Chuck Billy (vocalist)
Encyclopedia
Chuck Billy is an American
vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal
band Testament
.
, future Exodus
vocalist, in the mid-1980s when the band was still called Legacy. Following his arrival, Testament released their first album entitled The Legacy in 1987. The only song written by Chuck Billy on The Legacy was "Do or Die". Although the lineup of the band has changed over the years, Billy has remained constant as the vocalist alongside guitarist Eric Peterson
who also was an all time permanent member. However, his vocal style has changed considerably over the years from a clear, high pitch thrash style to a deeper low register approaching a death grunt. Since the Low
album, he has mixed both styles and sometimes performs both on the same song.
during at least one concert recently (October 28, 2004 at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, opening for Megadeth
).
In 2006 Chuck Billy provided vocals on the Sadus
song "Crazy" and, along with several other musicians from other bands, did a cover of Iron Maiden
's "Fear of the Dark
" for their Numbers from the Beast tribute album.
On Light This City
's 2008 release, Stormchaser, Chuck Billy provides vocals on the song "Firehaven."
Chuck Billy also joined with musicians including Steve Souza
, Greg Bustamante, Steve Robello, Chuck's brothers Eddie and Andy Billy, Dan Cunningham & Willy Lange to form the band Dublin Death Patrol
.
In 2008 Chuck Billy did the vocals for Silent Night on the album of Christmas carols We Wish You a Metal Christmas and Headbanging New Year with the likes of Scott Ian
, Jon Donais, Chris Wyse
and John Tempesta
.
In 2009 Chuck Billy appears on the song Live My Dream from the band Susperia
's album Attitude
.
For the live presentation of the album Ziltoid the Omniscient by Devin Townsend, he provided the voice of the Planet Smasher on the track of the same name. This happened at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2010 in Helsinki.
Native Americans, an indigenous people of Northern California
. He is proud of his Native American
heritage, sometimes giving a shoutout to his "Native brothers and sisters" in the audience. The song "Trail of Tears" is a tribute to his heritage, as is "Allegiance". In 2010, Chuck Billy was among those recognized in the Smithsonian
National Museum of the American Indian
exhibit Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture, which was on display through January 2, 2011.
In 2001, Chuck Billy was diagnosed with germ cell
seminoma; a rare kind of cancer in his case because it is usually in the testicular region of a man's body, but he had it in the chest region near his heart. However, following chemotherapy
, he has since been given a clean bill of health and continued his work with Testament. In August 2001, friends organized the Thrash of the Titans
benefit concert, held to raise money for Chuck's medical expenses.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
.
Testament
Chuck Billy replaced Steve "Zetro" SouzaSteve Souza
Steve 'Zetro' Souza is one of the two singers, with Chuck Billy, for the band Dublin Death Patrol. He also sings for the death/thrash metal band Tenet, and recently announced his new thrash metal project Hatriot...
, future Exodus
Exodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
vocalist, in the mid-1980s when the band was still called Legacy. Following his arrival, Testament released their first album entitled The Legacy in 1987. The only song written by Chuck Billy on The Legacy was "Do or Die". Although the lineup of the band has changed over the years, Billy has remained constant as the vocalist alongside guitarist Eric Peterson
Eric Peterson (musician)
Eric Peterson is an American guitarist. He is best known as the only constant member of the US thrash metal band Testament. Eric has also formed a side-project black metal band called Dragonlord, in which he plays guitar and also sings. In Testament, Eric was originally a rhythm guitarist while...
who also was an all time permanent member. However, his vocal style has changed considerably over the years from a clear, high pitch thrash style to a deeper low register approaching a death grunt. Since the Low
Low (Testament album)
Low is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released in 1994. It was the first album without lead guitarist Alex Skolnick or drummer Louie Clemente, who were replaced by James Murphy and John Tempesta, respectively...
album, he has mixed both styles and sometimes performs both on the same song.
Other work
Chuck has also appeared on the solo projects of James Murphy, playing on both albums as a guest musician. He also has sung lead vocals for ExodusExodus (band)
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...
during at least one concert recently (October 28, 2004 at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco, opening for Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
).
