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Anthrax - Joey Belladona Back In The Band


In the latest installment of the Anthrax soap, Joey Belladona has reunited with the band. Here's the official press release:

With rumors swirling since Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello were seen together with former Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna late last month in New York, the band - Benante, Bello, and guitarists Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano - is elated to announce that Belladonna has officially rejoined the band. In his once and current capacity, Belladonna will make his first appearance with Anthrax this summer when the band joins Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth - The Big Four founding bands of the thrash genre - to co-headline a series of Sonisphere Festivals in ten European cities, as well as playing a handful of Anthrax-headlined shows.

"I am super excited about this," said Scott Ian. "Joey and the rest of the band came to see me play at a club in New York, I hadn't seen Joey for years, since the end of the reunion tour. Joey taps me on the shoulder, instant big hug, it felt like no time had gone by. The band dynamic is an interesting one - in Anthrax, Joey and I spent so many years of our lives together, we grew up together, we know each other so well, so it was like no time was lost."

Belladonna, an essential part of Anthrax's lineup from 1985 to 1992, sang on some of the band's most popular albums including Spreading the Disease, Among the Living and Persistence of Time. He had reunited with original members of Anthrax for the 2005-2007 "Among the Living Tour," but this situation is different. Explained Belladonna: "I had been in touch with Charlie and Frank, then I got a call from their manager who said that everyone wanted me back in the band. I thought, 'are you guys for real? You want me up there, fronting the band like it was before?' I was thrilled. We've already started to reconnect with the old ways of having conversations. Everything is easy going and feels really good."

"We're going to do these summer shows and gel as a band," explained Charlie Benante, "get comfortable playing with each other again, and the energy from that should go right into making new music."

Immediately following the final Sonisphere festival in early August, the band will fly back to the U.S. and begin writing and rehearsing for a new album that's expected to be out in early 2011.

"We've got an unusual luxury of hindsight," added Ian. "We finished an album a year ago, we've lived with those 12 songs since then, and we can look back on them and see what we really love and what we can make even better, especially with Joey back in the fold."

Added Benante: "There are five or six songs from a year ago that we don't want to change, we love them the way they are, other than having Joey making them his own with his vocals. Then there's another five or six that we may want to rework, and then there are a bunch of other tunes that are still in the early stages, that we want to finish.

"John was a real stand up guy about the situation," said Ian, about John Bush, Anthrax's vocalist from '92 - '05. "He knew we wanted to move forward at full speed, that we needed a total commitment to Anthrax, and he knew that wasn't what he wanted. We certainly wish John well. We've had so many great times with him, and we appreciate his stepping in last summer at the last minute, and performing with us since then. He will always be an integral part of the Anthrax family."

Source: anthrax.com
Band profile: Anthrax
Posted: 11.05.2010 by Amatsu Mikaboshi


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12.05.2010 - 03:23
Metal Maiden
Megadead
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.05.2010 at 03:13


Totally agreed...

First he dissed Barlow and praised The Ripper to high heaven and then some time later he did the exact opposite. Shaffer is a jerk and somehow thinks he's brilliant, whereas the last brilliant or great thing he did was Something Wicked Comes This Way (which was IO think some 20th century thing) so that was more than ten years ago.



Agreed x2...

Been a while since Shaffer released something worthwile...Something Wicked This Way Comes is actually from 1998, so...it WAS more than 10 years ago... Plus, though I like Hansi's performance in it, I don't consider the Demons & Wizards project that great either...Not to mention I NEVER liked Barlow that much, and totally think Ripper is a better vocalist (and I do enjoy some IE songs with him on vocals)...I remember I kinda hoped for him to hook up with Therion when he got fired, haha...
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12.05.2010 - 05:14
Winterthrone

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.05.2010 at 03:13

Written by Metal Maiden on 12.05.2010 at 03:05


P.S. I absoultely lost respect for Jon Shaffer for dissing The Ripper when Barlow decided it'd be a good idea to reclaim some former glory...In fact, I think the guy is a complete jerk...


Totally agreed...

First he dissed Barlow and praised The Ripper to high heaven and then some time later he did the exact opposite. Shaffer is a jerk and somehow thinks he's brilliant, whereas the last brilliant or great thing he did was Something Wicked Comes This Way (which was IO think some 20th century thing) so that was more than ten years ago.

Ok, again your inventing a little fantasy story with BAD BAD villains, so let's have a little reading:
Hello Dear Friends!

Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.

While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal Iced Earth fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in Iced Earth's history.

When I heard several months ago that Matt was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contacting him and seeing what his intentions were. I didn't act on this because I was so focused on the writing of the new epic, and frankly, it just didn't seem realistic.

