--- name: "Charlie Benante" band: "Anthrax" page_type: "gear_evolution" profile_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante" evolution_url: "https://metalforge.io/drummers/charlie-benante/evolution" source: "https://metalforge.io" last_updated: "2026-07-01" --- # Charlie Benante Drum Kit Evolution — Complete Timeline Charlie Benante joined Anthrax in 1983, just before the band recorded its debut, and is credited as a pioneer of sustained double bass drumming and the blast beat in thrash metal. Beyond drumming, he is Anthrax's main composer and the artist behind much of the band's album art. His gear journey runs more than 40 years — from an early Tama Artstar kit through the Among the Living breakthrough, a full mid-career switch to DW during Anthrax's groove-metal 90s, a return to Tama and Paiste in 2003, and a modern signature rig that carried him into a 2022 touring stint with Pantera, honoring his late friend Vinnie Paul. See also: [Charlie Benante drummer profile](/llms/drummers/charlie-benante.md) --- ## Early Anthrax Era (1983–1986) **Albums:** Fistful of Metal (1984), Spreading the Disease (1985) **Tours:** Fistful of Metal Tour 1984–1985, Spreading the Disease Tour 1985–1986 Benante joined Anthrax in 1983 as a young drummer building the technical vocabulary — sustained double bass and early blast-beat experiments — that would soon define thrash metal. His setup was a professional Tama Artstar kit backed by an early Paiste endorsement. - **Drums:** Tama Artstar — birch shells, dual 22"x16" kicks, 10"/12"/13" racks, 16" floor - **Snare:** Tama Artstar Steel 14"×6.5" - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 / RUDE Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 20" ride - **Hardware:** Tama HP35 Camco double pedal *(adopted 1984 — Spreading the Disease (1985) was the first full album recorded on it)* - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark Hickory 2B - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor/Ambassador (toms, snare) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$2,200 **Key developments:** - Joined Anthrax in 1983 ahead of debut album Fistful of Metal (1984) - Adopted the Tama HP35 Camco double pedal — first full album use on Spreading the Disease (1985) - Early Paiste 2002 endorsement drives the cymbal sound from day one > "I was just a kid trying to keep up with the riffs. The double bass stuff came out of necessity, not planning." — *Rhythm Magazine Interview, 1998* --- ## Among the Living to Persistence of Time Era (1987–1990) **Albums:** Among the Living (1987), State of Euphoria (1988), Persistence of Time (1990) **Tours:** Among the Living World Tour 1987–1988, Clash of the Titans Tour 1990–1991 Anthrax's commercial breakthrough. Among the Living (1987) placed Benante among thrash's elite drummers, and State of Euphoria (1988) and Persistence of Time (1990) cemented Anthrax's place among the genre's "Big Four." An upgraded Tama Artstar II shell pack gave the tightly controlled, explosive sound heard on "Indians" and "I Am the Law," with cymbals shifting from Paiste to Sabian partway through the era. - **Drums:** Tama Artstar II / Granstar / Artstar Custom (birch) — dual 22"x18" kicks, 10"/12"/13" racks, 16" floor *(upgrade — Tama's flagship of the era)* - **Snare:** Tama Artstar Steel on Among the Living, switching to Tama Bell Brass 14"×6.5" from State of Euphoria onward *(switch — fatter crack for denser production)* - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 on Among the Living (1987), switching to Sabian AA/HH from State of Euphoria (1988) through Persistence of Time (1990) *(switch)* - **Hardware:** Tama HP35 Camco double pedal — year six by 1990 (unchanged) - **Sticks:** Vic Firth 2B / Pro-Mark Hickory 2B - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (snare), Ambassador (toms) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$4,500 **Key developments:** - Among the Living (1987) becomes Anthrax's commercial breakthrough - Upgraded through Tama's Artstar II, Granstar, and Artstar Custom shell packs - Switched cymbals from Paiste 2002 to Sabian AA/HH starting with State of Euphoria (1988) - Persistence of Time (1990) closes out the Joey Belladonna era and goes Platinum in the US > "Among the Living was the record where everything clicked — the songs, the band, and