Color Palettes, Formulas, and Software! (free)

Home › A › Anthrax

 albums · lyrics · movies
Talk about this article @ Wikipedia
image = 250px |
years_active = 1981 – |
status = Active |
music_genre = Thrash metal |
record_label = Island Def Jam, Elektra, Megaforce, Sanctuary |
current_members = Scott Ian ,
Joey Belladonna ,
Charlie Benante,
Dan Spitz ,
Frank Bello |
origin = New York City, United States |}}Anthrax is a New York City-based heavy metal band, who released their first full-length album in 1984. Anthrax was one of the most popular bands from the thrash metal scene in the '80s and, possibly, the biggest band to come out of the East Coast thrash scene. The "big four" of thrash metal are invariably Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica, and Anthrax.They have made several appearances on television shows such as ''Married... with Children'', ''WWE RAW'' and ''NewsRadio'' and have appeared in movies such as ''Run Ronnie Run'' (performing as the fictional band Titannica) and ''Calendar Girls''.

History





Early career (1981-1986)

Anthrax was formed in the early 1980s by guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Dan Lilker, guitarist Dan Spitz and vocalist Neil Turbin. After signing with Megaforce Records, they released their first full-length album, ''Fistful Of Metal'', in 1984. This was an inauspicious debut for a band that would soon rise to the forefront of the thrash metal scene. By 1985 when Anthrax released their first classic album, ''Spreading the Disease'', their lineup had solidified into a cohesive unit. The addition of vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello brought a much improved sound to the band.

Breakthrough and rising to success (1987-1991)


''Among The Living'' album cover]]
Almost immediately Anthrax morphed from a stereotypical Judas Priest knock-off to the thrash metal style that would garner them so much fame. Mixing equal doses of punk and speed metal along with a generous dose of humor quickly shot them to the forefront of the burgeoning thrash movement. While the other major thrash bands, Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica, were deadly serious, Anthrax wrote songs about comic books and Stephen King novels. Because of this Anthrax appealed to a more general audience even if they were never quite as popular as their contemporaries.In 1987, Anthrax's third album ''Among The Living'' was released to great acclaim among the metal community. ''Among The Living'' is generally considered the band's best album and contains all the typical elements of an Anthrax album. "I Am The Law", a tribute to Judge Dredd, "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)", a discussion of John Belushi's drug addiction and death, the politically correct "Indians" and the mosh pit anthem "Caught In A Mosh" are all considered Anthrax classics today.Anthrax was always a band prone to experimentation, and in 1991 they collaborated with pioneering Rap artists Public Enemy on a joint version of PE's "Bring The Noise." While Run-DMC had worked with Aerosmith back in 1986, "Bring The Noise" is widely regarded as the very first Rap Rock hybrid, though this was not the first time a Rock band had fully incorporated Rap into a song. Anthrax actually claims that credit with an earlier song, 1987's "I'm The Man", a comedic song originally slated to be played with the Beastie Boys, although they did not actually get to play this song with Anthrax until 1991's remake. "Bring The Noise", however, was a hit, and the band had a successful joint tour with Public Enemy. Within a few years, bands such as Rage Against the Machine, KoЯn, Limp Bizkit, and a host of others had picked up the rap/rock or rap/metal mantle and gone on to various degrees of success.

Post-Belladonna period (1992-2004)


''Sound of White Noise'' album cover]]
In 1992 Anthrax parted ways with vocalist Joey Belladonna and replaced him with ex-Armored Saint vocalist John Bush. The band jumped ship from Island Records to Elektra Records and released Sound Of White Noise on the label in 1993. Bush was a more "serious"-sounding vocalist, and Sound of White Noise was well received by most of the band's audience. Unfortunately the musical landscape of the early 1990s was changing drastically; Alternative Rock was the rage, and metal was no longer being pushed by the music industry. In 1995 the band released ''Stomp 442'', an album for which Electra refused to provide real promotion - it quickly disappeared without trace. Obviously upset at what they felt was an attempt by the label to kill the album, Anthrax attempted to sever ties with Electra. During the hiatus between ''Sound Of White Noise'' and ''Stomp 442'', longtime guitarist Dan Spitz left the band, leaving Anthrax as a quartet for years.Anthrax signed with a small independent label, and in 1998 managed to release ''Vol.-8 The Threat Is Real'', a punishing album which had the potential to return Anthrax to the top of the metal heap. Unfortunately, almost immediately after Volume 8's release, the independent label they were signed to went bankrupt and disappeared, making the album extremely difficult to find. Regrouping the band signed with another label and released a greatest-hits album although that label 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.Despite the hardships and various legal entanglements regarding who had the rights to certain albums, Anthrax managed to soldier on. In 2002 new guitarist Rob Caggiano joined the band, and the following year the band released We've Come For You All, an album hailed by the metal press as a long-awaited return to form. In early 2004 the band returned to the studio to record Greater Of Two Evils, a rerecording of the band's early work with the then current lineup. Around the same time bassist Frank Bello announced he was leaving the band to join Helmet and was replaced on tour by former Armored Saint and Fate's Warning bassist Joey Vera.

Reunion (2005-present)


On April 1, 2005, the website announced that the ''Among The Living'' line-up of Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Dan Spitz, Joey Belladonna, and Frank Bello would be reforming. At this time it is unclear whether John Bush and Rob Caggiano have left the band and whether the "classic" lineup is permanent or just a touring opportunity. Scott Ian released a statement, saying that John and Rob are not officially gone; but the press release announcing the reunion of the "classic" lineup seems to provide evidence to the contrary. The band is also claiming to release an album featuring new material in 2006.

Miscellany


Album CoverDate of ReleaseTitleLabelChart positionsUS salesJanuary 1984''Fistful Of Metal''MegaforceOctober 1985''Spreading The Disease''IslandMarch 1987''Among The Living''IslandSeptember 18, 1988''State Of Euphoria''IslandAugust 21, 1990''Persistence Of Time''IslandMay 25, 1993''Sound Of White Noise''ElektraOctober 24, 1995''Stomp 442''ElektraJuly 21, 1998''Volume 8: The Threat Is Real''IgnitionMay 6, 2003''We've Come For You All''Nuclear Blast

EPs

*''Armed and Dangerous'' (1985)

genres +
links +

Anthrax Tickets
Buy or sell Anthrax Tickets at TicketCity