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Anthrax performing at Wacken Open Air on August 3, 2013
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by lead guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group was consistered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene during the 1980s. Of the "Big four" thrash metal bands, (the others being Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer), Anthrax were the only band from the East Coast. As of 2014, the band has released a total of ten studio albums, a number of singles and an EP with American hip hop group Public Enemy. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Anthrax sold 2.5 million records in the United States from 1991 to 2004, with worldwide sales of over 15 million.
Noted for its live performances, Anthrax signed with the independent label Megaforce Records, (which released the band's debut studio album in 1984). Lilker soon left the band to form Nuclear Assault, and was replaced by Roadie Frank Bello. Vocalist Neil Turbin was replaced after two years by Matt Fallon, who was then subsequently replaced in 1985 by Joey Belladonna. With a new lineup, the band recorded Spreading the Disease, (distributed by Island Records), in 1985. Anthrax's third album, Among the Living, was released in 1987 to mass critical praise. The band experienced another lineup ch ange in 1992, when John Bush replaced Belladonna as lead vocalist. Sound of White Noise was released the following year, peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200. Studio recordings during the 1990s saw the band, influenced by other genres, experimenting with its sound.
Anthrax's lineup has changed several times over the years. Paul Kahn and Greg Walls were early replacements for dummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner respectively; the band has had a number of vocalists of the years as well, including Neil Turbin, Matt Fallon, Joey Belladonna, Dan Nelson, and J ohn Bush. Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, who joined Anthrax in 1983, are the only band members to appear on every single album; bassist Frank bello has played on every single album except for the first. Belladonna returned to Anthrax for Worship Music, his first studio album since 1990's Persistence of Time.
in a biology textbook because it sounded "sufficiently evil." Anthrax's initial lineup was completed with drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner. Kushner was soon briefly replaced by bassist Paul Kahn before Lilker took over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist. Weiss was replaced early by Greg D'Angelo, who was recommended by Greg Walls. Scott Ian's younger brother Jason Rosenfeld was a temporary vocalist, until Neil Turbin joined the band in late August, 1982.
Neil Turbin Era and Fistful of Metal(1982-1984)
The band's first performances with Neil Turbin was at Great Gildersleeves, a New York Club, in September 1982. This lineup played regularly in the New York-New Jersey area, often with Metallica. Walls left Anthrax during the summer of 1983 after not receiving a writing credit for "Panic", (from the band's first album). Bob Berry, Recommended to Turbin by Rhett Forrester of Riot, temporarily replaced Walls on guitar. Berry was in turn replaced by Dan Spitz, who previously of the New Jersey thrash band Overkill, for Anthrax's second demo.
Charlie Benante replaced drummer Greg D'Angelo, (who left for White Lion), in September 1983. This lineup recorded, "Soldiers of Metal," produced by Ross the Boss of Manowar. The B-side was, "Howling Furies," from a previous demo with D'Angelo on drums, (his only Anthrax recording), and the single secured the band a record deal with Megaforce Records. Anthrax recorded its debut album, Fistful of Metal, in late 1983; released in January 1984, it was followed bya very successful US tour amidst great tension between the band and Neil Turbin. The road crew included Joe Allen and Tom Browne were very close friends of Charlie Benante and Scott Ian, knew their agenda was to undermine Neil Turbin as singer, since he didn't march to Scott Ian and Charlie Benante's orders. Tensions between Lilker and the rest of the band arose because of his tardiness, sloppiness, and unprofessional behavior. Lilker left, forming Nuclear Assault with former guitar roadie John Connelly, and was replaced by Charlie Benante's nephew and roadie Frank Bello.
In August 1984, Turbin and Anthrax went their separate ways, as Neil Turbin was receiving prominent attention and some band members were displeased with Turbin's growing popularity. Turbin went on to form Deathriders. In his book, Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, music journalist Eddie Trunk admits pressuring Jon Zazula, Scott Ian, and Anthrax into firing Turbin because of his personal taste in vocals. Matt Fallon was hired in late 1984, as the second vocalist of Anthrax and announcements were made all throughout the press and media. Things didn't work out with former Skid Row vocalist Matt Fallon either. Soon after the four-piece band, billed as "The Disease" with Scott Ian on vocals, performed hardcore punk covers.
