Interview with Charlie Benante

[spacebeer]

If Joey was so good why did both his solo albums flop? Is it because he cant write or is it because people were bored with his amazing voice?

Geez you're really digging now, how well exactly did the last two AMORED SAINT records do? how well did they ever do? geez I am sounding like a 13 year old already. The reunion tours have been succesfull there's no way to deny it, I have been to a few really well visited shows and they KICKASS motherfucking ass!

And actually the first Belladonna album is pretty cool, of course not in teh slightest way as cool as his work with ANTHRAX. You will really have to learn to live with the fact many people prefer Belladonna to Bush.

 

[MyHatred]

You will really have to learn to live with the fact many people prefer Belladonna to Bush.

And someday you will learn that you are wrong.

 

[spacebeer]

Ok, maybe I'm answering this incorrectly but that was a quote from someone else. What spacebeer wrote was underneath that (what YOU THINK of John Bush).

When I first read it, I thought it was a spacebeer typing myself and I thought woah, when did he change his mind?

LOL nope not gonna happen soon, I love my old ANTHRAX records too much!

 

[spacebeer]

And someday you will learn that you are wrong.

OK man create your own truth, whatever....

 

[MyHatred]

OK man create your own truth, whatever....

Hey, you are the one being unrealistic. They are not selling out huge venues like you would love to believe. They are playing the same places they have been playing all along. You can go ahead and say they are opening for Zombie and it is a much larger audience. I will then say they opened for Pantera with John Bush and were playing the same size venues. I know you would love to believe that they are going to finally be given the "Big Four" recognition that they deserve and will reach Metallica status and start buying gold encrusted fish tanks but sadly, they won't. They are exactly at the same level that they were with John Bush. So go ahead and live your teenage 80's glory days of when metal ruled, but you will eventually have to learn that it doesn't and bands like Anthrax will never be as huge they once were. Fact.

Don't get me wrong, I love Anthrax and hope they stick around, but I am being realistic in that they are not going to be doing any headlining arena gigs anytime soon(with Bush or Belladonna), if ever. To sum it up, they still are exactly where they left off---Only with a lot of pissed off people on how they have handled this reunion. So make up whatever truth you want

 

[spacebeer]

Hey, you are the one being unrealistic. They are not selling out huge venues like you would love to believe. They are playing the same places they have been playing all along. You can go ahead and say they are opening for Zombie and it is a much larger audience. I will then say they opened for Pantera with John Bush and were playing the same size venues. I know you would love to believe that they are going to finally be given the "Big Four" recognition that they deserve and will reach Metallica status and start buying gold encrusted fish tanks but sadly, they won't. They are exactly at the same level that they were with John Bush. So go ahead and live your teenage 80's glory days of when metal ruled, but you will eventually have to learn that it doesn't and bands like Anthrax will never be as huge they once were. Fact.

Don't get me wrong, I love Anthrax and hope they stick around, but I am being realistic in that they are not going to be doing any headlining arena gigs anytime soon(with Bush or Belladonna), if ever. To sum it up, they still are exactly where they left off---Only with a lot of pissed off people on how they have handled this reunion. So make up whatever truth you want

I am not being unrealistic, I posted pics from two reunion headliner shows I was at, at least 1,500 people per show. Maybe Eureope is different then, but I know ANTHRAX at least sold out some 2,000+ venues in the USA too, a friend of mine saw the NYC show which was packed to capacity. I saw em 5 times with bush, OK on teh SOWN tour there were a lot of people but they were still gong on the momentum they built up in the previous years. On the WCFYA tour there were MAYBE 300 people. do the math. NO they are not selling out arena's but very very decent sized clubs. The truth is that if there weren't so many people digging the odl ANTHRAX sound there would be no reunion. That being said I have always agreed the way they handled the reunion is indeed not very fair. Even now mr. Benante undermines his own and ANTHRAX's credibility even more with interviews like this one, making it hard to be ever taken seriously again be it with Joey or even worse if Bush would return. Liek I said I love the reunion, but I'll just as easily put ANTHRAX to rest if they decide to totally change again, no problems I have tons of bands I am a huge fan of, even far more than ANTHRAX. I am not crying here if Bush would return, whatever it would just make ANTHRAX look even more stupid than they already look (I mean I agree a little with that sentiment, but that is mr. Benante and Ian's fault not SPitz or Belladonna, they should have handled the "reunion" better).

I really cannot see how youj can deny that "among the living", "spreading the disease" and "persistence of time" are ANTHRAX's most classic albums, the yearly polls in the metal magazines prove it every year. I don't say you have to agree they are IN YOUR OPINION the best ANTHRAX albums, but the most classic. ANTHRAX were huge when I was 12 back in 1990, and I mean HUGE, right up there with SLAYER and METALLICA. Their popularity faded drastically after SOWN, which partly is due to the grunge kicking in but most definately also to the musical style change and vocalist change. The split with Joey back then also didn't deserved the grand price for diplomacy and tact, and that is what loads of people forget, they talk bout teh unjustice that has been done to John Bush, but forget what happened to Joey and later to Dan because that has been 16 years or so. I like John Bush, I own every Amored Saint album and all the ANTHRAX albums he sang on save for volume 8, butfor me personally there's no substitute for the early ANTHRAX sound.

