Anthrax Interview

I’ve known Anthrax since I picked up their debut “Fistful Of Metal” on import and caught their first gig in London at the Hammersmith Palais all those years ago. Since then I stuck with them thru the dark days of the 90s seeing them on and off in the US and Germany. Whilst I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan I’ve always admired them for the way they broke down barriers whether it was with the hardcore scene or bringing rap into da house of metal or challenging stereotypes with SOD. So when I got the chance to interview Scott ‘Not’ Ian after all these years I was surely looking forward to it - and he was dishing it out!

So Scott, new album, new vocalist - is it a new start for Anthrax?
Ian: I’m not sure if it’s a new start.....we’re still Anthrax. We’re still the same band you’ve been into. I mean, it’s been a long time since we had a record but we’re still the same. I still collect comix (hint) ha ha! But ok, I don’t skate(board) anymore like u used to remember me - as you know once you ride with fear then you just gotta put it away.

Well, you got a new vocalist (Dan Nelson) so do you feel he’s allowed you to break free of Joey Belladonna? It always seemed like you were tied to him...
Ian: ha ha - well, we got a new vocalist after Joey - John Bush! But ok, I hear what you’re saying and for me I guess it was a clean break.

This date at ULU has got to be the smallest show I’ve ever seen you at - considering you were once considered to be part of the ‘Big 4’ is that a sign of Anthrax’s place these days...?
Ian: I’ve never thought of it that way. This show is a warm up date on our day off. We could’ve sat on our asses but we chose to play a show for you guys. There’s so many other things going on right now in the UK like Download and Sonisphere that I don’t think we could’ve played a larger venue. But we’ll be back to play Brixton or somewhere so don’t worry. As for the ‘Big 4’ you mentioned well - ha ha - maybe the media see it that way but we don’t really rank ourselves according to what our peers do as we’re only concerned with Anthrax. We’re a full time band and no one here has day jobs so I’m only concerned with one thing: Anthrax.

I’ve always wanted to know why you and Danny (Lilker) formed Anthrax?
Ian: we wanted to form a band. We wanted to play music. It wasn’t to get girls - if it was, we sure picked the wrong music ha ha!

So what does the new album sound like? How does it compare to your previous work and does it hold any surprises or break down any barriers like you guys did with Public Enemy?
Ian: that’s difficult cos normally we release advance copies and then do promotion but that didn’t happen this time round but I can’t really compare it because everyone has a different opinion. I would just say everything from “Fistful....” to now. It’s a mystery. I can tell you that we’ve spent more time on this album than on “Spreading....” and it’s the best thing we’ve put out though. As for the barriers with Public Enemy, we never thought of it as more than just fun for us. If you think that Anthrax has this big commercial plan then that’s not how we do things. Look at ‘I’m The Man’ - we buried that on a B side because we thought it was risky and we didn’t think it would ever be big. And that’s how it’s been with this band: everything I thought wouldn’t be successful became big. Maybe I should start thinking this album can’t be big too!!

Speaking of barriers - I’ve always wanted to know if was there anything ever intended by songs like ‘Fuck The Middle East’ given that both you and Danny are Jewish or was it as SOD should be taken i.e. a piss take? Is Billy still warehousing....?
Ian: well, you’ve been with us since the SOD days so it was as you remembered us at time but for the record, yes, I’m Jewish but if you’re asking me if I’m a racist then the answer is ‘no’. And ‘no’ I don’t know what Billy’s doing right now either ha ha!

Speaking of old characters, I can’t remember why Neil Turbin left - or was he fired?
Ian: that was a long time ago man, actually Neil fired Danny - he had a huge problem with Danny. And anyone else who might be taller than him ha ha. We talked about Danny as a band but nothing was actually agreed officially but Neil just went ahead and told him. And that was where we were with Neil, we just didn’t get along....different philosophies. By the end of the ‘84 tour it was the 4 of us - and Neil.

Sounds like a challenge! And you’ve had a few along the way with being dropped from Elektra and then the 9/11 name thing - do you see yourselves big again headlining the likes of Sonisphere...?
Ian: I am who I am. We’re not changing our name even if people can’t understand it’s two separate things. As for Elektra, it wasn’t us but a new regime change - all the people who signed us had been fired and the new people told us that they didn’t want to work with us and we’d be better off somewhere else. So we found a new label. Like I said, there’s no ‘great’ plan with this band: I have no idea - we never have - we have control over our music and our live show and that’s it. If it works then fine and if it doesn’t then so be it.


