Darby Todd is the drummer filling in for Anthrax during Charlie Benante’s recovery. He shared a drum-cam video of himself performing ‘Caught In A Mosh’ live at this year’s Rock Imperium festival. He also sent a message to fans.
Todd’s post came after Benante announced that he would be stepping away from the stage temporarily due to a hand injury. The longtime Anthrax drummer explained the situation. He also expressed gratitude for Todd’s help.
‘Played a great show with Anthrax tonight,’ Todd said. ‘It’s cool being able to cover for Charlie Benante. Oslo kicked off this evening!’
Benante had previously announced: ‘An Ouch post: I wanted to let everyone know that I unfortunately injured my right hand and, following my doctor’s orders, I’ll be sitting out a handful of shows from June 20 through July 4 to give it the proper time to heal.’
He added, ‘I’m incredibly grateful that Darby Todd will be stepping in behind the kit for these dates and helping keep the shows rolling while I recover.’
The Rock Imperium Festival performance took place in Cartagena, Spain, on July 4 — the final date of Benante’s recovery window. The show marked the end of Todd’s temporary stint behind the kit for that leg of the tour.
Todd was not a newcomer to Anthrax’s touring lineup. He had already filled in for Benante earlier on the same European run, including a show in Athens on May 23. The British drummer’s familiarity with the material made him a natural choice to step in during an already packed touring schedule.
Benante’s right-hand injury forced him to sit out a total of nearly a dozen shows across Europe. The recovery period ran from June 20 through July 4. It came at a particularly busy time for Anthrax. The band was in the middle of an extensive international tour.
The decision to bring in Todd allowed the band to maintain its tour schedule without any cancellations. Following doctor’s orders, Benante took the necessary time off to allow the injury to heal properly before returning to the stage.
Todd’s drum-cam performance of ‘Caught In A Mosh’ at Rock Imperium gave fans a close-up look at how he approached the classic Anthrax track. The footage quickly circulated among fans who appreciated the seamless transition between drummers during a challenging period for the band.
