John Bush: My Time With Anthrax Is 'Over'

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John Bush: My Time With Anthrax Is 'Over'

posted Sep 25, 2005 at 1:51 PM by deathbringer. (48 Comments)

In a brand-new interview with Revolver magazine — his first since being "replaced" as the voice of ANTHRAX by his predecessor, Joey Belladonna — vocalist John Bush confirmed that the original idea for the band's current reunion trek was to bring both Belladonna and Bush on tour, as ANTHRAX had planned in 2000, but Bush wasn't interested. "At one time, I had been willing to tour with Joey, but now everything is different," Bush says. "It just wasn't in my heart. I figured I had been in this band 12 and a half years, and we felt positive about what we had done, and we all thought our last album, 'We've Come for You All', was the best record we'd made together. So I just wanted to move forward and do another album."

Bush's refusal to take part in the tour complicates his relationship with the band. He's still officially a member of ANTHRAX, but he's not on retainer and hasn't been given a date to report back to duty. In addition, ANTHRAX released two albums in September, neither of which involved Bush; a double-disc collection of their studio songs with Belladonna, 'Anthrology', and a live album of the reunion tour, 'Alive 2'. In Bush's mind, that doesn't bode well.

"The idea of this reunion tour was to generate a bunch of enthusiasm for the band. But if they get people excited, they're going to want a new record, so they're going to follow up with a new album with Joey," Bush says. "So for me, I look at it as it's over. The last thing I want to do is say, 'Hey, I'll be here if you want me.'"

Strangely, ANTHRAX haven't actually committed to a new CD with Belladonna, which is trying for the man who rode with them to their greatest heights in the Eighties.

"I can't even begin to understand how this all works," Belladonna says. "People are all worried about Bush not being here. I know for a fact he wasn't booted out. I was. I had to go. I had no choice. But the minute I start thinking about stuff like that, I'm not getting anywhere. Right now, I'm just doing the best job I can, and That's what I'm focused on. But I'm not just here for a temporary run. I'm ready for the ride."

Source: Blabbermouth

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48 Comments on "John Bush: My Time With Anthrax Is 'Over'"

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1. Pussy Licker writes:

Bush & Belladonna would have been an awsome tour. Suck it up John. Hey Scott, get this back on track! Both guys could be on the new record. Unless that is, there isn't enough room for EGO's!

Pole Pounder

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 3:15 PM ET | IP Logged

2. the ghost of DEAD (FROM MAYHEM) writes:

the among the living line up is temporary, damn i got my hopes up.

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 4:56 PM ET | IP Logged

3. THEDEVIL writes:

If he leaves Anthrax he wil regret it for the rest of his live

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 6:16 PM ET | IP Logged

4. Miliakin writes:

F*CK ANTHRAX

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 7:02 PM ET | IP Logged

5. 505Kaman writes:

Anthrax is a Family thats the way it is John Bush is awsome so is Joey they should us 2 singers

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 7:29 PM ET | IP Logged

6. IserveMetal writes:

Dual-vocal would have worked so well! i agree, bush has made a big mistake, who know, in a few years, he mit come back, u never know!

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 8:40 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

7. TwistedFairie writes:

I just want to say to the staff of MU that u all do a good job with this site. You guys put alot of thought into this and alot of people take it for granted and abuse it...I am guilty of it as well...tho I am not as bad as some...but I just wanted to take the time to say that....thankyou very much....

thought id post this on this thread for some reason...

Good Times.

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 9:00 PM ET | IP Logged

8. ANIMAL72 writes:

Getting Joey back is an 80's metal heads dream come true!

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 9:57 PM ET | IP Logged

Founder, owner & programmer

9. deathbringer writes:

Thank you, TwistedFairie. We appreciate it. If only we had a forum/message board for off-topic comments and separate conversations... It's on my list!

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 10:06 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

10. TwistedFairie writes:

that would be a good idea....your welcome...:)

# Sep 25, 2005 @ 10:10 PM ET | IP Logged

11. knowbuddy writes:

Two singers would have totally SUCKED. yeah, jbush was o.k., but the power just wasn't there.
it never was since joey left the 1st time. I hope they officially reunite and make more music, but
something new. i know they can do it. bush is OUT joey is IN!!!!!

