Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante recently addressed the topic of retirement, making it clear that stopping is not on the agenda, in a conversation featured on the Talk is Jericho podcast.
Speaking with host Chris Jericho, Benante drew on the enduring careers of legendary artists like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and B.B. King to explain why he believes true musicians should never feel pressured to quit.
“I love it. And like, why stop?” Benante said. “I remember reading an interview with Keith Richards back in the day when they said, ‘When are you going to call it quits?’ And Keith’s response was, ‘Would you ask BB King to stop? Would you ask this jazz to stop? Why? Why do I need to stop because I’m 40 years old?'”
Benante reflected on how the conversation around the Stones’ longevity has always been met with the same resistance, and applied that same logic to Anthrax.
“You remember when they were like 40 years old and they like, ‘Are the Stones calling it quits?’ You know, it’s like for me, I don’t ever want to stop doing this because I love it so much. It’s such a thing. You know what I mean? And if you have it, why not explore?”
He went on to cite Paul McCartney as a direct example of the kind of sustained creative drive he aspires to maintain.
“I look at Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney is still doing it. Still writing songs. The Stones are still writing songs, you know,” Benante continued. “So, why stop, you know? I enjoy it. We enjoy it.”
The comments reinforce Anthrax’s commitment to continuing as an active force in rock and metal, with no indication of any plans to wind down.
Benante’s passion for the craft runs deeper than just performing. It is rooted in a lifelong dedication to composition and innovation that has defined Anthrax’s sound for decades.
Wikipedia notes that Benante is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of double bass drumming and is credited with popularizing the blast beat technique, cementing his place as one of the most influential drummers in metal history. He also serves as Anthrax’s main composer, meaning his drive to keep creating is not simply about staying on the road. It is about continuing to shape the band’s musical identity.
That creative momentum appears to be translating into concrete output. Blabbermouth reported that a new Anthrax album is on the way, with Benante describing it as featuring “a more grown-up kind of sound,” adding, “We’re more mature now and I think the writing shows it.” The record is currently slated for a September release.
The band is also ramping up its live presence. Benante recently discussed a long-awaited Australian headline tour with The Everblack Podcast, signaling that Anthrax is pushing forward on multiple fronts. The band is moving ahead both in the studio and on the stage.
That level of sustained activity is backed by a catalog that spans more than four decades. Wikipedia records that Benante has recorded eleven studio albums with Anthrax, a body of work that gives considerable weight to his argument that veteran artists have every reason to keep going. For Benante, the examples of McCartney and the Stones are not just inspiration. They are a blueprint.
