Anthrax (band)
Encyclopedia
Anthrax is an American heavy metal
band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian
and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene. When thrash metal began to gain a major following in the mid-to-late 1980s, Anthrax were dubbed one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica
, Megadeth
, and Slayer
. They were also one of the early thrash metal bands to sign to a major label (Island Records
, in 1985).
The band lineup has been changed numerous times; following the departure of drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner, several musicians replaced both band members' roles, though Paul Kahn and Greh Walls were the first to do so. In addition to this aspect, there were multiple vocalists involved in Anthrax, with Neil Turbin
, Joey Belladonna
and John Bush
being among the frontmen of the band. Scott Ian
, however, has been in the band since its formation. Ian and Charlie Benante
, who joined Anthrax in 1983, are the only constant members that appear on every album. Bassist Frank Bello
has played on every album with exception of the band's debut. Classic singer Joey Belladonna
has returned to the band and appears on Worship Music which is his first studio album with the band since 1990's Persistence of Time
.
and Danny Lilker. The band was named after the disease
the two saw listed in a biology textbook, using it because it sounded "sufficiently evil". The initial line-up of Anthrax was rounded out by drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner.
Kushner was soon deemed inadequate for the band's needs and was replaced very early by bassist Paul Kahn, who also was quickly ousted. Lilker chose to take over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist. Weiss was replaced by Greg D'Angelo
early on as well.
The vocalist position was temporarily filled by the band's roadie John Connelly
(who later went on to form the band Nuclear Assault
with Lilker), Scott Ian's younger brother Jason Rosenfeld, and Tommy Wise within a short period of time before the band finally decided on vocalist Neil Turbin
in late August 1982. A steady lineup was finally in place.
of Riot
, temporarily replaced him on guitar. Berry's stay was short and he was replaced by Dan Spitz
who had previously been with New Jersey
thrash band Overkill
. With Spitz, a second demo was recorded.
In September, Charlie Benante
replaced Greg D'Angelo on drums. This lineup recorded the "Soldiers of Metal" 7" single, produced by Ross the Boss of Manowar. The B-side of this single was "Howling Furies" from the previous demo recorded with Greg D'Angelo on drums, and is the only official Anthrax recording to feature his work. It was this single that won the band a recording deal with Megaforce Records
. Anthrax recorded their debut album Fistful of Metal
in late 1983 and released in January 1984, followed by a US tour. Tensions between Danny Lilker and the rest of the band arose due to Lilker's non-paying of rehearsal rent, lateness, sloppiness and unprofessional demeanor. Lilker was released from the band and he went on to form Nuclear Assault
with former roadie John Connelly. He was replaced by Charlie Benante's nephew Frank Bello
.
. Matt Fallon
(who later preceded Sebastian Bach
as vocalist for Skid Row) was a temporary replacement. The band also appeared as a four-piece billed as "The Diseased", with Scott Ian on vocals. They performed a few hardcore punk
covers.
Vocalist Joey Belladonna
was chosen as the new singer and debuted live with the band on February 27, 1985. An EP titled "Armed and Dangerous
" was recorded and included two live tracks from early 1984, and the two songs from the "Soldiers of Metal" 7" single.
Later in 1985, Ian, Benante and Danny Lilker collaborated with vocalist Billy Milano
to produce the satirical album Speak English or Die
under the band name Stormtroopers of Death
.
Anthrax's next album, Spreading the Disease
, came out in the same year and was followed by US and European touring.
The follow-up album Among the Living
, recorded during 1986 and released in March 1987, developed the band's humorous and more experimental side. Anthrax radically departed from the "traditional" heavy metal look in favour of brightly colored "surfer" jam shorts and began a lyrical trend that focused on movies, comic books and Stephen King
novels. "I Am the Law" is a tribute to comic book hero Judge Dredd
. "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)" ("nise fukin life" spelt backwards) is about comedian John Belushi
's drug addiction and death. "Indians" and the mosh pit anthem "Caught in a Mosh" are still considered Anthrax classics today. The album was dedicated to the memory of Cliff Burton
, the early Metallica
bass player. "I Am the Law" was issued as a single, backed with "I'm the Man", a song that combined rap with metal. They further indulged their appreciation for rap by appearing on the title track of U.T.F.O.'s album Lethal. Anthrax toured Europe with Metallica
and Metal Church
to promote Among The Living
.
Anthrax stuck to its thrash metal
formula on the 1988 album State of Euphoria
. The single "Antisocial
", originally by French heavy metal band Trust
, soon became a staple on MTV in regular rotation as well as on Headbangers Ball
. The group continued to expand its horizons by touring the US with black funk metal band Living Colour
.
In 1989, MTV held a contest in which the winner would get to have the band come to their home and trash it. The contest was won by a female fan, and the band subsequently came to her house and caused havoc. This was the inspiration for the band's 1992 appearance on Married... with Children
, where the main characters of the show win a similar television contest.
In 1990, Anthrax released the more serious Persistence of Time
to even greater success than State of Euphoria. The album was considerably darker, more technical and progressive than Anthrax's previous work. This struck a chord with metal fans who had been previously wary of embracing the band because of their "silly" side. The biggest single off the album was a cover of Joe Jackson
's "Got the Time". Jackson himself even claimed that he enjoyed Anthrax's cover version of his song. "In My World" and "Belly of the Beast" were also successful.
During 1991 they collaborated with pioneering rap artists Public Enemy on a joint version of "Bring the Noise
". This was a hit, and the band played a successful joint tour with Public Enemy. The EP "Attack of the Killer B's
" was recorded during 1991, featuring a new version of "I'm the Man" and a cover of "Bring the Noise" on which Scott Ian did some of the vocals. A short time later during 1992, Joey Belladonna was fired from Anthrax. Belladonna would return to Anthrax in 2010 to record their 2011 comeback album Worship Music, also their first in eight years.
, formerly of Armored Saint
who had recently disbanded. Ten years earlier, Bush had been approached by Metallica
to sing for them. The band also left Island Records and signed with Elektra Records
to release Sound of White Noise
in 1993.
Though it was quite a change from their earlier work with a dark, rockier feel, Sound of White Noise received mostly positive reviews and "Only"
was a major hit (in the liner notes for Return of the Killer A's
, Ian says James Hetfield
once told him it was a "perfect song"). In keeping with the band's eye for unlikely collaborations, classical composer Angelo Badalamenti
provided music for the track "Black Lodge," a tribute to the TV show "Twin Peaks
". Importantly, the album demonstrated that Anthrax had at last shed its sometimes cartoonish outlook in favor of mature, thoughtful songwriting, a trend which had begun on the previous album Persistence of Time
.
