By Kerr Seth Lordygan
With four new Anthrax releases this year and a big reunion tour, guitarist and founding member Scott Ian has been pretty fukkin' busy. 2005 saw DVD and CD versions of Anthrology, a collection of (singer Joey) Belladonna-era Anthrax tunes and videos. Also DVD and CD versions of Alive 2, a live recording of the reunion show. Hey, so hadn't they just released Greater of Two Evils so they could re-record the classic tunes originally sung by Joey Belladonna with newer vocalist John Bush? Didn't they say it was so those old songs could be heard the way they were intended? Well, I guess that's really between Joey and the boys now. What's important is that Anthrax has reunited with Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello (bass), Dan Spitz (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums). This is not the original formation, but definitely the most famous one. This formation of Anthrax will be playing Los Angeles in January (and for those fans who bought the pre-sale tickets from the website, there will be a private admittance to the sound check too). I had a chance to chat with Scott and ask him about current and future 'Anthrax plans.
AAM: New tour starts January, what can we expect different form the Priest show?
Scott Ian: Well, about 45 minutes more worth of music, so a lot more songs. It's our show obviously. We're headlining so we pretty much get to do whatever we want.
AAM: How's the reunion going so far, are you guys all getting along?
Scott: Yea, getting along fine. Believe me, if we weren't getting along, it would have stopped the moment we weren't, 'cuz there would really be no reason to do that.
AAM: What's next for you guys, are you writing together now?
Scott: Yea, we started, just the three of us. Charlie, myself and Frankie got together for a week and we started putting together music so... you know where its going and what we're doing with it and what the future is, there's no plan yet. All I know is we'll have a record next year. As far as what configuration of Anthrax will be on that record, that you know....it's not that its up in the air, its just not the timing yet, its not the time to make any announcements.
AAM: Do you think the metal scene changed since the 80's for you guys?
Scott: Wow, you know, I don't even know how to answer that question, I have no idea.
AAM: The technology for one?
Scott: Well yea, things like that sure, that's an obvious one. You can make a record in your house now. As far as the scene goes, I really don't know. Things are really in a lot of ways very similar to the way they were, metal is still certainly underground. Once in a while a band will blow up and get big but its still very much an underground thing, and it's still very much driven by the fans and word of mouth, so in a lot of ways it hasn't changed at all.
AAM: Are there any contemporary bands that you're getting into or listening to?
Scott: You'd have to be more definitive about when you say, "contemporary". Do you mean in the last 6 months? I have been into a lot of bands that have been around the last seven or eight years.
AAM: Well, what CD's do you have in your player now?
Scott: Umm....none. (he laughs). Not a one. You know its 'cuz I use my Ipod. There you go, that's how the scene has changed, I don't even have CD's in my house. I guess of bands in the last 5 to 10 years, I'd have to say SYSTEM OF A DOWN. They would be by far of anything new that came after the generation of bands that I come from. I would definitely say, they are my favorite, the best in my opinion.
AAM: Any bands you're interested in collaborating with or have been collaborating with?
Scott: I haven't started anything, no. As far as interested in, I mean yea there's tons of people I would love to get to play with at some point or another and a lot of those fantasies got fulfilled [when] I got to play at the Roadrunner Records 25th anniversary thing in New York. I got to play with different configurations like, SLIPKNOT and SEPULTURA. I got to jam with them both and it was f*#kin' great, I loved it. It was awesome!
AAM: Who's the most fun band you've toured with?
Scott: I'd have to say PANTERA for sure. Touring with those guys was pretty much non-stop insanity. It was great, crazy, nuts and just awesome. The crowds were amazing, and everything about it was great.
AAM: How long is this headlining tour going to last?
Scott: It's only going to be a two-week run, because our drummer's wife is pregnant and she's due at the beginning of February so we had to cut it short. It would have been like a normal, say, six-week run of the States but, for obvious reason, we have to cut it short.
AAM: We're going to see you in LA in January, correct?
Scott: Yea cool, that's the last show actually.
AAM: Is there anything you want the fans to know about the show, the tour or Anthrax?
Scott: It's probably going to be the last time you get to see us for a really long time and who knows in what configuration we'll be back after that point. So as far as this reunion goes, this will be the last time the reunion tour plays the States, I would say definitely come check it out because its something that you'll probably never get to see again!
For more information: www.anthrax.com













































