The Frank Bello Street Driver 48 features a Dirt switch for extra gain and overdrive, and a Filth switch for extra top-end sizzle and razor edge clarity to emphasize your attack.
Frank Bello has been an avid and consistent Tech 21 user for several decades. His weapon of choice was the SansAmp Bass Driver DI, not only for Anthrax, but for his solo efforts as well. Having developed a personal relationship, it was time for Frank to have his own Signature SansAmp, the Frank Bello Street Driver 48.
Controls include Drive for gain and overdrive, Low & High active EQ, and Level. In addition to the specific tones Frank wanted, a major priority was to make the Street Driver 48 simple to operate. He didn’t want an excessive amount of knobs and switches, or gratuitous bells & whistles. He wanted players to be able to get a great sound right out of the box, whether it’s for metal or R&B or prog rock, whether the player is a novice or expert, young or advanced in years.
As is the case with all Tech 21 Signature SansAmps, the Frank Bello Street Driver 48 offers his core sounds and the versatility for many different styles. It runs on an included 9V DC universal, auto-switching power supply with heavy duty braided cord and interchangeable international plugs for use anywhere in the world. Other features include 1/4-inch and XLR Outputs, ruggedall-metal housing. Measures 3.75”l x 4.75”w x 2.0”h.
Tech 21 Frank Bello Chat / Part 1: Pizza!
Anticipated availability: Mid-October.
Website: tech21nyc.com.
Los Angeles, CA (January 17, 2012) – Anthems, Anthrax''s long-awaited, eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of Anthrax''s favorite bands from the 1970s, will be released
Los Angeles, CA (January 17, 2012) – Anthems, Anthrax's long-awaited, eight-track EP that pays tribute to the classic songs by some of Anthrax's favorite bands from the 1970s, will be released in North America on March 19 (MRI/Megaforce), and on March 22 in Europe (Nuclear Blast). Anthems's track listing features Rush's "Anthem," Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak," "TNT" by AC/DC, Boston's "Smokin'," "Big Eyes" by Cheap Trick, Journey's "Keep on Runnin," as well as the album version and a special remix of Anthrax's "Crawl" from the band's critically-acclaimed 2011 album Worship Music.
Said the band's vocalist Joey Belladonna, "These are all bands I grew up with and have listened to forever. It's just great music. I had fun singing these songs and I was happy recording together with Anthrax, doing classic rock songs. Fun stuff!"
On Boston's "Smokin'," Anthrax brought in a special guest to play keyboards - Fred Mandel, who has played with Alice Cooper, Queen, Elton John, Cheap Trick, Supertramp and on Pink Floyd's The Wall. About the track, drummer Charlie Benante said, "If ever there were a perfect first album, it's Boston's first album. The harmony leads they did would later be heard by Iron Maiden, which of course would lead to thrash metal."
The EP will be available on CD as well as digitally via iTunes and other online retailers. In addition to Anthems' cover art (attached), Benante and artist Stephen Thompson have subtly redesigned each track's original album cover art to "Anthrax" it. The Anthems EP will first be housed in one of the "re-imagined" digipak covers, and then inserted inside the main CD cover sleeve. The main cover sleeve has been designed in such a way so fans will be able to see which one of the six "re-imagined" covers is inside.
Anthems was produced by Anthrax, Jay Ruston and Rob Caggiano, and recorded for the most part throughout 2012 literally all over the world: at Benante's home studio, in Ruston's New York studio, on the band's tour bus while on last summer's Mayhem Tour, in hotel rooms, and backstage at their Berlin show last December.
The Grammy-nominated Anthrax - Belladonna, Benate/drums, Scott Ian/guitar and Frank Bello/bass - will hit the road in support Anthems on February 16 with dates in India and Australia, and then return to North America to headline the Metal Alliance Tour that kicks off March 22. For all of these dates, Anthrax will be joined by Shadows Fall guitarist Jon Donais.
For more information:
anthrax.com
Caggiano very much looks forward to getting back to producing/recording/writing again in the immediate future.
Los Angeles, CA (January 5, 2012) -- Anthrax lead guitarist Rob Caggiano has announced that he will split from the band in the following statement to the press:
After a long and successful run as guitarist for the legendary thrash metal act Anthrax, Rob Caggiano has decided that it's time to move on and focus on his other passion: producing records for the time being. Already an acclaimed rock and metal producer, Rob has amassed a long list of production credits working with acts such as Cradle of Filth (on their Grammy-nominated classic Nymphetamine), The Damned Things, and Jesse Malin to name a few. Rob's production work on the most recent Anthrax studio album Worship Music received high recognition, as the track "I'm Alive" received a Grammy Nomination for Best Rock + Metal Performance.Being a member of the mighty Anthrax for the better part of the last 12 years is something that Caggiano is of course very proud of. This was not an easy decision to make.
"I'm extremely proud of my time in Anthrax. Actually, that's an understatement! We accomplished so many great things together over the years and I shared some of the best times of my life with these guys. As a band, we also weathered quite a few storms along the way. It's been a wild ride (to say the least) from Day One and I wouldn't change one single thing about the last 12 years. This is an extremely difficult and emotional decision for me to make but my heart is just steering me in a different direction right now. I've always been one to follow my heart in everything that I do and while this might be one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, it feels like the right one for me at this time. Scott, Charlie, Joey, Frankie (and John Bush) will always be part of my family and this decision doesn't change the way I feel about that in the slightest. I would also like to say thanks to all the amazing fans I've met and hung out with worldwide over the years. You guys always were and always will be the reason why I make music! In this day and age, being a musician isn't always easy -also an understatement- but the fans truly make it worthwhile for me. I hope to see each and every one of you again really soon. The fact that Anthrax is at the top of their game right now and totally 'out for blood' after all these years is a testament to this band's longevity and conviction! I'm truly honored to have been a part of their brilliant legacy."
With this new direction, Caggiano very much looks forward to getting back to producing/recording/writing again in the immediate future.
"I can't wait to get back in the recording studio again! Over the years, I've been blessed with the privilege of working with a wide range of great bands/artists from Anthrax and Cradle of Filth all the way to Bruce Springsteen, and I look forward to a hopeful continuation of that side of my career while I figure out my next move as an artist. BTW in case anyone was wondering after reading all of this, I do FULLY intend to get back out there on the road very soon in some way shape or form....it's in my blood! Please feel free to follow me on Twitter @RobCaggiano for any and all updates on what I am up to."
Anthrax released their own statement as well, saying, "Rob has been an integral part of Anthrax for so many years, as our lead guitarist, in a production capacity, but most of all, as our close friend. His contributions to the band have been enormous. While we are sad that he is leaving, we wish him nothing but great success going forward, and hope to share the stage with him again sometime down the road.
"With the Metal Alliance Tour on the horizon, we have been considering several lead guitarist options, and will be making an announcement on that shortly."
We spoke with Rob in September about his Anthrax rig in our Rig Rundown you can watch here.