Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Testament members cover Rush's 'Red Barchetta'

The metal supergroup led by Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante have dedicated their cover of Rush’s ‘Red Barchetta’ to Little Richard.

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante is having no trouble staying busy during lockdown. Benante’s YouTube account has become particularly active, giving rise to a number of Rush covers in recent weeks. He first teamed up with guitarist Alex Skolnick (Testament) and bassist Ra Diaz (Suicidal Tendencies) in early April to take on the Rush instrumental ‘YYZ’.

“Rush inspired all 3 of us to be better musicians,” Benante wrote. The video was a hit – it’s been viewed more than 100,000 times and inspired an ongoing series of Rush covers. The trio were back via video link a week later with an abridged version of ‘La Villa Strangiato’ from 1978’s Hemispheres.

For the series’ third instalment, Crobot vocalist Brandon Yeagley joined Benante, Skolnick and Diaz on a version of ‘Freewill’. “Doing this one would require a vocalist who is up to the task (sadly that excludes the three of us),” wrote Benante. “Fortunately, we know just the guy.”

Yeagley appears again on the group’s latest Rush cover, a take on ‘Red Barchetta’ from 1981’s Moving Pictures. The quartet dedicate this one to rock’n’roll legend Little Richard who passed away last week aged 87.

“Sadly, our completion of this video coincides with breaking news of the loss of one of rock’n’roll’s greatest pioneers,” wrote Benante. “On the one hand, it’s difficult to find a more sonically different pair of acts than Rush and Little Richard.” He’s not wrong there – the prog complexity of Rush’s career output is far removed from the freewheeling rock’n’roll of Little Richard.

But Benante finds a link. “Little Richard blazed a trail for all of us with a force that perfectly fits the subject of ‘Red Barchetta’ – a high powered sports car from the same time period in which Little Richard was first emerging as an artist. This song is dedicated to him and we hope it brightens up your day.”