When your band is referred to as one of ‘the Big Four’ of metal, you know you have done something right along the way.
Anthrax have released dozens of albums over the years and aspired to be one of the biggest and best thrash metal bands of all time, and join Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth under ‘the Big Four’ tag.
Anthrax have persevered through various lineup changes and are transitioning through yet another currently, with the recent departure of guitarist Rob Caggiano only weeks before the national Soundwave festival.
Another band member to jump in and out of Anthrax is Joey Belladonna who was on vocals in the early years and now back on the microphone after having left the band numerous times.
After releasing his first studio album with the band in a while (Worship Music), Belladonna and his cronies are preparing to release a covers EP called Anthems. “It’s something we’ve felt like doing – banging out some cool and classic tunes,” which the vocalist says the band had a lot of fun recording; “it’s a bit more low key, raw and to the point,” he adds.
Belladonna is no stranger to recording and performing covers as he fronts and drums for a cover band called Chief Big Way in addition to Anthrax.
“We decided we want to do a covers album so I just threw it out there that we should do ‘Keep on Runnin’ by Journey,” he explains. “Next thing we started tracking that one and then decided on the next and just got the ball rolling.”“Sometimes these things happen but I don’t think the festival was planned to be a ‘Big Four’ show.”
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The band were very open to ideas, “sometimes one of us would suggest a song and the next minute we’ve decided on it,” the 52 year old singer giggles. At the suggestion that audiences might hear some of these covers at Soundwave this year, he teases with a cheeky “we’ll see” response.
The last few years have seen the marketing and touring of the Big Four together at various music festivals for the first time in history, but the hype has now subsided.
“There are so many places we could actually do that particular lineup, and we cannot get enough of that.” Belladonna emphasises how the bands appreciate the shows as much as the fans do as they travel across the globe for them. “It’s definitely special, it’s a lot fun and a lot of excitement for everyone.”
Unfortunately Megadeth could not join the other three bands on the 2013 Soundwave festival to complete metal’s biggest lineup as drummer Shawn Drover had a clinic booked over the Soundwave period.
“Sometimes these things happen but I don’t think the festival was planned to be a ‘Big Four’ show,” says Belladonna, festival promoter AJ Maddah has partly confirmed this idea, due to the notion that all of the bands be paid equal attention.
As Belladonna is updated on the final lineup for the festival, he throws in a dash of sympathy for the punters who will miss so many artists across several stages in one day. “Well I think it is better that some stages are side by side,” he says, as they act as an annex, one band leaves the stage and the next band rocks up on the neighbouring stage.
“It sucks because when there are so many stages, people have to make their minds up and it can be so difficult to make that decision,” Belladonna sympathises. “So you’re telling me all these bands all perform in one day!?” – the man was simply astonished yet the punters are not complaining, this is the nature of Australia’s biggest music festival.
The recent and abrupt departure of Caggiano from Anthrax obviously rocked the boat right before Soundwave 2013. “He was well liked and played a vital role for the band so it is a difficult transition for us,” says the vocalist, and the band needs to take action to replace the guitarist.
“Right now I don’t think we need to make any decisions just yet,” says Belladonna, as Anthrax have recruited temporary guitarist Jon Donais – who plays for metalcore outfit Shadows Fall – to jump in for Soundwave.
“So you’re telling me all these bands all perform in one day!?”
One of the classic Anthrax tracks you might hear at Soundwave is ‘Caught In A Mosh’, which Belladonna doesn’t seem to have much experience with.
“The last time I got caught in a mosh was at a famous nightclub in the city back in 1986.” Back when he had no idea which bands were even playing; “we went out making memories as you do when you’re young and it was crazy.”
This was not a fraction of the mosh that Anthrax can pull at a show nowadays. “It was tiny man! It had massive mosh pits but it was amazing,” he says of the electricity in the popular, older clubs. “It was surreal for me at that time I had never ever seen anything like it before,” as he concludes his story – “that was my real ‘caught in a mosh’ moment.”
