Anthrax
The 20th Anniversary Reunion Tour
September 23rd, 2005
Ft. Wayne, In
by John Haseltine
Many a year has gone by and many a talk has been had in trying to get Joey Belladonna back up on stage with Anthrax. In addition to Belladonna, we also get Danny Spitz and Frankie Bello back. The ultimate Anthrax is back. The forerunners of the eighties thrash metal scene are back with a vengeance. And it looks like they are really enjoying it. This, if I count them correctly, is the 11th time seeing Anthrax. Four or five times were with Bush, and the rest were with this line-up. The first was at a little club in Gurneville, Calif., in support of “Spreading The Disease”. I was like 15 or 16 at the time. From there on I was hooked.
Now I know that this tour is being listed most everywhere as “The Original Line-up”. And this seems to bother some folks. Do you just need something to bitch about? Anyone with half a clue knows that this is not the original line-up. It’s the “Classic Line-up”. I heard many a folks at the show on Friday saying that. Who cares? Funny thing was, when I’d asked if they could even name any of the original line-up, they couldn’t. All we need to know is this is the band that made thrash metal what it is today. They created the mosh. The riffs. The shorts wearing antics of the best, and most underrated thrash band on the planet. And though I can give a chuckle to ‘I’m The Man’, I was not real thrilled about the whole rap venture. But then again, look at the whole other genre they gave birth to. It’s on the radio everyday.
Enough bull crap. The guys come out on stage. This is an off night from the Judas Priest tour they are on here in the states. The place is pumping. What songs will they play? How long will they play? Well the show went on for about an hour and twenty minutes. They open up with ‘Among The Living’. The crowd was a little hesitant with the first couple of songs. ‘Time’ was the second track of the evening. It wasn’t until the third song, ‘Caught In A Mosh’ that the pit really got rolling. People were flying everywhere. It was cool. Bello throughout the whole night was just a madman. He didn’t stop for a second. Spitz, I think he might be fibbing about not playing the guitar for ten years. He was incredible. Every lick and solo were done with perfection. Benante and Ian were rolling through like it was business as usual. Belladonna was on the money. He’s still got it. Besides having trouble with the city they were in, it seemed as if he was having the best time up there. That was one of those things that I had thought of. If this touring together is something the band is actually enjoying? Or is it just a money thing? I’m going with the first one. You could just sense the enjoyment by all the band members as they rolled through the set. All but nearly devastating the club.
The set list was very well picked out. I was surprised by a couple of the tracks they had chosen to play. And yet ,a little confused by a couple they did not play. So many great tunes, so little time. Their set list was, “Among The Living, Time, Caught In A Mosh, A.I.R., Madhouse, Anti-Social, N.F.L., Medusa, Indians, Be All, End All, I’m The Man, Metal Thrashing Mad and Judge Dredd.” They even threw in a little Dimebag tribute jamming “A New Level”.
So I tell you all this. If you missed/miss this reunion. Sorry about your luck. The godfathers of thrash are back. Primed up and raring to go. “The Classic Line-up” are out on the road to show all of these pussy bands out there how to rock. Sure, maybe they never had a top ten hit. They would have had to lower their standards to do that. Instead , and after over ten million in record sales, Anthrax plays from the heart. Plays what they want. And showcases the true essence of what heavy metal was, is and what it shall be. Long live the ’Thrax. We all salute and thank you for all the years you have dedicated to the cause. And for the many more yet to come.