# Sep 26, 2005 @ 6:43 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

12. bradispissed writes:

it's probably best for both our sakes that forum doens't exist

# Sep 26, 2005 @ 9:24 PM ET | IP Logged

13. ! writes:

bush is probably the best singer out there. he was great with armored saint. john and the guy from soundgarden are the only two worth listening to. the rest sound like girls or use techno crap, so they can sound macho.

# Sep 26, 2005 @ 11:39 PM ET | IP Logged

14. Kareja writes:

belladona sucks!!! john is the man for anthrax he's been with them more time than belladona and made way better music

# Sep 28, 2005 @ 3:02 AM ET | IP Logged

15. theresshitonthewalls writes:

Two vocalists? What a sh** idea. Ah f*** it, Anthrax sucks balls anyway.

# Sep 28, 2005 @ 3:52 AM ET | IP Logged

16. xstroyes writes:

Ya...Anthrax blows....John Bush can do much better than that!

# Sep 28, 2005 @ 8:52 PM ET | IP Logged

17. Ynys Trebes writes:

I'm officially done with Anthrax... this reunion tour is total bulls**t... Bush is THE best singer Anthrax ever had, they made the best music WITH Bush, not with Primadonna... when you cash in on the 80's, it just yells "has been"... integrity is not in Scott's/Charlie's vocabulary... either Bush is in or he is out... you don't leave him like this wondering... he deserves better than this... what a f**king disaster : (

# Sep 29, 2005 @ 1:01 PM ET | IP Logged

18. Sepul_Oz writes:

f*ck Joey. I saw them at Download and Joey sucked majorly. Bush is one of the best singers in Metal. I only started getting into Anthrax 'cause of Johns amazing vocal work. We've Come For You All is possibly (aside from Reign In Blood) the best album I own. F*ck Joey Belladonna

# Sep 29, 2005 @ 5:42 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

19. davebee writes:

"belladona sucks!!
"
ditto
The best thng Belladowna (sic) has done was leavethe band, that was ace.
Do it again.

# Oct 1, 2005 @ 4:44 AM ET | IP Logged

20. DIZZ from glasgow writes:

I've been an Anthrax fan from the start and I am sadened to say that it hurts that John would be aloud to leave .He was the breath of fresh air that the band needed.Joey was past his best (apart from when he sings Medusa)he has run his course.Scott shouled beg John to come back for the sake of the fans and the future of the band.

# Oct 1, 2005 @ 6:19 PM ET | IP Logged

21. dittohaed writes:

f*** john bush antrax will call it quits in a couple of years any way so just die

# Oct 2, 2005 @ 2:47 AM ET | IP Logged

22. FUCK U writes:

ANTHRAX SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# Oct 4, 2005 @ 11:00 AM ET | IP Logged

23. ghost writes:

^^^^^^^^^^^
f*** you

# Oct 4, 2005 @ 1:30 PM ET | IP Logged

24. Htomm writes:

I´d never thought I´d say this, but VOTE BUSH :-/

# Oct 4, 2005 @ 8:28 PM ET | IP Logged

25. key to nothing writes:

what would possibly cause you to say that,did you move to alabama or something,

# Oct 4, 2005 @ 10:05 PM ET | IP Logged

26. imgladkurtcobaindied writes:

belladonna is a p***y. all members of anthrax should be aborted for playing head games with john bush.

# Oct 4, 2005 @ 10:49 PM ET | IP Logged

27. INJUN21 writes:

Belladonna sucks!! BUSH saved ANTHRAX from being a f***ing 80's footnote. To bad Scott and Charlie couldn't check their egos. The music they made with BUSH is better than anything they did with Joey.....on any level!!!
Don't agree, blow me and go listen to your worn out copy of Spreading the Disease alone and embarassed!
While I and the rest of the TRUE THRAX fans will blast WHITE NOISE, STOMP, VOL. 8, and WE'VE COME FOR YOU ALL PROUDLY!!!