The vocalist is hesitant in getting caught in a mosh at Soundwave as well. “It is one of those things where you may not have time to see all the bands that you want to.” Logistics tend to get in the way for some of the band members who at times just want to be a punter as well.
“I remember at (3 day UK metal music festival) Download last year if I wanted to get around, I’d have to figure out how to get a ride,” as well as planning ahead to ensure punctuality for stage commitments with the band. “You just get to the festival and figure out if it’s even possible.”
After being convinced to check out the festival’s full lineup, Belladonna reassures that at Soundwave, Anthrax will be “just rippin’ it up, feeling fresh and ready to roll.”
Anthrax tour with Soundwave 2013 around the country from Saturday 23rd February, playing times for Sydney & Brisbane here, Melbourne & Adelaide here, with Perth to be announced. They also play Sidewaves shows in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, dates and details below.
Scott Ian will also be hosting a Q&A session with Fozzy’s Chris Jericho in Sydney and Melbourne, dates and details below.
Anthrax 2013 Sidewaves
THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY
BRISBANE, THE HI-FI – 18+ (Anthrax only)
www.thehifi.com.au
MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY
SYDNEY, BIG TOP LUNA PARK – 18+ (Slayer, Anthrax + Kingdom Of Sorrow)
Tickets on sale now – www.bigtopsydney.com /www.oztix.com.au / www.ticketek.com.au
THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY
MELBOURNE, THE HI-FI – 18+ (Anthrax, Fozzy + This Is Hell)
www.thehifi.com.au
Scott Ian & Chris Jericho Q & A
TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY
SYDNEY, OXFORD ARTS FACTORY – 18+
www.oxfordartfactory.com.au
WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY
MELBOURNE, THE TOFF IN TOWN – 18+
www.moshtix.com.au
Soundwave 2013 Lineup
METALLICA/ LINKIN PARK/ BLINK 182/A PERFECT CIRCLE / THE OFFSPRING / PARAMORE / SLAYER / GARBAGE / CYPRESS HILL / BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE / TOMAHAWK / STONE SOUR / BRING ME THE HORIZON / KYUSS LIVES / ANTHRAX / KILLSWITCH ENGAGE / SUM 41 / DRAGONFORCE / ALL TIME LOW / FLOGGING MOLLY / GHOST / DUFF McKAGAN’S LOADED / BILLY TALENT / MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK / MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE / THE AMITY AFFLICTION / THE VANDALS / SICK OF IT ALL / KINGDOM OF SORROW / FOZZY / THE LAWRENCE ARMS / SLEEPING WITH SIRENS / CANCER BATS / THE BLACKOUT / GALLOWS / MADBALL / FUCKED UP / VISION OF DISORDER / PIERCE THE VEIL / PERIPHERY / THE SWORD / SHAI HALUD / OF MICE & MEN / THIS IS HELL / MISS MAY I / DANKO JONES / LUCERO / WOE, IS ME / THE WONDER YEARS / POLAR BEAR CLUB / WHILE SHE SLEEPS / CEREBRAL BALLZY / THE EARLY NOVEMBER / SUCH GOLD / SIX FEET UNDER / THE DEAR HUNTER / CHELSEA GRIN / DEAF HAVANA / RED FANG / VERSUS THE WORLD / THE CHARIOT / CONFESSION / ORANGE GOBLIN / CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! / SYLOSIS / MEMPHIS MAY FIRE / CROSSFAITH / NORTHLANE / SHARKS / O’BROTHER / MILESTONES / LIVING WITH LIONS
Soundwave Venues & Dates
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013
SATURDAY 23 BRISBANE, RNA SHOWGROUNDS
SUNDAY 24 SYDNEY, OLYMPIC PARK
FRIDAY 1 MELBOURNE, FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
SATURDAY 2 ADELAIDE, BONYTHON PARK
MONDAY 4 PERTH, CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS
For more information head to www.soundwavefestival.com
