August 28, 2026 • 27 mins
The iconic frontman of Testament gets candid in his new memoir, "Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy." Chuck joins to discuss the book, 40 years of thrash, Del James friendship, Guns N' Roses, and more!
More info:
https://chuckbillybook.com/
https://premierecollectibles.com/holdingmybreath
https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/
https://www.facebook.com/testamentlegions/
Our website:
www.afdpod.com
More info:
https://chuckbillybook.com/
https://premierecollectibles.com/holdingmybreath
https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/
https://www.facebook.com/testamentlegions/
Our website:
www.afdpod.com
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Even though he worked with Guns N' Roses, which is
more of a glam, you would think at that time,
he had a dark side to him.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome to the podcast, Appetite for Distortion. My name is Brando.
Episode number 576. Welcome to the podcast, the legend from Testament, Mr.
Chuck Billy.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
How are you, sir? I'm doing great. How are you doing?
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm happy to be talking to you today. Holding my
breath in anticipation talking to you. That's my brilliant segue.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Nice. We're going to talk about a.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Lot of things, but the main thing while you're here
is holding my breath, your new memoir, The Two Testaments
of Chuck Billy. Yeah. So, first of all, congratulations. I mean,
I know a little bit what goes into writing a book,
not nearly what you've accomplished, but just congrats, first of all.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Thank you. It was, you know, it was challenging because
at first of all, I wasn't really like open to it.
Cause I'm kind of private, you know, I'm in interviews.
I didn't really talk about that. I was talking about
the band and directly pointed at the band. So this
part was like trying to make sure I wasn't writing
(01:17):
a Testament book. I wanted to people to kind of
know that Chuck, before I found my way into the
band and how I found my way. And, and you know, that,
that guy, Cause I think that was definitely a younger,
tougher guy, you know, growing up. Uh, and then, you know,
of course the second Chuck is once I got ill
(01:40):
with cancer in 2001, um, and then throwing the big
benefit show and all those Bay area bands revived from Exodus, death, angel,
and violence forbidden. I mean, you name it, they all
revived back then and, um, moving forward with Testament, having
a full reunion and then putting out a lot of
(02:03):
great music with the band since then, you know, not
really thinking I'd have that opportunity and, and to have it,
you know, going through it and, and surviving the story
of surviving the cancer, because of course, you know, when
I was younger, I knew 38 was going to be
(02:23):
it in my music career, maybe in life. Hmm. And
to get there and then to find out I got
cancer and that's the way it's going to happen. You know,
it's kind of like, wow, okay, this is it. And
the way I got through it, especially the native journey
I took, you know, and to make it out the
(02:45):
other side, definitely made a different man, different Chuck for sure.
And having the opportunity again to hook up with the
original guys and keep making new music and, and kind
of focused on the opportunity, not necessarily what we're doing,
kind of being a band. It was just, it was
(03:07):
first comfortable being opportunity to play again, first of all,
but then to have a reunion was a benefit on
top of that, you know, never thought that would happen
and then just keep carrying on, you know, me and Eric.
So I think, you know, doing a book and telling
the story, It was tough because we didn't know how
(03:28):
we were going to do it. But because we talked
our way through it, we realized there was two Chucks.
And there is two Chucks. The way I would never
take no for an answer. I still take no for
an answer often with the band. But more so when
I was younger and more bold and stood my ground
a little more. Maybe not always right, but somehow I
(03:51):
stood it to the other Chuck. learning to breathe, I
guess you'd say. Maybe, you know, not hold my breath
so long, you know, starting to breathe a little easier
on the other side or before I definitely was holding
my breath for every instance, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
So that definitely was going to answer one of my questions,
why the title. But before I get in a lot
to jump off of there, But most importantly, though, how
are you feeling today, if you don't mind me asking?
I know it never really goes away, but even though
sometimes it does go away, but it's always there with you.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I feel great, but I would never try to really
focus on it, because I'm always moving forward with it,
away from it. Especially now, later in our years, in
writing with Eric and Chris now, just really delivering a
lot of tunes right now, just... We're in a good
(04:51):
place where we're probably going to deliver records every couple
of years instead of every four years at this pace
right now, which is a good thing for us.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That's a good thing for a lot of bands. As
you know, you're in a G & R podcast.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
It's a good thing for a lot of bands.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Could you imagine?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
But for us, where we're at in our life and
our careers, there's a lot of new bands, a lot
of new music coming up. That's true. You know, it'd
be nice because we get inspired by what new bands
and people are doing. We can't go out and be
that because we don't want to mimic it, but we
(05:29):
can definitely be inspired by it. I think we've done
that kind of in our last record. Some of those
songs have a more modern flair just of the influence,
I guess, you know?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Who's inspiring you now? What's inspiring you now?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Well, some of those songs, especially with Chris... bring it
to Eric, you know, more bands like Lorna shore or
more real death stuff. Chris is really loves his death metal,
you know, and, um, he likes playing fast, you know,
and Eric loves black metal and loves playing fast. So
(06:08):
that's a good combination for the two of them because
Eric loves that way. And Chris loves to play that way. So,
it's a good marriage to what they're doing and it
doesn't take long for Eric and Krista mold out a song.
