CHUCK BILLY OF TESTAMENT SOUNDS OFF ON METALLICA ROCK HALL INDUCTION

Chuck Billy shares his thoughts on fellow ’80s San Francisco thrash band Metallica getting inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and what it means for m…

Legendary Metal band Metallica where inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and it signified the first of the second generation of Metal bands to have the honor bestowed upon them for over two decades of bringing hard rock to their fans. Metallica played a significant rolE in Heavy Metal music in the 1980’s and along with Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth are recognized as laying the foundation for Thrash Metal since their inception. Having formed a friendship long ago since their bands were performing around San Francisco together, Testament’s Chuck Billy certainly knows how significant Metallica have been to Metal music since their first album “Kill Em All” was released in 1983.

We caught up with Chuck Billy of Testament, at the first annual Revolver Golden God Awards where Metalica were honored with the award for best album of 2008, to get his thoughts on Metallica’s recent induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and why it will open a lot of doors for future metal bands.

“I thought it was great. It’s wonderful and I think as like James (Hetfield) said it’s wonderful that it could open a lot of doors for a lot more Metal acts to get inducted there. So, I think it’s wonderful. Like I said, Metal in America it’s got some legs right now.”

Testament latest album 2008’s “The Formation of Damnation” was their first studio album in nine years and it was the first Testament album to feature original guitarist Alex Skolnick since 1992’s The Ritual. Testament recently finished the “Priest Feast” European tour with headliners Judas Priest and Megadeth in February and March of 2009 and the band slated to perform at the Ankkarock Festival 2009 in Finland as well as the Knock Out Festival 2009 in Poland.