ANTHRAX played their October 2 show at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, opening for IRON MAIDEN, with Derek Roddy behind the kit in place of Charlie Benante. Roddy, known for his work with HATE ETERNAL, NILE, MALEVOLENT CREATION and TODAY IS THE DAY, confirmed the gig on social media later that night: "Well, that was a rager," he wrote, thanking IRON MAIDEN and every member of ANTHRAX by name.
It's the second IRON MAIDEN date in a week that Benante has missed. On September 29 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, RAVEN and former FEAR FACTORY drummer Mike Heller stepped in with only a few hours' notice. No official reason has been given for either absence.
Roddy is no stranger to the job. He first covered for Benante in January 2023, playing his debut show with ANTHRAX on January 20 at the PNE Forum in Vancouver during the band's North American run with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and EXODUS, and filled in again at Milwaukee Metal Fest that May.
Benante has sat out ANTHRAX dates before, first because of carpal tunnel problems, for which he has since had surgery, and more recently because of his live commitments with the reformed PANTERA.
ANTHRAX are on the road behind Cursum Perficio, their twelfth studio album and first in ten years, released on September 18 via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe.