Former Anthrax and current Armored Saint frontman John Bush recently discussed his three Anthrax tribute shows, ‘Celebrating The Songs Of Anthrax,’ in an interview with The Metal Voice.
Bush performed songs from four albums he recorded with Anthrax during these special tribute performances. When asked about whether all the preparation for the three shows was worth it financially, Bush provided insight into the economic reality of the venture.
“It was worth it. It was worth it, for sure,” Bush said. “I mean, this isn’t just some big cash cow that I’m making a bunch of money on. I didn’t wanna lose money, of course. It paid for itself.”
Bush also revealed details about merchandise sales during the shows, particularly regarding vinyl records.
“And I think that was the key thing. And I sold a lot of records,” he continued. “I actually contacted Megaforce and [ordered copies of the Anthrax albums to sell at the gigs]… I sold all the vinyl — all of it. ‘Cause Megaforce re-released those records. So I sold all the vinyl, I didn’t sell all the CDs, but I ended up buying them anyway.”
“And I have ’em because I signed them. Eventually I’ll sign ’em [and] I’ll sell ’em somewhere,” Bush added. “But, yeah, it was pretty amazing that I actually sold all the records.”
These tribute performances marked a significant milestone in Bush’s career. They represented his first-ever solo concerts dedicated exclusively to celebrating his decade-long tenure with Anthrax from 1993 to 2003.
Blabbermouth reported that the three shows took place in December 2025. The first performance was on December 13 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. The tour continued with a show on December 18 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. It concluded on December 20 at Racket in New York City.
The setlists for these performances spanned material from all four albums Bush recorded with Anthrax during his era with the band. Sonic Perspectives noted that the December performances featured songs from Sound of White Noise, Stomp 442, Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, and We’ve Come For You All. The shows included both well-known anthems and deeper cuts that hadn’t been performed live in years.
Bush was backed by Category 7, who also served as the opening act for each show. Metal Injection revealed that Bush is scheduled to perform an Anthrax-era set at Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026, alongside his current band Armored Saint. This suggests that these tribute performances may continue beyond the initial December run.
The success of these shows demonstrates the enduring appeal of Bush’s contributions to Anthrax’s catalog during a pivotal period in the band’s history. His decade with the group produced some of their most commercially successful and critically acclaimed material. These tribute performances serve as a celebration of a significant chapter in metal history.
