ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello's decision to leave the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise early was driven by his Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance alongside British artist YUNGBLUD. Their live cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Changes" -- a tender piano ballad from the 1972 album "Vol. 4" -- earned the nomination for its emotional reimagining of the classic, transforming one of Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi's most vulnerable compositions into something fresh while retaining the heartbreak at its core.
The collaboration came together organically through mutual artistic admiration. Bello and YUNGBLUD had connected through shared respect, with the younger artist citing ANTHRAX as a formative influence on his musical development and Bello recognizing YUNGBLUD's genuine passion for heavy music beneath his pop-punk exterior. Their rendition of "Changes" was performed live at a charity event in 2025 and subsequently submitted for Grammy consideration, where it resonated with voters who appreciated the cross-generational musical bridge between thrash metal and modern alternative rock.
Bello flew from the cruise ship at Nassau, Bahamas to Los Angeles to attend tomorrow's ceremony at Crypto.com Arena, missing ANTHRAX's second set in the process -- a sacrifice that underscores the significance of the nomination to him personally. In his absence, ARMORED SAINT's Joey Vera stepped in to handle bass duties seamlessly, ensuring the show went on without a hitch and fans were not shortchanged.
The nomination represents a rare crossover moment, connecting the thrash metal world with the mainstream rock and pop audience through a shared reverence for BLACK SABBATH's enduring catalog. "Changes" has long been one of BLACK SABBATH's most emotionally resonant tracks, a ballad about personal transformation and loss that has connected with listeners far beyond the band's core metal audience since its release over five decades ago.
Regardless of the outcome at tomorrow's ceremony, the nomination has already brought welcome attention to both Bello's versatility as a musician beyond his thrash metal identity and the timeless quality of BLACK SABBATH's songwriting. It also highlights the increasingly porous boundaries between metal and the broader musical landscape in the modern era.