Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian recently addressed questions about the band’s potential retirement plans. He discussed their upcoming album “Cursum Perficio” in an interview on The Allison Hagendorf Show.
Ian’s comments came in response to speculation about whether the band’s new album title hints at farewell plans. He clarified the band’s position on retirement while reflecting on the challenges they faced during the pandemic.
“Sometimes I’m reticent to define things, how I feel about it, because I want the people who listen to the record, the people who come to the shows, I always want them to take ownership in everything we do and make it their own,” Ian said. “So defining lyrics and all that.”
Ian provided a nuanced response about the band’s future when addressing retirement speculation directly.
“But for me, ’cause people have been asking us, ‘Well, is this your, your way of saying goodbye? Is this your farewell? Is this your last album?’ And I’m, like, ‘No. We’re not saying that,'” he explained. “I’m also not not saying that. But I tend to think if we’re gonna say goodbye, we’re gonna make more of a big deal about it than just kind of sneaking it in in an album cover and album title and then disappearing.”
Ian also reflected on the band’s journey through the pandemic. He described the uncertainty they faced during that period.
“But, for me, it was quite a journey, and it took a lot of perseverance to get from the end of 2019, when we really started working on this record,” he continued. “So, yeah, it pushed the big pause button for, like, two years for us, where many times on Zoom calls with my bandmates, [we were] asking the question, ‘Are we ever gonna play a show again?’ ‘Are we ever gonna make a record?’ ‘Do we get to be a band again?'”
The guitarist described the fear and uncertainty that gripped the music industry during 2020. The future of live music remained unclear during this time.
“So, in our own little corner of the universe, that was a weird and really scary time, and to think that maybe we don’t get to be a band again,” Ian said. “And, then, of course, eventually doors started opening, and we got to be a band again.”
Ian’s comments about the album title “Cursum Perficio” carry particular weight given its Latin meaning. The phrase translates to “I end my course” or “I have finished my journey,” adding fuel to retirement speculation among fans.
The discussion of potential retirement comes at a significant point in Anthrax’s career timeline. The band’s previous studio album, “For All Kings,” was released in 2016. It marked their most recent full-length work for an extended period. The album was followed by a substantial tour cycle that included major festival appearances and co-headlining shows. The touring cycle concluded in November 2019, just before the pandemic disrupted the music industry.
Since “For All Kings,” Anthrax has maintained their presence in the metal scene through select touring dates and festival appearances. They have followed this approach rather than pursuing a traditional nonstop album-tour cycle. This strategy has kept the band active while allowing them flexibility in their later-career phase. However, it has also intensified questions from fans and media about whether they would produce another studio album or begin winding down their activities.
Throughout recent years, Scott Ian has consistently suggested that while Anthrax is not planning an immediate end, the band remains aware of their legacy and the realities of their career stage. The recurring theme in his interviews has been that no formal retirement announcement has been made. The band’s future depends on factors including health, timing, and whether they feel inspired to continue recording and touring.
The pandemic period Ian described proved particularly challenging for veteran bands like Anthrax. These acts faced unprecedented uncertainty about the future of live music and recording. His candid reflection on those Zoom calls with bandmates, questioning whether they would ever perform again, illustrates the broader existential crisis many established acts experienced during the industry shutdown.
