Anthrax gave fans a surprise in Athens on Saturday night when they brought in British session drummer Darby Todd to play their set at the Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (OAKA) in Greece. The band was there as the support act for Iron Maiden, and the performance quickly became notable not just for the show itself, but for the unexpected drummer switch behind the kit.
The move was necessary because longtime Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante was apparently unable to make the Athens date due to his existing touring commitments with Pantera, which was scheduled to perform in Frankfurt, Germany, the following day as support for Metallica. That left Anthrax needing a last-minute solution, and Todd stepped into the spot.
Todd is no stranger to heavy-duty live work. His résumé includes touring and recording with Devin Townsend and performing with The Darkness, Martin Barre, Alan Price, Gary Moore, Kee Marcello of Europe, Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow, Carl Verheyen, Robert Plant, Robben Ford, Paul Gilbert, and many others. The Blabbermouth report notes that he is comfortable playing everything from jazz clubs to arena rock stages, which made him a strong fit for a high-pressure night like this one.
Beyond touring, Todd also runs a London-based studio, where he handles remote recording for artists and bands around the world while also teaching on a limited basis. He holds both U.K. and U.S. passports, making him a particularly practical choice for international touring and U.S. work.
The Athens appearance came at an important time for Anthrax as well. The band is preparing to release its long-awaited twelfth studio album, Cursum Perficio, on September 18 via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It will be Anthrax’s first new album in ten years, following For All Kings in 2016, which landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200.
Charlie Benante’s absence was especially notable because he has been Anthrax’s drummer since 1983, joining before the band recorded its debut album Fistful of Metal. The article also points out that Benante is known for his fast double-kick style, his work with S.O.D., and his role as a major musical force within Anthrax, having written much of the band’s music and created many of its album covers and T-shirt designs.
That history made the Athens show feel a little more suspenseful than usual. Fans expecting the familiar Anthrax lineup instead got a high-level stand-in who was clearly capable of handling the job. Even without Benante onstage, the band still delivered a major live moment in front of one of metal’s biggest touring audiences.
The performance was part of a busy stretch for the band and for heavy metal touring more broadly, with Iron Maiden launching its own high-profile 2026 run the same weekend. But for Anthrax fans, the headline was simple: a surprise drummer, a massive European stage, and a reminder that even last-minute changes can turn into a powerful moment when the musicians are this strong.
https://youtu.be/15ENklyUjN4
