Because nothing says “’til death do us part” like having Gene Simmons of KISS legally bind you in matrimony, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and former Butcher Babies vocalist Carla Harvey tied the knot in a gloriously loud Las Vegas wedding that somehow didn’t end with a limited-edition KISS wedding merch bundle (yet).
The ceremony was overseen by the ever-business-minded Simmons, who probably charged per vow, while Z2 Comics president Josh Bernstein gleefully documented everything on Instagram like a proud backstage dad. Harvey—now splitting her time between The Violent Hour and Lords of Acid—looked every bit the rock bride, while Benante proved once again that drummers do, occasionally, get the spotlight.
The guest list looked like someone shook a metal festival lineup into a wedding planner: Anthrax’s own Frank Bello and Scott Ian showed up, Rex Brown of Pantera made an appearance, and professional wrestler/Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho likely cut a promo on someone’s boutonnière. Members of Dream Theater were reportedly in attendance too, possibly analyzing the time signature of the march down the aisle. And yes, an Elvis impersonator took the stage, because Vegas law requires at least one per ceremony.
Benante summed it up perfectly to People magazine:
“The wedding is like an elegant Russ Meyer movie with a rock and roll twist.”
Originally planned as a “small intimate ceremony,” the wedding quickly escalated the moment anyone in the metal world heard the word open bar. Now, after the confetti and probable Gene Simmons licensing paperwork settles, Benante and Harvey are heading straight back to work—finishing The Violent Hour’s second EP and wrapping up that new Anthrax album fans have been whispering about like it’s a forbidden spell.
Rock ’n’ roll matrimony: legally binding, loudly celebrated, and officiated by a man who once trademarked the phrase “OJ.”
Pictures from Rob Caggiano‘s Facebook.