Joey Belladonna contributed vocals to four studio albums during his first period with Anthrax.
In 1985, after Matt Fallon parted ways with Anthrax, Joey Belladonna was chosen as the new vocalist, and this lineup debuted in February 1985. An EP, Armed nad Dangerous, was recorded and released that year featuring two live 1984 tracks and two songs from the "Soldiers of Metal" single. Later in 1985, Ian, Benante, and Lilker collaborated with vocalist Billy Milano, to produce the satirical album Speak English or Die as Stormtroopers of Death. However, Dan Lilker was not invited to rejoin Anthrax as permanent bassist, since Charlie and Scott wanted Charlie's nephew Frank Bello in the band in order to unanimous control of Anthrax.
Anthrax's second album, Spreading the Disease, was released in 1985; US and European tours followed the next year. The US tour, with Black Sabbath, was canceled after four dates due to singer Glenn Hughes' voice problems. In April 1986, Anthrax attempted its first tour of Europe, including a show near Chernobyl immediately after the Chernobyl disaster. In May the band played its first European concert in Bochum, Germany, supported by Overkill and Agent Steel. Later that year, Anthrax toured Europe with Metallica. The tour b egan on September 10 at St. David's Hall, and ended up September 26, in Solnahallen, Sweden. The Swedish show was Anthrax's last performance before the bus accident the following day which killed Metallica bassist Cliff Burton.
The band's third studio album, Among the Living, was recorded in 1986 and released in March 1987; it showcased the band's humorous, experimental side. Anthrax departed from its heavy-metal look in favor of brightlycolored surfer shorts, and began a lyrical trend focusing on movies, comic books, and STephen King novels. The album was dedicated to Burton's memory. "I Am the Law" was issued as a single backed with "I'm the Man," a rap-metal hybird. Anthrax further indulged its appreciation for rap by appearing on the title track of U.T.F.O.'s album, Lethal. The band toured Europe with Metallica and Metal Church to promote Among the Living.
Anthrax returned to its thrash formula for its 1988 album, State of Euphoria. The single "Antisocial," originally by French heavy-metal band Trust, became an MTV staple as part of the rotation on Headbangers Ball. The band expanded its horizons by touring the US with the funk metal band Living Color and embarking on the Headbangers Ball Tour with Exodus and Helloween. In 1989, MTV sponsored a contest in which the winner had her home trashed by the band this inspired Anthrax's 1992 appearance on Married...with Children, in which the Bundys win a similar TV contest.
In 1990, Anthrax released the more serious Persistence of time, which surpassed State of Euphoria's success. The album was darker, more technical and more preogressive than the band'sprevious work, striking a chord with metal fans wary of Anthrax's "silly" side. The most successful single from the album was a cover of Joe Jackson's "Got the Time," which Jackson said he enjoyed. In 1991, Anthrax collaborated with Public Enemy ona version of Bring the Noise." This was a hit, and a successful tour with Public Enemy followed. The EP, "Attack of the Killer B's" was recorded in 1991, with a new version of "I'm the Man" and a cover of "Bring the Noise" on which Ian did some vocals. In late 1992, Belladonna was fired from the band.
First John Bush Era(1992-2005)
Former Armored Saint John Bush joined Anthrax shortly after Belladonna's dismissal. The band left Island Records to
Scott Ian has played rhythm guitar on all of the band's recordings, and is the sole remaining founding member in the band.
sign with Elektra, releasing Sound of White Noise in 1993. A change from Anthrax's earlier work, with a dark, rockier feel, Sound of White Noise received mostly-positive reviews. The single "Only" was a hit; in the liner notes for Return of the Killer A's, Ian said that James Hetfield told him it was a "perfect song." In keeping with the band's eye for unlikely collaborations, classical composer Angelo Badalamenti provided music for "Black Lodge", (a nod to Twin Peaks). This album demonstrated that Anthrax had fully shed its cartoonish persona in favor of mature, thoughtful songwriting, which began with Persistence of Time.
