Anthrax bassist/vocalist Frank Bello would have no hesitations at the chance to once again partake in some ‘Big Four‘ shows. Staged around 2010-2011, that series of concerts highlighted four pillars of thrash metal hitting the stage together. Led by Metallica, that historic bill included Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.
While Slayer went on to hang it up in 2019, they’ve since returned as a live legacy act from 2024 onward, Megadeth meanwhile are currently out on their global farewell tour. Of course, for the ‘Big Four‘ to happen again would also require some significant mending of fences, given that Dave Mustaine‘s relationship with Metallica once again went off the rails a number of years ago now.
Regardless of the obvious challenges presented in resurrecting that tour, Bello is still hoping to manifest it. In a recent chat with the BREWtally Speaking Podcast, Bello said of the trek:
“I think the Big Four was a great thing you know? But again you compartmentalize it. It was that time. It was a really wonderful celebration that Metallica put together that so many fans came out to, and I thought it was a really beautiful thing, and I would love to do it again, I’ll put it out there. I will do it in a second because it was that kind of celebration. These triumphant amazing things like that — and look Back To The Beginning last year — you know that whole thing was just incredible. We’re very lucky
But these are you know these little parts of it, these are parts of your career, and they’re very big parts of the Big Four, Back To The Beginning are very very big parts for me especially. I just I feel like… it’s a celebration of what we’re doing and it’s like, wow, I still can’t believe we were able to be part of this you know?
As a guy from the Bronx, you know what I mean? A guy from the Bronx is lucky enough to be part of this stuff and that’s the way I feel. I’m humbled by it, but with respect to it, I said that it doesn’t end there. You have to keep going, because the next thing, it’s like a shark you have to keep swimming right? You have to keep swimming or you die, and I have no intention of stopping.”
Anthrax‘s 12th studio album “Cursum Perficio” is due out on September 18th.
