ANTHRAX Guitarist On 'Classic' Lineup Reunion: 'We're Doing This Just To Have A Little Fun'

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian recently spoke to 411Mania.com about the reunion of the band's classic pre-1993 lineup and the group's plans for the future. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow:

411Mania.com: Tell us how the reunion of the classic lineup came about. Was this something that the band was working on for a while or did it just suddenly happen?

Scott Ian: "It actually came from an idea that Charlie [Benante, drums] had last year. We wanted to do something to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary and he thought of this. So we got a hold of Joey [Belladonna, vocals] and Danny [Spitz, guitar] and they were all for it. We all met up again and the sparks ignited and it was a done deal. Everybody was agreeable to it; if we had to twist someone's arm for this to happen, then it wouldn't have. There'd have been no point in doing it."

411Mania.com: How does it feel having the "old gang" back together? Was this something you'd envisioned for a long time?

Scott Ian: "Not really. Not until Charlie came up with it last year. And as it works out, with everyone's schedule and the way it came together, this is the only way it could have happened. The timing was just perfect with the way it came together and worked out. We never thought about any of the logistics, we just went and got it done. Since we did, it's been really fun seeing everyone again."

411Mania.com: Tell us a bit about the DVD stemming from this. I understand it's a documentary of the lineup reforming?

Scott Ian: "We are putting together a DVD for the reunion. We're still shooting for it now, as a matter of fact. I'm not sure at what point we'll turn the cameras off and start editing, but I know we will soon. Otherwise, we'd be filming this thing forever! [Laughs] But probably within the next 1 1/2-2 months, we'll stop the cameras and get it edited together."

411Mania.com: What would you like to see happen, ideally, with the classic lineup being back together?

Scott Ian: "Well, we've always been a band that just did out own thing. We've never really set any goals, we just did what we wanted and set out to do. Right now I'm just looking forward to jamming with these guys and playing in the same room which we haven't even done yet! [Laughs] Other than that, we just want to go out and have fun with it. If a new album comes of it, great. Then it happened for a reason because we were able to write music together again. Right now, though, we're just looking at the tour and seeing what comes of it and taking it day by day. We're doing this just to have a little fun."

Read Scott Ian's entire interview with 411Mania.com at this location.