You know, they're just really in a good writing groove
right now. You know, so I think they got maybe
(06:28):
good close to nine tracks that they brought over to
me to start listening to. Nice. So we're way ahead
of the game. You know, hopefully I think next summer
is our goal to get in to start recording the record.
So we'll see what happens from now until then.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
And we'll talk about some of the music, but of
course the focus on the book. And I appreciate, you know,
thank you for writing the book because anybody can write
a book about, I guess, their band and there's the
whole drug sex and rock and roll of it all.
And that stuff doesn't interest me, honestly. It's the stuff
that you talk about because everybody, whether they've had cancer
(07:07):
themselves or serious illness themselves, they know somebody who's gone
through it.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
You know, I.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
My secondary theme of the podcast is mental health. You know,
I'm surrounded by just the world of mental health and
depression and addiction, you know, coming out of it and
family members and all that. So there's two sides, you know,
also two testaments to just Brando and Brandon. So while
I'm not a front man of this kick-ass band, there
(07:35):
are a lot of things I can relate to. So
I appreciate you opening it up and you're talking about
these genres of music like death metal and black metal.
And while I know, but I still think there's a
stereotype out there being like, these guys are, are hard.
They don't feel, they don't, it's no, it's, it's usually it's,
it's quite the opposite. Do you have, has that changed
(07:57):
throughout your career? Maybe the stigma surrounding your sound? Cause I,
that's why I appreciate when again, big Chuck Billy, you know,
people are knowing that the quiet side, knowing the other side.
And I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, but in our music, I think we're beyond trying
to prove a point. Like when you're a younger band,
you're playing hard and fast and give it your best
shot right now. People are listening. You know, we wrote
a lot of records and a lot of songs where
it's more about writing for what really inspires us or
(08:32):
makes us feel good. Or especially when we're trying new
things that we haven't done before, especially like on these
last couple of records, especially vocally. I'm trying some new stuff,
finding some new voices and tones that I haven't used,
which I think is pretty cool after 40 years to
still be able to be pushed to an uncomfortable spot,
(08:56):
but still to be pushed to something where it's being creative,
you know, for us. And for me, you know, as
a vocalist trying different things, which is fun. It's kind
of exciting to like, okay, well, what else can I do?
are pushed to and then take those newer bands that
are influenced and just real heavy shit going, okay, well,
(09:17):
how can I incorporate some of the stuff that is
happening now? People are loving, which I used to do
in the past that I could still do and maybe
try to cross the cross it together with what I
did and what people are doing. You know, maybe it's
striking nerve a little, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You know, it's, As you're talking about the music, it's
amazing how I see it so early into the conversation,
the two chucks, that you light up talking about the music.
But obviously there's a serious tone talking about the other
side of it. When did the decision come? Because, again,
you'll do interviews. but not talking about the other side
(09:58):
of it, the side of Chuck that you want people
to know. Was there always, as you're going through it,
and I'll tell you this, just to relate, so I
was taking care of my grandfather several years ago now
when he was dying of cancer. He had oral, and
it was bad. So I.
(10:19):
Where was I in radio at the time? I think, oh, yeah.
So I was still, I was living on Long Island,
but I was commuting up to Poughkeepsie, New York, which
is a couple hours north. So I was really, you know,
still trying to make it and everything. And it's just,
there's the two sides of it. And I'm still on
the radio, but at the same time, there's a whole
(10:41):
other side going on. But while I was doing it,
I was writing a book. I don't know if I,
it was probably more for therapy, but I wrote like
30 pages of it, like my experience. Kind of like
a Tuesdays with Maury, if you're familiar. I called it
Mondays with Martin was my working title. His name was Martin. So,
I mean, that was just for myself. Were you writing
(11:02):
for yourself maybe at first, or did you always have
an idea of like, okay, this is a story I
want to share and to help other people? I guess
what was the jumping off point?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Well, I guess the holding your breath part and title,
where that comes from is, you know, up to where
I was eight months old, I used to like to
get my way. I used to hold my breath until
I turned black and blue and would pass out. And
that's kind of like told me looking back and telling
(11:37):
my whole book and story. That was the kind of
guy it was. I knew what I wanted and I
don't know. What I wanted to hold my breath, more
milk out of the tit, I don't know. But I
knew that somehow if I held my breath, I'd get
a reaction until I passed out. So from a young age,
I know somehow to get a reaction by doing something,
(12:03):
forcing the reaction. So I've always been that guy to
kind of stand my ground to get my way. Like, no,
it's my way. No, no, this is what we're going
to do. So it started out with holding my breath.
That kind of like, I realized as I was growing up,
that was me. I was always the one, no, this
(12:25):
is my way. This is the game we're playing that,
you know, this is it, you know, that's my way. And, um,
and so that that's kind of, you know, I never
realized it. So I'm writing a book and telling my
childhood stories and going back and, bringing my friends in
(12:45):
to talk with me and my writer to bring back
some stories and memories and the way they seen things
and seen me, you know, and it's like, damn, man,
it's like, you know, it's just maybe the way I
was raised, but I was, you know, it was a
kind of a mean kid or a, you know, troublemaker kid,
(13:06):
I guess, or whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
You know, I had a calendar, uh, This doesn't compare,
but this is just my nerdy comparison in my head.
In first grade, of what days I wouldn't talk in
my talk-out-loud-interrupt class. My teacher would mark that down and
send it home and be like, these are the days
that Brandon didn't talk. I guess it made sense to
go into radio at some point in time. That's special.
