Consequence's Drum Week continues with an exclusive “Crate Digging” list of 10 songs that Anthrax/Pantera legend Charlie Benante thinks every drummer should listen to. Check out our list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time and enter our Drum Week giveaway. Then, stay tuned for additional lists, artist-driven content, and more as we celebrate the visceral instruments that give us the beat.
As a long-time member of thrash legends Anthrax, Charlie Benante has established himself as one of the best metal drummers on the planet. In recent years, he also plays in the revived lineup of groove-metal masters Pantera, handling the drums with incredible skill and reverence, while paying tribute to that band's late drummer Vinnie Paul.
As part of ConsequenceAt “Drum Week,” Benante, who was featured on our just-released list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, was kind enough to offer up an exclusive “Crate Digging” list of 10 songs every drummer should listen to. What he delivered was a fascinating playlist, spanning from the extreme metal of Dimmu Borgir to the jam band stylings of Dave Matthews Band.
Since Anthrax is one of the “Big 4” thrash bands alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, we wanted to get to know Benante’s “Big 4” drummers as we sat down with him to go over his set list.
“Some of them are on this list of songs,” Benante told us. “Of course, there’s Neil Peart, there’s John Bonham. I have to give Ringo Starr credit because if it wasn’t for Ringo, I don’t know if we’d all be doing this right now. He and the Beatles got young people out there getting instruments and playing in their garage and forming bands.”
He continued: “Ringo has to be up there, and the last one I would say would be Alex Van Halen. I’ve always loved Alex, and I’m surprised I haven’t put an Alex song in my top 10. If I was going to 11, I’d probably put an Alex song.”
Benante has UK and European tours with Anthrax and Pantera this autumn and winter, first with Anthrax in November and December, and then with Pantera in January and February. (Pick up your Anthrax tickets hereand tickets for Pantera here.)
Get Charlie Benante's drums and gear via Reverb
Anthrax will also play Louisville's Louder Than Life festival later this month, while both bands will play Sacramento's Aftershock festival in October.
Dive into the musical mind of Charlie Benante by checking out his picks for 10 songs every drummer should listen to below.
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