THRASH OF THE TITANS

Thrash of the Titans was a benefit concert held on August 11, 2001 at the Maritime Hall in San Francisco, CA. The concert was a benefit concert held for Testament vocalist Chuck Billy, whom at the time was diagnosed with cancer and for Chuck Schuldiner of Death that unfortunately passed away a few months after the concerts were held.

The idea behind the festival was to get all of the old thrash heroes back on stage once again to salute and bring in some money to support the two Chucks. The focus was laid on the Bay Area Thrash Metal movement, but a few outsiders like Anthrax, S.O.D. and Laaz Rockit also joined in on the friendly and violent fun. The bands that performed at the Thrash of the Titans was Exodus, Forbidden Evil, S.O.D., Heathen, Anthrax, Death Angel, Flotsam and Jetsam, Vio-Lence, Legacy and Sadus.

This is the story of the most important event in thrash metal history, I dare to say. Thrash of the Titans was the event that brought thrash metal back to front, where it belongs.

PLANNING

The concert was organized by Walter Morgan and it was announced in May of 2001 and the 2300 tickets to the event sold out quickly. The entry fee was 50$ and the event was held at a small venue and perhaps the organizers didn't understand how quickly the tickets would sell out.

At the time of the concert, Bay Area thrash was an eighties phenomenon that was dead and buried for over a decade, Thus the small venue the concert were held at. I guess that it would have been impossible if all the bands were at their peak with tours and commitments all over the globe. But now many of the bands had no plans or had disbanded some ten years ago.
The concert was filmed by Jerry Allen and the Tales from the Pit crew,  but due to the rights the full concert was never released on DVD. But at least some of the performances has been released on tape. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was none other than S.O.D. (and M.O.D.) vocalist Billy Milano. Thrash metal's grand old lady, Debbie Abono (R.I.P.) was also a key member in getting the concerts going. The name Thrash of the Titans might have been a wordplay on the Clash of the Titans Tour, a tour that Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and (originally Death Angel, but they had to cancel) Alice in Chains went on in the early nineties. Which was a huge happening in the early 90's.

Laaz Rockit was scheduled to appear, but they had to pull out at last minute, due to singer Michael Coons being admitted to a rehabilitation center. They were replaced by Arizona's own Flotsam and Jetsam. M.O.D. were also scheduled to appear, but with the show running long, Billy Milano announced that M.O.D. would play a show in Oakland the next week, and that tickets to the Thrash of the Titans would be honored.
    
 

In Order of Appearance:

HEATHEN

Heathen reformed in 2001 to take part of the Thrash of the Titans concert. The lineup for the night was David (Godfrey) , Lee Altus, Ira Black, Mike Jastremski and Darren Minter. Heathen had returned after an eight year long break.  Heathen performed classic songs like Opiate of the Masses, Goblin's Blade, Heathen's Song, Set Me Free (The Sweet cover) and Open the Grave. Heathen opened the night and their gig started at 3 pm. Bassist Mike Jastremski passed away four years later in 2005 after having a heart attack.

Heathen's setlist:
Open the Grave
Set Me Free
Goblin's Blade
Heathen's Song
Opiate of the Masses

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

Flotsam and Jetsam replaced Laaz Rockit who cancelled when Michael Coons went into rehab. Flotsam and Jetsam was not from the Bay Area and they never broke up in the 90's. But the band stepped in and did a solid performance. They performed one new song in "Dig Me Up to Bury Me", from the My God album, released just months earlier. Flotsam and Jetsam's lineup at the time was:

Eric A.K., Ed Carlson, Mark Simpson, Jason Ward and Craig Nielsen.

Flotsam and Jetsam's setlist:
Hammerhead
No Place for Disgrace
Hard on You
The Master Sleeps
Escape from Within
Dig Me Up to Bury Me

SADUS

Steve DiGiorgio and Jon Allen played in Testament at the time so when Chuck Billy was diagnosed it was given that Sadus would be on the bill. Sadus was somewhat active whenever Steve and Jon had the time off from Testament. They released their latest album in 1997, so they didn't need the time to brush up their skills. The lineup was as usual Darren Travis, Jon Allen and Steve DiGiorgio. Drummer Joe Allen impressed.