(13:35):
Was it hard to relive some of that? Um, or
was it, did it come out?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It is, but it, it kind of made me realize that,
you know, man, you're kind of a mean kid, you know,
like this, that's, you're holding your breath a lot as
a kid. And it's funny because I think three days
ago I was out to breakfast and a guy stopped
me on the way out, asked me if I was
Chuck Billy. And I'm like, yeah. And he's like, you know,
I went, um, knew you from back in the day.
(14:02):
And I go, you're from Dublin. He's like, no, I'm
from San Ramon. Hmm. you know, Dublin, San Ramon had
their kind of back and forth. And I go, you go,
I go, yeah. Oh, how you doing? It was, yeah.
It was one of the guys. I remember we played
soccer together. I know you got your book coming out
and I was one of the guys you punched in
the mouth when we played soccer. So right away, it
(14:23):
took me to like with a book, like, Oh my God,
he's one of the guys I was talking about. And
I was just one of those. I remember like, that's
just the way I played soccer. I was a rough
kid fighting my way through to, you know, score and, and,
Just so happens to meet a guy and stop me
this many years later, you know, to bring that up
was just kind of an odd timing, you know.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Surreal, I'll bet.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
What's the biggest takeaway you want fans to know about
Chuck Billy after reading your book?
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, because I think in my story, I think I
had three options. It's going to be sports. music or
some sort of entertainment something like those are my options
in life and the way I kind of got you
know pushed away from the sports and down the music
road you know who that guy that athlete guy going
(15:19):
down the music road was you know that that's kind
of as I see myself when I stuck out and
started playing music you know because I played a lot
of sports at that time and once I got kicked
out of school and no scholarships and sports programs were done,
you know, there was the men's league then at that point,
you know, um, things were different as all music.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So just to know, I think in the story.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
That, and I think that just kind of shows that
guy who knew what he wanted and stuck with it
because I think, look, 40 years in the same band,
I'm either really fortunate or me and Eric have something
special that we'd be able to stick it out for
this long and still create some really good music, still
(16:09):
make some good records.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I'd say both. Fortunate and you're good. You're still making
good records. It's all of the above. We're glad you're
fortunate in the ultimate of beating your battle against cancer.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Did you....
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Cross your mind. I mean, I've, I've, I've never been,
I can only imagine, you know, as just being an
erotic person, I just think about death in that fashion.
You know, what would I want to be remembered for?
You know, has that ever crossed your mind? Like, or
just let the music do the talking.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Um, well at that time, you know, of course that
weighs big on, you know, you don't know what the unknown,
you know, what's going to happen. You don't know the outcome. Um,
but you know, the way I handled it going in again,
probably holding my breath, real took the bull by the
(17:06):
horn again, went into that battle. Maybe the way I
was raised, I was prepared that prepared me for this
battle and the way I went in it in the
native route, I did took and things I seen and
did and experienced, you know, um, especially, you know, my
(17:29):
mother raising me a Catholic, you know, while we were
consciously going to church and all that, to going through
that experience and coming out of it more of a
spiritual guy instead of a religious guy, you know, of
my house. I've got different gods of everywhere all over
(17:51):
my house. You'd see, you know, and you'd go, what
the hell, you know? Baphomet sitting next to Jesus on
the cross and just all the, all kinds of stuff. Just, yeah.
So I'm just more of a spiritual guy now, you know,
and open to a lot of, you know, things that
I would think, I don't know, you know, and, but
(18:14):
what I experienced, I do know from what I did
with the native route, it was heavy and strong, you know,
right on. Maybe I almost didn't even explain it good enough.
And that's what I really wanted to explain is that part,
because I really wanted to get the details of what Charlie,
you know, how I felt that first healing floating through
(18:35):
the air and everything, you know, it was just, it
was surreal, you know, and just how he showed up.
And my friend, Nancy, we talked after just like, Hey,
I didn't give him your address. And it's like, well,
he was, he knocked on my door, you know, 500
miles away, he showed up, you know? Hmm.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
There's something else you talk about in this book, and
here's my pivot. Former guest of the show and was
honored to have him on, that's Del James, a friend
of yours.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And a songwriting partner. Can you talk about how your
friendship with Del began? Because there also, as you mentioned,
Testament's been around 40 years. Guns N' Roses started in 1985,
so 41 years this year.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, Del, actually, back when we first met, He was
one of the chief editors of Rip Magazine. Okay. And
I think Lon Friend was a part of that magazine.
Our friend Gene Ambo was one of the photographers. And
so I know they came out and did a piece.
(19:40):
Might have been around the Clash of the Titans in Europe.
So about 89, maybe 90. I think maybe 89. 89.
And so they came out to do a story. So
they hung out with us for like about two weeks,
rode on our bus party. And that's where we all
(20:01):
came really good, close friends. And, you know, Dell was awesome.
biker guy longer hair beard and we just clicked and
um i knew he was a writer and he was
a good writer and i hated writing lyrics and um
i always had the ideas of what i wanted to
(20:24):
write about but i wasn't good putting it down to
be like poetic i guess and so dell always had
that about him and his writing he was dark he
he was just a dark person um even though he
worked with guns and roses which is a more of
(20:45):
a glam you would think at that time he had
a dark side to him and and when we met
and wrote we just sat and knock it knock the
songs out and ever since the first time we wrote
it's the same way i come to la i'm like
okay i'm coming down i got some music or three
or four songs. All right. I'll see you tomorrow morning.
