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Charles Lee Benante (born November 27, 1962) 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 Bass drum drumming and credited with popularizing the blast beat technique, he is Anthrax's main composer and has released eleven studio albums with the band. He also plays guitar on occasion. Benante has toured with the reunited Pantera since 2022.
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."
On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Benante had joined the reunited Pantera by filling in for original drummer, and his close friend, Vinnie Paul.
Throughout the course of 2012, Benante faced several personal issues that forced him to miss several concerts with Anthrax. Early on in the year his mother died, which also resulted in Frank Bello (Benante's mother being Bello's grandmother) taking some time off during the band's tour in Argentina. Shadows Fall Drummer Jason Bittner To Play With Anthrax In Argentina Benante stepped out again during the summer's Rockstar Mayhem Fest run after suffering a "minor hand injury". Members Of Slipknot And Anthrax To Miss Mayhem Fest Dates Also during the summer, Benante was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife in front of his daughter which had them both arrested. ANTHRAX’S CHARLIE BENANTE AND WIFE ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC BATTERY IN FRONT OF A CHILD MORE DETAILS ON THE ARREST OF CHARLIE BENANTE AND WIFE Benante later missed the band's UK and European tour in order to take care of "personal stuff" according to Scott Ian. In 2013, it was announced that Benante would be sitting out Australian tour dates, also for personal reasons. Anthrax Drummer Charlie Benante Sitting Out Australian Tour Dates Due to ‘Personal Issues’ Concern was raised in 2012 by MetalSucks over Benante's well-being and future with the band. What’s Going on between Charlie Benante and Anthrax?
In 2020, Benante had a cameo in the music video for "Everything She Wants," a Wham!-cover performed by Alien Ant Farm.
In 2025, Benante married musician Carla Harvey.
Prior to switching to Tama's Speed Cobra pedals in 2010, Benante was one of the few drummers who used Tama's HP35 Camco chain-drive pedals, equipment he had used since 1984."This is the question. Well, recently Tama discontinued the pedals that I've been playing since like 1984, the Camco ones. And I was really, really bummed out about this. And I'm hoping they will bring those back fairly soon, or else my career is over (laughs)." – Special Interview: Charlie Benante . Retrieved on September 25, 2008.
| Silver Linings | May 14, 2021 | Megaforce Records | ||
| Moving Pitchers (EP) | April 23, 2022 | Megaforce Records | ||
| Speak English or Die | December 1985 | Megaforce Records | ||
| Live at Budokan Live | October 24, 1995 | Megaforce Records | ||
| Bigger than the Devil | May 22, 1999 | Nuclear Blast Records | ||
| (DVD or VHS) | January 23, 2001 | Nuclear Blast Records | ||
| Speak English or Live (DVD) | September 25, 2001 | Nuclear Blast Records | ||
| 20 Years of Dysfunction | July 26, 2005 | Nuclear Blast Records | ||
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