Former Anthrax and current Armored Saint frontman John Bush recently addressed how he handles online criticism, particularly regarding comparisons between his Anthrax era and Joey Belladonna’s tenure with the band. His comments were shared in an interview with Metal Horror Madman.
Bush explained his approach to dealing with negative comments. He established a specific requirement for his critics.
When asked about how he reacts to criticism, Bush responded: “What I say is when I see shit online, all I say is you got to be funny. If you’re going to trash me, if you’re going to, you know, bag on me, I don’t care because whatever. I mean, I can’t expect everyone to like what I do. But you got to be witty. It’s got to be funny.”
The vocalist elaborated on his stance. He emphasized the importance of creativity in criticism.
“It can’t just be like, ‘John Bush sucks.’ It’s like, ‘That’s all you got?’ Say something funny,” Bush continued. “Like sometimes, you know, forever will be the Joey Belladonna vs. John Bush thing, which that shouldn’t be there, but it is. And if somebody’s like this guy, ‘Oh, Joey’s better because bla bla bla.’ And if they say something demeaning in me, but it to me, but it’s funny, I’ll laugh and go, ‘All right, that’s a good one.’ And then that’s all I require is if you’re going to trash me, have at least be creative with it. Be creative.”
Bush’s comments reflect his pragmatic approach to handling the ongoing debates among metal fans regarding different eras of Anthrax’s vocal lineup.
The criticism Bush references stems from one of metal’s most enduring debates about vocalist changes in established bands. Wikipedia reported that Bush joined Anthrax in 1992 after the band fired original vocalist Joey Belladonna, bringing a more alternative-rock-inflected vocal style to the band’s sound. This marked a significant shift from the high-pitched, thrash-metal vocals that characterized Anthrax’s classic 1980s period.
During his tenure with Anthrax, Bush recorded four studio albums that defined what fans now call the “John Bush era.” Chaoszine documented that these albums were Sound of White Noise (1993), Stomp 442 (1995), Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998), and We’ve Come for You All (2003). Sound of White Noise became particularly significant, as it remains Anthrax’s best-selling album to date. It helped establish the band’s profile during the alternative metal boom of the 1990s.
The debate between Bush and Belladonna supporters often centers on two distinct musical eras and stylistic preferences. MetalSucks noted that fans frequently split along lines of the 1980s “classic” period versus the 1990s-early 2000s Bush era, with some criticizing Bush for moving the band away from its pure thrash roots while others defend him as the voice that kept Anthrax relevant through changing musical landscapes. This polarization remains visible in online comment sections and fan forums whenever Bush’s name or Anthrax setlists are discussed.
Bush left Anthrax in 2005 when the band reunited with Belladonna for an Among the Living-era tour. He briefly returned in 2009-2010 for a handful of shows. Since then, he has remained active with his original band Armored Saint. Wikipedia confirmed that the band has released three studio albums since the 2000s: La Raza (2010), Win Hands Down (2015), and Punching the Sky (2020). Recent interviews indicate ongoing Armored Saint activity, including plans for a new album and upcoming live shows.