During the hiatus between Sound of White Noise and Stomp 442
, longtime guitarist Dan Spitz
left the band to quit music and become a watchmaker
, leaving Anthrax officially a quartet for years. In 1995, the band released Stomp 442
,, on which Charlie Benante played much of the lead guitar parts, assisted by Paul Crook – who would become the band's touring lead guitarist for several years – and Dimebag Darrell
from Pantera
. Elektra refused to provide real promotion for the album and it quickly disappeared without a trace. Upset at what they felt was an attempt by the label to kill the album, Anthrax severed ties with Elektra.
Anthrax signed with independent label Ignition Records for the 1998 release Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
that once again saw Benante playing lead guitar alongside Crook and Dimebag. Pantera's Phil Anselmo
also guested. Unfortunately, almost immediately after the album's release, the label went bankrupt and disappeared, making the album difficult to find. Regrouping, the band signed Beyond Records and released the greatest-hits album Return of the Killer A's
, although Beyond soon went out of business as well. During this period, a two-vocalist tour featuring both Joey Belladonna
and John Bush was proposed and set to go, until Belladonna decided to pull out at the last minute.
During the 2001 anthrax attacks
in the United States, the band altered its website to provide information about the disease
after people began simply typing anthrax.com into their browsers. Amid what could have become a PR
nightmare for the band, Anthrax issued a press release on October 10, 2001, that jokingly mentioned that they were going to change the name of the band to "something more friendly, like 'Basket Full of Puppies'." They later sank all name-change rumors that erupted from the press release at the New York Steel
9/11 benefit concert
in November 2001, when they took the stage wearing boiler suits with a different word on each one that spelled out the sentence "WE'RE NOT CHANGING OUR NAME". A picture of the band wearing the suits can be seen on the inner tray card of We've Come for You All.
Despite the hardships and various legal entanglements regarding who had the rights to certain albums, Anthrax managed to continue. In 2001, new lead guitarist Rob Caggiano
joined, and two years later, the band released We've Come for You All
, through Sanctuary Records
—an album hailed by the metal press as a return to form.
In early 2004, the band returned to the studio to record The Greater of Two Evils
—a "live in the studio" re-recording of the band's early work with the then-current lineup. Shortly afterward, bassist Frank Bello announced he was leaving the band to join Helmet
and was replaced for touring purposes by Fates Warning
and former Armored Saint member Joey Vera
.
,
Following that announcement, speculation was cast over whether John Bush would return. Bush had stated on February 7 that he was not ready to commit to Anthrax again. In May 2007, Scott Ian
said that the announcement of who will be singing for Anthrax would be made at the end of June, though the actual announcement did not come until December.
In June 2007, Bush was interviewed by Rock Hard
about being asked to return to Anthrax, and whether or not he was bitter about the reunion. He replied:
When asked if he was approached to rejoin the band once Belladonna left the group, Bush said,
Bush subsequently did appear with Anthrax for Sonisphere 2009 festival in the UK. Due to the overwhelming fan response following his performance, a 'Bring Back Bush' campaign was set up and subsequently endorsed by Scott Ian.
, formerly of Devilsize. Around the same time, it was confirmed that Rob Caggiano would return as lead guitarist.
On May 28, 2008 Anthrax played their first show in 19 months at The Double Door
in Chicago. Appearing for the first time with Nelson, the band played new material which was well received by the sold-out crowd despite some equipment problems. Anthrax then played in South Korea for the first time on August 17, 2008.
In his monthly Food Coma column, which was posted on December 22, 2008, Anthrax's Scott Ian revealed that he'd "been in the studio working on the new Anthrax album since November 4." Ian went on to say that drums, bass and rhythm had been laid down on a total of 19 tracks, and that the process of laying down vocals had begun. "We should be mixing at the end of January and soon after that giving birth to a really pissed off, loud, fast and heavy child." In a subsequent May 2009 Food Coma column, Scott announced that the album was being mixed by Dave Fortman
whose previous credits include both of Evanescence
's multi-platinum selling albums and Slipknot
's album All Hope Is Gone
. In a post to the Anthrax website, Charlie Benante stated that "Worship Music should be out in May".
On Saturday March 7, 2009 Anthrax played Bogota, Colombia for the first time in their career, opening for Iron Maiden
. Then, on July 21, 2009 manager Izvor Zivkovic confirmed the departure of Dan Nelson, due to illness. Nelson has since denied this, saying: "I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in Anthrax’s 7/17/09 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I’m sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members’ decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job. After issuing the press release the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never resigned from the band.".
On September 3, 2009, it was announced that John Bush would be yet again singing with Anthrax at the Loud Park '09 Festival in Japan on October 17.
Anthrax with John Bush also took part in the February 2010, 5-show touring Soundwave 2010 festival in Australia. Soon after, Benante said that the band is "in the process of regrouping with [Bush]. We played two shows with him, and we are looking forward to proceeding with this lineup."
In late 2009, Anthrax confirmed a "Big 4" event (with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer) as part of the 2010 Sonisphere festival. This was the first time that all four 'Big 4 of thrash metal' bands played together.
In an interview with metalsucks.com John Bush said, "we just did these shows in Australia that were really fun. They were for the Soundwave Festival, and they were great. I had committed to doing these shows to these four shows in June as well as more festivals in August. As of now we’re trying to figure out a way to see if we can re-record some of the songs that the band had already recorded [for Worship Music]. We’re just trying to iron out some of the legalities on it. That’s where we are at today."
When asked if he would be re-recording some of Dan Nelson’s vocals he stated "That is what they want to do, and it’s been a conflict for me, to be quite frank, simply because I kind of felt like I wasn’t part of the creation of it. On all the other Anthrax records, I was part of it when it happened. I just wasn’t involved in this, and it’s something that they’ve already actually completed. I haven’t disregarded it completely, and I know it’s important to them. I realize they made this record and they’re kind of sitting on it. They want to put some of it out, if not everything… at least a single, and we’ve talked about [releasing] an EP. We’re still trying to figure out if we can do that, especially in conjunction with these shows in June. We’ve just got to kind of iron out some specifics. That’s where we’re at today, March 15, 2010."
Anthrax, along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth performed on the same bill for the first time on June 16, 2010 at Bemowo Airport (Warsaw, Poland). It was the first performance of that bands played as a part of Sonisphere Festival series.The show in Sofia
, Bulgaria
on June 22, 2010 was sent via satellite in HD to cinemas and later released on DVD and Blu-ray. They also went on to play in Jonschwil
, Switzerland
(June 18, 2010), Milovice
, Czech Republic
(June 19, 2010), Athens
, Greece
(June 24, 2010), Bucharest
, Romania
(June 26, 2010) and then in Istanbul
, Turkey
(June 27, 2010), Stockholm
, Sweden
(August 7, 2010), and last in Pori
, Finland
(August 8, 2010) also as part of the Sonisphere Festival.
