Former Anthrax vocalist John Bush recently addressed the band’s decision to largely avoid performing songs from his era with the group. He shared his thoughts in an interview with SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
Bush’s comments came in response to a question about whether he would still be organizing shows to celebrate his era of Anthrax if the current Belladonna-fronted lineup was performing songs from his time with the band.
“Well, I’d say most likely not,” Bush said. “I used to say, ‘Do songs [from my era]. I want you to do tunes.’ I understand why you don’t, but I wish they would.”
Bush elaborated on his emotional investment in the material from his time with the band.
“Because, again, it’s something that I invested emotionally and a lot of time, as well as those guys did,” he continued. “So, I would prefer them to play the tunes. I understand if they don’t, but if they were, then maybe not. But they don’t, with the exception of ‘Only’. And there’s a lot of great tunes.”
The vocalist also revealed his plans for upcoming performances. He indicated his intention to include deeper cuts from his catalog.
“I’ve been putting a setlist together, and it’s probably more songs than I really wanna sing, to be honest, ’cause it could be a very long set,” Bush explained. “Plus I wanna play some deep tracks — I don’t wanna just play the obvious songs, like ‘Only’, ‘Room For One More’, ‘Fueled’. I wanna play ‘Safe Home’, whatever. I wanna play some deep tracks, because it will be more fun that way.”
Bush concluded by reaffirming his position on the matter.
“So, would I do this [if Anthrax was still performing songs from the Bush era live]? Probably not. I would say probably not,” he said. “But they’re not, so I am.”
Bush’s frustration stems from a significant chapter in Anthrax’s history that has been largely overlooked in the band’s current live performances.
Wikipedia reported that Bush served as Anthrax’s vocalist from 1992 to 2005 and briefly returned in 2009-2010. He fronted four studio albums that marked a distinct alternative rock influenced phase for the band. His tenure with the group represented a departure from their earlier thrash metal sound. It incorporated more melodic and accessible elements that broadened their appeal during the 1990s.
The Bush era produced several commercially successful albums, including “Sound of White Noise” (1993) and “Stomp 442” (1995). These albums showcased a different side of Anthrax’s musical identity. Blabbermouth noted that Bush has announced special shows celebrating this period. The performances will feature fellow musicians from his current band Category 7 and longtime collaborators from Armored Saint.
These upcoming performances will give fans a rare opportunity to hear songs from Bush’s Anthrax catalog performed live. This has become increasingly uncommon since Joey Belladonna’s return to the band. Category 7’s official website confirmed that Bush continues to be active in the metal scene. He brings his distinctive vocal style to new projects while maintaining his connection to the material that defined a significant portion of Anthrax’s discography.
The situation highlights the complex dynamics that can arise when bands undergo significant lineup changes. This is particularly true regarding how legacy material is treated in live performances. Bush’s decision to organize his own shows celebrating this era demonstrates both his continued pride in the work and his understanding that fans deserve to hear these songs performed live. This remains true even if not by the current Anthrax lineup.
