The history of heavy metal could have taken a dramatically different turn, according to John Bush, the respected vocalist of Armored Saint and former Anthrax frontman. In a recent interview with “Get On The Bus,” Bush revealed that he was once offered the position as Metallica‘s singer in the early 1980s, a proposition he now views as a path not meant to be.
The offer came from Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula, Metallica‘s then-manager, during the period leading up to the release of their seminal 1983 debut album, Kill ‘Em All. Despite the immense opportunity, Bush declined, driven by a conviction that it was not his “destiny.”
He candidly expressed the weight of such a role, stating (as transcribed by Guitar.com): “I could have ruined metal. That’s just too much, man – that’s too much pressure.” Bush emphasized his belief that James Hetfield was always the rightful voice of Metallica, asserting, “I could never imagine anybody singing those songs other than [singer/guitarist] James Hetfield. That would’ve been a big loss for heavy metal.”
At the time of the offer, James Hetfield was reportedly exploring his capabilities as a vocalist while Zazula envisioned the band potentially moving forward with a dedicated lead singer. Bush recalled observing a “green” Hetfield early on, focusing solely on vocals without a guitar. However, he later witnessed Metallica at a different level, describing them as “on” once Hetfield began incorporating his guitar playing into his performance.
While Bush never officially joined Metallica, his career has flourished. He has been the enduring frontman for traditional metal pioneers Armored Saint since 1982 and notably fronted New York thrash metal heroes Anthrax from 1992 to 2005, with another stint from 2009 to 2010.
A full-circle moment occurred in 2011 when Bush was invited to perform with Metallica at one of their 30th-anniversary concerts in San Francisco. On stage, he joined them for the Kill ‘Em All track “The Four Horsemen,” an event introduced by Metallica themselves, who recounted the story of their early offer to Bush. He described this experience as “a really special moment in my life.”
Beyond the historical “what if,” John Bush maintains a strong friendship with the members of Metallica, particularly James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. Their shared history includes touring together in the early days, with Hetfield famously recalling “destroying a lot of hotels together.”
In other news, Armored Saint released their latest album, Punching The Sky, in 2020 via Metal Blade Records. The band is also preparing for a series of live performances, with three UK dates scheduled with W.A.S.P. in September, followed by an extensive North American tour in October.
