Editing Chuck Billy

{{short description|American vocalist|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{For|the cartoon character|Chuck Billy (Chuck Billy 'n' Folks)}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2010}}

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Chuck Billy
| image           = Chuck Billy Gelsenkirchen RockHard 1019 (cropped).jpg
| caption         = Billy performing with [[Testament (band)|Testament]] in 2014
| image_size      =
| birth_name      = Charles Billy
| alias           =
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1962|6|23}}
| birth_place     = [[Alameda County, California]], U.S.
| genre           = [[Thrash metal]]
| occupation      = Singer, songwriter
| years_active    = 1978–present
| label           =
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Testament (band)|Testament]]|[[Dublin Death Patrol]]}}
| past_member_of =
| website         = 
}}
'''Charles Billy''' (born June 23, 1962) is an American singer who is best known as the lead vocalist for [[thrash metal]] band [[Testament (band)|Testament]].

==Career==

===Testament===
Billy joined Legacy in 1986, replacing vocalist [[Steve Souza|Steve "Zetro" Souza]] who would later join [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]]. After Legacy changed its name to Testament, the band released their debut album ''[[The Legacy (album)|The Legacy]]'' in 1987, which featured one song written by Billy entitled "Do or Die". Testament has since released twelve more studio albums, and toured consistently, including sharing the stage with notable acts such as [[Iron Maiden]], [[Judas Priest]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]], [[Devin Townsend]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Megadeth]], [[Slayer]], [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]], [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]], [[Overkill (band)|Overkill]], [[Korn]], [[Sepultura]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]], [[Pantera]], [[White Zombie (band)|White Zombie]], [[Primus (band)|Primus]], [[Dirty Rotten Imbeciles|D.R.I.]] and [[Pro-Pain]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=The Legacy / Testament|url=http://metallipromo.com/leg.html|work=metallipromo.com|accessdate=November 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dfwundercover.com/review/testament-sepultura-prong-gas-monky-live/|title=Testament Sepultura Prong - Gas Monky Live - DFW Undercover|website=dfwundercover.com|accessdate=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628195614/http://www.dfwundercover.com/review/testament-sepultura-prong-gas-monky-live/|archive-date=June 28, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Monsters of Rock Schweinfurt 1988 Line-Up|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/471099-monsters-of-rock-schweinfurt-1988/id/13337064-monsters-of-rock-schweinfurt-1988-1988|publisher=songkick.com|accessdate=November 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Monsters of Rock 1992 Reggio Emilia Line-Up|url=https://www.songkick.com/festivals/4166-monsters-of-rock/id/2273061-monsters-of-rock-1992|publisher=songkick.com|accessdate=November 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metallipromo.com/wz.html|title=White Zombie|publisher=metallipromo.com|accessdate=November 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pro-pain.fr/stuff_flyers.html|title=Stuff_flyers|publisher=pro-pain.fr|accessdate=November 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chuck Billy Joins Devin Townsend On Stage |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=57595 |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=Metalunderground.com |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=TESTAMENT ANNOUNCE REMASTERED VERSIONS OF THE LEGACY & THE NEW ORDER|url=https://www.metal-rules.com/2024/06/07/testament-announce-remastered-versions-of-the-legacy-the-new-order/|website=[[Metal Rules|metal-rules.com]]|accessdate=June 16, 2024}}</ref>

Although Testament's lineup has changed over the years, Billy is one of the two constant members of the band along with guitarist and founder [[Eric Peterson (musician)|Eric Peterson]]; they are the only two members of Testament to appear on all of the band's studio albums. His vocal style has changed considerably over the years from a clear, high-pitched thrash style to a lower register approaching a [[death grunt]]. Since the ''[[Low (Testament album)|Low]]'' album, he has mixed both styles, sometimes within the same song.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5622/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Testament|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo |publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=March 16, 2010}}</ref>

===Work outside of Testament===

Billy's influences reportedly include [[John Lennon]], [[Paul Stanley]], [[Rob Halford]], [[Ronnie James Dio]], [[Bruce Dickinson]], [[Phil Mogg]], [[James Hetfield]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Geddy Lee]], [[Bon Scott]], [[Steven Tyler]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Robert Plant]], [[Phil Lynott]] and [[Klaus Meine]].

Prior to Legacy and Testament, Billy was the vocalist for a local metal band called Guilt which also featured future Hericane Alice and Medicine Wheel guitarist Danny Gill. No records by the band exist but they recorded one demo in 1984 and contributed the song "Down to the City" to the ''U.S. Metal Vol. IV'' compilation on [[Shrapnel Records]]. He also played in high school bands.

