Testament's Chuck on being splashed with holy water by mum

A picture of Chuck Billy — Chuck Billy (Image credit: Getty)

Testament frontman Chuck Billy has recalled his religious upbringing – which saw his mother throwing holy water on him.

The vocalist was born to a Mexican mother and Native American father in what he describes as the “White Man Society” of Dublin, California and he says his mother’s insistence on a strict Catholic upbringing still has an impact on his life today.

Billy tells Metal Hammer: “Oh, she was serious. She didn’t drink, she didn’t party as a kid, she went to church every day and lived a straight, religious life.

“She’d always stop me and pray for me, and I’d wake up from parties with her throwing holy water on me. She put all us kids through Sunday School and we went through all the steps of the religious process.”

As he got older, Billy says he realised there was more to life than what he had learned as a child.

“I’d meet other people and their religions, and come to the understanding that there is more than one ‘God’,” he says. “And then, maybe it’s about more than God. Maybe it’s about a way of life. That the consensus is to treat people good, no matter what the religion is.”

The full interview with Chuck Billy can be read in the current issue of Metal Hammer magazine, which is available now in print and via TeamRock+.

Thrash veterans Testament released their 11th album Brotherhood Of The Snake last month and they’re currently on tour across Europe.

Testament remaining tour dates 2016

Nov 12: Madrid La Riviera, Spain
Nov 13: Lyon Transbordeur, France
Nov 15: Lausanne Metropole, Switzerland
Nov 16: Zurich Komplex 457, Switzerland
Nov 17: Offenbach Stadthalle, Germany
Nov 18: Ludwigsburg MHP Arena, Germany
Nov 19: Munich Zenith, Germany
Nov 21: Milan Alcatraz, Italy
Nov 22: Vienna Gasometer, Austria
Nov 23: Leipzig Haus Auensee, Germany
Nov 25: Prague Forum Karlin, Czech Republic
Nov 26: Geiselwind Eventhall, Germany
Nov 27: Berlin Columbiahalle, Germany
Nov 29: Athens Gagarin 205, Germany
Nov 30: Thessalonika Principle Club Theatre, Greece

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Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.