From Loudwire · · 1m 50s
Chuck Billy Recalls Testament Getting Signed Right After Cliff Burton Died
Chuck Billy shares how Testament got signed to Megaforce the day Cliff Burton died.
In brief
Chuck Billy shares how Testament got signed to Megaforce the day Cliff Burton died. Chuck Billy signed Testament to Megaforce after Cliff Burton's death, a somber but pivotal moment in metal history. Originally reported by Loudwire.
Chuck Billy's first KISS show
Chuck Billy got Gene Simmons to spit blood on him for his first KISS show collectible.
“My first show, I got Gene Simmons to spit blood on me, so I had a shirt with blood from Gene Simmons”
Chuck Billy relates to KISS's stage presence
Chuck Billy related to Gene Simmons' big stage presence as a young boy.
“To me, I related to him because he was a big guy. And I was, 'Whoa, there's another big guy that's just dominating the stage and his presence.'”
Chuck Billy's KISS childhood ritual
Chuck Billy pretended to be KISS with tennis rackets for neighborhood kids.
“We're still going home at that point and I opened up the garage door with the tennis rackets pretending we're KISS”
Chuck Billy's mother's influence
Chuck Billy's mother discouraged his music career but later supported him.
“She was always, 'Don't be a singer. Go to college. Get a job.' But she was proud when he performed”
Chuck Billy's early metal interest
Chuck Billy was drawn to heavy music by the visual appeal of vinyl covers.
“I remember seeing the Exciter cover [for Heavy Metal Maniac], it was like a knife in a Marshall stack”
Testament signed after Cliff Burton's death
Testament got signed to Megaforce the day Cliff Burton died.
“They had a deal. [Singer Steve] Zetro [Souza] left. I did a demo. They liked the demo, wanted to see the band”
The signing was somber
Testament played a quiet, serious show after Cliff Burton's death.
“We played our songs and kinda just quietly put down our instruments. They were just tired”
Chuck Billy's spiritual perspective
Chuck Billy became spiritual after surviving cancer.
“I think coming out of that, I could say that, yeah, I'm spiritual. If you went in my house, I have Jesus posters to Baphomets to every culture god”
Souls of Black reissue progress
Testament is remixing Souls of Black for a modern sound.
“We're full on in the mix process today in all our records. It sounds really modern and punchy”
New Testament album progress
Testament has nine tracks for a new album to be recorded next June.
“Chris, our drummer, is here now, and Eric and them have about nine tracks already that I have”
Chuck Billy's memoir title
Chuck Billy's memoir is titled Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy.
“Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy”
Chuck Billy's spiritual meaning
Chuck Billy defines spirituality as being a good person doing right and wrong.
“I think coming out of that, I could say that, yeah, I'm spiritual. If you went in my house, I have Jesus posters to Baphomets to every culture god”
Chuck Billy's cancer survival
Chuck Billy survived cancer and became spiritual.
“After touring the world, growing up, putting some years on the planet, meeting all these cultures”
Testament's next album timeline
Testament plans to record a new album in June 2027.
“We're gonna take that off and go and start recording the record probably next June”
Chuck Billy's KISS memorabilia
Chuck Billy saved a blood-stained shirt from Gene Simmons' first show.
“My first show, I got Gene Simmons to spit blood on me, so I had a shirt with blood from Gene Simmons”
In short
Chuck Billy signed Testament to Megaforce after Cliff Burton's death, a somber but pivotal moment in metal history.
