ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has publicly thrown his full support behind John Bush's ongoing solo performances of ANTHRAX material, revealing in a recent interview that the two remain close friends and that Ian actually attempted to join Bush on stage before scheduling issues intervened.
Ian's comments represent a notable shift in tone from a period of evident friction between the ANTHRAX camp and Bush following the singer's exit from the band. Ian stated plainly: "John and I are close friends — we have been forever... I celebrate it. I love that you're gonna go out and do this."
The guitarist went further, detailing his attempt to join Bush at a Los Angeles performance: "I even asked him, I said, 'Hey,' 'cause I thought I was gonna be home for the L.A. show. And I said, 'Can I come up and play a couple of songs?'" The scheduling didn't align, but the offer itself speaks clearly to where Ian stands on Bush's project.
Bush has been performing material from all four albums he recorded with ANTHRAX between 1993 and 2005: Sound Of White Noise, Stomp 442, Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, and We've Come For You All. His backing band has included CATEGORY 7 members alongside ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera — a lineup that carries real credibility given Vera's decades in the same musical territory.
The Bush era of ANTHRAX is, depending on who you ask, either underrated or appropriately celebrated. The band signed to Elektra Records, made a genuine attempt at radio success with 'Only', and produced some of their most sophisticated arrangements during that period. We've Come For You All (2003) in particular is considered by many to be among the finest records of ANTHRAX's career, regardless of era.
Ian's endorsement, combined with the fact he attempted to appear on stage, suggests that the years of reported tension between Bush and the band's current lineup may have finally settled into mutual respect. For fans of both eras, that is genuinely good news.