On 24 June 2011 Anthrax released the first song off the new album called Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
on anthrax.com. It was released as a free download as a way to say "thank you" to fans' loyalty in waiting in anticipation for Worship Music, which was released on September 13.
On April 30, 2011, Anthrax headlined in the Philippines for the first time in the annual Pulp Summer Slam along with Death Angel, Hellyeah and UAE's heavy metal band Nervecell.
's project with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, the original Anthrax bassist/lead guitarist Danny Lilker and Billy Milano
called Stormtroopers of Death
. After leaving Anthrax, Joey Belladonna
began a series of solo albums: Belladonna, Spells of Fear
, and 03. John Bush
is involved with his former band Armored Saint
, while original Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin
has been touring Japan, Europe, Mexico and US with his band DeathRiders
. Neil Turbin's debut solo album, "Threatcon Delta
", was released in 2003. Scott Ian
and Rob Caggiano
are currently in a side project called The Damned Things
with members of Fall Out Boy
and Every Time I Die
.
, who appeared on "King Size" and "Riding Shotgun" from Stomp 442
; "Inside Out" and "Born Again Idiot" from Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
; and "Strap It On" and "Cadillac Rock Box" from We've Come for You All
. Vocalist Roger Daltrey
of The Who
has also appeared on the band's We've Come for You All
disc, providing backing vocals for "Taking the Music Back
". Phil Anselmo
of Pantera
appears on Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, on the song "Killing Box." Public Enemy worked with Anthrax on a metal version of "Bring the Noise" from Public Enemy's album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
".
Drums
Lead guitars
Bass
, WWE Raw
, NewsRadio
, Cheers
, and Ask Dr. Ruth
among others. Scott Ian has a cameo in the film Run Ronnie Run
( also performing on the soundtrack as part of the band Titannica) and the band appear in the 2003 comedy Calendar Girls
. Their song "Madhouse
" was used in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
in-game radio station V-Rock and in Guitar Hero II
. The song "Now It's Dark" was also converted into simlish
on the metal radio station for The Sims
PC game. Their song "Caught in a Mosh" was featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
, and it is also featured on Guitar Hero: Smash Hits. The song was also featured in the game Rock Band 3
. Their song "Indians" was featured in "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
". In 2006, guitarist Scott Ian was a cast member of VH1
's reality show SuperGroup
and is also featured on many other VH1 shows such as I Love the 80s and I Love the 90s.
Anthrax contributed a song to The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience CD, a cover of the Beastie Boys
song "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun". They also contributed a song, Poison My Eyes, to The Last Action Hero soundtrack and provided the title track on the Bordello of Blood
soundtrack.
Anthrax also worked on the soundtrack to the John Carpenter
film, Ghosts of Mars
, working with the director and other musicians rather than writing their own songs.
On the compilation album ECW:Extreme Music Anthrax recorded a cover of the Metallica
song "Phantom Lord".
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene. When thrash metal began to gain a major following in the mid-to-late 1980s, Anthrax were dubbed one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
. They were also one of the early thrash metal bands to sign to a major label (Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, in 1985).
The band lineup has been changed numerous times; following the departure of drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner, several musicians replaced both band members' roles, though Paul Kahn and Greh Walls were the first to do so. In addition to this aspect, there were multiple vocalists involved in Anthrax, with Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the original lead singer for American band Anthrax and current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders. -DeathRiders:...
, Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
and John Bush
John Bush
John Bush may refer to:* Jeb Bush, full name John Ellis Bush, U.S. politician* John Bush , Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire* John Bush , rock vocalist for Armored Saint and Anthrax* Johnny Bush, country music singer...
being among the frontmen of the band. Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
, however, has been in the band since its formation. Ian and Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
, who joined Anthrax in 1983, are the only constant members that appear on every album. Bassist Frank Bello
Frank Bello
Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
has played on every album with exception of the band's debut. Classic singer Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
has returned to the band and appears on Worship Music which is his first studio album with the band since 1990's Persistence of Time
Persistence of Time
-Personnel:* Joey Belladonna – Vocals* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"* Dan Spitz – Lead guitar* Frank Bello – Bass...
.
Early days (1981)
Anthrax was formed in mid-1981 by guitarists Scott IanScott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
and Danny Lilker. The band was named after the disease
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
the two saw listed in a biology textbook, using it because it sounded "sufficiently evil". The initial line-up of Anthrax was rounded out by drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner.
Kushner was soon deemed inadequate for the band's needs and was replaced very early by bassist Paul Kahn, who also was quickly ousted. Lilker chose to take over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist. Weiss was replaced by Greg D'Angelo
Greg D'Angelo
Greg D’Angelo, is a drummer most famous for his work in the American band White Lion.-Early career :...
early on as well.
The vocalist position was temporarily filled by the band's roadie John Connelly
John Connelly (musician)
John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of Nuclear Assault, a thrash metal band from New York. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.-Anthrax 1981:...
(who later went on to form the band Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
with Lilker), Scott Ian's younger brother Jason Rosenfeld, and Tommy Wise within a short period of time before the band finally decided on vocalist Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the original lead singer for American band Anthrax and current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders. -DeathRiders:...
in late August 1982. A steady lineup was finally in place.
Neil Turbin era (1982–1984)
Turbin first performed with the band at Great Gildersleeves on September 12, 1982. This line-up made frequent live performances in the New York/New Jersey tri-state area. Greg Walls left in the summer of 1983, and Bob Berry, who was recommended to Turbin by Rhett ForresterRhett Forrester
Rhett Forrester was an American musician, the lead singer of New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984....
of Riot
Riot (band)
Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
, temporarily replaced him on guitar. Berry's stay was short and he was replaced by Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz is a musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Anthrax from 1983–1995 and from 2005 to 2007. He is the brother of former White Lion and Black Sabbath bassist Dave Spitz.-Personal life:...
who had previously been with New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
thrash band Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
. With Spitz, a second demo was recorded.
In September, Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante
Charlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
replaced Greg D'Angelo on drums. This lineup recorded the "Soldiers of Metal" 7" single, produced by Ross the Boss of Manowar. The B-side of this single was "Howling Furies" from the previous demo recorded with Greg D'Angelo on drums, and is the only official Anthrax recording to feature his work. It was this single that won the band a recording deal with Megaforce Records
Megaforce Records
Megaforce Records is an American independent record label which was founded in 1982 by Jon and Marsha Zazula to publish the first works of Metallica. It has offices in New York and Philadelphia. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony Music Entertainment/RED Distribution...
. Anthrax recorded their debut album Fistful of Metal
Fistful of Metal
-Personnel:*Neil Turbin – Vocals*Dan Spitz – Lead guitar*Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar*Danny Lilker – Bass*Charlie Benante – Drums...
in late 1983 and released in January 1984, followed by a US tour. Tensions between Danny Lilker and the rest of the band arose due to Lilker's non-paying of rehearsal rent, lateness, sloppiness and unprofessional demeanor. Lilker was released from the band and he went on to form Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
with former roadie John Connelly. He was replaced by Charlie Benante's nephew Frank Bello
Frank Bello
Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
.