Around 1996, Billy auditioned for lead vocals with [[Sepultura]] as the replacement for [[Max Cavalera]], but lost that position to [[Derrick Green]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/andreas-kisser-says-chuck-billys-sepultura-audition-tape-was-interesting/|title=ANDREAS KISSER Says CHUCK BILLY's SEPULTURA Audition Tape Was 'Interesting'|date=December 15, 2013|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|accessdate=March 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/andreas-kisser-recalls-chuck-billys-sepultura-audition-he-did-a-great-job-audio/|title=ANDREAS KISSER Recalls CHUCK BILLY's SEPULTURA Audition: 'He Did A Great Job' (Audio)|date=August 3, 2015|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|accessdate=March 2, 2016}}</ref>

Billy has also appeared on the solo projects of [[James Murphy (metal guitarist)|James Murphy]], playing on both albums as a guest musician.

In 2006, Billy provided vocals on the [[Sadus]] song "Crazy" and, along with several other musicians from other bands, did a cover of [[Iron Maiden]]'s "[[Fear of the Dark (song)|Fear of the Dark]]" for their ''[[Numbers from the Beast]]'' tribute album. On [[Light This City]]'s 2008 release, ''Stormchaser'', he provides vocals on the song "Firehaven."

He also joined with musicians including his brothers Eddie and Andy Billy, Steve Souza, Greg Bustamante, Steve Robello, Dan Cunningham, Willy Lange to form the band [[Dublin Death Patrol]].

In 2008, Billy did the vocals for Silent Night on the album of Christmas carols ''[[We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year]]'' with the likes of [[Scott Ian]], [[Jon Donais]], [[Chris Wyse]] and [[John Tempesta]].
[[file:Testament 15.jpg|Billy in 2008|thumb|upright]]
In 2009, Billy appeared on the song "Live My Dream" from the band [[Susperia]]'s album, ''[[Attitude (Susperia album)|Attitude]]''.

For the live presentation of the album [[Ziltoid the Omniscient]] by [[Devin Townsend]], he provided the voice of the Planet Smasher on the track of the same name. This happened at [[Tuska Open Air]] Metal Festival 2010 in [[Helsinki]].

In 2014, Billy provided guest vocals on the song "Trend Killer" on Swedish [[melodic death metal|melodeath]] band [[The Haunted (Swedish band)|The Haunted]]'s album Exit Wounds.

In 2014, Billy appeared on fellow thrash metal band Exodus’s ''[[Blood In, Blood Out (Exodus album)|Blood In, Blood Out]]'' and provided guest vocals on the track "BTK." He had previously filled in Zetro on vocals for Exodus' performance on October 28, 2004, at the [[Warfield Theatre]] in San Francisco, where the band opened for [[Megadeth]].

In 2015, Billy appeared on [[Metal Allegiance]]'s self-titled album and provided featured vocals on the track "Can't Kill the Devil."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6598221/metal-allegiance-album|title=Metal Allegiance to Release First Album of Original Material|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

Billy and [[Oni (band)|Jake Oni]] contributed vocals to the song "The Never" from [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]] guitarist [[Mark Morton (guitarist)|Mark Morton]]'s debut solo album ''[[Anesthetic (album)|Anesthetic]]'', released in March 2019.

In 2019, Billy appeared as the singer on the song, "Waiting to Die" from the album Imperium by the band Walls of Blood. 

In 2019, Billy appeared as a featured artist on the [[Killswitch Engage]] song "The Crownless King" from their album ''[[Atonement (Killswitch Engage album)|Atonement]]''.

In 2020, Billy appeared on the [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]] song "Routes" from their [[Lamb of God (album)|self-titled album]].

In 2021, Billy provided additional voices for the Disney+ television series "[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]", part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Testament singer "had a blast" voicing Marvel What If…? episode|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/what-if-testament-singer|access-date=2021-10-07|website=The Digital Fix|date=October 6, 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2022, Billy appeared on the [[Matt Heafy]] song "Behold Our Power".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/triviums-matt-heafy-and-testaments-chuck-billy-collaborate-on-new-song-behold-our-power/|title=Trivium's Matt Heafy And Testament's Chuck Billy Collaborate On New Song 'Behold Our Power'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, Billy appeared on [[deathcore]] band [[Shadow of Intent]]'s song "Blood in the Sands of Time" from their ''[[Elegy (Shadow of Intent album)|Elegy]]'' album which was released on January 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalnoise.net/2021/11/documentary-the-making-of-elegy-1-from-shadow-of-intent|title=Documentary: "The Making Of Elegy #1" from Shadow Of Intent|website=metalnoise.net|date=November 29, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>

