Former Anthrax singer John Bush recently addressed the ongoing comparisons between himself and the band’s current vocalist Joey Belladonna. He shared his perspective on the matter in an interview with Thunder Underground.
Bush offered a diplomatic take on the singer rivalry debate. He acknowledged Belladonna’s contributions while defending the validity of both eras.
“I mean look, Joey Belladonna has done amazing things with Anthrax and he’s really the distinctive voice of Anthrax. That’s just the truth. I was a different sound and I came in at a different time and I certainly feel like I brought something. But you’re always going to connect Joey with the sound of Anthrax without a doubt,” Bush said.
The former vocalist drew parallels to other notable singer changes in rock history to illustrate his point about fan acceptance.
“But I think the important thing is, you know, when singers make when bands make singer changes, it’s an adjustment for people. I always say I had the same thing for myself, you know, when Ronnie James Dio came and replaced Ozzy Osbourne, and Brian Johnson, obviously they had to replace Bond Scott, but Sammy Hagar, all these people, you know, it’s just when you make a singer change, it usually is a pretty definitive change of sound, you know, somewhat because the sound of voice. It’s just different for the most part,” he continued.
Bush emphasized that fans don’t need to choose sides when it comes to appreciating different eras of their favorite bands.
“Some people are able to kind of emulate the singers that they’re replacing and, you know, there’s a cool aspect to that as well. But you know all those guys, you know, Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth and Ronnie and Ozzy for sure, they were very different sounding from one another. So there’s an adjustment for people. So I get it. You know, I always tell people you can like both. You can like both. Sure, you can have a favorite, but you can still like both,” Bush explained.
“I mean, you could have a preference. I get it. You know, you can have a preference. So, that makes sense. But you can still like the others. So, it’s not like there’s this if ‘I like this, I cannot like that.’ It’s not like that. It’s music, man,” he concluded.
Bush’s comments come at a time when he’s actively celebrating his Anthrax legacy through live performances. He’s also reflecting on his extensive career in metal music.
The Pop Break reported that Bush joined Anthrax in 1992 after fronting Armored Saint. He became the voice behind key albums including Sound of White Noise, Stomp 442, and Volume 8: The Threat Is Real. His tenure with the band marked a significant shift in their sound, moving away from the thrash metal roots established during Belladonna’s initial run.
The singer has recently launched a mini-tour that specifically revisits his Anthrax-era material. The Pop Break noted that Bush performed these classic songs during a New York City show at Racket on December 20, 2025, while opening for his current band Category 7. This tour represents a rare opportunity for fans to hear Bush perform the Anthrax material that defined a crucial era in the band’s history.
Beyond his musical performances, Bush has been contemplating documenting his extensive career in written form. Blabbermouth revealed that the vocalist has considered writing a book about his career. The book would span back to the early 1980s with Armored Saint and include his interactions with notable figures like Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and Anthrax’s Scott Ian.
Bush’s diplomatic approach to the singer rivalry debate reflects his mature perspective on a career that has spanned multiple decades and influential bands. His willingness to acknowledge both his own contributions and those of his predecessor demonstrates the kind of professional respect that has allowed him to maintain positive relationships within the metal community throughout his career.
