It’s not always that instruments of massive historical importance in the drumming world become available. But such an instrument is now available in the market. The complete Charlie Benante Tama drum kit which was used on the 2010 ‘Big 4’ European and U.S. tour, as well as the 2011 and 2012 Anthrax ‘Worship’ tour, is now available on Backstage Auctions. The kit consists of both 22 x 22-inch bass drums, snare drums, both floor drums, and all front rack toms. The kit does not include racking or any of the hardware.
This tailor-made kit is not only visually magnificent and made of superlative quality, it also comes with a great and glorious history; it can be seen in the ‘Big 4’ DVD, it can be heard on the ‘Big 4’ CD and was subsequently used on the recording of the ‘Worship Music’ album.
And the best part of it all, the new owner of this kit will be Charlie’s guest at a future Anthrax show.
The kit currently is stored at the Anthrax rehearsal studio in Chicago from where it will be shipped. Local pick-ups can also be arranged. It comes directly from the private collection of Charlie Benante. A Certificate of Authenticity – signed by Charlie – will be included with this lot.
Charles Lee Benante is an American musician, best known as the drummer for thrash metal band Anthrax and crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death. Known as one of the pioneers of double bass drumming and credited for popularizing the blast beat technique, he is Anthrax’s main composer and has released eleven studio albums with the band. Benante has also toured with the reunited Pantera since 2022.
He is also a guitarist, having been lead guitar to S.O.D.’s Speak English or Die album. Along with his musician duties, Benante is also a graphic artist and has created many of Anthrax’s album covers and T-shirt designs.
In 2021, Benante released a solo album entitled Silver Linings. Paul Stenning referred to the album as “a very worthy memento of attacking a crazy year with a positive outlook.”