Joey Belladonna’s Anthem Performance Draws Mixed Reactions in Seattle
Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna performed the U.S. national anthem before the Seattle Seahawks played the Chicago Bears on November 2. Viewers online were divided over his rendition.
Joey Belladonna took the field in Seattle to sing the national anthem before the Seahawks’ Monday Night Football game against the Bears on November 2. The Anthrax frontman’s performance prompted sharply contrasting reactions from viewers watching at home.
Some social media users criticized his delivery, describing it as loud and uneven. One called it the year’s worst anthem rendition, while another urged the singer to tone it down. A third compared the performance to Mark Wahlberg’s singing in the film “Rockstar,” saying the comparison was not praise.
Other viewers defended Belladonna, celebrating the distinctive quality of his voice. One wrote that he had nailed the anthem, and another praised his performance as an example of how the song should be sung.
Belladonna, 66, is the lead singer of the thrash metal band Anthrax. The online response ranged from harsh criticism to enthusiastic approval, with no consensus among viewers over the rendition.