# Oct 5, 2005 @ 7:33 PM ET | IP Logged

28. soulchamber45 writes:

this is sad news... i loved ANTHRAX when John Bush joined them (Sound of White Noise was an eye/ear opener), but now it's just Belladona??? What's up with that??? Anthrax made a mistake, Benante's heavy beat and Ian's awesome riffs can only be compensated with Bush's raw vocal power. Belladona was great back in the 80's... ONLY in the 80's! It's the 21st Century! WAKE the f*** UP! well, i hope things change, bring BUSH back!

# Oct 6, 2005 @ 4:46 AM ET | IP Logged

29. Anthrax23 writes:

The Greater of Two Evils showed everyone what Anthrax could of sounded back in the 80's with John Bush. Always liked the music but never liked the singer until John joined the band. I think they need to stick with one singer and bring him back as soon as possible.

# Oct 6, 2005 @ 5:32 PM ET | IP Logged

30. travlow1 writes:

Anthrax was great with both singers. I don't care who's singing just keep playing good music.

# Oct 10, 2005 @ 2:02 AM ET | IP Logged

31. evilcl0ne writes:

Ive been a fan since the 80's, but I still dont agree with taking Joey back, Anthrax had evolved so much in the last 12 years, John must come back, leave Joey stewing again he jst doesn't cut it nowadays.

# Oct 10, 2005 @ 2:36 AM ET | IP Logged

32. Spenny writes:

I hope that the next album is as good as We've Come For You All. I've followed Anthrax since their first UK tour, and the last couple of shows with Bush at the London Astoria were as good as they've ever been, as shown on the Music of Mass Destruction DVD. I also hope that Rob Caggiano comes back, at least as producer for the next CD.

That's my two pence worth.

T.T.F.N.

SPENNY

# Oct 10, 2005 @ 4:07 PM ET | IP Logged

33. stomp224 writes:

belladona makes anthrax sound like Bon Jovi after a pie eating contest. Bush has balls and stage presence, and they wrote better songs with him. it might not be as \m/ \m/METAL\m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ as some might like but at least Bush can sing the heavy stuff and not sound like a helium filled child.

# Oct 11, 2005 @ 8:08 AM ET | IP Logged

34. marky writes:

hey, this is a major f*** up. joey was sound in the 80's. not now. if you listen to b milano, he'll tell you what a pair of pr*cks ian and benante are. i used to think they were the greatest metal band (apart from slayer), but now they suck. intregity? ah just pay us the $25 for the fan club. twats.

# Oct 12, 2005 @ 11:14 AM ET | IP Logged

35. Holydiver writes:

Yep. Bush rejuvenated Anthrax when they were going nowhere. I think Among the Living was a great album, but Sound of White Noise sh**s on it. I thought Anthrax had more integrity than this.

# Oct 13, 2005 @ 11:00 AM ET | IP Logged

36. matt writes:

f*** anthrax, bring back armored saint, where john bush belongs!

# Oct 13, 2005 @ 11:39 AM ET | IP Logged

37. sleeze writes:

I think there may be a patern with this. When Anthrax sells more shows, records ,and dvds ,to the old school crowd ......then they fade away and get a "new" singer..... play for 10 more years...... then do a reunion tour with John......generate more shows,records,and dvds..........then fade away again............. Lets face it ,this is the music buisness , Scott and Charle know exactly what the f*** they are doing!!!

# Oct 13, 2005 @ 9:43 PM ET | IP Logged

38. sleeze writes:

oh ya......through in an S.O.D. album every 10 years or so

# Oct 13, 2005 @ 9:46 PM ET | IP Logged

39. JOCCO writes:

BUSH Rules ! Anthrax is dead to me now
We've Come For You All was awesome ! They were getting better and better which each CD they put out.
Now this is crap. Should've let Belladonna R.I.P.