Joey Belladonna era (1985–1992,2010-present)
In late August 1984, Neil Turbin was fired as vocalist for the band. He later went on to form the band DeathRidersDeathRiders
DeathRiders is an American Heavy Metal band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2001 to support lead vocalist Neil Turbin's solo album 'Threatcon Delta' and is named after the song 'Deathrider' off the album 'Fistful of Metal' which Turbin wrote in his time as the original...
. Matt Fallon
Matt Fallon
Matt Fallon is a heavy metal singer best known for his work with Skid Row and Anthrax.- Early life :...
(who later preceded Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
as vocalist for Skid Row) was a temporary replacement. The band also appeared as a four-piece billed as "The Diseased", with Scott Ian on vocals. They performed a few hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
covers.
Vocalist Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
was chosen as the new singer and debuted live with the band on February 27, 1985. An EP titled "Armed and Dangerous
Armed and Dangerous (album)
-Personnel:*Joey Belladonna - Vocals*Scott Ian - Rhythm Guitar*Dan Spitz - Lead Guitar*Frank Bello - Bass*Charlie Benante - Drums*Neil Turbin - Vocals on "Soldiers of Metal" and "Howling Furies"*Dan Lilker - Bass on "Soldiers of Metal" and "Howling Furies"...
" was recorded and included two live tracks from early 1984, and the two songs from the "Soldiers of Metal" 7" single.
Later in 1985, Ian, Benante and Danny Lilker collaborated with vocalist Billy Milano
Billy Milano
Billy Milano is a Bronx-born heavy metal musician now based in Austin, Texas. He was the singer, guitarist, and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death....
to produce the satirical album Speak English or Die
Speak English or Die
Speak English or Die is the first studio album by the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death .After Anthrax finished recording Spreading the Disease, there was still some studio time left, so Scott Ian and Charlie Benante called some friends, practiced some songs, and recorded it all within...
under the band name Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., was a crossover thrash band formed in New York in 1985. They are commonly credited as being among the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style sometimes called "crossover thrash." The song "March of the S.O.D.," from their 1985...
.
Anthrax's next album, Spreading the Disease
Spreading the Disease
Spreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on October 30, 1985 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello.-Album information:The band produced...
, came out in the same year and was followed by US and European touring.
The follow-up album Among the Living
Among the Living
Among the Living is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in March 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island and is certified gold by the RIAA. The BBC has described the album as "arguably their big breakthrough", and "often cited by fans as their favourite...
, recorded during 1986 and released in March 1987, developed the band's humorous and more experimental side. Anthrax radically departed from the "traditional" heavy metal look in favour of brightly colored "surfer" jam shorts and began a lyrical trend that focused on movies, comic books and Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novels. "I Am the Law" is a tribute to comic book hero Judge Dredd
Judge Dredd
Judge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
. "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)" ("nise fukin life" spelt backwards) is about comedian John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
's drug addiction and death. "Indians" and the mosh pit anthem "Caught in a Mosh" are still considered Anthrax classics today. The album was dedicated to the memory of Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
, the early Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
bass player. "I Am the Law" was issued as a single, backed with "I'm the Man", a song that combined rap with metal. They further indulged their appreciation for rap by appearing on the title track of U.T.F.O.'s album Lethal. Anthrax toured Europe with Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and Metal Church
Metal Church
Metal Church was an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in Seattle, Washington as Shrapnel in 1980. Their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, This Present Wasteland, was released in 2008....
to promote Among The Living
Among the Living
Among the Living is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in March 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island and is certified gold by the RIAA. The BBC has described the album as "arguably their big breakthrough", and "often cited by fans as their favourite...
.
Anthrax stuck to its thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
formula on the 1988 album State of Euphoria
State of Euphoria
State of Euphoria is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on September 19, 1988 through Megaforce/Island Records.-Album information:...
. The single "Antisocial
Antisocial (song)
"Antisocial" is a song by the French hard rock band Trust, from their album . The song was written by Bernie Bonvoisin and Norbert Krief.The song is featured in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour and is available as downloadable content to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.-Anthrax...
", originally by French heavy metal band Trust
Trust (band)
Trust is a French rock band closely associated with both AC/DC and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.-History:Trust was founded in 1977 by:* Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin * Norbert "Nono" Krief...
, soon became a staple on MTV in regular rotation as well as on Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...
. The group continued to expand its horizons by touring the US with black funk metal band Living Colour
Living Colour
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, neo-psychedelia, hard rock, and heavy metal...
.
In 1989, MTV held a contest in which the winner would get to have the band come to their home and trash it. The contest was won by a female fan, and the band subsequently came to her house and caused havoc. This was the inspiration for the band's 1992 appearance on Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
, where the main characters of the show win a similar television contest.
In 1990, Anthrax released the more serious Persistence of Time
Persistence of Time
-Personnel:* Joey Belladonna – Vocals* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"* Dan Spitz – Lead guitar* Frank Bello – Bass...
to even greater success than State of Euphoria. The album was considerably darker, more technical and progressive than Anthrax's previous work. This struck a chord with metal fans who had been previously wary of embracing the band because of their "silly" side. The biggest single off the album was a cover of Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson (musician)
Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter now living in Berlin, whose five Grammy Award nominations span from 1979 to 2001...
's "Got the Time". Jackson himself even claimed that he enjoyed Anthrax's cover version of his song. "In My World" and "Belly of the Beast" were also successful.
During 1991 they collaborated with pioneering rap artists Public Enemy on a joint version of "Bring the Noise
Bring the Noise
"Bring the Noise" is a song by the hip hop group Public Enemy. It was included on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Less Than Zero and was also released as a single that year. It later became the first song on the group's 1988 album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back...
". This was a hit, and the band played a successful joint tour with Public Enemy. The EP "Attack of the Killer B's
Attack of the Killer B's
-Personnel:*Joey Belladonna - Lead vocals, Backing vocals*Dan Spitz - Lead guitar, Backing vocals*Scott Ian - Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals, Lead vocals on "Bring The Noise", "Protest and Survive", "Startin' Up A Posse", and "I'm The Man '91"*Frank Bello - Bass, Backing vocals*Charlie Benante -...
" was recorded during 1991, featuring a new version of "I'm the Man" and a cover of "Bring the Noise" on which Scott Ian did some of the vocals. A short time later during 1992, Joey Belladonna was fired from Anthrax. Belladonna would return to Anthrax in 2010 to record their 2011 comeback album Worship Music, also their first in eight years.
John Bush era (1992–2004)
Shortly after Belladonna was fired, he was replaced by John BushJohn Bush (singer)
John Bush is an American vocalist, currently a member of Armored Saint, a traditional metal band from Los Angeles, California and formerly of thrash metal band Anthrax.-Armored Saint:...