After Sound of White Noise longtime guitarist Dan Spitz left the band to becom ea watchmaker, leaving Anthrax a quartet for two years. In 1995 Anthrax released Stomp 442, on which Charlie Benante played most of the lead-guitar parts. Benante was assisted by Paul Crook, later the band's touring lead guitarist for several years, and Dimebag Darrell of Pantera. Because Elektra did not promote the album it was less commercially successful than its predecessor, and Anthrax severed its ties with the label.
The band signed with independent label Ignition Records, releasing Volume 8: The Threat is Real in 1998. As on Stom 422, Benante played lead guitar with Crook and Darrell; Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo also apepared. After the album's release the label went bankrupt, distrupting its distribution. Although Anthrax then signed with Beyond Records, releasing the greatest-hits album Return of the Killer A's, Beyond went out of business as well. During this period of two-vocalist tour with Belladonna and Bush was planned, but Belladonna quit at the last minute.
During the 2001 Anthrax Attacks in the United States the band changed its website, providing information about the disease after people began typing "anthrax.com" into search engines. Amid a potential PR nightmare, Anthrax issued a press release on October 10, 2001, joking that the band's name would be changed to "something mor efriendly, like 'Basket Full of Puppies'." Anthrax dispelled any name-change rumors derived from the press release at the November 2001 New York Steel 9/11 benefit concert, when they took the stage in boiler suits with a different word on each one, (reading "We're not changing our name"). Bello has stated they did so after receiving support from members of the NYPD and NYFD, who believed that changing the name of the band would send the wrong message. A picture of the band in the suits is on the inner tray card of We've Come for You All.
Despite hardships and legal entanglements over album rights, Anthrax continued. In 2001, Rob Caggiano joined on lead guitar; two years later the band released We've Come for You All, praised by metal journalists as a return to form, on Sanctuary Records. In early 2004, Anthrax released The Greater of Two Evils, a "live in the studio" re-recording of the earlier work with the band's current lineup. Bassist Frank Bello announced shortly afterwards that he was leving the band to join Helmet, and was replaced by fates Warning and ARmored Saint member Joey Vera.
Reunions With Joey Belladonna and John Bush(2005-2009)
In April 2005, Anthrax announced that the "classic" lineup of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Dan Spitz, Joey Belladonna,
and Frank Bello would reform. At some shows on the following tour, they played Among the Living in its entirety. Although the lineujp was expected to record a new album after the tour, in January 2007 Ian said that Belladonna had not agreed to a reunion. After that announcement it was uncertain if John Bush would return, since Bush said he was unready to re-commit to Anthrax.
In May 2007, Ian said the decision of who would be singing for Anthrax would be made at the end of June, but the announcement was delayed until December. In June, Bush was asked by Rock Hard if he was bitter about the Anthrax reunion. He replied that he was asked to return to theband, but declined. Asked if he wanted to rejoin the band when Belladonna left, Bush said that he "just didn't feel right to do that."
In December 2007, it was announced that the band's new vocalist would be Dan Nelson, formerly of Devilsize, and Rob Caggiano would return as lead guitarist. In May 2008, Anthrax played its first show in 19 months at Double Door in Chicago. Appearing before a sold-out audience with Nelson, the band played new material which was well received, (despite equipment problems).
Anthrax at the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, 2009
In his monthly Food Coma column posted on December 22, 008, Scott Ian wrote that he had "been in the studio working on the new Anthrax album since November 4th, drums, base, and rhythm had been recorded on 19 of the tracks, and the addition of 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 May 2009 Food Coma column Ian wrote that the album was being mixed by Dave Fortman, who had worked with Evanescence and Slipknot before that. In a post on the Anthrax website, Charlie Benante said that Worship Music would probably be out in May.
In early 2009, Anthrax began a brief tour opening for Iron Maiden in South America. In July, band manager Izvor Zivkovic confirmed the departure of Dan Nelson due to his illness. Nelson denied this, saying that he was fired. All subsequent performances were canceled except the August UK Sonisphere Festival, which featured John Bush on vocals. Due to fan response after his performances, a "Bring Back Bush" campaign began and was endorsed by Ian.
In September 2009, it was announced that Bush would again sing with Anthrax at the October Loud Park '09 Festival in Japan. Soon afterwards, Benante said that Bush had rejoined the band. In February 2010, Anthrax performed five shadows as part of Soundwave in Australia. After the Australian shows, Bush said that the band intended to re-record the vocals of several tracks from the upcoming album.