finally the gear that could keep up with us." — *Modern Drummer Interview, 1989* --- ## 90s DW Era (1993–1998) **Albums:** Sound of White Noise (1993), Stomp 442 (1995), Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) **Tours:** Sound of White Noise Tour 1993–1994, Ozzfest 1998 John Bush's arrival on vocals pushed Anthrax toward a heavier groove-metal sound, and Benante marked the shift with a full switch to DW. All three albums were recorded on a DW Collector's Series Maple kit, tuned progressively lower and fatter across the decade. - **Drums:** DW Collector's Series Maple — dual 22"x18" kicks, 10"/12"/13" racks, 16"–18" floor toms *(switch — full brand change from Tama)* - **Snare:** DW Edge Series 14"×6.5" — solid maple shell with brass edge rings *(switch)* - **Cymbals:** Sabian AA/HH Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18"/19" crashes, 21" ride, 18" China - **Hardware:** DW 5000 Series double pedal — chain-drive, two single pedals *(switch — matched the new DW drum endorsement)* - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark Hickory 2B - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms), coated Ambassador (snare) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$6,000 **Key developments:** - Full brand switch to DW Collector's Series Maple for the John Bush groove-metal era - DW Edge Series brass-ring snare replaces the Tama Bell Brass - DW 5000 double pedal adopted alongside the new drum endorsement - Volume 8 (1998) precedes a three-year Anthrax recording hiatus > "The DW kit let me get that low, heavy tone we needed once John joined — it was a whole different animal than the Tama thrash sound." — *Drum! Magazine Interview, 1997* --- ## Return to Tama Era (2003–2010) **Albums:** We've Come for You All (2003) **Tours:** We've Come for You All Tour 2003–2004 We've Come for You All (2003) marked a full return to Tama and Paiste after a decade on DW and Sabian, recorded in the shadow of 9/11 with guest spots from Roger Daltrey and Dimebag Darrell. Benante kept his original 1984 Tama HP35 Camco pedal through this entire stretch, right up until its 2010 replacement. - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (all-maple, Star-Cast mounting) — dual 22"x18" kicks, 10"/12"/13" racks, 14"/16" floors *(switch — first Tama kit on an Anthrax album since 1993)* - **Snare:** Tama Starclassic Steel 14"×6.5" *(switch — tuned higher and brighter than the DW Edge Series)* - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 / RUDE Series — 14" hi-hats, 16"/18" crashes, 19" crash-ride, 22" ride, 18" China *(switch — return to Paiste after a decade on Sabian)* - **Hardware:** Tama HP35 Camco double pedal — same 1984 pedal, unchanged (seven years before the 2010 Speed Cobra switch) - **Sticks:** Pro-Mark Hickory 2B - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms), coated Ambassador (snare) - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$7,500 **Key developments:** - We've Come for You All (2003) returns to Tama and Paiste after a decade on DW and Sabian - First Tama Starclassic kit on an Anthrax record - Still playing the original 1984 Tama HP35 Camco pedal > "Going back to Tama and Paiste felt like coming home. That's the sound I always heard in my head for this band." — *Modern Drummer Interview, 2003* --- ## Worship Music Reunion & Modern Era (2011–Present) **Albums:** Worship Music (2011), For All Kings (2016), Silver Linings (2021, solo) **Tours:** Big Four Tours 2010–2011, For All Kings World Tour 2016–2017, Pantera Reunion Tour 2022–Present Worship Music (2011) reunited Anthrax's classic lineup with Joey Belladonna, followed by For All Kings (2016) and Benante's solo pandemic album Silver Linings (2021). After finally retiring his 1984 Camco pedal for a Tama Speed Cobra in 2010, Benante rounded out a modern signature-model rig — and in 2022 began touring with the reunited Pantera, filling in for his late friend Vinnie Paul. - **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (all-maple) — dual 22"x18" kicks, three rack toms, two floor toms - **Snare:** Tama Charlie Benante Signature 14"×6.5" *(signature — first true signature snare)* - **Cymbals:** Paiste 2002 / Signature / RUDE Series — 14" 2002 Sound Edge hi-hats, 16" Signature crash, 18" 2002 crash, 19" RUDE crash/ride, 22" 2002 ride, 18" 2002 China, 