Lost your password?

anthrax

ANTHRAX Has Seven New Songs Arranged Musically

Manos Spanos
According to a post on the official web site of ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello and Ian are "working hard" on material for the next ANTHRAXalbum. Ian writes: "We've had a couple of writing sessions and things are moving along well — fast for us, actually. We've got seven songs arranged musically and we're getting together again in a week and a half." He adds: "The new stuff is aggressive, fast, even riffier than the last record and some of it is difficult to play. Nothing like writing parts that are above my ability as a guitar player! When that happens, the drill sergeant in my brain yells, 'PRACTICE, YOU LAZY FUCK!' So I do. And I nail that shit. "I'm just getting into lyrics, songtitles, nothing to talk about yet." Benante recently spent time recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. He rejoined his bandmates for their September 13 performance at "The Battle Of San Bernardino" festival in San Bernardino, California alongside IRON MAIDEN, MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, OVERKILLand SABATON. The first photo of the new ANTHRAX lineup — featuring the band's latest addition, guitaristJon Donais (SHADOWS FALL) — can be seen below (photo by Stephanie Cabral). Donais has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano's departure in January, and will continue to play with ANTHRAX for the foreseeable future. Speaking to Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas for the "Metal Hammer" radio show onTeamRock Radio, Ian stated about the band's current second-guitarist situation: "Jon's been with us since February, and I think I can safely say he's passed the audition… [laughs]. I know we haven't said anything official yet, but in my mind, he's the guy. I'm sure some type of official announcement… because in this world, people apparently need that kind of information so they can sleep well at night. But as far as I'm concerned, Jon is the guitar player inANTHRAX." Donais previously stated about playing with ANTHRAX: "I grew up on ANTHRAX, they're the thrash scene, they're one of the 'Big Four,' I'd be crazy to not want to play with them. Initially,Rob called and told me he was leaving the band, and asked if I'd be interested in filling in. ThenScott called me and everything fell into place." ANTHRAX's latest studio album, "Worship Music", has sold more than 100,000 copies in the United States since its September 2011 release. Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral
03 min read

ANTHRAX’s SCOTT IAN Has Flesh-Ripping Good Time In New Episode Of ‘Blood & Guts’ (Video)

Manos Spanos
The second episode in the third season of "Blood & Guts", the Nerdist YouTube channel web series hosted by ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian, can be seen below. Join Ian as he goes behind the scenes of Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights with John Murdyand Chris Williams and has a flesh-ripping good time with Larry Bones of Boneyard Effects. The clip includes a cameo appearance by Danny Trejo. Following two successful seasons, "Blood & Guts With Scott Ian" has returned to theNerdist Channel with Season 3. A new episode will debut every Thursday, leading up to the season finale on Halloween. "Blood & Guts" is hosted by Scott Ian, guitarist and founding member of legendary metal band ANTHRAX. Ian, a longtime horror aficionado, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the all-time greatest practical effects artists create the gore and monsters that genre fans love. The series differs from typical behind-the-scenes shows due to Ian's infectious excitement and curiosity, coupled with the clever ways the effects are integrated into each episode. Ian is often the one in the makeup chair, experiencing squibs, gore appliances and complex character makeups with rare enthusiasm. "I've been into horror longer than music, longer than comics. It was my first true nerd-love," says Ian. "And that love affair still burns hot all these years later. Horror has been a huge influence on my music career, my writing, and now I get to actually be a part of it by hosting'Blood & Guts'. It's my dream gig." Previous guests on the show included the likes of seven-time Academy Award winner Rick Baker, "The Walking Dead"'s Greg Nicotero and frequent Guillermo Del Toro collaboratorsSpectral Motion. Season 3 of "Blood & Guts" ups the ante with an original creature created by Joel Harlow exclusively for the series, unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the creation of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and an episode with Tony Gardner that includes a surprise visit from a legendary horror character, reprised by the original actor. "Blood & Guts With Scott Ian" is produced by Chris Hardwick's Nerdist Channel as part of their partnership with YouTube, with episodes premiering online alongside All-Star Celebrity Bowling and other Nerdist content. The show was originally launched with Fangoria's involvement, but Nerdist has taken on full production duties for Season 3. The dedicated crew remains the same, with Jack Bennett directing and producing each episode.
04 min read

ANTHRAX Performs In Israel For First Time; Video Available

Manos Spanos
Fan-filmed video footage of ANTHRAX's first-ever concert in Israel, which took place on August 13 at Barby Club in Tel Aviv, can be seen below. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, ANTHRAX's founding rhythm guitarist Scott Ian — who was born 49 years ago to a Jewish family in the Bayside section of the New York City borough of Queens — said: "I didn't really have much of a Jewish upbringing; it didn't play a prominent role in our house. My grandparents were quite Orthodox, but my parents and I weren't. I learned Hebrew phonetically for my bar mitzva, read my seven minutes, and then we had a party. I think I did it more to please my grandfather than anything else." Regarding why he decided to cut off his last name in favor of his middle name (Ian's full name is Scott Ian Rosenfeld), the guitarist said: "Scott Ian Rosenfeld was just too long — it didn't look good on posters when I started playing professionally, and Scott Ian did, so I just used that. It had nothing to do with it sounding too Jewish. I still used Rosenfeld for the songwriting credits, and for years people would come up to me and ask me who that other guy was that writes songs for you." Guitarist Jon Donais (SHADOWS FALL) has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano's departure in January and will continue to play with ANTHRAX for the foreseeable future. Speaking to Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas for the "Metal Hammer" radio show on TeamRock Radio, Ian stated about the band's current second-guitarist situation: "Jon's been with us since February, and I think I can safely say he's passed the audition… [laughs]. I know we haven't said anything official yet, but in my mind, he's the guy. I'm sure some type of official announcement… because in this world, people apparently need that kind of information so they can sleep well at night. But as far as I'm concerned, Jon is the guitar player in ANTHRAX." ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante is recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. He is expected to rejoin his bandmates on the road on September 13 in San Bernardino, California.
03 min read

