CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

by Alex Kluft

CRN: Let’s talk about the beginning of Metal Allegiance. It began in 2011 as the Metal Masters Clinic which was started by Mark Menghi when he was artist relations for Samson & Hartke. You were part of the original one which also included Frank Bello, Mike Portnoy, Charlie Benante, Kerry King… I remember there being 3 or 4 of those and it didn’t take place during NAMM surprisingly. 

DE: The very first one was before the Indio Big 4 Show. I think at Sam Ash in Cerritos, because Sam Ash was part of the Samson/Hartke consortium. It was Portnoy on drums, Benante on guitar, me and Frank playing bass and Frank singing. It was more of a clinic and we jammed a few tunes. You’re right it was called Metal Masters. We did one at the Key Club and Lombardo was there… Kerry King, Geezer Butler came down. We did New York City I think the night before the Yankee Stadium Big 4 show. We did a few of them at it really took off. It was cool. That was later in 2011. As live moved on, Menghi transitioned out of the job at Samson/Hartke and we were talking in summer of 2014 and I said you did the hardest part of this which was getting all the famous guys together. We should keep this going. He hung up and called me back saying he just trademarked Metal Allegiance. We were back in business. Funny enough we had planned on launching it at NAMM 2015. Megadeth was scheduled to be on the Motorhead Motorboat Cruise October 2014, a couple months after Menghi and I grouped Metal Allegiance. Suddenly Megadeth canceled and the promoter called me freaking out because Megadeth was the headliner. I said hey listen I got an idea so I called Menghi and say let’s fill in. It’s an all star thing, everybody will be there and so we did. That was our debut show on the Motorboat Cruise. The last two nights we did the big all star jam and now it’s a common thing on cruises. I’m going to claim some credit for that. Metal Allegiance started that concept and while we were on the boat, Portnoy invited us to his house the next month to write a record. That’s how the whole first record happened. He called Monte Conner at Nuclear Blast. He came out to the studio in Long Island and heard the tracks he loved it. He was at Roadrunner and did those Roadrunner United records which had a lot of the artists doing this sort of all star thing for Road Runner. He understood the concept right away and loved it and gave us a deal. We did two records at Nuclear Blast.

CRN: Metal Allegiance evolved to a band playing around 10 states, festivals, and cruises and out of the country. Did you ever think it would turn into that starting as a clinic?

DE: Like all bands you take it one thing at a time. We had some pretty high ambitions to tour, but realized quickly, it would be quite difficult because of who would be available and promoters wanted to know who would be in the band since it was the four of us [Alex] Skolnick, Portnoy, Menghi, and myself. Who’s gonna be the singer? We ran into that type of thing all the time as everybodies touring and doing their own thing. It was harder to do that so we moved it to more speciality things. We played at Rock In Rio in Brazil We did a couple of tours out west and around NY and the Tri-State area and Pennsylvania. It’s fun to take it on the road. It’s cool and a unique experience. A bunch of rockstars playing original material and some covers everyone knows. It keeps everybody’s interest.  

CRN: You’re definitely right about that, those were all bands constantly touring between Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament… NAMM must be the easiest time to do it

DE: That’s why NAMM kinda became an anchor for us. Technically, we’re not part of NAMM officially of course, but to be an event that takes place during it at the House of Blues. This year that became a perfect anchor date so that we could keep a nice all star lineup. Most people are off the road at that time and going to NAMM. This worked out to be pretty cool as our annual rally. 

CRN: This being the 10 year anniversary and for anyone just discovering the group, I would call it a reunion/supergroup of thrash metal giants and pioneers. How would you describe it?

DE: I’d say that’s a very accurate description. I might have to rip that off from you. That’s exactly what it is. Menghi said “let’s make a Thrash record” and that’s what we set out to do. Like any great Thrash record, there’s more to it than all on brutal assault Thrash. Both the records have their musical nuances to it which of course allows for a different cast of musicians to be involved. On the first record we had Cristina Scabbia with us. We had Alissa White, she did a DIO Cover with us. We had Floor Jansen from Nightwish work with us on the title track of [second album] Power Drunk Majesty. It’s for the brothers and sisters of the community and that;s what makes it fun to be able to make it a thrash endeavor. Something that features the icons, the founders, the people who are even current. Some of the younger pacemakers of the genre as well.  

CRN: The guests definitely come from some high profile bands like I mentioned before. 

DE: Also Overkill, and having Randy Blythe from Lamb of God, Troy Sanders from Mastodon. It’s a good mix. That’s what we try to do. We feature songs from our records during the shows and probably half of the show is familiar and in some cases a few deep cut covers true Thrash Metal fans will know. 

CRN: This will be the first Metal Allegiance since 2020 I believe since there was no NAMM 2021 and the last two didn’t take place at the end of January as it always does. 

DE: Yes it is the first since 2020. It came back softly in 22 and 23. We waited until it reset properly in January 24. 

CRN: Hard to believe it’s been four years since the last NAMM in January.

DE: That makes the event so cool and a lot has changed since then. Pantera is back in full force. Lots of times they [Phil & Rex] would do the Dimebash and other events. Alot of those aren’t around anymore. What’s cool about this for us is that it might be the only big Metal gig at that time. 

CRN: Who are you looking forward to sharing the stage with?

DE: It’s funny because Chris Poland and I go way back, but this is his first one. Troy Sanders has done some stuff with us on the road before. He’s great. He’s just a whole different style person and presence on bass and vocals. I love being up there with John Bush and Chuck Billy. What’s always impressive for me is to see Mike Portnoy just tirelessly own the night on the drums. It’s fun when we can bring up some guests and sort of partner on some drum stuff with him. Every show is different, we build the song list and lineup of musicians different. You’ll never see two Metal Allegiance shows exactly the same. 

CRN: Let’s talk about plans for 2024, I know you’ll have your coffee at NAMM.

DE: We exhibited there in 2019 I think. It was a huge success and NAMM called us back to exhibit this year. It’s great. We can have a lot of our friends and do autograph signings there Obviously we’ll have a ton of coffee there so just follow your nose and you’ll know where were at. 

CRN: I know you have some new music projects as well

DE: The first thing is in February and March. I have the Bass Warrior tour in Europe. That’s going to be hitting the Eastern European area, Italy, Estonia, Germany, Czech Republic…