# Oct 14, 2005 @ 12:37 PM ET | IP Logged

40. Big Will writes:

Please come back John!!! we are begging you

# Oct 14, 2005 @ 4:39 PM ET | IP Logged

41. baguette attack writes:

just can repeat what everything has already been told
i am into anthrax since among the lvining but indeed this was in the 80's. still though the old stuff was great the beladonna vocals sound a bit out of date. especially to all non hc metal heads who wouldn't have listened to anthrax when joey was in the band in the 90s. it was the RIGHT DECISION to get john into the band and the sound of white noise is still one of the best metal/ rock albums if not the best ever made which is also due to john's vocals which are awesome. bringing joey back will just satisfy a couple of real old school metal heads. i don';t think it will inspire the band to develop their music any further and bring it to the next level. it's a step back and not forwards. bringing joey back for a reunion tour is one thing, but using him as a replacement for john is a great dissapointment.
the last studio album was great, though not so great as sound of white noise (which in my opinion is not possible to top), and i was hoping for more..., now i am not so sure any more TOW THUMBS DOWN

# Oct 17, 2005 @ 2:32 PM ET | IP Logged

42. Gabe Swart writes:

Man, that's really lame. Among the living and State of Euphoria were some of the best metal albums of all time. But, John Bush's Anthrax IS one of the best metal entities ever to exist. Period. I gotta say that I'm a little disappointed in the rest of the band. I completely understand how John must feel. It sounds to me like a big attempt at raking in cash. I hope I'm wrong, and they really did just want to do a quick tour to tribute the anniversary and dimebag. But, I dunno. If they come out with a new Bellaweenie album, then it would probably sell more copies, unfortunately. I think John is right to feel this way. If everyone is so proud of what they have done, than why stop it dead in its tracks? Shouldn't they be touring together and working on more material. Please. Anthrax? If youi're listening. Rule the world with John Bush. It'll be a sad money grubbin day the day another Belladonna album comes out. John Bush is a better Metal singer in every sense of the word.

# Oct 20, 2005 @ 1:29 PM ET | IP Logged

43. Jamie writes:

Be constructive you 12 year olds
Bush has been hard done by, Belladonna is there for the money never has liked the music never will!!!!!
Sound of white noise is there best album

# Oct 21, 2005 @ 6:54 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

44. slayerdisciple writes:

belladonna is so much better then bush, persistence of time was there best album belladonna is the s***

# Oct 21, 2005 @ 11:07 PM ET | IP Logged

45. eric b writes:

2 steps forward, 100 steps back. you're going the wrong way.

there went any hope of the band progressing, making new records, etc. if belladonna wasnt a fag back in 2000 and sucked it up accepting hte money they offered, he would have toured with bush, and things would have been amazing. whoever told bush to suck it up is a tool. belladonna had his chance before, and this is just a sick ploy to make some quick cash on the road.

Fist full of metal was better than the Belladonna era, as was the Bush era.

On the brightside, I will get to hear Indians done right one more time.

# Oct 24, 2005 @ 10:51 AM ET | IP Logged

46. Baseball34 writes:

Bush rules! He was awesome w/ A.Saint and even better w/ Anthrax. It was a shame that Dave Prichard passed away ... that kept A.Saint from continuing.
I don't even listed to Anthrax that doesn't include J.Bush.
Hey John...we want to hear you!!!!
Get Joey, Gonzo, and the boys back together

# Oct 24, 2005 @ 6:50 PM ET | IP Logged

47. Counterfeitgod3 writes:

I grew up with ANthrax, and I loved everything they did. Then I heard Armored Saint's Reign of Fire, and found my calling. I was stoked when Bush joined Anthrax, and while all of my friends were talking sh** about the new sound of Anthrax, I was busy learning how to sing the way John Bush does, with ferocity, heart, and power. I wish this tour had never happened. Belladonna was a great voice in the 80's, but to me this is like making the Bulletboys #1 on the charts. It makes absolutely NO sense. Why throw away everything you have with Bush to bring back someone who's idea of lyrics is as childish and inane as most of Belladonna's are is repulsive, and to treat him the way they are is shameful. Get something new, John, I'll buy your album and leave the Anthrax albums on the shelf. You are the icon, not Anthrax!

# Oct 24, 2005 @ 8:20 PM ET | IP Logged

48. Fajri - Lima, Perú writes:

I saw Anthrax Live in Lima early this year. Wow! That was a band, with Bush not with Belladona, of course. I hope this is only a marketing strategy and John have patience. We are waiting an album that continues the evolution not a Bsides or rarities album of the Belladona era.

I hope you understand my poor english.

Greetings from Lima, Perú

# Oct 25, 2005 @ 2:24 AM ET | IP Logged

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