Slayer Would Come Out of Retirement for More 'Big Four' Shows, Says Frank Bello

Slayer Would Come Out of Retirement for More ‘Big Four’ Shows, Says Frank Bello

2019-06-24

Slayer vocalist Tom Araya – Story and photo by Anne Erickson

Frank Bello of Anthrax says he believes Slayer would participate in more “Big Four” shows even after retirement

Anthrax bass player Frank Bello says that he thinks as serious Slayer is about retirement, the thrash metal band would come out of retirement to perform more “Big Four” concerts.

In a new interview with Graspop Metal Meeting, Bello discussed whether Anthrax would be interested in performing more “Big Four” shows before Slayer throws in the metal towel. It’s a no-brainer that Anthrax would be interested.

“That was a very special (thing),” he said. “I hope the ‘Big Four’ happens again. We’re seeing so many people from the next generation that didn’t get to see that, and they see the DVD of it, and they say, “When are you gonna do it again?’ And I say, ‘You have to talk to Metallica. I would love to do it.'”

Bello went on to say that he believes Slayer’s retirement wouldn’t stop the band from participating in more “Big Four” shows if Metallica is game.

“I think if you ring up my friends in Slayer (and say to them), ‘We’re doing the ‘Big Four,” I think they’d play some shows,” he said. “I think they would work it out. I think (they would come out of retirement for it). The ‘Big Four’ is special enough that we all rise to it. I would hope they would do that. I mean, I would certainly try to talk them into it.”

The thrash legends that comprise the “Big Four” — Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax — performed together for the first time ever on June 16, 2010, at the Sonisphere festival at Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland. They played together again for six additional shows with the Sonisphere series later that year and reunited in 2011 for the final “Big Four” concert on Sept. 14, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth have also performed some other shows together, such as Soundwave festival in Australia in 2013 and Heavy MTL festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 2014.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.