(21:08):
I'll show up high, high. It's pretty much like that.
All right, let's go hit the tape and we roll.
We don't mess around. And so by the time I
go home, I got three songs written with him. Yeah. Wow.
So it's always been like that. We just work it
out and I leave with structures, lyrics, and then I'll
go home and massage them and, and, and, and record them.
(21:31):
And sometimes they'll change. from what we wrote but when
we work we we we just we get it done
it's amazing and we it's always been that way since
um i guess 92 we wrote some stuff on the
ritual i believe so yeah wow i.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Mean we've been working a long time yeah no for
sure and he gets uh shot out in in the
book and you mentioned uh And I like that you
mentioned within the same breath as Guns N' Roses, how they, yeah,
they were more, they weren't testament. They were more on
the glam side of things, not quite poison. And you
talk about in the book how you, you know, had
your little foray, your little step, your, your toe in
(22:12):
the water and with glam when you use the word,
you look like an ugly chick. Those are your words.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But what did you think of, I guess, Guns N'
Roses though, when they came out? Were they, because a
lot of people said they were, different they weren't quite
glam what did you where were you career-wise i guess
uh in.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
1987 we were we were actually in ithaca to york
i remember making our recording our record and we had
that cassette that we'd play the shit out of that
at the hotel or in the car um it was
just good good music you know it was just good
(22:51):
you know We were coming from a different world, going
to record the Legacy record, you know, and then the
New Order in 88. So, yeah, it was different. We
had come from a different background, but listening to Guns
N' Roses, for us, it was good guitar, good solos,
(23:15):
good lyrics. Axl had a different tone to his voice.
So it was like really something... fresh and new again
for sure.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Do you know any of those guys other than through Dell?
Or is it Dell just kind of like a strict friendship?
Or do you know any of the GNR guys?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
I know the GNR guys, especially Dizzy. Dizzy was always
hanging with us with Dell and we'd always go to
either a hockey game or something or we'd go hang
out and watch a football game or somewhere at our
one common friend that has a nice sports setup. So Disney,
(23:55):
a lot more Dell, you know, then when the axles
we've seen them in town, when they played Vegas or whatever,
we'd go and hang out. Dell would always take care
of us. Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Oh, so you've been to, you've been to some shows,
I guess that's, that's, that's fun.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, right on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
How's that feel being, whether it's guns or roses or not, like,
are you able to, you know, as a performer, uh,
do you enjoy a show as a fan or do
you ever think about, okay. I, you know, I love
it right on. Cause sometimes it's, it's hard for me,
you know, again, not being in the same level as
you are as comparison, but just how do I make
(24:35):
it make sense in my head. But it's hard for
me to listen to a radio show or anything that
I've been involved in, like a news, like a newscast.
Cause I have some news background and hard not to
just think about maybe what would I do? Or just like, Oh,
I can learn things from that. Just, Hard to look
at it as just a strict fan. So I guess
that's where my question came from. So we'll wrap up
(24:59):
with this, and I appreciate your time, and I know
you've had a lot of interviews today. What's next? I
know getting this book off is, I'm sure, a big
weight off your shoulders, but you said New Testament's right
around the corner. You're ahead of the curve. So when
can we expect to hear new music in a... any
other projects in the work that we might not know about?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Yeah, well, we're going to get in the studio next summer.
That's the goal. So from now until then, we'll write it.
We're way ahead of the game as far as music. So,
but along the way, we'll keep just writing and doing demos.
But I look forward to just getting the book out.
You know, it's coming out November 10th, you know, so
(25:43):
I'm doing a, appearance and signing in Dublin where I
grew up at, uh, our local bar for where Phil
Demmel actually owns. Uh, one of the first bars I
went to, it's in the book, first date with the wife.
So we're going to do a signing there and then
probably down in LA with Jose down at Sirius, you know, uh,
(26:04):
or two before the book, uh, and do like a
Q and a signing, just tell stories, answer questions, something,
something real simple.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Just because you gave me the opening to bring it up.
I haven't seen him in a long time, but Jose,
very nice guy that works at Sirius. So my past
radio lives, I worked at SiriusXM for a year. However,
here's the big caveat. I worked for the Catholic channel,
(26:35):
and I'm Jewish. So how do you do that? I
was like, radio is radio. I mean, so it was
a unique experience.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
And you played Testaments. I know. You know what?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I shouldn't even add anything to that. That was a
perfect ending. So yeah, that was just a unique. But
I would talk to Jose and try to get on
the rock side, and he was always so kind to me.
So anyway, so yeah, I should have played Testament on
there and gotten fired for that. So if anybody wants that,
they should go to ChuckBillyBook.com, an easy website to remember.
Chuck Billy Book, Holding My Breath, The Two Testaments of
(27:09):
Chuck Billy. Just congrats on the book. I'm glad you're
still here. I'm glad you're still making it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
You can find it on Amazon as well. And also
Premier Collectibles, they have them as well. Okay. And Amazon.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'll put all the links in the- You can find
it all over.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I'll put all the links in the show summary. So
thank you, Chuck. And that does it for this episode
of Appetite for Distortion. When you see the next one,
in the words of Axel Rose concerning Chinese democracy, I
don't know how soon is the word, but you'll see it.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah! Thanks to the lame ass security, I'm going home.