Sadus' setlist:
Sadus Attack
Aggression
Through the Eyes of Greed
Certain Death
Unreality
Hands of Fate
In Your Face
Twisted Face
Facelift

FORBIDDEN EVIL

Forbidden reunited under their original name Forbidden Evil. The band folded in 1997 but reunited in 2001 to do the Thrash of the Titans concert. Guitarist Craig Locicero was busy with his band Manmade God so he couldn't make it to the show, but he later expressed his content for Chuck Billy's sake. Forbidden put on a good show, playing a lot of songs from their debut album. Russ Anderson proved that his voice was still powerful. The lineup for the night was Russ Anderson, Glen Alvelais, Tim Calvert, Steve Smyth, Matt Camacho, Jeremy Colson and Paul Bostaph. Paul Bostaph (who was with Slayer at the time) was back with Forbidden for the first time since 1992.

Forbidden Evil's setlist:
Forbidden Evil
Off the Edge
Through Eyes of Glass
One Foot in Hell
Feel No Pain
Chalice of Blood

DEATH ANGEL

Death Angel reformed to be a part of the Thrash of the Titans concert. Guitarist Gus Pepa could not participate but the band took in their friend and guitarist Ted Aguilar. It was the first time in ten years the members performed together as Death Angel, it was also the first time in ten years that  Mark Osegueda sang with the other members. The other four members of Death Angel had been playing together in the metal band The Organization during the nineties. Death Angel's performance was flawless and Death Angel really impressed. The concert went so well for the band that they decided to continue and they are active still to this day (2017).

Death Angel's setlist:
The Ultra-Violence
Evil Priest
Voracious Souls
Mistress of Pain
Kill as One
I.P.F.S.
Thrashers
Bored
Seemingly Endless Time

EXODUS

Exodus did a short tour in 1997 but disbanded afterwards. So when the band was offered to play the Thrash of the Titans concert, the band agreed to take part and they reformed with the same lineup as in 1997. The lineup consisted of Paul Baloff, Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt, Jack Gibson and Tom Hunting. The concert was very special for Exodus because Paul Baloff had returned to the band and the Thrash of the Titans became one of his last shows because he died just six months later in February of 2002. Original guitarist Rick Hunolt would also leave the band a few years later. But Thrash of the Titans was all about Paul Baloff, whom hadn't performed that much with the band since he was fired after 1985's debut album Bonded By Blood.

At the time Exodus hadn't released an album since 1992's Force of Habit and Gary Holt had cut off his long hair when the concert took place. Their performance was perhaps not their greatest and the band looks back upon this time as a time when the band was heavily into drugs. A highlight of their show was when Steve 'Zetro' Souza joined Exodus on stage to perform Brain Dead with Paul Baloff and the rest of Exodus.

Exodus' setlist:
Pleasures of the Flesh
Exodus
And Then There Were None
Bonded by Blood
No Love
Brain Dead
Piranha
Only Death Decides  

S.O.D.

S.O.D. was somewhat active when the Thrash of the Titans were held. They had released sophomore album Bigger Than The Devil in 1999. The lineup for the night was Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Dan Lilker and Billy Milano. Billy 'Mosh' Milano seemed to enjoy himself and pulled a lot of jokes from upon the stage, while the Anthrax, excuse me S.O.D. guys kept up the tempo.

S.O.D.s' setlist:
March of the S.O.D.
Sargent 'D' and the S.O.D.
Kill Yourself
Milano Mosh
Speak English or Die
Fuck the Middle East
Douche Crew
Chromatic Death
Fist Banging Mania
Aren't You Hungry?
Ballad of Jimi Hendrix
Ballad of Kurt Cobain
Ballad of Michael Hutchence
Ballad of Jim Morrison
Ballad of Joey Ramone
Ballad of "The Midget from Kid Rock"
Milk
Pussywhipped
Freddy Krueger
United Forces

ANTHRAX

After S.O.D. it was time for Anthrax to enter the stage. At the time of the concert it was John Bush who sung for the band. They performed the track Gung-Ho for the first time ever with John Bush. The band exclusively played Joey Belladonna-era songs on the show. Anthrax lineup for the night was: Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, John Bush and Frank Bello. Anthrax were the only band that played both Clash of the Titans (1990's tour with Megadeth, Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies) and Thrash of the Titans. I don't know if Bring the Noise was the best song to perform at a thrash metal event but Anthrax did a decent job, performing the typical setlist they have been playing ever since the eighties.