 

[MyHatred]

Right on. I honestly don't care one way or another because like you, I have a lot of other bands that I listen too. I am not going to debate anymore about the reunion. I have no beef with Belladonna or even Spitz as people. They seem to be very nice. I just don't care for them in Anthrax is all. If they choose to do a Belladonna album I will let a friend by it first and if I like it, I will buy it. I will even post that I like it if that happens. I just don't see that happening though. Scott and Charlie just need to make the damn announcement as to who is going to sing on the new album. I think a lot of these types of threads will die(not all, but most of them) when there is final word on who is singing on the next album. I just don't get Scott's "No bands are mysterious anymore" comment about who is going to sing on the new album. What? Is Anthrax trying to be the next thrash Tool or something? Seriously, he plays metal. There is nothing mysterious about Anthrax's music. It's just good metal music that gets me fired up. Nothing more. Just come out and say who is singing already

Oh, one more thing. The reason why they selling out bigger venues is because of where you are located. Scott is right that metal has a much larger scene in Europe. Sadly, the scene sucks in the U.S. and that is why the will not get as big as you think they will with this lineup. Sales in the U.S. is what usually makes or breaks bands.

 

[Jockthrax]

Hey, you are the one being unrealistic. They are not selling out huge venues like you would love to believe. They are playing the same places they have been playing all along. You can go ahead and say they are opening for Zombie and it is a much larger audience. I will then say they opened for Pantera with John Bush and were playing the same size venues. I know you would love to believe that they are going to finally be given the "Big Four" recognition that they deserve and will reach Metallica status and start buying gold encrusted fish tanks but sadly, they won't. They are exactly at the same level that they were with John Bush. So go ahead and live your teenage 80's glory days of when metal ruled, but you will eventually have to learn that it doesn't and bands like Anthrax will never be as huge they once were. Fact.

Don't get me wrong, I love Anthrax and hope they stick around, but I am being realistic in that they are not going to be doing any headlining arena gigs anytime soon(with Bush or Belladonna), if ever. To sum it up, they still are exactly where they left off---Only with a lot of pissed off people on how they have handled this reunion. So make up whatever truth you want

Exactly!

 

[spacebeer]

Right on. I honestly don't care one way or another because like you, I have a lot of other bands that I listen too. I am not going to debate anymore about the reunion. I have no beef with Belladonna or even Spitz as people. They seem to be very nice. I just don't care for them in Anthrax is all. If they choose to do a Belladonna album I will let a friend by it first and if I like it, I will buy it. I will even post that I like it if that happens. I just don't see that happening though. Scott and Charlie just need to make the damn announcement as to who is going to sing on the new album. I think a lot of these types of threads will die(not all, but most of them) when there is final word on who is singing on the next album. I just don't get Scott's "No bands are mysterious anymore" comment about who is going to sing on the new album. What? Is Anthrax trying to be the next thrash Tool or something? Seriously, he plays metal. There is nothing mysterious about Anthrax's music. It's just good metal music that gets me fired up. Nothing more. Just come out and say who is singing already

Oh, one more thing. The reason why they selling out bigger venues is because of where you are located. Scott is right that metal has a much larger scene in Europe. Sadly, the scene sucks in the U.S. and that is why the will not get as big as you think they will with this lineup. Sales in the U.S. is what usually makes or breaks bands.

I agree definately that Charlie and Scott need to cut the crap and just be honest! and yes a band like MANOWAR sold over 250,000 copies of their lastest album in Germany alone. Germany is metal's mainstay though in Europe. TESTAMENT, SODOM or OBITUARY always make the official media control charts in Germany ever since the mid 80's and still continue to do so. True I love ANTHRAX but metal in particular, I have been a fanatic thrasher since 1991. I like abnds like PANTERA and PRONG too but that's about wher it stops for me.

 

[THEBALDGUYFROMBLACKLODGEVIDEO]

by Spacebeer:
"...ANTHRAX at least sold out some 2,000+ venues in the USA too, a friend of mine saw the NYC show which was packed to capacity..."

If you were talking about Nokia Theater show in January then you need to know that that place simply can't fit 2,000 ppl.

"...what happened to Joey and later to Dan..."

What happened to Dan was that he found the road to Kingdome Come (real one, not the band), same that Ive been unsuccessfully trying to do for the last coupla hours...

 

[spacebeer]

by Spacebeer:
"...ANTHRAX at least sold out some 2,000+ venues in the USA too, a friend of mine saw the NYC show which was packed to capacity..."