Even though he worked with Guns N' Roses, which is
more of a glam, you would think at that time,
he had a dark side to him.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Welcome to the podcast, Appetite for Distortion. My name is Brando.
Episode number 576. Welcome to the podcast, the legend from Testament, Mr.
Chuck Billy.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
How are you, sir? I'm doing great. How are you doing?
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm happy to be talking to you today. Holding my
breath in anticipation talking to you. That's my brilliant segue.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Nice. We're going to talk about a.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Lot of things, but the main thing while you're here
is holding my breath, your new memoir, The Two Testaments
of Chuck Billy. Yeah. So, first of all, congratulations. I mean,
I know a little bit what goes into writing a book,
not nearly what you've accomplished, but just congrats, first of all.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Thank you. It was, you know, it was challenging because
at first of all, I wasn't really like open to it.
Cause I'm kind of private, you know, I'm in interviews.
I didn't really talk about that. I was talking about
the band and directly pointed at the band. So this
part was like trying to make sure I wasn't writing
(01:17):
a Testament book. I wanted to people to kind of
know that Chuck, before I found my way into the
band and how I found my way. And, and you know, that,
that guy, Cause I think that was definitely a younger,
tougher guy, you know, growing up. Uh, and then, you know,
of course the second Chuck is once I got ill
(01:40):
with cancer in 2001, um, and then throwing the big
benefit show and all those Bay area bands revived from Exodus, death, angel,
and violence forbidden. I mean, you name it, they all
revived back then and, um, moving forward with Testament, having
a full reunion and then putting out a lot of
(02:03):
great music with the band since then, you know, not
really thinking I'd have that opportunity and, and to have it,
you know, going through it and, and surviving the story
of surviving the cancer, because of course, you know, when
I was younger, I knew 38 was going to be
(02:23):
it in my music career, maybe in life. Hmm. And
to get there and then to find out I got
cancer and that's the way it's going to happen. You know,
it's kind of like, wow, okay, this is it. And
the way I got through it, especially the native journey
I took, you know, and to make it out the
(02:45):
other side, definitely made a different man, different Chuck for sure.
And having the opportunity again to hook up with the
original guys and keep making new music and, and kind
of focused on the opportunity, not necessarily what we're doing,
kind of being a band. It was just, it was
(03:07):
first comfortable being opportunity to play again, first of all,
but then to have a reunion was a benefit on
top of that, you know, never thought that would happen
and then just keep carrying on, you know, me and Eric.
So I think, you know, doing a book and telling
the story, It was tough because we didn't know how
(03:28):
we were going to do it. But because we talked
our way through it, we realized there was two Chucks.
And there is two Chucks. The way I would never
take no for an answer. I still take no for
an answer often with the band. But more so when
I was younger and more bold and stood my ground
a little more. Maybe not always right, but somehow I
(03:51):
stood it to the other Chuck. learning to breathe, I
guess you'd say. Maybe, you know, not hold my breath
so long, you know, starting to breathe a little easier
on the other side or before I definitely was holding
my breath for every instance, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
So that definitely was going to answer one of my questions,
why the title. But before I get in a lot
to jump off of there, But most importantly, though, how
are you feeling today, if you don't mind me asking?
I know it never really goes away, but even though
sometimes it does go away, but it's always there with you.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
I feel great, but I would never try to really
focus on it, because I'm always moving forward with it,
away from it. Especially now, later in our years, in
writing with Eric and Chris now, just really delivering a
lot of tunes right now, just... We're in a good
(04:51):
place where we're probably going to deliver records every couple
of years instead of every four years at this pace
right now, which is a good thing for us.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That's a good thing for a lot of bands. As
you know, you're in a G & R podcast.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
It's a good thing for a lot of bands.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Could you imagine?
Speaker 1 (05:08):
But for us, where we're at in our life and
our careers, there's a lot of new bands, a lot
of new music coming up. That's true. You know, it'd
be nice because we get inspired by what new bands
and people are doing. We can't go out and be
that because we don't want to mimic it, but we
(05:29):
can definitely be inspired by it. I think we've done
that kind of in our last record. Some of those
songs have a more modern flair just of the influence,
I guess, you know?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Who's inspiring you now? What's inspiring you now?
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Well, some of those songs, especially with Chris... bring it
to Eric, you know, more bands like Lorna shore or
more real death stuff. Chris is really loves his death metal,
you know, and, um, he likes playing fast, you know,
and Eric loves black metal and loves playing fast. So
(06:08):
that's a good combination for the two of them because
Eric loves that way. And Chris loves to play that way. So,
it's a good marriage to what they're doing and it
doesn't take long for Eric and Krista mold out a song.
You know, they're just really in a good writing groove
right now. You know, so I think they got maybe
(06:28):
good close to nine tracks that they brought over to
me to start listening to. Nice. So we're way ahead
of the game. You know, hopefully I think next summer
is our goal to get in to start recording the record.
So we'll see what happens from now until then.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
And we'll talk about some of the music, but of
course the focus on the book. And I appreciate, you know,
thank you for writing the book because anybody can write
a book about, I guess, their band and there's the
whole drug sex and rock and roll of it all.
