# 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. - Title: Chuck Billy Recalls Testament Getting Signed Right After… - Summary: 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… - Keywords: chuck billy, testament, megaforce, cliff burton, kiss, souls of black, para bellum, metal, memoir, cancer, music, Chuck - Source: Loudwire — https://loudwire.com/testament-chuck-billy-kiss-fandom-metal-journey-interview - Published: 2026-10-26T10:21:21+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: chuck billy, testament, megaforce, cliff burton, kiss, souls of black, para bellum, metal, memoir, cancer, music ## 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 ## Key takeaway Chuck Billy signed Testament to Megaforce after Cliff Burton's death, a somber but pivotal moment in metal history.