ANTHRAX Performs With JOHN BUSH At U.K. SONISPHERE; First Footage Posted Online

August 2, 2009

ANTHRAX played yesterday (Saturday, August 1) at the Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with John Bush (ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005) joining them for a very special one-off performance.

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian wrote on his Twitter page shortly after the concert, "40-odd thousand people chanting 'Bring back Bush.' 'Nuff said."

Metal Hammer magazine writes in its review of the gig, "One word sums up ANTHRAX [at Sonisphere] — flawless. Smashing through the barricades with a thunderous 'What Doesn't Die', it's mind-blowing to think that this incarnation of ANTHRAX haven't played together for four years. Bush's voice is nothing short of sensational, as his enthusiasm and energy.

"'Caught In A Mosh', 'Antisocial', making an entire field full of people lose their fucking mind during 'Bring The Noise' and a finale of 'Indians', John Bush and ANTHRAX came to Knebworth and came, saw and motherfucking conquered."

Fan-filmed video footage of the show (with low-quality audio) can be viewed below.

Check out pictures from ThrashHits.com.

ANTHRAX parted ways with singer Dan Nelson last month due to what has been described as "personal differences." As a result, the band canceled 10 European shows and pulled out of a U.S. tour with SLIPKNOT which was scheduled to take place in August and September.

ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET on July 21 that the band's new album, "Worship Music", which was previously due in Europe on October 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." According to Ian, Dan Nelson's tracks will most likely be erased from the CD, which was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).

When asked if he, in the back of his mind, is hoping that the Sonisphere show might lead to something more permanent with Bush, Ian told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, "It's not in the back of my mind — it's right at the front of it. When our reunion tour with Joey Belladonna and Dan Spitz finished in 2007, we [Ian, drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello] wanted both John and [guitarist] Rob Caggiano to come back. Well, Rob returned but not John.

"I love working with John, and I know I speak for everyone involved with ANTHRAX — the band and the fans — when I say that the best thing for us would for this to turn into a long-term relationship. But I don't want to jump the gun. Let's see how things go at Sonisphere, and take it from there."

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