Darby Todd has shared drum-cam footage of “Caught In A Mosh” from his final show filling in for Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante.
Darby Todd spent two weeks in one of thrash metal’s most demanding drum seats. He has now posted the video of his last night in it.
The British session drummer has released drum-cam footage of “Caught In A Mosh“, filmed from behind the kit during Anthrax‘s set at “Rock Imperium” in Cartagena, Spain on July 4. It was the final date of his stint covering for Charlie Benante, who sat out nearly a dozen European shows with a right-hand injury.
“My final show filling in on drums for Anthrax while Charlie Benante took some needed rest for his hand injury, supporting Iron Maiden in Spain,” Todd wrote alongside the upload. “Here’s what ‘Caught In A Mosh‘ looked like from behind the kit — one hell of a way to finish an incredible run with an incredible band. Thanks to Anthrax and their entire crew for having me.”
Benante announced the layoff on his social media on June 20.
He wrote at the time: “An Ouch post.”
“I wanted to let everyone know that I unfortunately injured my right hand and, following my doctor’s orders, I’ll be sitting out a handful of shows from June 20 through July 4 to give it the proper time to heal.”
“I’m incredibly grateful that Darby Todd will be stepping in behind the kit for these dates and helping keep the shows rolling while I recover.”
“I’m already focused on getting healthy and look forward to being back on the road soon. Thank you all for the support and understanding.”
The dates in question were not small ones. Todd‘s run opened at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 20 and took in Tons Of Rock in Oslo, Copenhell in Copenhagen, Gröna Lund in Stockholm and stadium shows in Lyon and Bordeaux, all on the “Run For Your Lives” tour with Iron Maiden and Megadeth. He posted drum-cam footage of “Among The Living” from the Hellfest set earlier in the summer.
Benante returned to the lineup on July 7 at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.
This was not Todd‘s first appearance with the band. He also played the tour’s opening night on May 23 at the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens, when Benante could not attend because of a Pantera commitment, that band supported Metallica in Frankfurt the following evening.
The appointment drew public backing from at least one notable peer. Mike Portnoy left a message on Todd‘s announcement post reading: “So cool you’re playing w them Darby Todd! Those guys are my boyz.”
Todd tours regularly with Devin Townsend and has recorded or performed with The Darkness, Robert Plant, Gary Moore, Paul Gilbert, Robben Ford, Martin Barre, Alan Price, Carl Verheyen, Kee Marcello of Europe and Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow. Between tours he works from a London studio, recording remotely for artists worldwide and taking a small number of students.
Benante has held the Anthrax drum stool since 1983, joining before the recording of debut album Fistful Of Metal. He wrote the majority of the band’s music, designed many of their album covers and shirts, and his work with Stormtroopers Of Death helped establish the template for blast beats in extreme metal and hardcore.
Anthrax will release their twelfth studio album, Cursum Perficio, on September 18 through Megaforce Records in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It is their first full-length in ten years, following 2016’s For All Kings, which entered the Billboard 200 top ten.
Jay Ruston produced, having previously worked on For All Kings and Worship Music, with parts of the recording and mixing carried out at Dave Grohl‘s Studio 606 in Northridge, California. The title comes from a Latin inscription on a tile at the entrance to Marilyn Monroe‘s final home, commonly read as “my journey ends,” though a closer translation is “I am completing my journey” or “I will persevere.”
North American dates run through September and into October.
