Thrash Metal veterans ANTHRAX stopped by Schaghticoke, NY, for the Rock N Derby Festival to give fans a preview of their upcoming For All Kings Tour. This summer ANTHRAX For All Kings Tour rocks Europe following a North American tour this fall with SLAYER and DEATH ANGEL. ANTHRAX’s latest album For All Kings sold 34,000 copies in the US in its first week of release back in February 2016 and hit No. 9 on The Billboard 200. For All Kings also earned its first No. 1 spot on Billboard‘s Hard Rock Albums chart and No. 2 on Top Rock Albums on March 19, 2016.
ANTHRAX Drummer Charlie Benante stepped in some lucky manure at the Rock N Derby media barn to have some “coffee talk” with Rock Revolt about Rock N Derby, the upcoming tours, and Charlie Benante’s very own special blends of coffee.
When did you roll in for the Rock N Derby festival?
I flew in today an early flight from Chicago and it’s all good!
What do you think of Rock N Derby so far?
I have only seen two parts of it. I’ve seen the dressing room and the stage too and this part. A lot of horse shit in the media tent! I don’t know if they put it in here purposely. (Laughs)
When I came here and I saw this, I loved it! I was cracking up! No glamour here. You definitely don’t want to hang out here longer than you need to.
This is stripped down. (He agrees)
I think this is the first time they are doing this festival Rock N Derby.
Hopefully people are here to see it!
Tell me, are you guys on tour right now? What are your upcoming tour plans in the US?
We have been doing these weekend festivals: The Carolina Rebellion and the other festivals. I have never been up here; I’ve never done this one; I think it’s a new one. We are starting in September with Slayer and Death Angel going across the States so that will be a nice heavy metal tour.
Will you get an opportunity to walk around a little bit?
We are doing a lot of interviews today but after that I’m sure I’ll get a chance to go and see it.
Your new album came out and it hit big on the charts. How is it doing now?
The whole thing with record sales nowadays: it’s not about the race, it’s the marathon that you are on. None of these bands sell records like they used to so you have to do as much as you can to get your record heard by as many people as possible whether that’s streaming it or actually having a physical copy in your hand. The way I feel nowadays it’s any means necessary. I think our new record is the best record we have done in a long, long time. And it’s probably the best thing that’s out there right now as far as Metal is concerned.
What else are you doing?
I have my coffee that is out which is awesome. I have 2 coffee blends out now. They have been out for quite a while now and I enjoy doing it. It’s one of my favorite things because I live it. I drink it. So anybody I can turn on to it, I will turn on to it. You can go on my website CharlieBanante.com and then you’ll find the links. You can get some and enjoy it and have that experience of drinking coffee in the morning and then playing metal. (Laughs) At least that is my experience.
What kind of coffee is this? Is it a perk?
It’s any way you want to make it actually.
What’s your favorite way to make coffee?
My favorite ways to make it are the French press. I love normal drip but usually the French Press is the best way to make it. You wake up in the morning, grind some beans, put it in the French press, press it, the smell is everywhere: it’s just awesome.
I was thinking you were going to say ‘French press’. It might be the best way to make coffee!
I think so too! It’s up to the person how they like it. Some people set their machines the night before so that when they wake up they have coffee ready which is awesome too. So that is your experience that way. Some people don’t want to take the time and grind the beans and do it all. They just want to wake up and have it there ready. I understand that too.
How do you take your coffee?
I usually take it with a little bit of cream, like half and half in the morning. I’ll have a little bit of that. And then later on in the day I usually have my iced coffee as my afternoon coffee. That’s a little different. Then I’ll go for a little more additive in it. But in the morning it’s just straight with a little bit of cream. That’s me!
Are you Italian decent?
Yes I am!
Do you think that is where you get your love for coffee from?
Yes I do!
What part of Italy is your family from?
Sicily!
Ah! Me too!
Other parts too. My mother was from other parts of Italy too.
Like and Italian mutt?
Yeah! (laughs)
ANTHRAX will be in Europe for Summer 2016, then North American Fall 2016. Check out their dates here!
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Photo and article by Jen Rubino 6/8/2016
Interview May 21, 2016