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		A N T H R A X
		I’ve known Anthrax since I picked up their debut “Fistful Of Metal” on import and caught their first gig in London at the Hammersmith Palais all those years ago. Since then I stuck with them thru the dark days of the 90s seeing them on and off in the US and Germany. Whilst I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore fan I’ve always admired them for the way they broke down barriers whether it was with the hardcore scene or bringing rap into da house of metal or challenging stereotypes with SOD. So when I got the chance to interview Scott ‘Not’ Ian after all these years I was surely looking forward to it - and he was dishing it out! -Shan Siva So Scott, new album, new vocalist - is it a new start for Anthrax? Ian: I’m not sure if it’s a new start.....we’re still Anthrax. We’re still the same band you’ve been into. I mean, it’s been a long time since we had a record but we’re still the same. I still collect comix (hint) ha ha! But ok, I don’t skate(board) anymore like u used to remember me - as you know once you ride with fear then you just gotta put it away. Well, you got a new vocalist (Dan Nelson) so do you feel he’s allowed you to break free of Joey Belladonna? It always seemed like you were tied to him... Ian: ha ha - well, we got a new vocalist after Joey - John Bush! But ok, I hear what you’re saying and for me I guess it was a clean break. This date at ULU has got to be the smallest show I’ve ever seen you at - considering you were once considered to be part of the ‘Big 4’ is that a sign of Anthrax’s place these days...? Ian: I’ve never thought of it that way. This show is a warm up date on our day off. We could’ve sat on our asses but we chose to play a show for you guys. There’s so many other things going on right now in the UK like Download and Sonisphere that I don’t think we could’ve played a larger venue. But we’ll be back to play Brixton or somewhere so don’t worry. As for the ‘Big 4’ you mentioned well - ha ha - maybe the media see it that way but we don’t really rank ourselves according to what our peers do as we’re only concerned with Anthrax. We’re a full time band and no one here has day jobs so I’m only concerned with one thing: Anthrax. I’ve always wanted to know why you and Danny (Lilker) formed Anthrax? Ian: we wanted to form a band. We wanted to play music. It wasn’t to get girls - if it was, we sure picked the wrong music ha ha! So what does the new album sound like? How does it compare to your previous work and does it hold any surprises or break down any barriers like you guys did with Public Enemy? Ian: that’s difficult cos normally we release advance copies and then do promotion but that didn’t happen this time round but I can’t really compare it because everyone has a different opinion. I would just say everything from “Fistful....” to now. It’s a mystery. I can tell you that we’ve spent more time on this album than on “Spreading....” and it’s the best thing we’ve put out though. As for the barriers with Public Enemy, we never thought of it as more than just fun for us. If you think that Anthrax has this big commercial plan then that’s not how we do things. Look at ‘I’m The Man’ - we buried that on a B side because we thought it was risky and we didn’t think it would ever be big. And that’s how it’s been with this band: everything I thought wouldn’t be successful became big. Maybe I should start thinking this album can’t be big too!! Speaking of barriers - I’ve always wanted to know if was there anything ever intended by songs like ‘Fuck The Middle East’ given that both you and Danny are Jewish or was it as SOD should be taken i.e. a piss take? Is Billy still warehousing....? Ian: well, you’ve been with us since the SOD days so it was as you remembered us at time but for the record, yes, I’m Jewish but if you’re asking me if I’m a racist then the answer is ‘no’. And ‘no’ I don’t know what Billy’s doing right now either ha ha! Speaking of old characters, I can’t remember why Neil Turbin left - or was he fired? Ian: that was a long time ago man, actually Neil fired Danny - he had a huge problem with Danny. And anyone else who might be taller than him ha ha. We talked about Danny as a band but nothing was actually agreed officially but Neil just went ahead and told him. And that was where we were with Neil, we just didn’t get along....different philosophies. By the end of the ‘84 tour it was the 4 of us - and Neil. Sounds like a challenge! And you’ve had a few along the way with being dropped from Elektra and then the 9/11 name thing - do you see yourselves big again headlining the likes of Sonisphere...? Ian: I am who I am. We’re not changing our name even if people can’t understand it’s two separate things. As for Elektra, it wasn’t us but a new regime change - all the people who signed us had been fired and the new people told us that they didn’t want to work with us and we’d be better off somewhere else. So we found a new label. Like I said, there’s no ‘great’ plan with this band: I have no idea - we never have - we have control over our music and our live show and that’s it. If it works then fine and if it doesn’t then so be it.