LimeWire Music Blog

Thrash metal titans Anthrax have gained mainstream notoriety for things that don’t necessarily have anything to do with their (mostly) amazing discography of ear splitting music. In 1989 they held a memorable contest with MTV where they completely trashed the winner’s house. Then came various appearances on shows like Married with Children, 2001’s anthrax scare (which nearly melted the band’s unsuspecting Web site), and guitarist Scott Ian’s foray into reality show waters and TV punditry. Unfortunately, the band’s creative output has been sporadic in lieu of personnel changes and the spate of labels they were signed to going bust.

After various trials and tribulations, Anthrax and Scott Ian’s dopey, gnarly, multicolored beard look like they have finally gotten their act together on the cusp of their 25th anniversary. This week the band announced the upcoming release of their new album, Worship Music, which is due later in the year on their first record label, Megaforce Records. They’ve also hired a new singer, Dan Nelson. The band road-tested the unknown New York vocalist last year in California when they were invited to open two sold out shows for Iron Maiden. True story: Nelson learned that he got the gig backstage while he was in the bathroom dropping a deuce. 

“The second night, we’re backstage,” recalls
Ian, “[Iron Maiden singer] Bruce Dickinson came over to our dressing room
to say hi, and he says to me, ‘Your new singer, Dan, is amazing. I was watching
you guys from the side of the stage last night – he totally fits you guys, he’s
perfect. His voice is incredible and strong. I loved it!’ And I was like, ‘Would
you come inside and tell Dan? He’d love to hear it from you.’ We walk in the
dressing room and I’m like, ‘Where’s Dan?’ And I hear from the bathroom, ‘I’m
in here, taking a crap!’ It was so great – not that we’re looking for
validation, but when Bruce Dickinson comes up and is congratulating you on your
new singer, it’s a pretty cool moment.” 

Though they’ve had a lot of ups and downs, Scott Ian maintains his band’s cred is in tact: “It’s insane to me, because when you think
about it, who does anything for that long, let alone in the same band? Start
making a list of bands that are still around 25 years after their first album,
and it’s going to be a pretty short list.”