10" splash *(upgrade)* - **Hardware:** Tama Speed Cobra HP910LN double pedal *(switch — retired the Camco pedal in 2010)* - **Sticks:** Vic Firth Charlie Benante Signature / 2B *(signature model)* - **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 (kicks), Emperor Coated (toms), Evans Power Center (snare batter) *(switch — first Evans component in an otherwise all-Remo setup)* - **Estimated kit cost (original):** ~$9,500 **Key developments:** - Worship Music (2011) reunites Anthrax's classic lineup with Joey Belladonna - Retired the 1984 Tama HP35 Camco pedal for a Tama Speed Cobra in 2010 - First signature gear: Tama Charlie Benante snare and Vic Firth signature sticks - Joined the reunited Pantera as touring drummer in 2022, honoring Vinnie Paul - Released solo album Silver Linings (2021) during the pandemic > "Stepping in for Pantera was never about replacing Vinnie — nobody could. It's about honoring my friend and playing those songs right." — *Rolling Stone Interview, 2022* --- ## Career Cost Overview | Era | Years | Kit Cost (Original) | Inflation-Adjusted | |---|---|---|---| | Early Anthrax Era | 1983–1986 | $2,200 | ~$6,500 | | Among the Living to Persistence of Time Era | 1987–1990 | $4,500 | ~$8,500 | | 90s DW Era | 1993–1998 | $6,000 | ~$10,500 | | Return to Tama Era | 2003–2010 | $7,500 | ~$12,500 | | Worship Music Reunion & Modern Era | 2011–present | $9,500 | ~$11,000 | --- ## Gear Brand Partnerships Timeline - **Tama Artstar / Artstar II / Granstar / Starclassic Maple** — 1983–1992 and 2003–present (40+ year career-spanning Tama partnership, with a 90s DW detour) - **DW Collector's Series Maple** — 1993–1998 (full brand switch for the John Bush groove-metal era) - **Paiste 2002 / Signature / RUDE** — 1983–1987 and 2003–present - **Sabian AA / HH** — 1988–2002 (State of Euphoria through We've Come for You All era) - **Tama HP35 Camco double pedal** — 1984–2010 (with a mid-90s DW 5000 pedal detour), 26 years on largely the same pedal before Tama phased it out - **Tama Speed Cobra double pedal** — 2010–present - **Pro-Mark Hickory 2B / Vic Firth Charlie Benante Signature** — 1985–present (signature model launched decades into the endorsement) - **Evans Power Center** — 2011–present (snare batter, alongside a largely Remo head setup) --- ## FAQ **Q: What drum kit did Charlie Benante use on Among the Living?** A: On Among the Living (1987), Charlie Benante played a Tama Artstar II shell pack with a Tama Artstar Steel 14"×6.5" snare and Paiste 2002 cymbals — all driven by the same Tama HP35 Camco double pedal he adopted in 1984. **Q: What pedal did Charlie Benante use for over two decades?** A: Charlie Benante played a vintage Tama HP35 Camco chain-drive double pedal from 1984 through 2010 (with a mid-90s detour to DW's own 5000 Series pedal during Anthrax's DW-endorsed groove-metal years), before Tama phased out the Camco model and he switched to the modern Tama Speed Cobra. **Q: What is Charlie Benante's current drum setup?** A: As of the Worship Music reunion and his Pantera touring years, Charlie Benante plays a Tama Starclassic Maple kit with his Tama Charlie Benante Signature snare, Paiste 2002/Signature/RUDE cymbals, a Tama Speed Cobra double pedal, and Vic Firth Charlie Benante Signature sticks. **Q: When did Charlie Benante start touring with Pantera?** A: Charlie Benante joined the reunited Pantera as touring drummer in 2022, filling in for his close friend and the band's original drummer, the late Vinnie Paul. **Q: What genre arc does Charlie Benante's evolution follow?** A: Benante's setup tracks Anthrax's own arc — from raw early-80s thrash (Fistful of Metal, Spreading the Disease) through prog-leaning Big Four thrash (Among the Living, Persistence of Time) into the heavier, more mainstream-adjacent groove metal of the 90s DW era, before the 2003 Tama return and the Worship Music reunion brought the band back to its classic thrash sound. --- ## Related Pages - [Charlie Benante Drummer Profile](/llms/drummers/charlie-benante.md) - [Among the Living Drum Setup](/llms/articles/charlie-benante-among-the-living-drum-setup.md) - [Worship Music Drum Setup](/llms/articles/worship-music-drum-setup.md) - [Tama Drums Brand Guide](/llms/brands/tama.md) - [Paiste Cymbals Brand Guide](/llms/brands/paiste.md) - [Metal Drumming Facts & Stats](/llms/facts.md)