John Bush recently discussed his upcoming special performances revisiting his time with Anthrax. He addressed questions about whether he sought approval from the band members in an interview shared on Dr. Music.
When asked if he had consulted with Scott Ian and other Anthrax members about performing these shows, Bush explained his approach to the decision.
“I talked about doing this for a while. So I didn’t really necessarily because I had talked about it for so much for so long. I didn’t really feel like it was necessary for me to go ask people’s approval at this point,” Bush said. “It was something that I was saying I’m going to do this and of course I wanted everybody to be happy about it, you know, the Saint guys included. But it was not something that I said, ‘Hey, can I do this?’ Cuz I kind of felt like I had already talked about doing this for a long time and it was already out there. I think most people were supportive of it.”
Bush emphasized the significance of revisiting the records from his time with Anthrax in the 1990s. He noted that they had been somewhat overlooked over the years. His decision to perform these shows reflects a broader effort to honor a pivotal chapter in both his career and the band’s history.
John Bush served as Anthrax’s lead vocalist from 1992 to 2005, according to Wikipedia. During this period, he fronted four studio albums in the 1990s: Sound of White Noise (1993), Stomp 442 (1995), Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998), and later We’ve Come for You All (2003). This era marked a stylistic shift in the band towards a more alternative metal sound, departing from their earlier thrash metal style.
Sound of White Noise became a landmark release for the band. The 1993 album was Anthrax’s highest-charting album in the US, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and achieving gold certification, as reported by Louder Sound. It featured the hit “Only” and was well-received for its new alternative metal influence. Bush brought a distinctive, deeper, and more melodic yet powerful voice that contrasted with former singer Joey Belladonna’s style.
The subsequent albums faced significant commercial challenges. Metal Sucks noted that Stomp 442 suffered from lack of label support after the band parted ways with Elektra Records. Volume 8: The Threat Is Real was released by an independent label that went bankrupt, resulting in poor promotion. Despite these setbacks, the album contained notable songs that remain favorites among fans. These circumstances contributed to the perception that the Bush-era records had been overlooked, even though they represented a unique and influential chapter in Anthrax’s history.
Bush’s tenure with Anthrax balanced the band’s thrash origins with more alternative and groove metal elements. It expanded their musical range while challenging their commercial standing. His upcoming performances in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York this December aim to bring renewed attention to these records and celebrate his contributions to the band’s legacy.
