John Bush recently addressed questions about his new solo project featuring songs from his time with Anthrax, clarifying his intentions in an interview shared on the David Ellefson Show.
When asked what prompted him to tour with these classic songs, Bush explained that he wanted to preserve an important chapter of his career that has largely faded from public view.
“I mean they really don’t play these songs. It was something I’ve been talking about for a long time just because, you know, it’s a part of my life. I spent like 12, 13 years in Anthrax. We made four records. I toured countless dates and did countless interviews and worked hard on helping create the songs with the guys. And so, it was a lot of time spent and a lot of energy,” Bush said. “And for it to just kind of fade into the darkness, which I get it. I really do. But for me, well, I’m just letting this big part of my life just kind of go away. And I think that I don’t really want that to be the case.”
Bush emphasized that his project is not competitive with Anthrax’s current direction. He noted that many fans discovered the band during the 1990s when he was the vocalist.
“I think it’s going to be really cool. A lot of people are really enthusiastic about it because the fact of the matter is a lot of people discovered Anthrax in the 90s. That’s just the truth, you know. People came of age listening to metal, hard rock. The 90s were a big part of it. That’s when I joined and so people discovered the band then,” he explained.
He continued, “I think it’s going to be really fun. I’m not trying to compete with Anthrax. That’s just not my objective. My objective is to just go out and kind of be the voice of these tunes that were I think there’s some great songs there. I also want to play some deeper tracks, you know, songs that maybe we never played. And just kind of go and have some fun with it.”
Bush’s tenure with Anthrax marked a transformative period for the legendary thrash metal band. Wikipedia notes that Bush initially joined Anthrax in 1992, replacing original vocalist Joey Belladonna. He remained with the band until 2005. During this 13-year span, he contributed to shaping the band’s sound through one of metal’s most dynamic decades.
The four studio albums Bush recorded with Anthrax during his era have become cornerstones of the band’s legacy. Blabbermouth reports that these albums include Sound of White Noise (1993), Stomp 442 (1995), Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998), and We’ve Come For You All (2003). Each record showcased Bush’s distinctive vocal style and helped define the band’s evolution during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Bush’s vocal contributions during this era are highly regarded within the metal community. Noisecreep highlights notable songs frequently associated with Bush’s Anthrax era, including “Only” and “Room for One More” from Sound of White Noise. These tracks have become staples and fan favorites. His vocal style during this period blended classic metal and post-thrash elements, earning praise from peers including James Hetfield.
Blabbermouth revealed that Bush’s special live run is scheduled for December 2025. The tour will showcase material from his four studio albums with Anthrax. Rather than embarking on an extensive tour, Bush prefers a limited number of special concerts to celebrate this significant chapter of his career. His touring group includes musicians from his projects Category 7 and longtime collaborator Joey Vera on bass, demonstrating the collaborative spirit behind the venture.
Notably, the project has received support from within Anthrax itself. Arrow Lords of Metal documented that Scott Ian of Anthrax has even offered to join as a third guitarist for these solo shows. This gesture underscores that there is no animosity between Bush and his former bandmates. It further validates Bush’s assertion that his project celebrates rather than competes with Anthrax’s legacy.