Well, after getting out on the road and speaking with many of you directly, I decided to call Matt and see how he was doing and if he was interested in working together again. I am proud to say that he is coming back to Iced Earth and we will be getting back to work in the studio very soon.

Matt will be singing on Part 2 of the Something Wicked concept CD and we will be looking forward to getting out on tour and delivering a series of Iced Earth shows that will rival any in the history of the band. And there will be a proper DVD filmed from this period, something we've all been waiting for.

I want you all to know that it was you who made this a reality. I have missed Matt's presence onstage and in my personal life in a big way over the past few years, so I appreciate your honesty in our discussions. It did help me realize the decision to move forward with pursuing this. The fans have spoken and we have delivered!

You true fans know that I'm a straight shooter, I say what I mean and mean what I say. And though I value your opinions greatly, you must believe that this is a decision that comes completely from the heart and is not motivated by anything other than what feels the best for Iced Earth. This is the way that things have always been dealt with, for better or for worse, but always honestly and from the heart.

Tim Owens is a great and talented singer and I wish the best for him and his future on a personal and professional level.

There will be more news soon as to further developments and plans. This will push back the release of Part 2 a bit. Not because we couldn't be ready to record in time, but because of a new addition to Matt's family in early 2008!

I am very happy to announce that Iced Earth is truly BACK!

Have a great holiday season. We'll be in touch very soon with more details.

Jon Schaffer

So, Marcel, Honestly, how did Schaffer dis Tim Owens? Calling him a very talented vocalist is dissing him? He took Matt Barlow back cause he was the best for Iced Earth, that's all. He hasn't been a jerk, he just made a choice for his band and that had nothing to do with his respect for Owens, end of the story. He didn't even dis Matt Barlow in the first place, I remember that Barlow did'n't want to pursue is career in music, he left to be a police officer, they stayed good friends while he was out of the band. In fact Barlow is married with Schaffer's sister. Please stop inventing gossips about people...You are really ruining the credibility of this site.
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12.05.2010 - 05:51
Raiden
Down Under Staff
I've lost track of the whole Anthrax situation. Oh well, hopefully Joey actually stays back in the band for more than just a couple of years this time.
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"Scream for me Melbourne!!!!"
- Bruce Dickinson

"I don't see any god up here"
- Yuri Gagarin (while in orbit, 1961)
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12.05.2010 - 11:02
Metal Maiden
Megadead
Winterthrone, you know why those things are called "public statements"? Because they are meant for the public...You were the one who said we rarely get to see both sides of the coin, and yet you are the one hand-picking what to believe...You are the one being irrational, and quite a bit naive, if I might add...The sentence you quoted is THE proof Ripper was dissed, simple as that - that's EXACTLY what it says, masked (badly) with a condolensing euphemism...How can you not see it actually means "Tim is ok, yeah, but since Matt is back, we kinda no nonger need him"...What more needs to be said?
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12.05.2010 - 14:44
I_Die_Often

Anthrax should have their own VH1 reality show "Who's Fronting Anthrax" or something, Scott is on everything they show already.
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Old enough to be your Daddy... speaking of which... you look familiar... do I know your mother???
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12.05.2010 - 18:41
qlacs
"The Quaker"
Great news
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12.05.2010 - 18:48
Winterthrone

Written by Metal Maiden on 12.05.2010 at 11:02

Winterthrone, you know why those things are called "public statements"? Because they are meant for the public...You were the one who said we rarely get to see both sides of the coin, and yet you are the one hand-picking what to believe...You are the one being irrational, and quite a bit naive, if I might add...The sentence you quoted is THE proof Ripper was dissed, simple as that - that's EXACTLY what it says, masked (badly) with a condolensing euphemism...How can you not see it actually means "Tim is ok, yeah, but since Matt is back, we kinda no nonger need him"...What more needs to be said?

Maybe I'm naive, but Iced Earth is one of my favorite bands so I followed this situation and I never heard or read anywhere that there was bad blood Between Barlow and Schaffer when Barlow left the band to pursue another carreer. Schaffer even tried to convince Barlow to stay in the band. Plus, when he took Ripper Owens in the band he was very happy with his work as he was the best replacement possible for Barlow. But, then after almost 5 years he started that a lot of Iced Earth fans prefered Barlow and Barlow was ready to get back to the Metal industry...Would he refuse to take back the husband of his sister in the band? Would he refuse to take back that UNIQUE vocalist that helped HIS band (cause Iced Earth is Jon Schaffer'S solo project as he was the founder and only constant member so he can choose whoever he wants in the band) achieve glory? I don't think so.

