Anthrax caught in a blur while moshing on Iron Maiden tour

There aren’t many bands that have been around for 42 years that would agree to play a five-song set for only 30 minutes.

But Anthrax isn’t your ordinary band. They’re also smart enough not to say no to Iron Maiden and its “Run For Your Lives” tour.

So the veteran thrashers from New York agreed to play a mere six dates in September opening for the lads from Britain and Megadeth. One of those dates was fortunate enough to be in the Alamo City on Tuesday night before an estimated 50,000 fans at the Alamodome that was packed to the rafters.

But even vocalist Joey Belladonna, rhythm guitarist Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello and lead guitarist Jon Donais were thrown a curveball when original drummer Charlie Benante was said to have woken up with “debilitating vertigo” and unable to play.

A mad scramble ensued to enable Anthrax to avoid cancelling its appearance. Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren took action by calling San Antonio resident and current Raven and former Fear Factory backstopper Mike Heller, who luckily answered the phone.

Without knowing any Anthrax songs (surprisingly), only being given 4 1/2 hours notice and being directed to the wrong place to park — and only meeting with the band members an hour before hitting the stage — Heller turned into Mighty Mouse on his own by saving the day as Anthrax kicked off a loud, memorable, headbanging night for the ages.

Despite releasing their first album in 10 years only 11 days prior, Anthrax could not perform any tunes from Cursum Perficio given that Heller had to chart even their most well-known classics. And given their short allotted 40 minutes of stage time that turned into 30, it’s not clear whether Anthrax would’ve performed at least first single “It’s for the Kids” even if Benante had answered the call.

No matter.

Heller stepped in, and Anthrax moshed things up as only they know how with five of their tunes from the 1985-90 era (setlist below).

Heller wrote on his social media pages the day after in part:

“So I woke up today thinking that I was gonna spend a nice day with my cats and my drumpad… then out of absolutely nowhere at 2:00pm I get a call from my buddy Dirk Verbeuren… he asks me if I’m in town tonight, and if I might know any Anthrax songs, and if I can fill in for Charlie Benante at 6:30pm tonight on the Maiden/Megadeth/ Anthrax tour…. Well… I didn’t know any Anthrax songs on the drums, but I quickly charted two out, raced down to the Alamodome… sat in traffic and got thrown to the wrong place to park, finally got inside, sat down with the guys in Anthrax for less than an hour… charted the other songs as they told me how the versions they play live are different from the album… and then went on stage in front of 56,000 people or whatever, and did my best... Holy crap! How the HELL did I get here?!?!”

“I still have no idea what happened! Next time, I hope I get more than a few hours to try to learn the songs… and hopefully I would actually be able to move the drums into a comfortable playing position for me… but this is a night I will never forget!” (see 42-photo gallery).

As Ian told the crowd immediately after opening track “Caught in a Mosh:”

“Before we go any further . . . Charlie was puking his guts out this morning.”

But when push came to shove, Anthrax delivered the goods as they so often do. It’s virtually a given they’ll be back nearby on a headlining run once things settle down.

Until then, “My journey has come to an end” may or may not be taken literally from Anthrax’s point of view. Between now and then, however, it’s perfectly acceptable to be caught in a mosh anytime Anthrax is in the vicinity.

SETLIST: Caught in a Mosh, Madhouse, Antisocial, Got the Time, Indians

ANTHRAX

Joey Belladonna (left) and rhythm guitarist Scott Ian kicked off Iron Maiden’s “Run For Your Lives” tour stop Tuesday at the Alamodome with a 30-minute opening slot (photos by Jay Nanda / Alamo True Metal)

Frank Bello bellows out backup vocals on opening 1987 classic “Caught in a Mosh.”

Belladonna acknowledges fill-in drummer and San Antonio resident Mike Heller after original drummer Charlie Benante woke up the morning of the show “puking his guts out” according to Ian.

Ian explains to the 50,000-plus fans that Benante was too ill to play the show and that Mike Heller was kind enough to fill in.

Bello is fired up as he hits the stage.

The crowd begins to form underneath the Alamodome as fans seek shade from the high-90 degree temperatures three hours before the show.

Heller is overcome with a range of emotions and thoughts as he sits behind the kit despite not knowing any of the band’s tunes and having to chart them out with the rest of the group only an hour before going on stage.

Ian keeps the moshing coming on 1985 classic “Madhouse.”

Fans at the barrier anticipate the show’s kickoff.

Jon Donais tears into “Antisocial.”

Belladonna and the band released Cursum Perficio a mere 11 days before the show, their first album in a decade.

Bello gets the crowd fired up.

Belladonna, Heller and Ian jam on their cover of Trust’s “Antisocial.”

The line for merch extends toward the Tower of Americas within the Alamodome’s confines.

Heller is currently the drummer in Raven and formerly played in Fear Factory.

Ian helped found the band in 1982 in New York.

Bello, Heller and Belladonna hit the stage with a fury on “Caught in a Mosh.”

Bello is the nephew of Benante.

Donais headbangs as he and Ian crush their way through “Madhouse.”

A view of the line forming in Parking Lot C of the dome just to go down to the tunnel area with the metal detectors to go back up the stairs and into the HEB Plaza three hours before showtime.

Ian and his Flying-V shred through “Caught in a Mosh.”

Belladonna is on his third stint with the band.

Donais formerly played guitar with Shadows Fall.

Bello was once in a side project with former Megadeth and current Metal Church bassist David Ellefson called Altitudes & Attitude.

The band only played six dates in the U.S. with Iron Maiden and Megadeth, and the Alamodome was the last one.

Another muggy summer day awaited fans but couldn’t stop them from hanging out hours before doors opened.

Belladonna also makes his mark in a Journey tribute band.

Ian also plays in a band called Motor Sister with his wife Pearl Aday.

Belladonna and Ian do their thing on “Madhouse.”

Heller winds through a whirlwind day for him in learning, and performing, five Anthrax songs.

Donais replaced Rob Caggiano several years ago on lead guitar.

The band’s set was so short, Ian didn’t have much time to do his usual stomping and prancing around the stage.

The band should be returning to Texas on a headlining run in 2027.

Bello had to miss some European dates earlier this year, but he was back in the fold at the dome.

The group’s last visit to San Antonio came Feb. 10, 2023, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port with Black Label Society and Exodus.

Ian was in a supergroup 20 years ago called Damnocracy with Ted Nugent, Sebastian Bach, Evan Seinfeld and Jason Bonham.

Donais has been in the band for roughly 13 years.

Ian and Co. have been around for 42 years since their Fistful of Metal debut.

Bello and Belladonna — the Killer B’s minus Benante — rock the house on “Antisocial.”

Cursum Perficio is the band’s 12 studio album.

Donais and the group only played five songs in 30 minutes in large part to the curve ball they were thrown behind the drums before the show.

As one of the band’s co-founders, Ian is likely the only rhythm guitarist in any band who speaks to the crowd.

Bello belts out vocal help on “Madhouse.”

Donais, always the soft-spoken one in the group, lets his guitar do the talking.

Belladonna and Ian got things warmed up for the Iron Maiden-clad crowd with a blistering 30-minute set.