Anthrax setlist:
Among the Living
Metal Thrashing Mad
Caught in a Mosh
Indians
Gung-Ho
Got the Time
Bring the Noise

VIO-LENCE

At the time of the concert, Vio-Lence hadn't played live since December of 1993. The band got together and practiced real hard to perform the gig of their lives. While looking back at the event one must say that Vio-Lence impressed me the most of all bands that played the concert. Perry Strickland's drumming was intense and Sean Killian was a total maniac up on stage. Vio-Lence's lineup for the night was: Sean Killian, Perry Strickland, Phil Demmel, Deen Dell and Ray Vegas.

Vio-Lence's setlist:
Liquid Courage
Kill on Command
Calling in the Coroner
Eternal Nightmare
Serial Killer
Mentally Afflicted
Officer Nice
Phobophobia
Oppressing the Masses
World in a World
T.D.S. (Take It As You Will)
I Profit

LEGACY

Legacy entered the stage after 2 am. The Thrash of the Titans show was actually headlined by Legacy, which was a precursor to Testament. It was the first time Alex Skolnick performed with the band since he left Testament back in 1992 to pursue other musical interests. In Legacy it was Steve 'Zetro' Souza (Of Exodus) who sang for the band instead of Chuck Billy. So it was cool to se 'Zetro' perform some of the classic Testament songs. Chuck Billy joined the band for the last song of the night, which was Into the Pit.

Legacy's setlist:
Raging Waters
Alone in the Dark
Burnt Offerings
The Haunting
First Strike Is Deadly
Over the Wall
Reign of Terror
Into the Pit

M.O.D. (CANCELLED)

M.O.D. Cancelled but promised to hold a gig in San Francisco two weeks later. But Billy Milano was the presenter of the night and he performed with S.O.D. so I don't think the audience was that angry when they cancelled.

THE IMPACT OF THE CONCERTS
As a direct result of the concert Exodus, Heathen and Death Angel all officially reunited and released new albums afterwards. Forbidden would reunite again in 2007 and released a new album three years later. So the concert was practically the rebirth of thrash since the genre's low point in the late 90's. Vio-Lence also did a few local gigs around San Francisco, but unfortunately they didn't continue for that long.
At the time of the concert there was practically no thrash metal bands on the face of the earth. The concert were sold out and overall it was some amazing performances at the Thrash of the Titans.

So without the concert we might have not had albums like Exodus - Tempo of the Damned, Death Angel - The Art of Dying, Forbidden - Omega Wave and Heathen - The Evolution of Chaos. Would thrash be what it is today without the benefit concerts, I highly doubt that. Thrash of the Titans was the start of the third wave of thrash. Without these concerts thrash as we know it would be vastly different from what it is today. Especially as Exodus and Death Angel has been cornerstones in carrying the genre on their shoulders pretty much since 2001. Maybe the whole genre would have been long forgotten now if it wasn't for the concert? Who knows.

The concert were also one of the last times we saw Vio-Lence perform live and of course one of the last gigs with Paul Baloff as the front man in Exodus, and how many people had seen Steve 'Zetro' Souza perform with Legacy prior to the concert? Not that many people. Vocalist Mark Osegueda's return to Death Angel was also a real highlight. The same can be said about lead guitarist Alex Skolnick's return to Testament, since he hadn't played metal for a decade.
But most important of all Chuck Billy was successfully treated and cured from Cancer some time after the concerts were held.


These bands appeared: Anthrax, S.O.D., Sadus, Heathen, Flotsam and Jetsam, Exodus, Death Angel, Vio-Lence, Legacy and Forbidden.


/ Ruthless