Esteemed vocalist John Bush has been immersing himself in his former band’s catalog in preparation for a special run of shows later this year. In a conversation with Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz, Bush discussed the challenge of re-learning the songs he sang during his decade with Anthrax, which he will perform live this December.
The upcoming shows will feature music from all four albums he recorded with the thrash metal giants: Sound of White Noise, Stomp 442, Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, and We’ve Come For You All. Bush will be joined by his Category 7 bandmates, Phil Demmel (guitar), Mike Orlando (guitar), and Jason Bittner (drums), as well as his longtime Armored Saint collaborator Joey Vera on bass.
When asked about the demanding schedule of preparing for both the Anthrax tribute shows and a string of dates with Armored Saint in October, Bush admitted that re-familiarizing himself with the material has been a “memory challenge.” He said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “Well, I’ve been singing to the Anthrax songs right now because I’m trying to remember them. Strangely enough, they actually are coming back to me, which is funny ’cause I haven’t sung those songs in years.” He noted that while he has performed a few of the songs at Metal Allegiance shows, he still has significant work to do to get his voice and memory in shape.
Bush also shared his fond memories of his final album with Anthrax, 2003’s We’ve Come for You All. He spoke highly of all four records from his era, praising them for their distinct sounds and marking different periods of the band’s growth. He credited the album for a major resurgence in Europe after the band signed with Nuclear Blast. “We really kind of re-established ourselves on that record, particularly in Europe,” he explained. “Some great, great tunes on that record. Some really powerful anthems, if you will.”
The album also featured a number of high-profile guest appearances, which Bush reflected on with gratitude. He highlighted the honor of having Keanu Reeves in the “Safe Home” music video and the contributions of both Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey. Of Dimebag, he said: “he played some killer leads throughout,” and of Daltrey, he remarked: “it’s Roger Daltrey. End of story.” The shows will offer a rare opportunity for fans to hear the music from Bush‘s era of Anthrax performed live, making the “memory challenge” worthwhile.
Tour dates for John Bush performing songs from his Anthrax era:
- Dec. 13: Whisky A-Go-Go – Los Angeles, CA
- Dec. 18: Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL
- Dec. 20: Racket – New York, NY
Speaking recently on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Bush explained why, after years of fan requests, the time was finally right. “I’ve talked about this for quite a while, and it’s come and gone because of various reasons — scheduling, or maybe I was just reluctant,” he admitted. Acknowledging that he’s about to turn 62, he decided the time has finally come. “I’ve been talking about this forever, and so let’s just do it. Let’s stop talking about it and let’s do it.”
His primary motivation, he explained, is to honor a catalog of songs that have been largely absent from live sets since his departure. While he understands why the current Joey Belladonna-fronted Anthrax focuses on their own material, it has left the ’90s and early 2000s albums in a “time capsule.”
“I don’t want these songs to just go into oblivion here,” Bush stated. “There’s some really great material here, and in the ’90s these songs had a lot of impact on people. So, I’m figuring, well, if you guys aren’t gonna do it, then I should do it. And that’s why I’m finally doing it.” He added, “Would I do this [if Anthrax was still performing these songs]? Probably not. But they’re not, so I am.”
