World Exclusive! Scott Ian Talks About Dan Nelson’s Departure!
In a world exclusive, Scott Ian has spoken to Metal Hammer about vocalist Dan Nelson’s departure from Anthrax! Get your Sonisphere tickets here!
As the controversy continues to rage over the parting between Anthrax and vocalist Dan Nelson, the big questions remain unresolved: was the singer pushed – as he claims? Or did he jump – as the band insist? Moreover, was he so ill that Anthrax had to cancel dates on their planned European tour? Or was this a smokescreen for something altogether more cynical, as Nelson himself has publicly commented. In an exclusive interview with Metal Hammer, Scott Ian has said:
“We stand by every word in our official statement. Because all we’ve done is make public exactly what Dan told us. He certainly was not fired – he quit the band, and we accepted his resignation. As for those comments about being fit to go on the road, and that we pulled the tour for other reasons…since Charlie (Benante, drums) join us in 1983, we’ve only ever cancelled one gig. That was in Düsseldorf in 1987, when Charlie was running a really high fever, and we had to send him to London for treatment. When we didn’t make it onto the plane to go to Sweden recently, to start our European run of dates, it went against every molecule in my body, and the same goes for the rest of the band.
“As a band, we learnt a long time ago that in these situations, it’s always best to tell the truth, If you lie, then it comes back to bite you in the ass. That’s why we were careful at every step to put things exactly the way Dan had told them to us. Why has he changed his story now? I can only assume it’s to save his own skin, and to avoid being seen as the bad guy. I can’t say that I blame him. But we have absolutely been completely truthful.”
Ed Trunk, a DJ on New Radio station Q104.3 and an old friend of the band, claimed a couple of days ago that anyone who’d seen Anthrax play at the Rocklahoma Festival on July 9 couldn’t fail to notice there was friction onstage between the band and Nelson. Ian is forced to agree with this analysis.
“Ed’s been a friend of ours for 25 years; there are few people closer to Anthrax. So when he says he could spot problems…well, I can’t deny it. In fact, things were weird between Dan and us from December. I’d love to say a lot more, and I will as soon as I’m able, but right now, I just cannot go into any further detail.”
With the exception of one show, the band have now pulled all their European commitments, and also the Summer American tour planned with Slipknot and The Black Dahlia Murder. The sole remaining date is at the Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth Park on August 1. For this event, Anthrax will be joined by John Bush, the vocalist who spent 12 years with them from 1992, in what is being billed as a one-off performance.
“We were hoping to do the Wacken Festival in Germany the previous day as well, but the scheduling didn’t work out. As it is, John’s had to change a lot of things around in his life to get to Sonisphere, and we’re very grateful to him.
“He was the first guy we called when the whole thing went down with Dan. And all of us are delighted that he can do this gig – it’ll be great fun. Obviously, our set will be different to the one we’d worked out with Dan. It’ll be more oriented towards the Bush era, although still concentrating on our most popular songs. That’s what a festival crowd expects.”
So, in the back of his mind, is Ian hoping that this show might lead to something more permanent with Bush?
“It’s not in the back of my mind – it’s right at the front of it. When our reunion tour with Joe Belladonna and Dan Spitz finished in 2007, we (Ian, Benante and bassist Frank Bello) wanted both John and (guitarist) Rob Caggiano to come back. Well, Rob returned but not John. Now, though, we’ve Sonisphere to look forward to with him.
“I love working with John, and I know I speak for everyone involved with Anthrax – the band and the fans – when I say that the best thing for us would for this to turn into a long-term relationship. But I don’t want to jump the gun. Let’s see how things go at Sonisphere, and take it from there.”
Anthrax, of course, have a new album virtually finished and ready to go. Or, at least they did have. Worship Music was due out at the end of October on Nuclear Blast. But now, everything’s back in the melting pot.
“Until we have a new singer, I can’t tell you what will happen to the record. We’ll probably change a few things on it, including the vocals. However, nothing’s been decided, expect that the release date will go back, possibly to next year.
“All I can say in conclusion is that it’s been a really interesting time to be in Anthrax!”
Anthrax will play at Sonisphere on August 1st with former vocalist John Bush! Check out our Youtube collection of Anthrax/John Bush moments here and all other Metal Hammer Anthrax news!
Sonisphere will be headlined by Metallica and Linkin Park and will take place on August 1st – 2nd at Knebworth. Also on the bill will be Heaven & Hell, Nine Inch Nails, Bullet For My Valentine, Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb Of God, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, Anthrax, Airbourne, Corey Taylor and Killing Joke.