, formerly of Armored Saint
Armored Saint
-Early career:Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval and Gonzo Sandoval , and guitarist David Prichard, while attending South Pasadena High School. Next to join were singer John Bush also a South Pasadena High School Alumni and bassist Joey Vera...
who had recently disbanded. Ten years earlier, Bush had been approached by Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
to sing for them. The band also left Island Records and signed with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
to release Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album with Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, and also their last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz.-Overview:The album, produced by...
in 1993.
Though it was quite a change from their earlier work with a dark, rockier feel, Sound of White Noise received mostly positive reviews and "Only"
Only (Anthrax song)
"Only" is a heavy metal song by Anthrax of their 1993 album Sound of White Noise. It is one of their most popular songs from the John Bush era, and has also appeared on their compilation album, Return of the Killer A's.-Personnel:...
was a major hit (in the liner notes for Return of the Killer A's
Return of the Killer A's
Return of the Killer A's is a best of compilation album by the heavy metal band Anthrax, released in 1999.The cover of Ball of Confusion features Anthrax's first new recording with former lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991, and their first with former bassist Dan Lilker since 1984...
, Ian says James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
once told him it was a "perfect song"). In keeping with the band's eye for unlikely collaborations, classical composer Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti is an American composer, known for his movie soundtrack work for director David Lynch, notably Blue Velvet, the Twin Peaks saga and Mulholland Drive...
provided music for the track "Black Lodge," a tribute to the TV show "Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
". Importantly, the album demonstrated that Anthrax had at last shed its sometimes cartoonish outlook in favor of mature, thoughtful songwriting, a trend which had begun on the previous album Persistence of Time
Persistence of Time
-Personnel:* Joey Belladonna – Vocals* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"* Dan Spitz – Lead guitar* Frank Bello – Bass...
.
During the hiatus between Sound of White Noise and Stomp 442
Stomp 442
Stomp 442 is the name of the seventh album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995, by Elektra Records. The band and Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200 charts...
, longtime guitarist Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz
Dan Spitz is a musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Anthrax from 1983–1995 and from 2005 to 2007. He is the brother of former White Lion and Black Sabbath bassist Dave Spitz.-Personal life:...
left the band to quit music and become a watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
, leaving Anthrax officially a quartet for years. In 1995, the band released Stomp 442
Stomp 442
Stomp 442 is the name of the seventh album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995, by Elektra Records. The band and Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200 charts...
,, on which Charlie Benante played much of the lead guitar parts, assisted by Paul Crook – who would become the band's touring lead guitarist for several years – and Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
from Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
. Elektra refused to provide real promotion for the album and it quickly disappeared without a trace. Upset at what they felt was an attempt by the label to kill the album, Anthrax severed ties with Elektra.
Anthrax signed with independent label Ignition Records for the 1998 release Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat is Real is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in July 1998 by Ignition Records. The band and Paul Crook produced the album, which includes the single "Inside Out". Other singles released were "Crush", "P & V" and "Born Again...
that once again saw Benante playing lead guitar alongside Crook and Dimebag. Pantera's Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
also guested. Unfortunately, almost immediately after the album's release, the label went bankrupt and disappeared, making the album difficult to find. Regrouping, the band signed Beyond Records and released the greatest-hits album Return of the Killer A's
Return of the Killer A's
Return of the Killer A's is a best of compilation album by the heavy metal band Anthrax, released in 1999.The cover of Ball of Confusion features Anthrax's first new recording with former lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991, and their first with former bassist Dan Lilker since 1984...
, although Beyond soon went out of business as well. During this period, a two-vocalist tour featuring both Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
and John Bush was proposed and set to go, until Belladonna decided to pull out at the last minute.
During the 2001 anthrax attacks
2001 anthrax attacks
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to...
in the United States, the band altered its website to provide information about the disease
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
after people began simply typing anthrax.com into their browsers. Amid what could have become a PR
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
nightmare for the band, Anthrax issued a press release on October 10, 2001, that jokingly mentioned that they were going to change the name of the band to "something more friendly, like 'Basket Full of Puppies'." They later sank all name-change rumors that erupted from the press release at the New York Steel
New York Steel
New York Steel was a benefit concert emceed by Eddie Trunk and Mike Piazza, featuring heavy metal musicians, that took place on November 28, 2001 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks....
9/11 benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
in November 2001, when they took the stage wearing boiler suits with a different word on each one that spelled out the sentence "WE'RE NOT CHANGING OUR NAME". A picture of the band wearing the suits can be seen on the inner tray card of We've Come for You All.
Despite the hardships and various legal entanglements regarding who had the rights to certain albums, Anthrax managed to continue. In 2001, new lead guitarist Rob Caggiano
Rob Caggiano
Robert Caggiano is an American guitarist and producer best known as the lead & rhythm guitarist of the Heavy Metal band Anthrax. His first professional band was Boiler Room that formed in 1996. The band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records after an opening slot for Orgy in 1999...
joined, and two years later, the band released We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
, through Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
—an album hailed by the metal press as a return to form.
In early 2004, the band returned to the studio to record The Greater of Two Evils
The Greater of Two Evils
The Greater of Two Evils is a remix album by Anthrax. The album was released in November 2004 on the Sanctuary record label. The album is made up of fourteen Anthrax songs from the band's early albums, that were released between 1983 and 1990. These tracks have been re-recorded by Anthrax's...
—a "live in the studio" re-recording of the band's early work with the then-current lineup. Shortly afterward, bassist Frank Bello announced he was leaving the band to join Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
and was replaced for touring purposes by Fates Warning
Fates Warning
Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes...
and former Armored Saint member Joey Vera
Joey Vera
Joey Vera is an American heavy metal bassist for heavy metal band Armored Saint. He is also a member of the progressive metal band Fates Warning. In 2004-05 he replaced Frank Bello in Anthrax as the band's bassist. He appears as part of the project Engine, as well as on the OSI album Free. His...
.
Among The Living reunion (2005–2007)
On April 1, 2005, the band announced that the "classic" lineup of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Dan Spitz, Joey Belladonna, and Frank Bello would be reforming. On some dates of the resultant tour, they performed Among the Living in its entirety for the first time. At the conclusion of the tour, it was expected the reformed line-up would begin a new album, but on January 24, 2007, Scott Ian posted a message to Blabbermouth.netBlabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was officially launched in March 2001...
,
Finally, we're going back to work. We're going to Chicago to work our asses off and write a record. [...] One problem... no singer. We were offered a direct support slot on a major tour this spring and Joey [Belladonna] decided he did not want to move forward. The reunion is over. We tried to make it work but I guess that's the problem, you can't 'make' something work. [...] My curiosity was piqued by the idea of what Anthrax would sound like now with Joey singing. Over the last few months we've discussed this endlessly to no avail. The problems that were there could not be fixed no matter how hard we tried and in the end Joey made the decision.