Worship Music and Upcoming Album(2010-Present)
In late 2009, Anthrax confirmed a "Big Four" event, (with Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer, naturally), as part of the 2010 Sonisphere Festival. Bush decided that he did not want to commit to the band full-time, and again left. Joey Belladonna returned to Anthrax in early 2010 for shows that summer, and committed to record a studio album with the band. Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer performed on the same bill during that summer's Sonisphere Festival series, the first time all members of the thras-metal "Big Four" played together. The sofia, Bulgaria show was broadcast in cinemas and later released on DVD and Blu-ray.
In April 2011, Anthrax headlined in the Philippines for the first time at the annual Pulp Summer Slam with Death Angel Hellyeah. The band also headlined the Jägermeister side stage at Mayhem Festival 2012, co-headlined by Slayer and Slipknot. In June, Anthrax released "Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't", (from its upc oming album, Worship Music), on its website as a free download, to thank fans for their patience in waiting for several years for Worship Music; the album was released on September 13, 2011.
In January 2013, Anthrax announced that lead guitarist Rob Caggiano had left the band. He later joined Volbeat. A week later it was announced that Jonathan Donais of Shadows Fall would be the band's touring lead guitarist, while on August 13, 2013, it was announced that Donais had joined the band permanently. In March 2013, Anthrax released its Anthems EP, featuring covers of 1970's rock songs. According to Scott Ian, the band began working on its next studio album in late 2013. They released a live DVD, Chile in Hell, in 2014. In early 2015, the band confirmed a tour with Volbeat and that they had recorded new material.
Style and Influences
Anthrax is one of the band's responsible for the emergence of speed metal and thrash metal, (especially thrash metal). It exhibited a typical thras-metal sound on its early albums and was known for humor and comic-book references in the lyrics, distinguishing the band from its contemporaries. According to Rolling Stone, Anthrax was one of the few heavy-metal bands to receive critical praise and redefine the genre during the 1980s. Original guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz' styles were described as "aggressive and head pounding," with power chords and "chugging" pedal points providing the sonic drive. Author Thomas Harrison wrote that Anthrax played metal at a faster tempo because of its punk influences, noting the group's "antimetal stage persona" with "bright clothes more fit to surf culture than to metal." The band's sixth album, 1993's Sound of White Noise, (its first with singer John Bush), incorporated grunge and alternative metal influences in a darker vein. Critics consider the band's studio releases from the Bush era as having a more alternative and groove metal sound. The band's latest album, Worship Music, marked a return to thrash metal and the return of singer Joey Belladonna. Although the songs are credited to the whole band, since Spreading the Disease the music has been written almost entirely by Charlie Benante, and the lyrics by Scott Ian. Although John Bush made some lyrics contributions during his enure in the band.
Anthrax was influenced by classic rock artists on its Anthems EP, which includes covoers of 1970's bands such as Rush, Cheap Trick, AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Boston, and Journey. The band has been influenced by punk bands such as Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols, and Discharge, as well as traditional heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Kiss, Judas Priest, Anvil, Iron Maiden, and Motorhead. Anthrax is a member of the "big four" of thrash metal with Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer. The band has been credited for laying the groundwork for rap and nu metal, and was one of the first bands combining rap and hard rock. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Anthrax sold 2.5 million records in teh United States alone, from 1991 to 2004; worldwide sales were over 15 million records.
Persistence of Time (1990), noted for its darker lyrical content than previous albums, peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The band's sixth studio album Sound of White Noise (1993), its first with singer John Bush, was its highest charting album in the US, peaking at number seven and received gold certification. Longtime guitarist Dan Spitz left the band shortly after, and drummerCharlie Benante played most of the lead-guitar parts on Stomp 442 (1995), until Paul Crook was hired as a touring guitarist. Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) was released by the independent label Ignition Records, whose imminent bankruptcy hurt album sales. Ninth studio album We've Come for You All (2003), first with guitarist Rob Caggiano, entered the Billboard 200 at number 122, but failed to chart on most international markets. Belladonna returned for Worship Music (2011), which received favorable reviews and charted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, the band's second highest position in the US.