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I hope Bush comes back.
This is a shame though. They slayed at Hellfest last month and I was really looking forward to the new album.
Was looking forward to hearing what Dan could do on record, but I hope now that Bush comes back. The Bush-era albums are their best in my opinion.
come on John, hang up the tea towl, give the kids back to the wife and resign from being a house husband, join the band again and live happily ever after..
Great, was really looking forward to seeing them at Wacken (and Thin Lizzy) bet it’s too late for replacements now??
Scott Ian = God.
You never know once John stands on that stage @ Sonisphere he might realise what he’s missed and join full-time like it should be
John Bush is one of the best metal vocalists around, Anthrax always sounded better with him in the band. Get him in and get the new album out Scott, it’s been too fucking long without you boys around !!
Sounds like Anthrax decided to change course and fire their singer…yet again…this band goes through singers/reunions like Van Halen.
guys,
strange things goin on….
but:
release the new album soon, as WCFYA is 6 years old..
get John back on board in order not to present a further new singer
Bush era Anthrax was incredibly dull. Dan Nelson was the primary reason to be excited about the new material. Now they’ve got an album and no singer. All they need is a collapsing miniature stonehenge for Sonisphere and they are Spinal Tap.
bring john back
Some of the ‘old school’ Athrax fans feel that Belladonna is the only ‘true’ Anthrax vocalist. I can understand that but I discovered Anthrax in the Bush Era and I agree that he’s one of the greatest Metal vocalists out there. I hope he sees sense and rejoins the band!
Fuck Bush! Is Ian forgetting a whole other portion of his fans when he speaks for them?! Well he isnt speaking for me when he says that Bush re-joining would be for the best.
Belladonna is much better! Its called the classic line up for a reason. Belladonna Era Anthrax is the best!
BRING BACK DAN
Scott is incorrect in stating that Anthrax has only missed one date since 1983. On their reunion tour a few years back they missed their date in Boulder, CO due to Charlie’s wife giving birth to their baby. Still haven’t been back…
What about Neil?
Bush should go back to Armored Saint and the world should stop ignoring an awesome band. Always liked Anthrax but they never did anything that was as good as the Saint.
Like many others, I too discovered Anthrax during the Belladonna era. It’s the era that put them on the map, made them what they are today. With out, there would be no Anthrax as we know it today.
I agree, Bush has a great voice, but the music itself during that era lacked for the fans who liked Anthrax for several years. I simply gave up on them at that time.
The reunions kept my hopes up. I’m personally glad Dan is not in it. I thought he wasn’t the right fit.
The Belladonna Era was the best imo. That’s the classic line up. Not hatin’ on John Bush cause I used to blast Armored Saint back in the day.
I don’t understand why people talk about niel turbin, he was only in anthrax for one record that isn’t really a record just a collection of demos.
I liked dan because he reminded of bush but cut take the higher notes that belladonna era songs required.
Personally i don’t want bush, nothing wrong with his vocals but the songs they made with him was fucking weak.
And as many others, i really prefer belladonna
I hope they get back with John. He’s got an awesome voice and I love everything that he has done with Anthrax.
Who the hell knows what happened now? Who gave the finger to who? Its more drama in this camp, worthy of a novella at this stage. While Dan might be half good at mimicking Phil Anselmo’s behaviour on stage at least Joey Belladonna and John Bush had their own personalities. Dan=weak chest banging ape of a rip off. John=soul of the band and he’s John bloody Bush!!
bush should tell them to f off but he need the $$$ boy should have saved his $$$
well hope it all works out well
to bad jb couldnt worked with them for the long run
Good to see Anthrax carry on… I hear Machine Head have manned the fuck up as well… next weekend, come on!
well ive been an anthrax fan since spreading the disease came out and i loved anthrax with belladonna…and i was pissed when i heard about the singer from armoured saint joining them…until i heard sound of white noise, i think hiring john bush was the smartest thing anthrax ever did and while they have great songs with both singers, i would have to say that bush was better…c’mon scott talk john into coming back!!! we need a new anthrax album soon!!
lol
Anthrax went to shit after Persistence of Time. The Reunion tour they did a few years back was magical. Joey Belladonna’s era with Anthrax will always be known as the best years of Anthrax’s existence. These guys can’t keep a lead singer in the band. This just proves that the current band members must be complete jerk offs and treat their singers like dirt. Scott Ian can’t stand not being the main focus of the band.
If Anthrax ever wanted to be relevant again they would suck it up and bring back Joey for a studio album and go out and Thrash like they used to.
These guys are a bunch of sell out pussies since POT came out.