Photo by Samuel Phillips Photography
The legendary voice of thrash pillars, Testament, Chuck Billy has announced the November release of his new memoir, Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy. Published via Permuted Press, the book offers a first-hand account of the rise of the Bay Area legends and their enduring influence on thrash music, contrast with Billy's personal bout cancer that nearly ended everything.
The book was co-written by Dave Erickson and consists of two testaments, the Old, which frames the formative rise of Testament and the New which documents Billy's cancer diagnosis at 38. Framing the significance of his Mexican and Native American lineage and the importance of the metal music community.
The book also highlights one of metal's most legendary performances in the Thrash of the Titans 2001 benefit concert in San Francisco which reunited the Legacy era line-up and saw a community galvanizing roster that included performances from Exodus, Anthrax, Vio-Lence, and Soulfly and more.
"This book is about two versions of me that are really just one story," says Billy. "The guy who thought he was invincible, and the guy who learned how fragile life really is."
The book is also anchored by a foreword from the iconic Rob Halford of Judas Priest and an afterword from accomplished author and Lamb of God frontman, Randy Blythe.
Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy, arrives November 10th via Permuted Press. Pre-order the book - HERE