Following that announcement, speculation was cast over whether John Bush would return. Bush had stated on February 7 that he was not ready to commit to Anthrax again. In May 2007, Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
said that the announcement of who will be singing for Anthrax would be made at the end of June, though the actual announcement did not come until December.
In June 2007, Bush was interviewed by Rock Hard
Rock Hard (magazine)
Rock Hard is a heavy metal magazine originally released in Germany. It was founded in 1983 by Holger Stratmann and is dedicated to all styles of rock and heavy metal. The magazine has independent offspring with the same name in France, Greece, Italy and Spain....
about being asked to return to Anthrax, and whether or not he was bitter about the reunion. He replied:
"No. Bitter is not the way I wanna be about anything. I'm not bitter at all. There was probably not a perfect way to do that, what they did. It was like, how are they gonna say...? I mean, they asked me to do it—the tour with Joey—and it just wasn't right for me, I couldn't do it. So, whatever...if they felt they had to do that, I understand. It wasn't like I was going, 'Yeah, do it. That's great.' But once it happened, I was like, 'okay.' It was like a book ended. It's okay. I mean, it's much better to look at it that way than to be angry or frustrated, 'cause I really don't feel that way."
When asked if he was approached to rejoin the band once Belladonna left the group, Bush said,
"I was asked to write, and it just wasn't right for me. I couldn't go back and say, 'Here I am...' It would be like coming in with my tail between my legs, and that's not right for me. I just couldn't do that. It just didn't feel right to do that. It was about soul, your gut. How does that feel? Does it feel right? Good enough. Sold. Answer."
Bush subsequently did appear with Anthrax for Sonisphere 2009 festival in the UK. Due to the overwhelming fan response following his performance, a 'Bring Back Bush' campaign was set up and subsequently endorsed by Scott Ian.
Dan Nelson era (2007–2009)
On December 10, 2007, it was announced the band's new vocalist would be Dan NelsonDan Nelson
Dan Nelson is a singer/songwriter and the singer/guitarist for the band Tomorrows Ghost.He also is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band BlackGates, as well as being the former lead vocalist of American thrash metal band Anthrax from 2007-2009.Dan Nelson has also worked with the Long Island...
, formerly of Devilsize. Around the same time, it was confirmed that Rob Caggiano would return as lead guitarist.
On May 28, 2008 Anthrax played their first show in 19 months at The Double Door
Double Door
Double Door is a concert hall and nightclub located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue, in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The venue was first opened on June 12, 1994, and is co-owned by Andy Barrett, Sean Mulroney and Joe Shanahan...
in Chicago. Appearing for the first time with Nelson, the band played new material which was well received by the sold-out crowd despite some equipment problems. Anthrax then played in South Korea for the first time on August 17, 2008.
In his monthly Food Coma column, which was posted on December 22, 2008, Anthrax's Scott Ian revealed that he'd "been in the studio working on the new Anthrax album since November 4." Ian went on to say that drums, bass and rhythm had been laid down on a total of 19 tracks, and that the process of laying down vocals had begun. "We should be mixing at the end of January and soon after that giving birth to a really pissed off, loud, fast and heavy child." In a subsequent May 2009 Food Coma column, Scott announced that the album was being mixed by Dave Fortman
Dave Fortman
Dave Fortman is the guitarist for the band Ugly Kid Joe. He currently is an American music producer. He has worked with bands such as Superjoint Ritual, Watership Down, Eyehategod, Mudvayne, Otep, Slipknot on their new fourth studio album titled All Hope Is Gone, and Simple Plan, as well as on both...
whose previous credits include both of Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
's multi-platinum selling albums and Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
's album All Hope Is Gone
All Hope Is Gone (album)
All Hope Is Gone is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Slipknot. Released on August 20, 2008 by Roadrunner Records, the album was published in two versions: the standard album in a Compact Disc case and a special edition packaged in a six-fold digipak containing three bonus...
. In a post to the Anthrax website, Charlie Benante stated that "Worship Music should be out in May".
On Saturday March 7, 2009 Anthrax played Bogota, Colombia for the first time in their career, opening for Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. Then, on July 21, 2009 manager Izvor Zivkovic confirmed the departure of Dan Nelson, due to illness. Nelson has since denied this, saying: "I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in Anthrax’s 7/17/09 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I’m sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members’ decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job. After issuing the press release the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never resigned from the band.".
Reunion with John Bush (2009-2010)
All following performances were canceled, except the UK Sonisphere Festival in August 2009, with John Bush performing vocals.On September 3, 2009, it was announced that John Bush would be yet again singing with Anthrax at the Loud Park '09 Festival in Japan on October 17.
Anthrax with John Bush also took part in the February 2010, 5-show touring Soundwave 2010 festival in Australia. Soon after, Benante said that the band is "in the process of regrouping with [Bush]. We played two shows with him, and we are looking forward to proceeding with this lineup."
In late 2009, Anthrax confirmed a "Big 4" event (with Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer) as part of the 2010 Sonisphere festival. This was the first time that all four 'Big 4 of thrash metal' bands played together.
In an interview with metalsucks.com John Bush said, "we just did these shows in Australia that were really fun. They were for the Soundwave Festival, and they were great. I had committed to doing these shows to these four shows in June as well as more festivals in August. As of now we’re trying to figure out a way to see if we can re-record some of the songs that the band had already recorded [for Worship Music]. We’re just trying to iron out some of the legalities on it. That’s where we are at today."
When asked if he would be re-recording some of Dan Nelson’s vocals he stated "That is what they want to do, and it’s been a conflict for me, to be quite frank, simply because I kind of felt like I wasn’t part of the creation of it. On all the other Anthrax records, I was part of it when it happened. I just wasn’t involved in this, and it’s something that they’ve already actually completed. I haven’t disregarded it completely, and I know it’s important to them. I realize they made this record and they’re kind of sitting on it. They want to put some of it out, if not everything… at least a single, and we’ve talked about [releasing] an EP. We’re still trying to figure out if we can do that, especially in conjunction with these shows in June. We’ve just got to kind of iron out some specifics. That’s where we’re at today, March 15, 2010."
Reunion with Joey Belladonna (2010-present)
In early 2010 Joey Belladonna returned to Anthrax for the shows in summer of 2010 as well as committing to a new album.Anthrax, along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth performed on the same bill for the first time on June 16, 2010 at Bemowo Airport (Warsaw, Poland). It was the first performance of that bands played as a part of Sonisphere Festival series.The show in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
on June 22, 2010 was sent via satellite in HD to cinemas and later released on DVD and Blu-ray. They also went on to play in Jonschwil
Jonschwil
Jonschwil is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Wil in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Jonschwil is first mentioned in 796 as Johannisvilare. In 1282 it was mentioned as Jonswiler...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(June 18, 2010), Milovice
Milovice
Milovice may refer to several Czech villages:* Milovice * Milovice u Hořic* Milovice * Milovice...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
(June 19, 2010), Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(June 24, 2010), Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(June 26, 2010) and then in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(June 27, 2010), Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(August 7, 2010), and last in Pori
Pori
Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(August 8, 2010) also as part of the Sonisphere Festival.