And that stuff doesn't interest me, honestly. It's the stuff
that you talk about because everybody, whether they've had cancer
(07:07):
themselves or serious illness themselves, they know somebody who's gone
through it.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
You know, I.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
My secondary theme of the podcast is mental health. You know,
I'm surrounded by just the world of mental health and
depression and addiction, you know, coming out of it and
family members and all that. So there's two sides, you know,
also two testaments to just Brando and Brandon. So while
I'm not a front man of this kick-ass band, there
(07:35):
are a lot of things I can relate to. So
I appreciate you opening it up and you're talking about
these genres of music like death metal and black metal.
And while I know, but I still think there's a
stereotype out there being like, these guys are, are hard.
They don't feel, they don't, it's no, it's, it's usually it's,
it's quite the opposite. Do you have, has that changed
(07:57):
throughout your career? Maybe the stigma surrounding your sound? Cause I,
that's why I appreciate when again, big Chuck Billy, you know,
people are knowing that the quiet side, knowing the other side.
And I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah, but in our music, I think we're beyond trying
to prove a point. Like when you're a younger band,
you're playing hard and fast and give it your best
shot right now. People are listening. You know, we wrote
a lot of records and a lot of songs where
it's more about writing for what really inspires us or
(08:32):
makes us feel good. Or especially when we're trying new
things that we haven't done before, especially like on these
last couple of records, especially vocally. I'm trying some new stuff,
finding some new voices and tones that I haven't used,
which I think is pretty cool after 40 years to
still be able to be pushed to an uncomfortable spot,
(08:56):
but still to be pushed to something where it's being creative,
you know, for us. And for me, you know, as
a vocalist trying different things, which is fun. It's kind
of exciting to like, okay, well, what else can I do?
are pushed to and then take those newer bands that
are influenced and just real heavy shit going, okay, well,
(09:17):
how can I incorporate some of the stuff that is
happening now? People are loving, which I used to do
in the past that I could still do and maybe
try to cross the cross it together with what I
did and what people are doing. You know, maybe it's
striking nerve a little, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You know, it's, As you're talking about the music, it's
amazing how I see it so early into the conversation,
the two chucks, that you light up talking about the music.
But obviously there's a serious tone talking about the other
side of it. When did the decision come? Because, again,
you'll do interviews. but not talking about the other side
(09:58):
of it, the side of Chuck that you want people
to know. Was there always, as you're going through it,
and I'll tell you this, just to relate, so I
was taking care of my grandfather several years ago now
when he was dying of cancer. He had oral, and
it was bad. So I.
(10:19):
Where was I in radio at the time? I think, oh, yeah.
So I was still, I was living on Long Island,
but I was commuting up to Poughkeepsie, New York, which
is a couple hours north. So I was really, you know,
still trying to make it and everything. And it's just,
there's the two sides of it. And I'm still on
the radio, but at the same time, there's a whole
(10:41):
other side going on. But while I was doing it,
I was writing a book. I don't know if I,
it was probably more for therapy, but I wrote like
30 pages of it, like my experience. Kind of like
a Tuesdays with Maury, if you're familiar. I called it
Mondays with Martin was my working title. His name was Martin. So,
I mean, that was just for myself. Were you writing
(11:02):
for yourself maybe at first, or did you always have
an idea of like, okay, this is a story I
want to share and to help other people? I guess
what was the jumping off point?
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Well, I guess the holding your breath part and title,
where that comes from is, you know, up to where
I was eight months old, I used to like to
get my way. I used to hold my breath until
I turned black and blue and would pass out. And
that's kind of like told me looking back and telling
(11:37):
my whole book and story. That was the kind of
guy it was. I knew what I wanted and I
don't know. What I wanted to hold my breath, more
milk out of the tit, I don't know. But I
knew that somehow if I held my breath, I'd get
a reaction until I passed out. So from a young age,
I know somehow to get a reaction by doing something,
(12:03):
forcing the reaction. So I've always been that guy to
kind of stand my ground to get my way. Like, no,
it's my way. No, no, this is what we're going
to do. So it started out with holding my breath.
That kind of like, I realized as I was growing up,
that was me. I was always the one, no, this
(12:25):
is my way. This is the game we're playing that,
you know, this is it, you know, that's my way. And, um,
and so that that's kind of, you know, I never
realized it. So I'm writing a book and telling my
childhood stories and going back and, bringing my friends in
(12:45):
to talk with me and my writer to bring back
some stories and memories and the way they seen things
and seen me, you know, and it's like, damn, man,
it's like, you know, it's just maybe the way I
was raised, but I was, you know, it was a
kind of a mean kid or a, you know, troublemaker kid,
(13:06):
I guess, or whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
You know, I had a calendar, uh, This doesn't compare,
but this is just my nerdy comparison in my head.
In first grade, of what days I wouldn't talk in
my talk-out-loud-interrupt class. My teacher would mark that down and
send it home and be like, these are the days
that Brandon didn't talk. I guess it made sense to
go into radio at some point in time. That's special.
