..:: Biography ::..Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene and is notable for being the first to combine heavy metal with rap music. When thrash metal began to gain a major following in the mid-late 1980s, Anthrax were dubbed one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.
Anthrax was formed in mid-1981 by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. They found the band's name in a biology textbook and claimed it because it sounded sufficiently evil to them.[2] John Connelly (Nuclear Assault) jammed with them a few times while trying out for the band, but never actually joined. John Connelly ended up being a roadie for the band for many of their early shows. Drummer Dave Weiss and a bassist named Kenny Kushner were other original members. Kenny Kushner was replaced very early on by Paul Kahn, who was found to be insufficient as well, so Lilker chose to take over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist and vocalist Neil Turbin, who the band found after going through a series of temporary vocalists (including Ian's 14-year-old brother Jason). Weiss left and was replaced by Greg D'Angelo (White Lion) on drums, who left the band in spring of 1983 while recording the second demo.
Neil Turbin joined the band in late August 1982 and performed two weeks later at Great Gildersleeves on September 12, 1982. This line-up made frequent live performances in the New York/New Jersey tri-state area. The line-up recorded a NWOBHM-sounding demo in July 1982. Greg Walls left in the summer of 1983, and Bob Berry, who was recommended to Neil Turbin by Rhett Forrester of Riot, temporarily replaced him.
Lead guitarist Dan Spitz soon joined the band, replacing Bob Berry. With Spitz, the second demo was recorded. In September, Charlie Benante replaced Greg D'Angelo on drums. This lineup recorded the "Soldiers of Metal" 7" single, produced by Ross the Boss of Manowar. The B-side of this single still featured one of the old demos with Greg D'Angelo on drums, and is the only official recording to feature D'Angelo. This demo won them a recording deal with Megaforce Records. The band recorded their debut album, Fistful of Metal, in late 1983. The album reached #8 on the British Charts and garnered some international attention for Anthrax. It was released in January 1984, followed by a US tour, during which tensions grew between Danny Lilker and the rest of the band due to Lilker's non-paying of rehearsal rent, lateness, sloppiness and unprofessional demeanor.[citation needed] Lilker was released from the band and he went on to form Nuclear Assault with former Anthrax roadie John Connelly.
Charlie Benante's nephew Frank Bello replaced Lilker on bass. Turbin was fired in late August 1984. Matt Fallon was a temporary replacement on vocals in late 1984. Also in late 1984, the band appeared as a four-piece, "The Diseased", with Scott Ian on vocals. They performed a few hardcore punk covers. Vocalist Joey Belladonna was hired on February 27, 1985, and an EP titled Armed and Dangerous was recorded. Some older material was added to fill out the EP including two live tracks from early 1984, and the two songs from the "Soldiers of Metal" 7". Later in 1985, Ian, Benante, and Danny Lilker appeared on the S.O.D. album Speak English or Die. Anthrax's next album, Spreading the Disease, came out in the same year followed by a US tour and a European tour supporting Metallica.
Neil Turbin formed his own band, Deathriders, in early 2003 and is touring the US and Japan in 2008 and releasing an album entitled Back With a Vengeance in 2009. He is outspoken and has stated that he does not want reconciliation with Scott and Charlie of Anthrax.
..:: Discography::..
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