John Bush Interview - Anthrax, Armored Saint, & Category 7

Hey everyone, Brandon Cider here. How are you? Thanks so much for joining me. I've got former anthrax singer John Bush joining. Thanks so much for being here. What's up Brandon? How are you, bud? I'm great, man. You've got a big announcement here that you have lined up. Three shows that you're going to do where you're going to perform all anthrax material from the four albums when you were in the band. You got LA, California on December 13th, St. Charles, Illinois on December 18th and New York City on December 20th, a show that I can actually hit up. So I'm excited about that. You must. Yeah, yeah. So how did this come about? I mean, I know you've talked about it. I've heard you talk about it in interviews for years, but now you're finally doing it. It's great. Well, that's pretty much it. I mean, I've talked enough about it, and at some point I got to, I got to go for it. So that was the philosophy. There was some free time in December, Armored Saints doing some shows in October with Michael Shanker, right? I'm doing the headbangers boat with category seven, the other album and project that I was part of in the last year. Thank you very much for that. And so it was like December seemed like it was had some free time. It's kind of a rough month because people are thinking about the holidays and winding up the year and not thinking so much about going to shows, but my agent talked to promoters and people were interested and they sounded enthusiastic. So we figured we could do it. So the December 20th show is getting close to Christmas, but I think we'll be fine. So I'm excited about this. Yeah, I think it lines up well for people who want to get a gift for their metalhead loving fan, right? You can get to one of these shows, but I was going to say, at least for somebody who works a full-time job and I travel, I visit my sister, she's in Texas, we always look for shows when we're together. And so I'm on vacation at that time because it is a holiday season. I don't know, I think you're not going to have a problem. I think there's going to be plenty of people excited to see a show at that time. Yeah, you know, it's New York City on the 20th. So people come to the city obviously to go see the tree and skate at Rockefeller Plaza and it's New York. So people come into town. People leave too and I get that. It's a little risky, but this is the time that we had it. And I'm excited to do it. It's long overdue because I've been saying it for too long and it's like, I shut it up already, man, you can always talk about that. But now I'm finally going to do it. So I'm excited. I've been working on the tunes and trying to figure out what I'm going to play and there's a lot of great songs. So it's not easy, but I'm real excited. And is this just going to focus on the four albums or will you throw any other anthrax material in there? No, it's going to be the four records that I made with the band between 93 and 2003 with San Juan Noise, Tom 442, Volume 8. And yeah, you have a good quick there. We'll cover you all. Thanks a lot. Yeah, you're awesome. So it's exciting. Yeah. What about any possibility for doing some shows in 2026 if this goes well? Well, it's going to be a busy year because Armored Seine actually has a record coming out. Sometime in March, April, really, the first album since 2020 when the COVID situation happened. So that kind of puts thanks very much. Punching the sky. It's great record. Isn't it? It kind of pushed us back a little bit with touring, but we actually did a lot of touring with the last couple of years with Wasp and Queen Drionk and so we made up for it. But we're excited about this new record. Sounds killer. There's some great material. It sounds very saint, but you know, kind of fuller thinking at the same time. And we're real proud of the songwriting ability on it. So we're going to definitely do a lot of shows in conjunction with that. But if I get squeezed out of this somehow, some way with it working and I don't know, we'll see. It's going to be it's going to be all challenging. There's a lot of my play. I can better be ready. Yeah, right. So John, I know you're doing some shows out with Michael Schenker, with Armored Seine. And I heard you're going to be doing a mini set from Delirious Nomad. Celebrating its 40th anniversary. Yeah, we're excited about that. Delirious is 40 years old now. This year, 1985 is when it came out, which is terrifying. Yeah, well, can you do a father time marches on? But yeah, it's cool. It's a great record. It's one of those records that I think as time goes on, more and more people feel like that's one of their favorite albums of others. And it was it was a record that at the time probably made a lot of record company people scratch their head and go, what is this? This is not what March to the St. Louis. This is very different. And probably a little too different at the time in retrospect. But the songs hold up. There's some really great tunes there. Ones that are going to be fun to play live ones. We haven't played if not ever. Certainly not in years. So we've been working on that. I'm trying to remember some lyrics and conjunction with those songs. Although they're pretty good. They're pretty there. So it's going to be fun. And I'm going to do like a couple tunes. And then we'll do a little micro set. And we'll finish it off with a couple hits. And it's going to be fun. And Tony was Shanker, you know, he's legendary. Incredible guitar player. And one of our big influences through the years. And you know, I was one of my favorite bands of all time. Going back to you know, the lights out obsession records. I was like later on, actually. They hadn't been phenomenal. But yeah, it's a great band incredible songs and probably underrated in my opinion. So yeah, very much so. But yeah, you're you're right about this. I mean, this was out of print for such a long time. And it wasn't until at least rock candy records did the reissue on it that I could get a copy of it. But I've seen I've been hearing from a lot of people through my music channel. How much they like that album. Whereas I know back in the day, it was sort of the oddity that was in