Did he disrespect Owens doing so? I don't think so. I hope Owens was aware of the fact that he had big shoes to fill as Barlow is a UNIQUE vocalist that has an impressive range for a baritone, a way of expressing emotions in his voice that's only equalled by the legendary metal vocalists and that helped to forge the classic Iced Earth sound. Owens did a good job but he never got close to Barlow in my opinion: he is a very good vocal technician but his voice is not very original by metal standards. He just sounds like a clone of young Rob Halford with a better screaming technique and maybe more vocal training. So what did happen, he was just thanked for his services and said good luck man, no one insulted him or publicly said bullshit about him... Maybe Schaffer's is not telling all the thruth in the public statement I posted, but I think he has more credibility to speak about what happened in HIS band than any of us here (me included) that's why I quoted him.

Oh and remember, Owens was replacing Rob Halford in Judas Priest, and when Halford came back, what happened? So Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing are assholes too because they took Owens and kicked him out when Halford came back? I don't think so. Bands make artistic decisions based on what's best for them, THAT'S all!

Then, to get back to Anthrax' case... Joey Belladona IS the singer that made Anthjrax glory. Maybe there as been tensions between the members of the band, when Metal's popularity declined in the early 90's. That's what happens in a lot of bands that have known a certain fame and loose it. Then after a lot of changes Belladonna came back but from what I heard and seen, after the reunion tour he didn't want to record an album with the guys.... So what? Maybe the guys were a little angered by this situation then some of this anger got out in public statements, that's normal. Then after some years the tension went down. The guys saw each other, talked about it and decided they are ready to work together again, that's normal... NO ONE is an IDIOT or a MORON in that story, just humans with HUMAN emotions like anger, melancholy, desires, hate, love, etc...Then I think taking back Belladonna is the best artistic choice they could make, cause he his the voice of Anthrax, and no one will remember Bush if the reunion works. So as I said earlier, WAIT and SEE, stop inventing FANTASY stories with BAD BAD VILLAINS and POOR VICTIMS and drawing early conclusions, cause in real life things are not black and white but in shades of grey.
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12.05.2010 - 19:23
Metal Maiden
Megadead
Wow, that's a whole lot of maybe's...Being artistic does not excuse somebody from also being a complete douche...And taking advantage of people when it suits you and then dissing them afterwards and acting like it never happened kinda fits in the description of a douche...So shall we call it even and declare Shaffer an artistic douche?
And whether you like Ripper or not, with him not being that "unique" (and unique or not, I like Ripper's vocals far better than Barlow's, despite what "metal standarts" may have to say about it), he did a MORE THAN GREAT job in something else - keeping your favourite band ALIVE...And for that he deserved better than being fired when your childhood hero decided to make a glorious return...And I have no idea, and frankly, don't care at all, about bad blood between Barlow and Shaffer, I never said anything like that...And there is no "bigger truth", Tim just got fired, like he's been the substitute vocalist all that time, that's all...So yeah, he was a victim - it's not like he left in his own free will, you know...

And I also disagree nobody would remember Bush - whether the reuinion works or not, people would always expect the next episode of the Anthrax sitcom, and the main actors in it...And maybe you are right - none of those people are idiots, they are just self-centered egotistical douchebags who toy with people as they see fit, and it is people like you who make excuses for them, giving them the perfect "did-it-for-the-fans" alibi...Even worse that you think Barlow being Shaffer's sister's spouse to have anything relevant to do with Iced Earth...
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12.05.2010 - 22:07
Huntteri

So... who is going to do the vocals for "worship music"?
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13.05.2010 - 00:58
Hellme666

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.05.2010 at 18:52

Written by Chidder on 11.05.2010 at 18:41

God dammit, will they ever learn? I'm so pissed...


No they won't cause Scott Ian and Charlie Benante are idiots. The will probably fire Joey within the year and then ask John back then fire him again and ask Joey back etc etc. Those two are THE most fickle morons in metal around.

Guys, next time, read the post until the end.
Quote:
"He knew we wanted to move forward at full speed, that we needed a total commitment to Anthrax, and he knew that wasn't what he wanted.[...]

It is pretty clear they did not kick Bush out. The band just made Bush know what they wanted, and it wasn't what he wanted, so he left by himself, and then, Joey came back.
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Metal's Life, It Makes Me Live, And It's Gonna Make You Die If You Don't Like It!
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13.05.2010 - 01:45
Lord_Regnier

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.05.2010 at 15:28

This is getting more pathetic by the minute. Only a couple of months ago Scott Ian compared Joey to a mouse and John Bush to a lion. The little respect Anthrax still had from me has now totally evaporated.
Fuck 'em...

