# Spreading the Disease Drum Setup: Charlie Benante's Anthrax Debut Gear (1985) > Complete breakdown of Charlie Benante's drum setup on Anthrax's Spreading the Disease (1985). Tama Artstar kit, Paiste 2002/RUDE cymbals, and the blast-beat innovations that made 'Madhouse' a thrash metal landmark. **Type:** Album Drum Setup **Drummer(s):** [Charlie Benante](/llms/drummers/charlie-benante.md) **Band / Album:** Anthrax — *Spreading the Disease* (1985) **Genre:** Thrash Metal ## Overview Released on November 1, 1985, Anthrax's Spreading the Disease is where the classic lineup announced itself to the world. It was the band's first album with Joey Belladonna on vocals, and it established the sonic blueprint — relentless double bass, melodic aggression, blast-beat innovation — that would define the next five years of Anthrax history and place Charlie Benante at the forefront of thrash drumming. Produced by Carl Canedy (drummer of The Rods) at Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York, the album gave Benante a professional recording environment that allowed his technical innovations to register fully on tape. Canedy understood hard-hitting drumming and worked to capture the full dynamic range of Benante's kit — from explosive snare cracks to the sustained double-bass patterns that were already unlike anything else in thrash. 'Madhouse' became Anthrax's signature song and remains one of the most-cited tracks in thrash history. 'A.I.R.,' 'Lone Justice,' 'Aftershock,' and 'Medusa' showed that the band maintained intensity across all nine tracks. This article documents every piece of equipment Charlie used at Pyramid Sound and how it connects to the arc leading to [Among the Living (1987)](/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup) and beyond. ## Gear Breakdown - **Drums:** Tama Artstar (Black finish) - **Bass Drums:** 22" x 16" Bass Drum (x2) — two separate kicks, not a double pedal - **Toms:** 10", 12", 13" rack toms; 16" floor tom — birch shells with die-cast hoops - **Snare:** Tama Artstar Steel Snare, 14" x 6.5" - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 / RUDE series - **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama HP35 Camco (first full album on these legendary chain-drives); Tama Titan Hi-Hat Stand; Tama 1st Chair throne; Pro-Mark Hickory 2B sticks - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear (bass batter); Remo Emperor Clear (tom batter), Remo Ambassador Clear (tom resonant); Remo Emperor Coated (snare batter), Remo Ambassador Snare Side (resonant) - **Snare tuning:** High tension for maximum crack and attack ### Benante's 1985 Tama Artstar Configuration By 1985 Charlie Benante was a Tama endorser, using a Tama Artstar kit with birch shell construction. Two separate 22" bass drums were already non-negotiable — not a double pedal, but two full instruments independently tuned and miked. This gave him the symmetric tonal weight needed for the sustained double-bass patterns on tracks like 'A.I.R.' and 'Aftershock.' The three-rack, single-floor-tom layout gave him a melodically flexible fill vocabulary perfectly suited to his compositional approach as Anthrax's primary songwriter. ### Paiste 2002 / RUDE — The Thrash Weapon Pair Charlie's cymbal setup drew from two Paiste lines: the classic 2002 series and the heavy-duty RUDE series for the pieces that needed to withstand the most aggressive playing. The 14" 2002 Sound Edge hi-hats delivered the crisp, defined chick sound that drives 'Madhouse' and 'A.I.R.' even at blistering tempos. Multiple crashes (16" and 18" 2002, plus RUDE 18" Crash/Ride) gave him dynamic range across the album. The 2002 18" China provided the explosive, trashy accents that punctuated Anthrax's most intense passages. ### Tama HP35 Camco — The Beginning of a 26-Year Relationship Spreading the Disease is likely the first full Anthrax album recorded with the Tama HP35 Camco chain-drive pedals that Charlie Benante would use until 2010. The Camco's direct, responsive feel was the mechanical foundation of his pioneering sustained double-bass technique. On tracks like 'Lone Justice' and 'Aftershock,' the blast-beat elements and double-bass patterns demonstrate these pedals operating at their most demanding. ## Key Facts - Recorded at Pyramid Sound Studios, Ithaca, New York in 1985 - Produced by Carl Canedy (drummer of The Rods) - First Anthrax album with Joey Belladonna — debut of the classic lineup - Features 'Madhouse' — one of thrash metal's most cited drum performances - Blast-beat elements appear on 'Lone Justice' — early documented metal blast beats - Tama Artstar kit with dual 22" bass drums and birch shells - Paiste 2002 Sound Edge 14" hi-hats — the definitive thrash hi-hat pair - Tama HP35 Camco pedals (started 1984, used until 2010) - Estimated kit value: $1,500-2,500 (1985 era) ## FAQ **Q: What was the first Anthrax album with Charlie Benante?** A: Charlie Benante is a founding Anthrax member who played on Fistful of Metal (1984). Spreading the Disease (1985) is the first album with the classic lineup featuring Joey Belladonna on vocals and is widely considered the debut of the definitive Anthrax sound. **Q: What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Spreading the Disease?** A: Charlie Benante used a Tama Artstar kit with dual 22" x 16" bass drums, three rack toms (10", 12", 13"), and a 16" floor tom — all birch shells. This was his first full album as a Tama endorser, establishing the brand that would define his sound for decades. **Q: What cymbals did Charlie Benante use on Spreading the Disease?** A: Charlie used Paiste 2002 and RUDE cymbals, including 14" 2002 Sound Edge hi-hats, 16" and 18" 2002 crashes, a RUDE 18" Crash/Ride, a 2002 22" Heavy Ride, and a 2002 18" China. He would continue with Paiste through Among the Living (1987) before switching to Sabian for State of Euphoria (1988). **Q: What pedals did Charlie Benante use on Spreading the Disease?** A: Tama HP35 Camco chain-drive pedals — the same pedals he used from 1984 until Tama discontinued them in 2010. This is likely the first full Anthrax album recorded with these legendary pedals that underpinned his pioneering double-bass technique. ## Related Content - [Charlie Benante — Among the Living Drum Setup (1987)](/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup) — the album immediately following this one - [Persistence of Time Drum Setup (1990)](/articles/persistence-of-time-drum-setup) — the final Joey Belladonna-era album - [What's in Charlie Benante's Kit](/articles/whats-in-charlie-benantes-kit) — complete modern gear breakdown - [Thrash Metal Drummers](/articles/thrash-metal-drummers) — broader genre context **Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/spreading-the-disease-drum-setup **More LLM resources:** [Site index](/llms.txt) · [Full database](/llms-full.txt) · [Master FAQ](/llms/faq.md) · [Drummer index](/llms/index.md) *Last updated: 2026-06-29 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*