Anthrax’s Frank Bello Respects Metallica And James Hetfield: “You Didn’t Have To Do ‘Big Four’, Thank You”

During a newly-shared interview of Rock City Music Company that was aired on November 20, 2021, while Frank Bello was there for the book signing in celebration of his memoir, Fathers, Brothers, And Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, And Anthrax, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello sent respectful words for Metallica and James Hetfield. He touched on their decision to create The Big Four.

In his book, Frank Bello had revealed the story of his father’s abandonment of their family when he was a child. Back in the day, Bello had admitted that he was inspired by Metallica frontman James Hetfield, whose father left his family just like Bello.

Even though he’s gone through difficult times, James Hetfield became one of the most important musicians in metal music. He formed Metallica and made great things as a part of them. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together, won numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, AMA, Billboard Awards, and more.

The Big Four, which included Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, was one of those great things Metallica has ever made. In 2010, those four bands came together and played a huge show in front of over 81,000 people at the Sonisphere festival at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland.

Recently, Frank Bello mentioned his passion for Metallica, his respect for James Hetfield, and The Big Four adventures. At first, the musician recalled the show Anthrax played with Metallica on November 14, 2021 at the Welcome To Rockville festival. According to him, he brought the book for James Hetfield and thanked him for being an inspiration for him.

“We were playing with Metallica on Sunday,” Frank said. “I bought the book for James. I wanted to hand it to him and say ‘thank you.’

“After the Anthrax set, I was ready. I made a beeline for my friend James. And I said, ‘I wanna let you know this book would not have been possible without getting the ‘go’ from you, without getting that ‘okay, I can talk about abandonment from my father’ by what the words you said in ‘Absent’.'”

Frank Bello Adds ‘Metallica Is Arguably The Biggest Band In The World’

Later then, Frank Bello once again sent praising words for Metallica and James Hetfield. Saying that Metallica didn’t need to do that The Big Four thing, Bello added that they are arguably the best band in the world. He also thanked them to do that The Big Four act.

“Metallica didn’t need to do the ‘Big Four,'” Frank continued. “They could sell out those stadiums on their own. They’re arguably the biggest band in the world.

“[When I spoke to him at the show we made at Welcome To Rockville on November 14], I told [him], ‘Look, if nobody’s told you this before, and I don’t know if they have, thank you. Straight out, thank you. Dude, thank you. You didn’t have to do that.’ And he goes, ‘I get it, man.’

“James is one of those great humble guys. He knows what he has and he knows he’s the deal, but he’s humble enough to say, ‘I get it, dude. It’s a celebration.’ That the ‘Big Four’ was a celebration of this thrash movement coming up.

“That’s what it was for all of us; it really was — the bands and fans. So, yeah, man. I said, ‘Thank you, dude. You didn’t have to do that. I know you guys didn’t have to do that. You did it to celebrate.

“Now, I just wanna let you know, from Frank Bello talking to my friend James…'”

Back in this past October, Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser had mentioned The Big Four, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, while opening up about the current state of heavy metal music. According to him, they made tons of great stuff.

 

“Heavy metal is the most popular style of music in the world by far, with the most faithful fans, the type of fans that don’t buy bootleg, they want to have the official stuff, the official shirt, the album, the lyrics, and everything,” the guitarist said.

“You see Maiden fans and KISS fans, and Led Zeppelin, and even Sepultura fans.

“We put out a lot of products that people just collect like the Sepultura beer we have in Brazil and stuff.

“People that don’t drink, they still go there and buy just to collect an item of Sepultura, which is great.

“That keeps the style alive and strong because the money goes straight to the band and management, and the record label, and not people that are just taking advantage of some popular style or band, which is great.

“Not only as singers but as great instrumentalists, like guitar players and drummers and bass players, it’s fantastic.

“I think it’s one of the best momentums, especially after the Big Four came back – Metallica putting new albums, Anthrax and Megadeth and Slayer. The farewell from Slayer was huge – that shows the power of thrash and speed and whatever metal you want to call it.

“So, it’s great… Metal was always there, changing in the late ’90s to 2000s to nu-metal and that rap stuff, but always metal, and Metallica going different ways and stuff, but I think we are going through a very special and positive time.”