm working on some stuff and I have almost a full record worth of material sitting right here which is very well demoed up but it is still far from done in its own way. I just keep running out of time whether someone's schedule is messed up or whatever it is happening at the time and it's unfortunate. Now of course Anthrax is back on the go so I just don't have the time to sit for hours with the material but there is definitely some cool metal here. By the time I get to do these songs I'll probably have a fresh batch of ideas and songs to put on top of those. (...) I'd like to put another record out some day, put something out that I can again call my own as I have some great ideas." Belladonna also plays drums and sings lead vocals in a cover band named Chief Big Way which features mainly classic rock hits from the 1970s and 80s. The band, based around
Syracuse, New York, plays small neighborhood bars. He also sings in a
Journey cover band called Beyond Frontiers. == Discography ==