(13:35):
Was it hard to relive some of that? Um, or
was it, did it come out?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
It is, but it, it kind of made me realize that,
you know, man, you're kind of a mean kid, you know,
like this, that's, you're holding your breath a lot as
a kid. And it's funny because I think three days
ago I was out to breakfast and a guy stopped
me on the way out, asked me if I was
Chuck Billy. And I'm like, yeah. And he's like, you know,
I went, um, knew you from back in the day.
(14:02):
And I go, you're from Dublin. He's like, no, I'm
from San Ramon. Hmm. you know, Dublin, San Ramon had
their kind of back and forth. And I go, you go,
I go, yeah. Oh, how you doing? It was, yeah.
It was one of the guys. I remember we played
soccer together. I know you got your book coming out
and I was one of the guys you punched in
the mouth when we played soccer. So right away, it
(14:23):
took me to like with a book, like, Oh my God,
he's one of the guys I was talking about. And
I was just one of those. I remember like, that's
just the way I played soccer. I was a rough
kid fighting my way through to, you know, score and, and,
Just so happens to meet a guy and stop me
this many years later, you know, to bring that up
was just kind of an odd timing, you know.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Surreal, I'll bet.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
What's the biggest takeaway you want fans to know about
Chuck Billy after reading your book?
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Well, because I think in my story, I think I
had three options. It's going to be sports. music or
some sort of entertainment something like those are my options
in life and the way I kind of got you
know pushed away from the sports and down the music
road you know who that guy that athlete guy going
(15:19):
down the music road was you know that that's kind
of as I see myself when I stuck out and
started playing music you know because I played a lot
of sports at that time and once I got kicked
out of school and no scholarships and sports programs were done,
you know, there was the men's league then at that point,
you know, um, things were different as all music.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
So just to know, I think in the story.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
That, and I think that just kind of shows that
guy who knew what he wanted and stuck with it
because I think, look, 40 years in the same band,
I'm either really fortunate or me and Eric have something
special that we'd be able to stick it out for
this long and still create some really good music, still
(16:09):
make some good records.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I'd say both. Fortunate and you're good. You're still making
good records. It's all of the above. We're glad you're
fortunate in the ultimate of beating your battle against cancer.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Did you....
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Cross your mind. I mean, I've, I've, I've never been,
I can only imagine, you know, as just being an
erotic person, I just think about death in that fashion.
You know, what would I want to be remembered for?
You know, has that ever crossed your mind? Like, or
just let the music do the talking.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Um, well at that time, you know, of course that
weighs big on, you know, you don't know what the unknown,
you know, what's going to happen. You don't know the outcome. Um,
but you know, the way I handled it going in again,
probably holding my breath, real took the bull by the
(17:06):
horn again, went into that battle. Maybe the way I
was raised, I was prepared that prepared me for this
battle and the way I went in it in the
native route, I did took and things I seen and
did and experienced, you know, um, especially, you know, my
(17:29):
mother raising me a Catholic, you know, while we were
consciously going to church and all that, to going through
that experience and coming out of it more of a
spiritual guy instead of a religious guy, you know, of
my house. I've got different gods of everywhere all over
(17:51):
my house. You'd see, you know, and you'd go, what
the hell, you know? Baphomet sitting next to Jesus on
the cross and just all the, all kinds of stuff. Just, yeah.
So I'm just more of a spiritual guy now, you know,
and open to a lot of, you know, things that
I would think, I don't know, you know, and, but
(18:14):
what I experienced, I do know from what I did
with the native route, it was heavy and strong, you know,
right on. Maybe I almost didn't even explain it good enough.
And that's what I really wanted to explain is that part,
because I really wanted to get the details of what Charlie,
you know, how I felt that first healing floating through
(18:35):
the air and everything, you know, it was just, it
was surreal, you know, and just how he showed up.
And my friend, Nancy, we talked after just like, Hey,
I didn't give him your address. And it's like, well,
he was, he knocked on my door, you know, 500
miles away, he showed up, you know? Hmm.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
There's something else you talk about in this book, and
here's my pivot. Former guest of the show and was
honored to have him on, that's Del James, a friend
of yours.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And a songwriting partner. Can you talk about how your
friendship with Del began? Because there also, as you mentioned,
Testament's been around 40 years. Guns N' Roses started in 1985,
so 41 years this year.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, Del, actually, back when we first met, He was
one of the chief editors of Rip Magazine. Okay. And
I think Lon Friend was a part of that magazine.
Our friend Gene Ambo was one of the photographers. And
so I know they came out and did a piece.
(19:40):
Might have been around the Clash of the Titans in Europe.
So about 89, maybe 90. I think maybe 89. 89.
And so they came out to do a story. So
they hung out with us for like about two weeks,
rode on our bus party. And that's where we all
(20:01):
came really good, close friends. And, you know, Dell was awesome.
biker guy longer hair beard and we just clicked and
um i knew he was a writer and he was
a good writer and i hated writing lyrics and um
i always had the ideas of what i wanted to
(20:24):
write about but i wasn't good putting it down to
be like poetic i guess and so dell always had
that about him and his writing he was dark he
he was just a dark person um even though he
worked with guns and roses which is a more of
(20:45):
a glam you would think at that time he had
a dark side to him and and when we met
and wrote we just sat and knock it knock the
songs out and ever since the first time we wrote
it's the same way i come to la i'm like
okay i'm coming down i got some music or three
or four songs. All right. I'll see you tomorrow morning.
