Last week, drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello announced that they would be dropping off of Anthrax’s current tour to spend time with Benante’s terminally ill mother. Today, we’re sad to report that Benante’s mother (who was also Bello’s grandmother) this past Saturday, February 4.

Benante revealed the unfortunate news via a very touching letter posted on his website. The letter, which included the picture of Charlie with his mother and daughter seen above, read as follows:

“Okay, I gotta get this out…My Mom left us today. She fought her battle as long as she could. Thank you all for all your thoughts and Prayers. My Mom was all about letting me follow my dream, she always pushed me in that direction. She was the one who would take me to buy my records, she was the one who would sit through a matinee of all 5 Planet of the Apes Movies,sShe was the one who got me to be who I am. She was all about her kids and she spread the love to everyone who met her too. I am going to Celebrate Her life every day and I will Play the NYC Show Wednesday for My Mom. She always Enjoyed the Thrash Metal.

If you want to send anything, send it to:
Schuyler Hill Funeral Home
3535 East Tremont Ave
Bronx, NY. 10465.
You really don’t need to send anything, I’m putting it on here to stop my phone from blowing up.

Thank you, Charlie”

While Benante will definitely be playing with Anthrax during their show at the Best Buy Theater in New York City this Wednesday (February 8), it’s unclear whether Bello will return as well (though we imagine he would). We know how hard it is to lose a family member. Our condolences go out to Benate and Bello’s family for their loss.