there. Yeah, great album. Yeah, I mean, March of the same was we kind of started the start of the flow of armored saint being exposed to the rock and roll having metal world. And then we took a immediate left turn with Delirious although the funny thing is that there were some old songs that run Delirious. So we combined them with old songs in the new material, like you're never alone was one of our first songs that we ever wrote. And the laugh was like one of our first demos that we ever did. So that coupledly songs like Aftermath and for the sake of heaviness, which I actually, that song was kind of an older one too. In the whole, that was a more recent one at the time, of course, in 1985, long before I died nervous man. You know, these are some really cool tunes that they just kind of showed that at that point, we're still willing to take chances. And we weren't just going to say we're going to write every song as like an anthem don't get me wrong. I love March of the same Mad House and you know, can you deliver of course those are classic armored saint songs, but even then we were kind of itching to kind of branched out and do something different like over the edge. And I guess that aftermath and in the whole. So we were taking chances and I really commend us for doing it at the time. And I think that's why the record is in the heavy metal world is like that is really cool. Jim. Yeah, I think you're absolutely right with that. Something that in retrospect is absolutely, you know, grown and stature over time. So that's a cool thing. Awesome. I want to, I want to jump back over to anthrax in terms of these shows that you're doing. Any chance you're going to record? One of these shows put it out? Yeah, I don't know. It's something that somebody else mentioned. I mean, I get that you hadn't thought about it yet. We'll see obviously for now there's only the three shows. So a lot of people saying, well, I'm gonna chance to see this. I'd like to see the film of it. I mean, everything is, let's face it, everybody's filming everything anyways all the time. Of course, it's not professionally done. Although some people's iPhones and it just look like they look amazing. So yeah, I don't know, I haven't thought about it quite yet. As far as doing a proper filming and recording of it, it's not on my mind yet. Maybe I just kind of want to get a couple of songs, a couple of shows out from under me a little bit. And then we'll see. I'm sure I'm going to do more. I just don't know what yet and when. All right. Well, we'll plant the seed for now. It'll be there. You get some shows under your belt. You feel better about it. And then who knows? Maybe a live show will happen. I'll record it. Yeah, that's that's a great idea. I'm sure. And your backup band is going to be Category 7, right? For joining me. Yeah, with the exception to Joey Vera playing bass because that Jack Gibson had a schedule conflict. But yes, it made sense. We were kind of talking one day about it. Discussing like playing some songs with some of the anthrax songs that I've done to kind of expand a set for Category 7 because we only have the one record, of course. So sometimes when you're playing a headline show, you need material. And then all of a sudden, it's kind of dawn on me. Like, well, wait a minute here. This is something that could be even bigger than that. So a proposing idea to the guys. And like I said, if I was starting up band from scratch to go out and play these albums from anthrax that I made, I would use those guys because they're just incredible players. And Jason Bittener played in anthrax for a brief time. I'm filling up for Charlie at one point. He's certainly more than capable as a drummer. We'll play Charlie stuff. It's not easy, of course, as we all know. But I think Jason will do amazing and Phil Demol and Microland are incredible guitar players. I have the utmost faith in them that they'll make it sound amazing. So it kind of just made the most sense really to do it. We're going to do a little brief set of C7 and then we'll come back out and play these anthrax tunes. It's going to be a lot of work. It's a little daunting, but, you know, helping myself mentally and physically forward. All right. I'll make some. Yeah. That's that's what I heard. You're you're essentially opening for yourself. And I was like, wow, man, double duty. I know. Wow, there's not two full headlines. That's because that's what being sanity. But yeah, I look at my peers, you know, people like Halford and many others who are going out playing 20 songs a night. So I figured I gotta do it, you know, something I could do. It's three shows. I can do it. So it would be challenging, but it'll be fun at the same time. So yeah, it's a little unusual kind of playing and then coming back. But I think it'll be kind of different as well. So maybe I'll be alluring. Right. Well, I mean, I know as a as a fan of your music, getting to see you perform twice in one night, I mean, I think that's fantastic. And that doesn't happen a lot. So it'll be extra special for all the John Bush fans out there. Yeah. Well, I'm sticking my neck out there and going for it. Good for you, man. So the last time you were in anthrax, it was kind of a brief time in 2000. I think eight to 2010 came back. You did some live shows and stuff. Are you talking about why you chose not to stay with the band at that time? I don't think it was ever something permanent at that time. I think they had some days that they had booked. And I think that at that time, I'm not mistaken. It was the singer that had for a brief period of time that was in the band that never panned out. And so he was, I don't know, they they parted ways. I don't know exactly the details, but they needed someone to come help play the net worth show, which was in London. I mean, outside of London, excuse me, in England. And there was several shows in Australia. The sound waves fell festival at that time. And then I did the loud park show in Japan. So I think it was just it was always the plan of coming in to kind of get those shows, shows completed and fulfilled. And there was really no talk about going forward from that point. So I don't really remember the details because now it's talking