Pathetic weasels.


We could say the same about pretty much any other metal band that was great in the 80s, you know.

Lots of people will never admit it but I think it would be about time people realize those old metal bands have barely done anything good for over two decades and are often quite pathetic. Problem is instead of letting them fall into oblivion, lots of people, in their stubbornness and blindness, still see them for what they have been decades ago and not for what they are today.
It's as if people are stuck in the 80s, even those who weren't even there back then!
And it's something that is beyond my comprehension because I was there in the 80s and it doesn't prevent me at all to see how lame, shitty, pathetic, out-of-date or whatever those bands became over time.
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"Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"
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13.05.2010 - 02:05
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
Written by I_Die_Often on 12.05.2010 at 14:44

Anthrax should have their own VH1 reality show "Who's Fronting Anthrax" or something, Scott is on everything they show already.


i actually suggested this very idea (even titling it "Anthrax Idol") back in the 2009 MS Awards Drama Section, which was written the same time Scott was taping the show I linked earlier and dissed Joey as a singer.
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get the fuck off my lawn.

Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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13.05.2010 - 09:43
Murder

Lol... anthrax is pissing me off each day more and more... they were one of my fav bands but now...

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13.05.2010 - 20:47
Winterthrone

Written by Metal Maiden on 12.05.2010 at 19:23

Wow, that's a whole lot of maybe's...Being artistic does not excuse somebody from also being a complete douche...And taking advantage of people when it suits you and then dissing them afterwards and acting like it never happened kinda fits in the description of a douche...So shall we call it even and declare Shaffer an artistic douche?
And whether you like Ripper or not, with him not being that "unique" (and unique or not, I like Ripper's vocals far better than Barlow's, despite what "metal standarts" may have to say about it), he did a MORE THAN GREAT job in something else - keeping your favourite band ALIVE...And for that he deserved better than being fired when your childhood hero decided to make a glorious return...And I have no idea, and frankly, don't care at all, about bad blood between Barlow and Shaffer, I never said anything like that...And there is no "bigger truth", Tim just got fired, like he's been the substitute vocalist all that time, that's all...So yeah, he was a victim - it's not like he left in his own free will, you know...

And I also disagree nobody would remember Bush - whether the reuinion works or not, people would always expect the next episode of the Anthrax sitcom, and the main actors in it...And maybe you are right - none of those people are idiots, they are just self-centered egotistical douchebags who toy with people as they see fit, and it is people like you who make excuses for them, giving them the perfect "did-it-for-the-fans" alibi...Even worse that you think Barlow being Shaffer's sister's spouse to have anything relevant to do with Iced Earth...

OK so if we follow your deep scientifical thinking everyone in the music industry is a douchebag, maybe not the solo artists cause they can't sack themselves out of their prolects. Therefore, your listening to music made by douchebags.... The fact is that ALMOST ALL bands had lineup changes throughout their carreer, so ALMOST ALL established musicians kicked people out of their bands. Everyone in the music industry is an idiot or a moron or a crazy combination of a douchebag, an idiot and a moron. So, then, why are we bothering to listen to music if it's made by a bunch of douches?

I been in a few musical projects. I don't want to brag about being in bands cause I don't have that much experience, but for what I learned with my little experience in underground bands is that running a band of 2 to 6 musicians is very complicated cause it involves human relations. I always thought of it as a form of marriage:
1. You create something together so there may be some creative differences between the members cause they all have different personalities that involves compromises and if it doesn't work separation.
2. Maybe your gonna do some liveshows, then some of the band members may discover they are not comfortable on stage then other tensions can grow...
3. Then money comes in: you gotta pay some stuff together, at one point you may make some money, you can also have the luck to secure a record deal and as the monetary questions are breaking many marriages it can also break a band appart...
4. Ah yeah and the leadership: In a band there is usually a natural leader or maybe sometimes two leaders. Most of the time they are founding members, they are the engine that pushes the band forward (or backward sometimes). These leaders take decisions for the band and sometimes that can cause power struggles, dissenssions...etc.

So you see keeping a band together is not an easy task cause it involves human relations, and sometimes that creates fight and unfortunately peiople get fired. That doesn't mean people are assholes, idiots, morons or douches, it just means bands involve human relations, therefore complicated relations. So, when Scott Ian dissed Belladonna in that TV show maybe there was a fight between them and he didn't think about what he said cause he was angry (So nobody here ever said something he regretted when he was angry), but now they calmed down they talked and they're now ready to make music together. It's like when you have a fight with your girlfriend and you say shit about each other then after you get back together and you wonder why you said that, Then again, it doesn't mean your an asshole, a douche, a moron or an idiot it just means your a simple human being.
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13.05.2010 - 21:53
Metal Maiden
Megadead
Written by Winterthrone on 13.05.2010 at 20:47

Therefore, your listening to music made by douchebags....


