One of The Big Four turns the big 4-0 this year, and are celebrating with a number of special activities and events to honour the landmark anniversary.
Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, NY on July 18th 1981, Anthrax were one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth.
Each week, starting on May 3rd, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, concluding on the band’s official founding anniversary of July 18th, Anthrax‘s social media accounts will offer a series of video testimonials sent in by former band members, fellow musicians, colleagues, and industry veterans – sharing behind-the-scenes stories of working with the band and what Anthrax‘s legacy has meant all these years on.
These videos will honour each album in chronological order beginning with the original release, Fistful of Metal. Go HERE for the full schedule.
The 11-week series will include video contributions from Chuck D, Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Gene Simmons, Henry Rollins, John Carpenter, Kerry King, Mike Patton, Nergal, Norman Reedus, Michael Poulsen, Rob Zombie, Robert Trujillo, Roger Miret, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Slash, Tom Morello and more. There will also be video clips from former Anthrax band members Dan Lilker, Dan Spitz, John Bush, Neil Turbin, and Rob Caggiano.
Anthrax are also pleased to announce a very special live stream performance on Friday July 16th, featuring a deep cuts set that will pull from the band’s entire career-spanning catalogue. All details including ticketing information will be announced shortly.
Fans will also be able to get their hands on a special 40th anniversary-edition bottle of Anthrax bourbon to enjoy during the livestream and keep as a commemorative keepsake. More details will be coming soon.
Active over the past five decades, Anthrax have released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, and toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows; including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing the Yankee Stadium with The Big 4.
The band have built a strong reputation with fans as well as the record industry. With the lineup including ScottIan, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna, and guitarist Jon Donais, the band are being feted on their 40th anniversary by a wide range of friends and music contemporaries.
Twenty-twenty-one marks Anthrax‘s 40th anniversary. In 1991, the band helped break down race and genre barriers when they collaborated with Public Enemy on the track Bring The Noise, and was the first metal band to have its music heard on Mars when NASA played Got The Time to wake up the Mars Rover in 2012.
Along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, Anthrax are a card-carrying member of The Big Four, the four bands that defined the speed/thrash/metal genre. Anthrax have also introduced a series now sold-out signature whiskeys and bourbons and partnered with the Stockholm-based NEZUMI Studios for a high-end, limited-edition Baleine dive watch.
Twenty-twenty-one will see the release of Z2 Comics‘ Among the Living graphic novel with a track-by-track storyline inspired by Anthrax‘s iconic 1987 album, Among The Living. The book pulls together a “who’s who” of names from the worlds of comics and music who created “bubble dialogue” and original artwork to express what the songs meant to them.
Taking advantage of COVID-19’s prohibition of concert touring, the band has been hard at work writing the next Anthrax album.
