If Testament could have just one thing as its legacy, it would probably be the metal band’s ability to survive. Since forming in northern California in 1983, the band has been through lineup changes, the grunge movement of the early ’90s and major health battles, but lived on to tell its tale.
“We’ve been through all that stuff,” vocalist Chuck Billy said while riding in his truck in California recently. “Experiencing all that stuff and still being here today, I think it was all really about the music.”
And the music wasn’t a ballad or radio-friendly single like many bands are pushed to release.
“So we really had time to focus on the band and just write the songs because at the end of the day, 10, 20, 30 years down the line, we’re the ones that have to live with these songs, not the A&R guy telling us what he wants,” Billy explained. “We have to be happy with ourselves and what we do.”
Now, 20 years after the release of its debut album “The Legacy,” Testament — which also features guitarist Eric Peterson, bassist Greg Christian, drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Glen Drover (filling in for Alex Skolnick) — will play the 1987 album in its entirety when the band opens for Megadeth Thursday, March 18 at the Scranton Cultural Center. Exodus is also on the bill.
With Megadeth performing its critically acclaimed “Rust In Peace” album on this tour, doing “The Legacy” seemed like a natural fit for Testament.
“We did (the album) before in Europe, and it went over pretty well,” Billy said. “(So we said) ‘We had a good time doing it that time, let’s do it again for this tour.’ I think people will dig it.”
In Testament since 1986, Billy’s seen the state of music shift over time — including metal music’s resurgence of late.
“Metal’s been a lot more healthier than it has in a long time,” he said, “so it’s perfect timing for us to get out there and be performing.”
Billy’s also seen the genre’s demographic get younger over the years.
“Especially in Hollywood,” he began. “When we go down there, it’s like the old ’80s scene almost — especially the way kids are dressing these days: the tight stretch pants and denim jackets with all the patches on it. It’s like ‘Wow,’ he added with a laugh.”
This summer, Testament will go on the road again with Megadeth — and Slayer — for the American Carnage tour. The three had toured together for the European Clash of the Titans tour in 1990, and Testament has toured several times with Megadeth. When asked if he has any trepidation about spending so much time on the road with Megadeth and its notoriously volatile frontman Dave Mustaine, Billy was frank.
“Not at all, we’ve toured with them, shit, twice last year, and we’ve known Dave and toured with him back in 1989, before Clash of the Titans, so we’ve known him for a long time,” he replied. “And we’ve known every Dave …” he paused to laugh, “… and all Dave’s personalities.”
With Glen Drover filling in for Skolnick while the guitarist’s jazz trio is touring with Rodrigo y Gabriela, the Rust In Peace tour is a family reunion of sorts: Glen’s brother Shawn is Megadeth’s drummer — and Glen had been in Megadeth himself from 2004-2008.
Unlike the current tour, Testament’s setlist on American Carnage will feature mostly tracks from its 2008 CD “The Formation of Damnation.” It was the band’s first release in nine years, and its first with Skolnick since 1992. As the band works on the follow up to “The Formation of Damnation,” fans shouldn’t expect to hear any new songs this summer.
“We’re going to save it for the record,” Billy explained. “It’s kind of too soon to judge it — we want everybody to judge it by the whole thing. We’re going to try to finish it and get it released this year, definitely.”
On its last tour, Testament began offering a VIP package for fans which includes autograph opportunities, meet-and-greets and more. It was so well-received the band decided to do it for every tour.
“The fans were so appreciative (that) every single day someone would say, ‘Thanks for giving us the opportunity to do this,’” Billy recalled. “We decided to just keep doing it, that if fans are digging it, and if they want to come hang out, let’s give them the opportunity.”
While Billy is a fan of thrash-metal bands like The Haunted and Soilwork, when it comes to what he’s listening to these days, the singer sticks close to home.
“Right now, I’m not really listening to a lot because when I’m writing, I don’t try to get stuck. I’ve been listening to a lot of our stuff because I’m really trying to get ‘The Legacy’ stuck in my head, so I’ve been pounding that on myself,” he said with a laugh.