That's not very far from the truth, you know...

Written by Winterthrone on 13.05.2010 at 20:47

So, then, why are we bothering to listen to music if it's made by a bunch of douches?


Because their music has nothing to do with their shitty personalities? Honestly, I too blindly worship Dave Mustaine and am ready to sell my liver to have a guitar pick of his or a photo or something, but come on, the guy is anything but a "simple human being", lol... Hell, I even like Burzum, including the new album, does mean Varg is a "simple human being" as well, and I have to respect him for all he's done!!?
Besides, we're not talking about ANY kind of line up changes, but about firing somebody (in Anthrax's case more than a few thousand times over and over again ), because it suits you well for the time being...You think they gonna think twice before firing him again? Same in Shaffer's case - he didn't have a fight with Ripper, he just dissed the guy for NO OTHER reason than having Barlow back...And that, if I am correct, is called exploitation...
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13.05.2010 - 22:19
Winterthrone

Written by Metal Maiden on 13.05.2010 at 21:53

Written by Winterthrone on 13.05.2010 at 20:47

Therefore, your listening to music made by douchebags....


That's not very far from the truth, you know...

Written by Winterthrone on 13.05.2010 at 20:47

So, then, why are we bothering to listen to music if it's made by a bunch of douches?


Because their music has nothing to do with their shitty personalities? Honestly, I too blindly worship Dave Mustaine and am ready to sell my liver to have a guitar pick of his or a photo or something, but come on, the guy is anything but a "simple human being", lol... Hell, I even like Burzum, including the new album, does mean Varg is a "simple human being" as well, and I have to respect him for all he's done!!?
Besides, we're not talking about ANY kind of line up changes, but about firing somebody (in Anthrax's case more than a few thousand times over and over again ), because it suits you well for the time being...You think they gonna think twice before firing him again? Same in Shaffer's case - he didn't have a fight with Ripper, he just dissed the guy for NO OTHER reason than having Barlow back...And that, if I am correct, is called exploitation...


Exploitation paid with visibility and rights for Ripper Owens!
Anyway, enough of that discussion, let's have a beer!:beer:
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13.05.2010 - 23:34
Lord_Regnier

Written by Metal Maiden on 13.05.2010 at 21:53

Same in Shaffer's case - he didn't have a fight with Ripper, he just dissed the guy for NO OTHER reason than having Barlow back...And that, if I am correct, is called exploitation...


I remember how lame Schaffer acted back then. That's when he lost my respect. It made it so obvious that his words worth no more than a pile of shit. He contradicts himself all the time.
As if it were Owens' fault if Iced Earth sucks nowadays. Changing the vocalist won't change anything to the fact Schaffer can't write a good song anymore.
Iced Earth is finished, as far as I'm concerned.
----
"Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"
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14.05.2010 - 08:43
Joey Jo Jo
Piece of shit
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.05.2010 at 00:00

I have hated Anthrax's music after Among The Living except for Sound Of WHite Noise and Greater Of Two Evils.

Persistence of Time is as good as thrash metal albums get. As for this reunion... I think it's stupid to expect anything good in the studio from these guys ever again, but I'd pay to see a Joey fronted Anthrax live any day.
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"If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girl friends. And they tolerated it and let us go ahead and play with our toys."
- Orson Welles
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14.05.2010 - 11:00
Daniell
_爱情_
I gave up on them some time ago. All that vocalist bullshit, original lineup bullshit, reunion bullshit, retro gigs bullshit - it shows that Scott Ian and Co. are proficient businessmen who know how to make money out of their music. But somewhere along the way they forgot that fans are waiting for some new music. "New album in 2011" - sure, I will rule the world by the time they release a new CD.
Something tells me that Belladonna won't appear on that legendary new album anyway. God knows who will. the way it goes it may even be Dani Filth.
Down with Anthrax.
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20.05.2010 - 22:06
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
It's coming to the point where its difficult to even give a fuck about this band anymore. I give Belladonna a couple months.
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"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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04.08.2010 - 06:55
SatyriconChick

Doc, I definitely know what you mean. I've felt that way too many times about Anthrax. However, if this actually pans out and Joey STAYS in the band and nothing *cough*Scott*cough* drives him out, then it's all in the past and I'll forget all about that.
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