In the wake of Testament’s semi-recent and monstrously thrashy Para Bellum album, longtime frontman Chuck Billy reports he’s about to release his memoir on a life of metal and more. The iconic screamer’s tome is called Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy.
A press release explains that Billy’s book is out November 10th through Permuted Press. Committing to the bit in spectacular fashion, the autobiography has the singer splitting up his account into two sections: an “Old Testament” and “New Testament.”
The first part of the book covers Billy’s experiences at the dawn of the Bay Area thrash scene, and likewise inspects the, ahem, Legacy of Testament, which he’d joined in 1986. Throughout, he apparently dives into “the rivalries, the brotherhood, and the reckless, glorious chaos” of those times, and how they helped him become “one of the genre’s most powerful voices.”
The “New Testament” portion touches on Billy receiving a cancer diagnosis at 38, with the author further reflecting on “his Native American and Mexican-American heritage, spiritual healers, visions, and the fierce love of a metal community.” He also takes stock of the 2001 “Thrash of the Titans” benefit concert for Billy that featured Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, Anthrax, and more.
“This book is about two versions of me that are really just one story,” Billy shares in a statement, “The guy who thought he was invincible, and the guy who learned how fragile life really is.”
Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy was co-authored between Billy and Dave Erickson. It features a foreword from author and Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford, as well as an afterword from author and Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe.
You can pre-order Billy’s book now in Revolver’s shop.
Testament recently wrapped a North American tour. They’ll next be hitting Europe on a package tour that also features Death Angel, Armored Saint, Metal Church and more. The overseas show info is here.
