Morphing Into The Future

Like the continuously mutating disease of the same name, staying one step ahead of its would-be counteragents, the band Anthrax has made a living through metamorphosis. Setting and staying on top of trends has kept this seminal East Coast hard rock band at the forefront of the evolution of metal music.

"This band has always been willing to do something different," says Anthrax lead singer John Bush from his Yuba City hotel room, a day before the group kicks off a two-and-a-half month West Coast tour, starting at the new Sacramento Valley Amphitheater. "That’s really the only way that you grow. Ya’ know, as much as people want to think that they’re daring musically, most people aren’t. So if you hit on something successful, there is a tendency to stick with that formula. And there’s a lot to be said for being consistent because the fans always know what they’re going to get, for instance, and they’re with you. But people don’t stay the same, so why should their music? Are you the same person that you were 10 years ago? I don’t think that we’ll ever be a folk band — at least not under the name Anthrax— but if a person’s music changes over time then that’s natural, that’s evolution."

With early variations stretching as far back as 1983, Anthrax has made a career on innovation and adaptation. This Bronx / Queens outfit made a name for themselves by releasing the first ever thrash-meets-hip-hop crossover tune, ‘87’s "I’m The Man," paving the way for today’s wave of rap / core acts like Rage Against The Machine, Korn and Kid Rock. They were also one of the first metal acts to borrow what only East Coast, CBGB punk patrons knew of at the time as moshing, the frenzied dance pit that is commonplace at most of today’s hard rock shows. Boasting some of the heaviest metal on the planet in their early years — with the release of the ‘85’s Spreading The Disease and the seminal Among The Living, the I’m The Man EP and Anthrax offshoot band, Stormtroopers Of Death’s Speak English Or Die, all in ’87 — this band has already secured a place for themselves in the pantheon of metal giants.

"Well that’s right," agrees Bush. "A lot of people know that, but a lot of younger people don’t. And they’re not ignorant because they don’t know, they’re just being brought up on bands like Papa Roach, or whatever, because those are the bands of their generation and haven’t yet taken the time to discover bands like Anthrax. But the fact is, in my opinion, yes, this band is legendary and that’s coming not only from someone in the band now, but who wasn’t in the band back then [Bush left Armored Saint and replaced original lead singer Joey Belladonna in ‘92]. I only knew Scott [Ian, original and current lead guitarist] back then, but definitely had respect for them. This band goes back to ‘83 and this is fucking 2000! Anthrax was and still is an important band on the metal scene."

After the peak success of the "I’m The Man" single and EP, Anthrax released two more solid efforts with Belladonna: ‘88’s State Of Euphoria and ‘90’s Persistence In Time, which were both met with rave reviews. Attack Of The Killer B’s came in ‘91, a greatest hits-type album with a cover of the Public Enemy classic "Bring The Noise," sending more rap-core ripples through the hardcore community. Most bands could have ended their careers right there, having already secured themselves a spot in rock history with five classic metal offerings. However, that didn’t suit these driven, scrappy New Yorkers. Enter Bush and the next phase of evolution.

"Whenever you change vocalists, it’s a bold move to make because people always associate a band with the singing. And that’s okay. When I joined Anthrax I wasn’t doing it to replace Joey; Joey had his own thing going. I just look at it as something different. When I joined the group it was all about doing what I do and trying to kind of bring something more and new, if at all possible. The sound is slightly different with the different singing styles, but all of the original power and energy is still there, which is what it set out to be — it’s all positive. This is just Anthrax: the year 2000."

Though Belladonna’s vocals were effective, Bush brings an element of melodic eloquence and coherently grinds out the hardcore parts. His well-rounded chops brought forth Anthrax’s stellar first album with the new singer, ‘93’s Sound Of White Noise, reestablishing this 5-piece as one of the hardest, most polished acts in the business. A true team player, the open-minded Bush was even willing to cover some of the past material originally done by Belladonna, so that they would have more to offer at their shows.

"I didn’t have a problem singing the old stuff," admits Bush. "I think that I pay tribute to the sound that the band had when those songs were new, but also add my own thing to it. When we released Attack Of The Killer A’s last year (‘99), Joey and I recorded a song together. It’s an old Temptations tune called ‘Ball Of Confusion.’ I think it turned out really well with our dual vocals. We even wanted to go out on tour last year with both myself and Joey, with him coming out to do the old stuff and me coming out to do my stuff. That way we thought that we could give the fans the most, and that having two lead singers would be pretty cool. We couldn’t work it out with him though. It was money… what else?"

What would have been the next innovative step in the ever-evolving future of Anthrax just wasn’t meant to be, at least not in that form. Following on the resurgence sparked from Sound Of White Noise came ‘95’s Stomp 442 and the almost unheard-of gem from ‘98, Volume 8: The Threat Is Real.

"We were real proud of that one," asserts the soulful metal crooner. "But Ignition Records, who I believe had the best of intentions, somehow lost their distribution deal with Tommy Boy. Well, who really cares what happened? We lost half the money that was going to send us out on tour to support the record. So it basically fell on deaf ears."

Volume 8 is mature, finely-crafted and testimony to the next phase of Anthrax’s sound. It incorporates a more grind-core rhythmic approach with far less emphasis on guitar solos (the band is actually billed as a four-piece — Bush, Ian, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante — that travels with an extra guitarist, Paul Crook). The songwriting is becoming more serious and skilled, and had this CD gotten the proper support and deserved attention, we might all be calling Anthrax not only the hardest band ever, but the best all-around metal band ever.

"To me it all started with Black Sabbath, which is still my favorite band today, although you can’t pigeon hole me into any one kind of music. From there it just all trickles down. Bands like Sevendust and Papa Roach are the forefront, but in at least some way, they owe part of their success to Anthrax in the same way that bands like us owe a large part of our success to bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. It’s all just one big tree to me — one big family tree and we’re all related."

Metal heads are just kindred spirits who realize that heavy music is a way to focus energy in a positive way. And in that way, one can see not only the band but the whole scene as one big family.

"I still have a lot of aggression," says Bush. "Or I should say, enthusiasm. So when I go on stage, I get a chance to vent all of the rage and frustration I get in everyday life. Instead of me going out and murdering someone or acting crazy in public, I go on stage and let it loose. Heavy music allows me to channel that energy in a positive way. Which is something that we want all the young metal fans to come out and see as we reintroduce ourselves to the next wave of them. Coming out to see Mötley Crüe, Megadeth and ourselves will be educational for some listeners and we sincerely hope that many new people will take the time to learn about us and feel the energy."

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