If you were talking about Nokia Theater show in January then you need to know that that place simply can't fit 2,000 ppl.

"...what happened to Joey and later to Dan..."

What happened to Dan was that he found the road to Kingdome Come (real one, not the band), same that Ive been unsuccessfully trying to do for the last coupla hours...

pfff....really pathethic but OK, just looks below:

About the Theatre
The Nokia Theatre Times Square is a 2100-capacity venue designed by the award-winning architect David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group and operated by AEG LIVE. The venue officially opened in September 2005 and has the capability to hold a wide array of events including concerts, live television, web broadcasts, live recordings, award shows and event parties.

The marquee, an 85-foot long LED high definition screen which can display both live and digital video. It is one of the largest marquees on Broadway and is directly connected to the MTV marquee. With it’s interactive text messaging capabilities and the ability to broadcast events live from the stage directly to the marquee in real time makes it truly impressive to say the least.


This wasn't really my point though...

Cheers!

 

[whitey131]

Whether your prefer Joey or John I think we can all agree on one thing, Danny is a creepy little ego maniac that shouldn't be allowed to speak or breeed.

 

[THEBALDGUYFROMBLACKLODGEVIDEO]

pfff....really pathethic but OK, just looks below:

About the Theatre
The Nokia Theatre Times Square is a 2100-capacity venue designed by the award-winning architect David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group and operated by AEG LIVE. The venue officially opened in September 2005 and has the capability to hold a wide array of events including concerts, live television, web broadcasts, live recordings, award shows and event parties.

The marquee, an 85-foot long LED high definition screen which can display both live and digital video. It is one of the largest marquees on Broadway and is directly connected to the MTV marquee. With it’s interactive text messaging capabilities and the ability to broadcast events live from the stage directly to the marquee in real time makes it truly impressive to say the least.


This wasn't really my point though...

Cheers!

I see yours is the fucking kind who would argue about the oysters' taste with those who actually ate them... I've been at the place a dozen of times, you ain't. It can never hold 2000 ppl. And yes, it WAS your point - that the band's calling bigger audience during the reunion then before. If WCFYA was promoted half way the reunion was (every half hour message on VH1, for instance) it'd be already gold. So who's fucking pathetic? (here I go sinning again...)

 

[spacebeer]

I dunno, I don't hate him...I don;t know him personally so I will not judge him, I like his playing.

 

[THEBALDGUYFROMBLACKLODGEVIDEO]

Whether your prefer Joey or John I think we can all agree on one thing, Danny is a creepy little ego maniac that shouldn't be allowed to speak or breeed.

He shouldn't be allowed on any stage except may be Bellevue Hospital

 

[BIGPHAT442]

Just some thoughts...
Will the arguing ever go away?
I think Charlie gave an honest interview and he's still getting shit about it.
I was at the Nokia show, it was packed. I don't know if it holds 2000 or 200, but what's the difference? I just know that (for me) with Joey singing I could be anywhere in the venue to watch the show. If John is up there, I have to be down the front. He brings much more intensity. I cringe when Joey starts talking and saying all the cliched "metal" things to say. I'm not bashing Joey, I just prefer John. I liked Joey, back in the 80's I thought he was great. I don't know why he just makes me cringe now. Maybe it's the brilliance of Bush.
I don't know that what I just wrote has anything to do with the subject, but it's just my opinion. Why argue about it, everyone's gonna have their own.
Shit, i'm just rambling on....Cheers

 

[karrokid]

I know you would love to believe that they are going to finally be given the "Big Four" recognition that they deserve and will reach Metallica status and start buying gold encrusted fish tanks

that is the sign of finally making it ? a gold encrusted fish tank ?

what a rip off.

i thought it was banging different hot ass bitches every night and, having your every whim catered to while you wipe your ass with hundred dollar bills. such a let down.

 

[MikeyBong]

that is the sign of finally making it ? a gold encrusted fish tank ?

what a rip off.

i thought it was banging different hot ass bitches every night and, having your every whim catered to while you wipe your ass with hundred dollar bills. such a let down.

Nope, fish tanks!

 

[Social Distortion]

Whether your prefer Joey or John I think we can all agree on one thing, Danny is a creepy little ego maniac that shouldn't be allowed to speak or breeed.

Not all. I think Dan is a cool guitar player, (Yes, I like him more that Rob) even though I think that one interview made him look like an asshole and he shouldn't have saidthose things.

 

[MyHatred]

that is the sign of finally making it ? a gold encrusted fish tank ?

what a rip off.

i thought it was banging different hot ass bitches every night and, having your every whim catered to while you wipe your ass with hundred dollar bills. such a let down.

I know. I was pretty let down when I found out that when you "make it" all you get is a gold encrusted fish tank. Kinda like when you retire and they give you a stupid ass watch for all the years you put in. What a rip. It's a good thing that I never tried to be in a "professional" band because I hate fish .