(21:08):
I'll show up high, high. It's pretty much like that.
All right, let's go hit the tape and we roll.
We don't mess around. And so by the time I
go home, I got three songs written with him. Yeah. Wow.
So it's always been like that. We just work it
out and I leave with structures, lyrics, and then I'll
go home and massage them and, and, and, and record them.
(21:31):
And sometimes they'll change. from what we wrote but when
we work we we we just we get it done
it's amazing and we it's always been that way since
um i guess 92 we wrote some stuff on the
ritual i believe so yeah wow i.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Mean we've been working a long time yeah no for
sure and he gets uh shot out in in the
book and you mentioned uh And I like that you
mentioned within the same breath as Guns N' Roses, how they, yeah,
they were more, they weren't testament. They were more on
the glam side of things, not quite poison. And you
talk about in the book how you, you know, had
your little foray, your little step, your, your toe in
(22:12):
the water and with glam when you use the word,
you look like an ugly chick. Those are your words.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But what did you think of, I guess, Guns N'
Roses though, when they came out? Were they, because a
lot of people said they were, different they weren't quite
glam what did you where were you career-wise i guess
uh in.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
1987 we were we were actually in ithaca to york
i remember making our recording our record and we had
that cassette that we'd play the shit out of that
at the hotel or in the car um it was
just good good music you know it was just good
(22:51):
you know We were coming from a different world, going
to record the Legacy record, you know, and then the
New Order in 88. So, yeah, it was different. We
had come from a different background, but listening to Guns
N' Roses, for us, it was good guitar, good solos,
(23:15):
good lyrics. Axl had a different tone to his voice.
So it was like really something... fresh and new again
for sure.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Do you know any of those guys other than through Dell?
Or is it Dell just kind of like a strict friendship?
Or do you know any of the GNR guys?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
I know the GNR guys, especially Dizzy. Dizzy was always
hanging with us with Dell and we'd always go to
either a hockey game or something or we'd go hang
out and watch a football game or somewhere at our
one common friend that has a nice sports setup. So Disney,
(23:55):
a lot more Dell, you know, then when the axles
we've seen them in town, when they played Vegas or whatever,
we'd go and hang out. Dell would always take care
of us. Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Oh, so you've been to, you've been to some shows,
I guess that's, that's, that's fun.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, right on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
How's that feel being, whether it's guns or roses or not, like,
are you able to, you know, as a performer, uh,
do you enjoy a show as a fan or do
you ever think about, okay. I, you know, I love
it right on. Cause sometimes it's, it's hard for me,
you know, again, not being in the same level as
you are as comparison, but just how do I make
(24:35):
it make sense in my head. But it's hard for
me to listen to a radio show or anything that
I've been involved in, like a news, like a newscast.
Cause I have some news background and hard not to
just think about maybe what would I do? Or just like, Oh,
I can learn things from that. Just, Hard to look
at it as just a strict fan. So I guess
that's where my question came from. So we'll wrap up
(24:59):
with this, and I appreciate your time, and I know
you've had a lot of interviews today. What's next? I
know getting this book off is, I'm sure, a big
weight off your shoulders, but you said New Testament's right
around the corner. You're ahead of the curve. So when
can we expect to hear new music in a... any
other projects in the work that we might not know about?
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Yeah, well, we're going to get in the studio next summer.
That's the goal. So from now until then, we'll write it.
We're way ahead of the game as far as music. So,
but along the way, we'll keep just writing and doing demos.
But I look forward to just getting the book out.
You know, it's coming out November 10th, you know, so
(25:43):
I'm doing a, appearance and signing in Dublin where I
grew up at, uh, our local bar for where Phil
Demmel actually owns. Uh, one of the first bars I
went to, it's in the book, first date with the wife.
So we're going to do a signing there and then
probably down in LA with Jose down at Sirius, you know, uh,
(26:04):
or two before the book, uh, and do like a
Q and a signing, just tell stories, answer questions, something,
something real simple.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Just because you gave me the opening to bring it up.
I haven't seen him in a long time, but Jose,
very nice guy that works at Sirius. So my past
radio lives, I worked at SiriusXM for a year. However,
here's the big caveat. I worked for the Catholic channel,
(26:35):
and I'm Jewish. So how do you do that? I
was like, radio is radio. I mean, so it was
a unique experience.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
And you played Testaments. I know. You know what?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I shouldn't even add anything to that. That was a
perfect ending. So yeah, that was just a unique. But
I would talk to Jose and try to get on
the rock side, and he was always so kind to me.
So anyway, so yeah, I should have played Testament on
there and gotten fired for that. So if anybody wants that,
they should go to ChuckBillyBook.com, an easy website to remember.
Chuck Billy Book, Holding My Breath, The Two Testaments of
(27:09):
Chuck Billy. Just congrats on the book. I'm glad you're
still here. I'm glad you're still making it. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
You can find it on Amazon as well. And also
Premier Collectibles, they have them as well. Okay. And Amazon.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'll put all the links in the- You can find
it all over.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I'll put all the links in the show summary. So
thank you, Chuck. And that does it for this episode
of Appetite for Distortion. When you see the next one,
in the words of Axel Rose concerning Chinese democracy, I
don't know how soon is the word, but you'll see it.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah! Thanks to the lame ass security, I'm going home.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.