One of The Big Four turns the Big 4-0 this year and is celebrating with a number of special activities and events to honor the landmark anniversary. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, NY on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER, and MEGADETH. Watch the 40th Anniversary teaser video below.
Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with The Big 4. The band has built a strong reputation with fans as well as the record industry. With the lineup including Ian, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna, and guitarist Jon Donais, the band is being feted on their 40th anniversary by a wide range of friends and music contemporaries.
The band comments:
“The idea of putting 40 years into context was just too much for the 5 of us so we asked our friends if they’d help out. And they did. Starting Monday May 3 with Fistful of Metal week we’ll be posting new episodes of this doc every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Spreading week starts May 10, Among starts May 17, Euphoria May 24, and so on until July 18, our 40th. On July 18th weekend we’ll be playing a show – a massive show unlike any we’ve ever done. Stay tuned for ticket info for that and have fun watching every week!
One of The Big Four turns the Big 4-0 this year and is celebrating with a number of special activities and events to honor the landmark anniversary. Stay Tuned for all the details!!“
Each week beginning May 3, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and wrapping on the band’s official founding anniversary of July 18, ANTHRAX‘s social media accounts will offer a series of video testimonials sent in by former band members, fellow musicians, colleagues, and industry veterans sharing behind-the-scenes stories of working with the band and what ANTHRAX‘s legacy has meant all these years on. These videos will honor each album in chronological order beginning with the original release, Fistful of Metal.
The 11-week series will include video contributions from Chuck D, Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Gene Simmons, Henry Rollins, John Carpenter, Kerry King, Mike Patton, Nergal, Norman Reedus, Michael Poulsen, Rob Zombie, Robert Trujillo, Roger Miret, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Slash, Tom Morello and more. There will also be video clips from former ANTHRAX band members Dan Lilker, Dan Spitz, John Bush, Neil Turbin, and Rob Caggiano.
Fans will also be able to get their hands on a special 40th anniversary-edition bottle of Anthrax bourbon to enjoy during the Livestream and keep as a commemorative keepsake.
MAY 3 – FISTFUL OF METAL
MAY 10 SPREADING THE DISEASE
MAY 17 AMONG THE LIVING
MAY 24 STATE OF EUPHORIA
MAY 31 PERSISTENCE OF TIME
JUNE 7 SOUND OF WHITE NOISE
JUNE 14 STOMP 442
JUNE 21 VOLUME 8
JUNE 28 WE’VE COME FOR YOU ALL
JULY 5 WORSHIP MUSIC
JULY 12 FOR ALL KINGS
