Chuck Billy releases memoirs titled Holding My Breath

Chuck Billy, the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament, has released his memoirs, titled “Holding My Breath: The Two Testaments of Chuck Billy.” Co-written with Dave Erickson and published by Permuted Press, the book is divided into two distinct sections.

The “Old Testament” portion covers the origins of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal scene, the formation of Testament, and the band's career development. The “New Testament” focuses on Billy’s personal battle with cancer following a diagnosis at age 38, his recovery process, and his Mexican-American and Native American heritage.

The book includes a prologue by Rob Halford of Judas Priest and an epilogue by Randy Blythe of Lamb of God. Billy describes the work as a single story about two versions of himself: the man who felt invincible and the man who learned the fragility of life. The memoir also touches upon the “Thrash of the Titans” benefit concert and his contributions to Indigenous communities.