On 24 June 2011 Anthrax released the first song off the new album called Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't
"Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't" is the first single from American heavy metal band Anthrax's 2011 album Worship Music. It is also notable for being the band's first original single with lead singer Joey Belladonna since 1991...
on anthrax.com. It was released as a free download as a way to say "thank you" to fans' loyalty in waiting in anticipation for Worship Music, which was released on September 13.
On April 30, 2011, Anthrax headlined in the Philippines for the first time in the annual Pulp Summer Slam along with Death Angel, Hellyeah and UAE's heavy metal band Nervecell.
Side projects
Several members have launched affiliated side projects, such as Scott IanScott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
's project with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, the original Anthrax bassist/lead guitarist Danny Lilker and Billy Milano
Billy Milano
Billy Milano is a Bronx-born heavy metal musician now based in Austin, Texas. He was the singer, guitarist, and bassist of crossover thrash band M.O.D., and the singer of its predecessor, Stormtroopers of Death....
called Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., was a crossover thrash band formed in New York in 1985. They are commonly credited as being among the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style sometimes called "crossover thrash." The song "March of the S.O.D.," from their 1985...
. After leaving Anthrax, Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna
Joey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
began a series of solo albums: Belladonna, Spells of Fear
Spells of Fear
Spells of Fear is the second album of Belladonna led by former Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna.-Track listing:-Credits:*Joey Belladonna – vocals*Peter Scheithauer - Guitar*Fleisch – Bass*Stet Howland – drums*All music by Peter Scheithauer...
, and 03. John Bush
John Bush (singer)
John Bush is an American vocalist, currently a member of Armored Saint, a traditional metal band from Los Angeles, California and formerly of thrash metal band Anthrax.-Armored Saint:...
is involved with his former band Armored Saint
Armored Saint
-Early career:Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval and Gonzo Sandoval , and guitarist David Prichard, while attending South Pasadena High School. Next to join were singer John Bush also a South Pasadena High School Alumni and bassist Joey Vera...
, while original Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin
Neil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the original lead singer for American band Anthrax and current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders. -DeathRiders:...
has been touring Japan, Europe, Mexico and US with his band DeathRiders
DeathRiders
DeathRiders is an American Heavy Metal band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2001 to support lead vocalist Neil Turbin's solo album 'Threatcon Delta' and is named after the song 'Deathrider' off the album 'Fistful of Metal' which Turbin wrote in his time as the original...
. Neil Turbin's debut solo album, "Threatcon Delta
Threatcon Delta
-Personnel:*Neil Turbin – Vocals*Jeff Scott Soto*Ronnie Borchert*Vern Anderson*Sean McNabb*Paul Monroe*Claude Schnell*Paul Shortino*Mitch Perry*Andy Walo*Henry Moreno*Sandy Vaquez...
", was released in 2003. Scott Ian
Scott Ian
Scott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
and Rob Caggiano
Rob Caggiano
Robert Caggiano is an American guitarist and producer best known as the lead & rhythm guitarist of the Heavy Metal band Anthrax. His first professional band was Boiler Room that formed in 1996. The band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records after an opening slot for Orgy in 1999...
are currently in a side project called The Damned Things
The Damned Things
The Damned Things are a heavy metal supergroup consisting of Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy, Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax, Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die and Josh Newton formally of Every Time I Die The band's name is inspired by the lyrics in Ram Jam's '70s version of...
with members of Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
and Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...
.
Guest musicians
A number of Anthrax albums have featured guests, most notably Dimebag DarrellDimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
, who appeared on "King Size" and "Riding Shotgun" from Stomp 442
Stomp 442
Stomp 442 is the name of the seventh album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995, by Elektra Records. The band and Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200 charts...
; "Inside Out" and "Born Again Idiot" from Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat is Real is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in July 1998 by Ignition Records. The band and Paul Crook produced the album, which includes the single "Inside Out". Other singles released were "Crush", "P & V" and "Born Again...
; and "Strap It On" and "Cadillac Rock Box" from We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
. Vocalist Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
has also appeared on the band's We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
disc, providing backing vocals for "Taking the Music Back
Taking the Music Back
-Personnel:* John Bush – Lead vocals* Rob Caggiano – Lead guitar* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals* Frank Bello – Bass, Backing vocals*Charlie Benante – Drums, Additional Guitar* Roger Daltrey - Backing vocals...
". Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
of Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
appears on Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, on the song "Killing Box." Public Enemy worked with Anthrax on a metal version of "Bring the Noise" from Public Enemy's album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released April 14, 1988, on Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place at Chung King Studios, Greene Street Recording, and Sabella Studios in New York City...
".
Current
- Scott IanScott IanScott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
– rhythm and lead guitars, backing vocals (1981–present) - Charlie BenanteCharlie BenanteCharlie Benante is the drummer for the heavy metal bands Anthrax and Stormtroopers of Death .- Career :...
– drums, percussion (1983–present) - Joey BelladonnaJoey BelladonnaJoey Belladonna is a heavy metal singer and drummer, best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Anthrax...
– lead vocals (1984–1992, 2005–2007, 2010–present) - Frank BelloFrank BelloFrank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
– bass, backing vocals (1984–2004, 2005–present) - Rob CaggianoRob CaggianoRobert Caggiano is an American guitarist and producer best known as the lead & rhythm guitarist of the Heavy Metal band Anthrax. His first professional band was Boiler Room that formed in 1996. The band caught the attention of Roadrunner Records after an opening slot for Orgy in 1999...
– lead and rhythm guitars (2001–2005, 2007–present)
Former
Lead vocals- John ConnellyJohn Connelly (musician)John Connelly is the front man, guitarist and principal composer of Nuclear Assault, a thrash metal band from New York. His voice is known for being aggressive but with high notes.-Anthrax 1981:...
(1981) - Dirk KennedyDirk KennedyDirk Kennedy born: resides in New York City and is an American musician.Kennedy sang for the band Anthrax in its formative stages when they were merely a garage band. He was a freshman in High school and was friends with a school mate of Scott Ian's then girlfriend Marge Ginsberg...
(1981) - Jason Rosenfeld (1981–1982)
- Neil TurbinNeil TurbinNeil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the original lead singer for American band Anthrax and current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders. -DeathRiders:...
(1982–1984) - Matt FallonMatt FallonMatt Fallon is a heavy metal singer best known for his work with Skid Row and Anthrax.- Early life :...