====Possible solo album====
In an August 2021 interview on The Jasta Show, Billy revealed that he might release a solo album in the future and hinted that its musical direction would be different from the traditional thrash metal style of Testament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=43192|title=Testament - Chuck Billy Working On Solo Album|publisher=[[Metal Storm (webzine)|Metal Storm]]|access-date=September 3, 2021|date=September 3, 2021}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
In 2013, California State Assemblyman [[Jim Frazier (politician)|Jim Frazier]] honored Billy on the State Assembly floor for his positive influence on the Native American community.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/news/details/3042399.testament-chuck-billy-honored-by-california.html|title=TESTAMENT: Chuck Billy Honored by California State Assembly!|publisher= Nuclear Blast America|accessdate=February 2, 2021}}</ref>

Billy became the first [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] to be permanently featured in the memorabilia display at the [[Hard Rock Cafe|Hard Rock Hotel]] in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], in 2013. He is also recognized in the [[National Museum of the American Indian]] exhibit in the [[Smithsonian Institution]] titled ''"Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture"'', which was on display through January 2, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://antiochherald.com/2013/06/assemblyman-jim-frazier-honors-antiochs-chuck-billy-of-thrash-metal-band-testament/|title= ASSEMBLYMAN JIM FRAZIER HONORS ANTIOCH'S CHUCK BILLY OF THRASH METAL BAND TESTAMENT|publisher= Antioch Herald|accessdate= November 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=144850|title=Testament Frontman Featured in Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Exhibition|date=August 20, 2010|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net|Blabbermouth]]|accessdate=August 21, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828102611/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=144850|archivedate=August 28, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Billy was born to a Native American father and a Mexican mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noisecreep.com/testament-chuck-billy-native-american/|title=Testament's Chuck Billy Opens Up About His Native American Upbringing|date=January 12, 2012|publisher=[[Noisecreep]]|accessdate=February 12, 2017}}</ref> He is of the [[Pomo people|Pomo]] Native Americans,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=66942|title=Testament Frontman Is Hoping To Record 'Really Brutal' New Album|last=Atkinson|first=Peter|date=February 13, 2007|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net|Blabbermouth]]|accessdate=March 16, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606071528/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=66942|archivedate=June 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> an indigenous people of [[Northern California]], and is proud of his Native American heritage, sometimes giving a shoutout to his "Native brothers and sisters" in the audience. The song "Trail of Tears" is a tribute to his heritage, as are "Allegiance" and "Native Blood". Billy is first cousins with [[Stephen Carpenter]], co-founder and lead guitarist of [[alternative metal]] band [[Deftones]].

In 2001, Billy was diagnosed with [[germ cell]] [[seminoma]]; his was a rare medical situation since this type of cancer usually manifests in men's testicular region, while in Billy's case the tumor appeared in the chest region near his heart. In August 2001, friends organized the ''[[Thrash of the Titans]]'' benefit concert, held to raise money for Billy's medical expenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=96212|title=Testament Singer Talks About Beating Cancer|date=May 2, 2008|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net|Blabbermouth]]|accessdate=March 16, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606071454/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=96212|archivedate=June 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Following [[chemotherapy]], he has since been given a clean bill of health and continued to work with Testament.

In March 2020, Billy and his wife Tiffany tested positive for [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] following the completion of [[The Bay Strikes Back]] tour in Europe; he was the third person to have returned home sick from the aforementioned tour, following Will Carroll of [[Death Angel]] and [[Gary Holt (musician)|Gary Holt]] of [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/03/22/coronavirus-testament-exodus-death-angel-bay-area-metal-bands-ill-return-from-european-tour/ |title=Coronavirus Update: Members Of Bay Area Metal Bands Sick After Return From European Tour |website=[[KPIX-TV|CBS San Francisco]] |date=March 22, 2020 |accessdate=March 22, 2020}}</ref> Testament confirmed the testings in a statement that he had been quarantined in his home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/testament-singer-chuck-billy-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/|title=TESTAMENT Singer CHUCK BILLY Tests Positive For Coronavirus|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=March 22, 2020 |accessdate=March 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Testament Singer, Crew Members Test Positive |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/testament-chuck-billy-coronavirus-971074/ |accessdate=March 25, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links== <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
{{Commons category|Chuck Billy}}
* [http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/national-museum-american-indian-s-newest-exhibition-where-we-belong-native-musicians-popula National Museum of the American Indian’s Newest Exhibition “Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture”]

{{Testament}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Billy, Chuck}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:American baritones]]
[[Category:American musicians of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians]]
[[Category:Native American singers]]
[[Category:People from Antioch, California]]
[[Category:Pomo people]]
[[Category:Testament (band) members]]
[[Category:Singers from California]]
[[Category:Thrash metal musicians]]