Fan-captured footage from Satyricon’s June 8 performance at the Mystic Festival in Gdansk, Poland has surfaced online. Anthrax bassist Frank Bello joined the Norwegian black metal legends for their summer 2024 European festival tour, marking his second live appearance with the band. Bello’s debut with Satyricon took place on June 6 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.
Bello is set to play bass for Satyricon throughout their summer festival circuit, which includes notable stops at Hellfest in France and Tons Of Rock in Norway. The announcement of Bello’s addition to Satyricon’s lineup was made on May 27, with the band expressing their excitement for the upcoming shows.
Satyricon shared their enthusiasm in an online post, stating, “There is smoke in the chimney at the Satyricon HQ every day. Next week we will fire up the engine again, starting at Sweden Rock and Mystic Festival. From there we go to Hellfest, Tons Of Rock, ARTmania Festival, Grieghallen/Beyond The Gates (two nights in a row), Brutal Assault, Hellsinki Metal Festival, Alcatraz Festival, Bloodstock Open Air and finally Næstved Metal Fest. In November we come to Latin America.”
The band added, “As you can imagine, we look immensely forward to seeing all Satyricon Ultras across the world again. If we’re not playing anywhere near you, maybe you will travel to see us, if not we will meet later some day. This is going to be THE summer!”
When asked by an Instagram follower if he was now a permanent member of Satyricon, Bello clarified that he was “just playing some shows with them.”
Earlier this year, Bello missed Anthrax’s South American tour and two U.S. festival dates due to personal reasons. Dan Lilker, Anthrax’s founding member and original bassist, filled in for those shows. Lilker, who co-wrote and played on Anthrax’s debut album “Fistful Of Metal,” also has a history with Stormtroopers of Death alongside Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and guitarist Scott Ian.
In a recent interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, Lilker discussed Bello’s involvement with Satyricon and its implications for Anthrax. He mentioned, “I think it’s only that because Anthrax had no plans in the summer anyway. They weren’t doing all the Euro fests or anything. So, during the summer, everybody in Anthrax would go do something else. So, I think Frank had that plan anyway. So it’s funny, because Satyricon are old friends of mine from the Norwegian scene. Scott had told me, though, that Frank might do something like that. And I, of course, was surprised, but I think Satyricon has changed from the very grim, dark stuff to more kind of like dark rock and roll. So I think that’s cool. And I think he’ll be great with that. He’s a great bass player.”
Last July, Frank and his wife Teresa celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They share a son, Brandon, who recently turned 18. Bello released a memoir titled “Fathers, Brothers, And Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, And Anthrax” in October 2021, with a foreword by KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons.
Born into a family of five, Frank faced challenging circumstances growing up. His father abandoned the family, leaving his mother to raise the children alone. Frank found solace and inspiration in heavy metal bass players, which led him to a career with Anthrax from his early teens. He started as a roadie before becoming the band’s bass player.
By the mid-to-late 1980s, Frank achieved international stardom with Anthrax. However, tragedy struck in 1996 when his brother Anthony was murdered in New York. Despite the case going to trial, the suspected killer was released without charge after a witness withdrew their testimony due to intimidation.
Frank’s mother, Rose, passed away in April 2023. Rose was the older sister of Charlie Benante, who brought Frank into Anthrax in 1984.
The collaboration between Frank Bello and Satyricon has certainly added an exciting twist to the summer festival season. Fans of both bands are eager to see how this unique partnership unfolds on stage.
