ANTHRAX's 'Classic' Lineup Reunion Generates Little Retail Heat

[LuvataciousSkull]

I don't make the news, I just report it:

The reunion of the "classic" ANTHRAX lineup of singer Joey Belladonna, guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante appears to be generating little heat in terms of retail sales. The band's most comprehensive "best of" collection ever issued, its first two-CD retrospective, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)", has shifted just over 2,700 copies in its first week of release, while the group's first video compilation, the DVD "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" (both on Island/UMe), has shifted less than 950 units in its initial week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Similarly, the band's live CD and DVD packages, "Alive 2 (2005)" (on Sanctuary Records), which document the group's summer 2005 reunion tour, have sold less than 1,100 and 1,700 copies, respectively.

The "Alive 2 (2005)" DVD captures the actual meeting in which the five members came together for the first time in over 10 years. Along with band rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage, the DVD also spotlights 13 performances on the group’s triumphant reunion tour. The "Alive 2 (2005)" CD reprises the audio for 11 of those songs ("Madhouse" and "I'm the Man" are only on the DVD): "Among the Living", "Caught In A Mosh", "I Am The Law", "A.I.R.", "N.F.L.", "Deathrider", "Medusa", "In My World", "Indians", "Time" and "Be All, End All" — and adds "Antisocial". In a unique twist, the booklets from the DVD and CD releases form an exclusive poster.

As for the original recordings, "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)" marks the first time that ANTHRAX's recordings are being released with newly remastered versions of their classic hits. It begins with the follow-up to ANTHRAX's 1984 "Fistful of Metal" debut, "Spreading the Disease", which appeared in 1985 and was re-released in 1986 when indie Megaforce pacted with Island. "Anthrology" includes "Madhouse", "A.I.R.", "Armed and Dangerous", "Lone Justice", "The Enemy", "Medusa" and "Gung-Ho", tracks that defined the band's take-no-prisoners speed metal style.

The DVD "Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991) The Videos" spotlights live performances of "Armed and Dangerous", "Among the Living", "Caught In A Mosh" and "Metal Thrashing Mad". Also seen are videos for "Madhouse", "Indians", "I Am the Law", "Belly of the Beast", "Got the Time", "In My World", "I'm The Man" (U.S. version), "Who Cares Wins" and "Bring Tha Noize (with Public Enemy)".

http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=42260

 

[the_walking_dude]

i dont think the dvd is out in the shops in the UK yet. duuno bout rest of europe. well i cant find it yet anyway lol

 

[Crabmeat]

Me neither

 

[max]

"In a unique twist, the booklets from the DVD and CD releases form an exclusive poster."

HUH???

 

[ukj69]

Maybe if a record label put some money into promotion, maybe a band today could sell some units.

 

[DELIRI0US N0MAD]

Maybe if a record label put some money into promotion, maybe a band today could sell some units.

Good point.
Classic 80's metal bands are having a very hard time getting good promotion these days....been that way for awhile.
:hotjump:

 

[dutchy]

al this complaining about promo, nobody cares about Trax in the US, just look at the ticket sales , same as with Bush, crap!!!

 

[the_walking_dude]

Good point.
Classic 80's metal bands are having a very hard time getting good promotion these days....been that way for awhile.
:hotjump:

yeah Heathen are waiting to try and get a deal. Hope they do as they have a few new songs that you can listen to off of their website and theyre awsome

 

[remington69]

"In a unique twist, the booklets from the DVD and CD releases form an exclusive poster."

HUH???

They form the Judge Dredd pic that Mr. Ross did.

 

[roadrash]

I think this is mostly a case of poor marketing strategy.

 

[DarbysDad]

I'm not surprised. Even though the "metal" look (damn I'm old) is comimg back - I'm not surprised.

 

[tomass74]

They really haven't had much promotion and they are all just rehashed releases.. I have the DVD and love it so far but they should make a kick ass album and have someone really back them up on it... They obviously aren't ever gonna be what they were but they can make a good run at it...

 

[spacebeer]

Why would someone buy a best of album with songs that everybody already has....I think they should release new material!

 

[Arg_Hamster]

Why would someone buy a best of album with songs that everybody already has....I think they should release new material!

I´ve been saying that for over a year. :Spin:

 

[spacebeer]

I´ve been saying that for over a year. :Spin:

Then we agree, though I think the DVD is really cool! I have bought that one...

 

[Ahfurfuksek!]

I can't get my hands on the dvd. I don't know if it's already out in the U.K, if not I don't know when it's comin out or even if it's comin out. That to me stinks of bad publicity.

 

[mrthrax]

this is for usa only remember,i think worldwide will do ok,really this is justa celebreation of 20 years aniversary,did u expect it to sell thru the roof?

 

[lokey]

no, not when you release about 3 maybe 4 best of albums all with identical tracks on in the last 3 years........its only we the fans that buy their stuff these days anyway, problem is we the fans have all their stuff, why do we want it with a new picture on the front!?!?!? cant be arsed at all.......christ i can barely afford new albums as it is, paying for stuff i have already n can burn to a "greatest hits" cd myself just aint worth it,

still i dont think anybody expected it to sell, just keeps the anthrax machine ticking over, a bit of pocket money for the winter

 

[LuvataciousSkull]

no, not when you release about 3 maybe 4 best of albums all with identical tracks on in the last 3 years........its only we the fans that buy their stuff these days anyway, problem is we the fans have all their stuff, why do we want it with a new picture on the front!?!?!? cant be arsed at all.......christ i can barely afford new albums as it is, paying for stuff i have already n can burn to a "greatest hits" cd myself just aint worth it,

still i dont think anybody expected it to sell, just keeps the anthrax machine ticking over, a bit of pocket money for the winter

All I really can say is this:

Megadeth "Back to the Start"

That album sold like a lead balloon when it first came out for the same reasons; "Everyone already have these songs!" But the reviews for it were good because the target wasn't the die-hard fans like me, but for those who wanted to find out who and what Megadeth was about.

When Megadeth did Gigantour, out of nowhere, BAM! Sales went up! I think it sold around 90,000 copies now, including those sold at shows. Add on that there was a great marketing campaign on web sites.

Now, about marketing for the CD:

NO ONE can say that the label didn't try to promote this. I worked my ass in Philly to get the word out about this release since I was on the Street Team. Hell, I even played both CD's entirely on my radio show to give people a listen! The label tried, the fans tried, and the first week wasn't too good.

I think it's because it was too many releases at once. You have 2 DVD's and 2 CD's; I think retailers were afraid of not ordering the right one that would sell. "Alive 2" was a damn good live show, and if these were released a few months apart I think we wouldn't see this right now.

 

[prime666]

I could care less about everything else but alive 2.. I to have been promoting that record at music shops and comic book stores, metal bars and clubs.. The remasters wont sell well because anybody can remaster on there home pc these days.... But alive 2 is well worth the purchase.. Except for the lack of The dimebag/ pantera tribute and the cut of Lone Justice. Alive 2 is great, fantastic, stupendous and even amazing. Hell ive already had sex to it twice while it was playing in the background... Granted she was a bit big but its all good in my book. Fat girls need love to ya know...