(1984) - John Bush (1992–2005, 2009–2010)
- Dan NelsonDan NelsonDan Nelson is a singer/songwriter and the singer/guitarist for the band Tomorrows Ghost.He also is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band BlackGates, as well as being the former lead vocalist of American thrash metal band Anthrax from 2007-2009.Dan Nelson has also worked with the Long Island...
(2007–2009)
Drums
- Dave Weiss (1981)
- Greg D'AngeloGreg D'AngeloGreg D’Angelo, is a drummer most famous for his work in the American band White Lion.-Early career :...
(1981–1983)
Lead guitars
- Danny Lilker (1981)
- Greg Walls (1981–1983)
- Bob Berry (1983)
- Dan SpitzDan SpitzDan Spitz is a musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Anthrax from 1983–1995 and from 2005 to 2007. He is the brother of former White Lion and Black Sabbath bassist Dave Spitz.-Personal life:...
(1983–1995, 2005–2007) - Paul CrookPaul CrookPaul Crook is an American guitarist currently recording and performing with Meat Loaf. He has also recorded and toured with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach and Marya Roxx.-Biography:...
(1995–2001)
Bass
- Kenny Kushner (1981)
- Paul Kahn (1981)
- Danny Lilker (1981–1984)
- Joey VeraJoey VeraJoey Vera is an American heavy metal bassist for heavy metal band Armored Saint. He is also a member of the progressive metal band Fates Warning. In 2004-05 he replaced Frank Bello in Anthrax as the band's bassist. He appears as part of the project Engine, as well as on the OSI album Free. His...
(2004–2005)
Discography
- Fistful of MetalFistful of Metal-Personnel:*Neil Turbin – Vocals*Dan Spitz – Lead guitar*Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar*Danny Lilker – Bass*Charlie Benante – Drums...
(1984) - Spreading the DiseaseSpreading the DiseaseSpreading the Disease is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on October 30, 1985 through Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello.-Album information:The band produced...
(1985) - Among the LivingAmong the LivingAmong the Living is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in March 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island and is certified gold by the RIAA. The BBC has described the album as "arguably their big breakthrough", and "often cited by fans as their favourite...
(1987) - State of EuphoriaState of EuphoriaState of Euphoria is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on September 19, 1988 through Megaforce/Island Records.-Album information:...
(1988) - Persistence of TimePersistence of Time-Personnel:* Joey Belladonna – Vocals* Scott Ian – Rhythm guitar, Lead guitar on "Got the Time", Harmony Guitar on "Intro to Reality", vocal intro on "In My World", lead vocals on "Protest and Survive"* Dan Spitz – Lead guitar* Frank Bello – Bass...
(1990) - Sound of White NoiseSound of White NoiseSound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album with Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, and also their last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz.-Overview:The album, produced by...
(1993) - Stomp 442Stomp 442Stomp 442 is the name of the seventh album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995, by Elektra Records. The band and Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200 charts...
(1995) - Volume 8: The Threat Is RealVolume 8: The Threat Is RealVolume 8: The Threat is Real is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in July 1998 by Ignition Records. The band and Paul Crook produced the album, which includes the single "Inside Out". Other singles released were "Crush", "P & V" and "Born Again...
(1998) - We've Come for You AllWe've Come for You AllWe've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
(2003) - Worship Music (2011)
Appearances in other media
Anthrax has made several appearances on television, including the programs Married... with ChildrenMarried... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
, WWE Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, NewsRadio
NewsRadio
NewsRadio is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1995 to 1999. The series was created by executive producer Paul Simms, and was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center and Sunset Gower Studios...
, Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, and Ask Dr. Ruth
Ruth Westheimer
Ruth Westheimer is an American sex therapist, media personality, and author. Best known as Dr. Ruth, the New York Times described her as a "Sorbonne-trained psychologist who became a kind of cultural icon in the 1980s...
among others. Scott Ian has a cameo in the film Run Ronnie Run
Run Ronnie Run
Run Ronnie Run is an American direct-to-video comedy film produced in 2001 and released in 2003, a spin-off from the HBO sketch comedy show Mr. Show. The recurring character Ronnie Dobbs is the focal point of the movie...
( also performing on the soundtrack as part of the band Titannica) and the band appear in the 2003 comedy Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls is a 2003 comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Buena Vista International and Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia...
. Their song "Madhouse
Madhouse (song)
"Madhouse" is a song by the American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released as the only single from their second album, Spreading the Disease. The song is an up-tempo time signature with heavy distorted guitar riffs. The song has become a staple of live concerts, and has also appeared on...
" was used in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is a 2002 open world action computer and video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the second 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and sixth original title overall...
in-game radio station V-Rock and in Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
. The song "Now It's Dark" was also converted into simlish
Simlish
Simlish is a fictional language featured in EA Games' Sim series of games. It debuted in SimCopter, and has been especially prominent in The Sims, The Sims 2 and The Sims 3. The Sims development team created the unique Simlish language by experimenting with fractured Ukrainian, French, Latin,...
on the metal radio station for The Sims
The Sims
The Sims is a strategic life-simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. Its development was led by game designer Will Wright, also known for developing SimCity...
PC game. Their song "Caught in a Mosh" was featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s is a music video game and the third installment in the popular Guitar Hero series...
, and it is also featured on Guitar Hero: Smash Hits. The song was also featured in the game Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series...
. Their song "Indians" was featured in "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
". In 2006, guitarist Scott Ian was a cast member of VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's reality show SuperGroup
SuperGroup
SuperGroup is a 2006 reality show on VH1 that follows five well-known hard rock and heavy metal musicians over a 12-day period where they live together in a Las Vegas mansion in order to create, plan and perform a live show together...
and is also featured on many other VH1 shows such as I Love the 80s and I Love the 90s.
Anthrax contributed a song to The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience CD, a cover of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
song "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun". They also contributed a song, Poison My Eyes, to The Last Action Hero soundtrack and provided the title track on the Bordello of Blood
Bordello of Blood
Bordello of Blood is a 1996 comedy/horror film starring Dennis Miller, Erika Eleniak, Angie Everhart, Corey Feldman, and Chris Sarandon. It is based on the HBO television series Tales from the Crypt. It received an R rating for vampire violence, gore, language, and nudity...
soundtrack.
Anthrax also worked on the soundtrack to the John Carpenter
John Carpenter
John Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born...
film, Ghosts of Mars
Ghosts of Mars
John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars is a 2001 American science fiction action horror film composed, written, and directed by John Carpenter. The film stars Ice Cube, Natasha Henstridge, Jason Statham, Pam Grier, Clea DuVall, and Joanna Cassidy...
, working with the director and other musicians rather than writing their own songs.
On the compilation album ECW:Extreme Music Anthrax recorded a cover of the Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
song "Phantom Lord".