Frank Bello
Encyclopedia
Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar
for the thrash metal band Anthrax
. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker
on the Spreading the Disease
album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet
- another New York City
-based rock band, for a brief stint. Bello has since reunited with Anthrax and on March 14, 2009 was the featured guest on VH1 Classic
's That Metal Show
. The rest of the band was part of an interview segment while at the Red Bull
Snowscrapers event on February 15, 2009 at East River Park in New York City. Bello is the nephew of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante
. Bello also had a younger brother, Anthony, who was murdered in the Bronx, NYC, on March 25, 1996. To the grief of Bello, his murder was never solved.
In the early days on Anthrax, Bello used an ESP Precision-styled bass, possibly a 400 series, that had EMG P-bass and J-bass pickups. He began using Fender P-basses around the time of Persistence of Time until the release of his signature model.
Bello also has a signature Squier
electric jazz bass. It features P/J style pick up combination and a skull inlay/body graphic.
There is a writing of "R.I.P. Dimebag" on Bello's bass guitar for tribute to deceased Pantera
and Damageplan
guitarist Dimebag Darrell
.
After constant touring with Megadeth
's bass player, David Ellefson
, Frank switched to a Hartke LH1000 and HyDrive cabinets.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for the thrash metal band Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker
Dan Lilker
Dan Lilker is a musician from the United States, most known as a bass player, but also guitarist, pianist, drummer and vocalist...
on the Spreading the Disease
Spreading the Disease
Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on October 30, 1985 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello.-Album information:The band produced...
album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
- another New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based rock band, for a brief stint. Bello has since reunited with Anthrax and on March 14, 2009 was the featured guest on VH1 Classic
VH1 Classic
VH1 Classic is a television network, launched on May 8, 2000. It is operated as part of MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom and primarily features music videos and concert footage from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, though it formerly included a wider range of genres and time periods...
's That Metal Show
That Metal Show
That Metal Show is a talk show hosted by Eddie Trunk with co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. It premiered on VH1 Classic on November 15, 2008. New episodes air on VH1 Classic on Saturday nights and are rebroadcast throughout the week....
. The rest of the band was part of an interview segment while at the Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
Snowscrapers event on February 15, 2009 at East River Park in New York City. Bello is the nephew of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
. Bello also had a younger brother, Anthony, who was murdered in the Bronx, NYC, on March 25, 1996. To the grief of Bello, his murder was never solved.
Equipment
Bello has a signature model Fender electric bass. The model combines a Fender Aerodyne body with a Precision Bass-width neck, Alder body wood (as opposed to the Aerodyne's Basswood) and a mix of Precision and Jazz bass pickups along with non-standard custom-chosen hardware. Pickups used on the bass are Seymour Duncan SPB-3 precision bass pickup in the neck position and a Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Jazz Bass pickup in the bridge position, although Bello's personal bass now is equipped with EMG HZ Passive pickups which Bello prefers "as the output is... a lot louder" and he gets "a lot more punch".In the early days on Anthrax, Bello used an ESP Precision-styled bass, possibly a 400 series, that had EMG P-bass and J-bass pickups. He began using Fender P-basses around the time of Persistence of Time until the release of his signature model.
Bello also has a signature Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
electric jazz bass. It features P/J style pick up combination and a skull inlay/body graphic.
There is a writing of "R.I.P. Dimebag" on Bello's bass guitar for tribute to deceased Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
and Damageplan
Damageplan
Damageplan was an American heavy metal supergroup from Dallas, Texas that formed in 2003. Following the demise of their previous group Pantera, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott wanted to start a new band. The pair recruited former Halford guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and later...
guitarist Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
.
After constant touring with Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
's bass player, David Ellefson
David Ellefson
David Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...
, Frank switched to a Hartke LH1000 and HyDrive cabinets.