Anthrax completed the second of their two performances on the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise without their longtime bassist Frank Bello, who departed early to attend the 2026 Grammy Awards. Joey Vera of Armored Saint took over bass duties for the January 31 concert, marking his first show with Anthrax since filling in during Bello's previous absence in 2004 and 2005.
Bello was nominated for the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance for a live cover of Black Sabbath's "Changes" recorded at Ozzy Osbourne's final concert in Birmingham, UK. The rendition featured several notable musicians alongside Bello, including Yungblud, Nuno Bettencourt, and Adam Wakeman.
Frank Bello returned to perform with Anthrax in October 2024 at the Aftershock festival after a significant break. Earlier in 2024, he missed several shows due to personal reasons, with founding bassist Dan Lilker stepping in for tour dates in South America and the United States.
In addition to his work with Anthrax, Bello played bass for the Norwegian black metal group Satyricon during their European festival appearances in the summer of 2024. He also published a memoir in 2021 detailing his life and experiences, which includes a foreword by Gene Simmons of Kiss.