In 2006 Chuck Billy provided vocals on the Sadus
Sadus
Sadus is an American thrash metal trio from Antioch, California.-History:Sadus was formed in 1984 in Antioch, California. While their very first efforts were influenced by early thrash metal bands, such as Slayer or Death, the band would later develop its own musical style by adding complicated...
song "Crazy" and, along with several other musicians from other bands, did a cover of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's "Fear of the Dark
Fear of the Dark (song)
"Fear of the Dark" is a song written by Steve Harris, bass player and main songwriter for Iron Maiden, as the title track to Iron Maiden's 1992 album Fear of the Dark...
" for their Numbers from the Beast tribute album.
On Light This City
Light This City
Light This City was an American melodic death metal band from the Bay Area of San Francisco that was active between 2002 and 2008.-History:They released one independent album and three albums with Prosthetic Records before disbanding in 2008...
's 2008 release, Stormchaser, Chuck Billy provides vocals on the song "Firehaven."
Chuck Billy also joined with musicians including Steve Souza
Steve Souza
Steve 'Zetro' Souza is one of the two singers, with Chuck Billy, for the band Dublin Death Patrol. He also sings for the death/thrash metal band Tenet, and recently announced his new thrash metal project Hatriot...
, Greg Bustamante, Steve Robello, Chuck's brothers Eddie and Andy Billy, Dan Cunningham & Willy Lange to form the band Dublin Death Patrol
Dublin Death Patrol
Dublin Death Patrol is an American thrash metal band formed in 2006 by Testament singer Chuck Billy and former Legacy and Exodus singer Steve Souza....
.
In 2008 Chuck Billy did the vocals for Silent Night on the album of Christmas carols We Wish You a Metal Christmas and Headbanging New Year with the likes of Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
, Jon Donais, Chris Wyse
Chris Wyse
Chris Wyse is the current bass guitarist for the influential hard rock band The Cult. He is also the vocalist and bassist of his own band, Owl.Wyse tried out for Metallica to replace Jason Newsted in 2003, and can be seen on the DVD Some Kind of Monster...
and John Tempesta
John Tempesta
John Tempesta is a heavy metal drummer who has worked several bands including: Exodus, Testament and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist and served as drum technician for heavy metal band Anthrax earlier in his career...
.
In 2009 Chuck Billy appears on the song Live My Dream from the band Susperia
Susperia
Susperia is a Norwegian black/thrash metal band formed in October 1998 by Tjodalv and Cyrus.The band was originally named Seven Sins, but since there was another band with that name they changed it to the title of the horror film Suspiria, but changed the spelling to avoid copyright issues...
's album Attitude
Attitude (Susperia album)
Attitude is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian thrash metal band Susperia.- Track listing :* All Songs Written By Susperia.# "The Urge" – 3:58# "Live My Dreams" – 3:30# "Attitude" – 3:41# "Elegy And Suffering" – 3:58# "Sick Bastard" – 4:06...
.
For the live presentation of the album Ziltoid the Omniscient by Devin Townsend, he provided the voice of the Planet Smasher on the track of the same name. This happened at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2010 in Helsinki.
Personal
Chuck Billy is of the PomoPomo people
The Pomo people are an indigenous peoples of California. The historic Pomo territory in northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point...
Native Americans, an indigenous people of Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. He is proud of his Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
heritage, sometimes giving a shoutout to his "Native brothers and sisters" in the audience. The song "Trail of Tears" is a tribute to his heritage, as is "Allegiance". In 2010, Chuck Billy was among those recognized in the Smithsonian
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
National Museum of the American Indian
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum operated under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution that is dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the native Americans of the Western Hemisphere...
exhibit Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture, which was on display through January 2, 2011.
In 2001, Chuck Billy was diagnosed with germ cell
Germ cell
A germ cell is any biological cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces sexually. In many animals, the germ cells originate near the gut of an embryo and migrate to the developing gonads. There, they undergo cell division of two types, mitosis and meiosis, followed by...
seminoma; a rare kind of cancer in his case because it is usually in the testicular region of a man's body, but he had it in the chest region near his heart. However, following chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
, he has since been given a clean bill of health and continued his work with Testament. In August 2001, friends organized the Thrash of the Titans
Thrash of the Titans
Thrash of the Titans was a benefit concert held on August 11, 2001 at the Maritime Hall in San Francisco, CA. The concert was a co-benefit for Testament vocalist Chuck Billy, who was diagnosed with germ cell seminoma ; and Chuck Schuldiner, leader of the death metal band Death, who was also...
benefit concert, held to raise money for Chuck's medical expenses.