ANTHRAX Featuring JON DONAIS, JON DETTE: Athens Fan-Filmed Video Footage Available

Manos Spanos
Fan-filmed video footage of ANTHRAX's July 28 performance at Gagarin 205 in Athens, Greece can be seen below. ANTHRAX's current touring lineup includes SHADOWS FALL guitarist Jon Donais, who has been touring with ANTHRAX since Rob Caggiano's departure in January, and former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and currentANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette, who is filling in for Charlie Benantewhile Charlie is "dealing with personal issues." Dette previously filled in for Benante on ANTHRAX's European tour last fall as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD and Australia's Soundwave Festival in February/March. Asked how he landed the ANTHRAX gig, Dette told "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show": "Actually, Jason Bittner from SHADOWS FALL, who was filling in for Charlie on this last ANTHRAX run last year, couldn't do one of the tours that was coming up and called me and asked me if I would be available to do it. And I said, 'Of course. It would be great.' And the next day Charlie called me — which, Charlie is one my biggest influences ever, next to [Dave] Lombardo [of SLAYER], so it was kind of a surreal moment for me to get a call like that, saying, 'Hey, can you help me out?' Which, of course, I said, 'Absolutely"
03 min read

Ex-SLAYER Fill-In Drummer: ‘It Was An Honor And Privilege To Be Part Of Their History Again’

Manos Spanos
Raquel Figlo of Heavy Metal Hill conducted an interview with drummerJon Dette (TESTAMENT, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, ANIMETAL USA) at Thomas Lang's Big Drum Bonanza, which was held July 3-7 at Drum Channel Studios in Oxnard, California. You can now watch the chat below. On doing double duty with SLAYER and ANTHRAX during this year's Soundwave festival in Australia: Dette: "Well, I had just gotten off tour [with ANTHRAX] before [the Soundwave] tour started, so I really familiar with… I had already been into their music, and just knowing it for so many years. And the same with the SLAYER thing. I had three days to rehearse with them before going to Australia to do that tour. But I had known the songs for years, and [since] I [previously] played with SLAYER back in the '90s, I was very familiar with playing those songs. And when I listened to them again, it was like riding a bike; it was like I'd never forgotten [how to play it]. Again, it just falls back to the fact that I'm such a fan that I listened to their music not just to try to learn the drumming; it was part of my daily [routine]… When I was listening to metal [most of the time], not even daily, but every hour; it was, like, non-stop. And those were the bands that I listened to:METALLICA, ANTHRAX, SLAYER, MEGADETH, TESTAMENT… So it's definitely helped as far as memory retention in learning the songs."
04 min read

ANTHRAX Guitarist: ‘It’s An Honor And Privilege To Get To Work With JOEY BELLADONNA Every Day’

Manos Spanos
The National Student recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. The National Student: Taking a step back to the late '80s, you were, and still are, known for your wide taste in music, especially in hip hop. Do you think the backlash in the collaboration you did with PUBLIC ENEMY helped to form any of the nu-metal music today? Can it still be seen in the industry? Scott: You know, people ask us, do we think we created certain genres of music that the press named after we did what we did with PUBLIC ENEMY. I never thought we invented it. It certainly opened a door, even just a window for people to jump out of. I truly believe that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE were the band that drove a train through that door; they took the influences in their individuals and came together to make a band out of it. Whereas with us and PUBLIC ENEMY, it's not likeANTHRAX became a rap group and it's not like PUBLIC ENEMY became a metal group, we just collaborated together and did something great. We didn't then become one unit and continue to make music like that. Whereas, RAGE AGAINST were that unit and this is the music that they were creating from their souls which blew up massively on a worldwide level. So I think if anything, whether or not they'd want the credit for it, it's definitely RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE for me that created rap metal, nu-metal, whatever you want to call it. Everything that came after them showed that a direct line had to go back to RAGE. The only thing I can personally take credit for is, there have been guys in bands that have come up to me and personally told me the influence that we bring to them specifically some of the dudes from LINKIN PARK told me years and years ago that the first concert they ever saw was ANTHRAX and PUBLIC ENEMY in Los Angeles. And they left that show saying that's the kind of band we want me to make. I know the guys in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and I know Tom [Morello, guitar] and he was a fan of ours andPUBLIC ENEMY's and what we did. I'm not saying "Bring The Noise" was a direct responsibility for RAGE, but I know that it's something they are certainly fans of.
05 min read

ANTHRAX Guitarist: I’m Really Happy With The Connection People Have Made To ‘Worship Music’

Manos Spanos
ARTISTdirect.com editor-in-chief Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. ARTISTdirect.com: Was the process behind [the covers EP] "Anthems"fun and quick? Scott: We only play cover songs, basically, to get away from our day jobs. They're songs we play at soundcheck to stave off the boredom of having to do our own songs two hours prior to playing them. That's generally where most cover songs come from in the context of what we do with them. It was recorded over a period of three years, but the actual time spent wasn't very long. Solos were literally done in dressing rooms and on tour buses. Bass was done in hotel rooms. It was recorded all over the place throughout a long time period. If you quantize all of that time together though, I think we could've done the record in about a week. All of the songs were equally fun in my brain.
02 min read