like almost 15 years ago, which is insane. But I do remember those are great shows playing the Appleworth where you know, London, Zeppelin's last show was pretty awesome. And there were big shows in Australia as well as the loud park show in Tokyo was amazing. The memories of playing shows through the years when in my time with anthrax was always awesome. We had so many amazing gigs and always cherish those memories. Was that roughly the last time that you played that many anthrax songs? I mean, I'm assuming you played only a few other of the major hits, you know, with your other bands. But is that really like the last time you did full anthrax material? Yeah, that probably was probably Japan actually. And you know, it was probably a majority of older material, but I do remember playing catharsis at that show, which is cool. It's a great song and planning on playing that again with this upcoming run. So yeah, it was probably the last time I was saying like 10 anthrax songs. So realistically, yeah. 15 years on, man, that's a good anniversary too. Celebrate that, you know. Yeah, it's gonna be fun. You know, we're like I said, we're I'm really excited about it because a lot of these songs are for a lot of people anthrax was discovered in the 90s. That's basic because everybody knows the 80s, but a lot of people in the 90s discovering music and anthrax was a part of that decade. So that was the decade I was part of and so were these records. So I think it's an nostalgic let's face it because sound by noise is over 30 years old. I mean, stop is 30 years old this year, which is crazy, but yeah, it's really terrifying, but it's an anthologic trip, which is always fun and people are yearning for that stuff. So it's gonna be fun. Yeah, while an anthrax isn't out and doing that stuff, so it's great that you're coming out to do it and you know, continue to shine a light on those great albums because they were fantastic albums at the time. I appreciate that. Like myself, but a lot of people discovered anthrax through that era. That's my era kind of thing. So for you to come back and do it, I think is, you know, an extra special treat to all the fans. I think so too. I'm looking forward to it. Now in 99, you guys did Return of the Killer A's and there's Bola Confusion on here. We're both you and Joey Beladonna saying. Correct. How did that come about as both you guys and was there any talk of there being two lead singers? Well, there was a talk about doing a run. Yeah, writing a contribution without record. I think it was idea of just putting out kind of a greatest hit that keep things going at that time in between maybe record label deals and stuff. And so then I don't remember who's exact idea was, but then we came up with the idea of having us both sing on a song. I'm a big temptations old school soul fan. I mean, armored singers put out a four top song within the last year, which is really cool. So that's yeah, that's right in my wheelhouse. I love all those old school singers and old school soul singers should I say and add some of my favorite music of all time. So that was easy for me to say I'm into it. And I thought it was really cool that we did it together. I remember recording it. It was real fun. And me and Joey actually get along pretty well together. It's never really any kind of awkwardness or strife. It's usually pretty mellow. Even if we're just in a same room with one another. But I was thinking about it and we probably should have made a video or something for that because it would have been more productive, I think. So it kind of came and went, unfortunately, but I was fun. And we were supposed to do a tour and then there was some legalities. I guess we couldn't hire now. So it never really happened. But we at that time, when I was still in anthrax, we just went back out and toured again on it. So you know, then the idea came up again about maybe doing a joint tour, a singer tour. It just couldn't make it work. So we tried, but it we just couldn't make it happen. I always thought anthrax would be one of those good bands to try that out. I don't know if you're familiar with the German band Hello Ween. Oh, yeah. There are three singers. There are three lead guitar players. So it's this huge line up no matter what era you like, it's there, right? Anthrax would be prime for that. If the band you, everyone else decided to do it, but that's a pipe dream somewhere down the road could have. You have to get everyone on board and you know, but it's a great idea and I think Hello Ween. So I really commend them for doing that. It's really cool. Obviously a lot of people put the regos aside for that and and the fans really got a big treat for that. So that's cool. Absolutely. So out of the four albums that you made, what was your favorite one, your favorite time of making the album? Is there a particular one that stands out maybe more than anything else? You know, when it comes to records, I always kind of feel like, yeah, there's a, I usually feel pretty good about all the records I've made. I mean, of course I have my own personal feelings about certain things that I don't reveal to people just because they don't really need to know. I've done that before I go, well, that song I kind of don't like and they're like, it's my favorite song, man. So I don't want to say that because I wanted to enjoy what they love. Every record is a little different for me. They're only a little child. Of course, Sound Away knows exactly. You don't want to, you know, pick one child over the other. I would be curious to have a parenting. But I think Sound Away knows of course the record a lot of people can connect with mostly because it was the first one that I made with the band. So I think maybe that was because it was all new at that time. And it's certainly a very solid album and it kind of changed a little bit to the sound of the band. Obviously, Volculate was a big change. And it was the 90s and it came out 93. So there was this whole new generation and a whole new decade. And so it was very exciting time at that moment. But I'm really fond of Ball. I think Volume A is a kind of a record that's under the radar a little bit and doesn't get enough accolades. We've come for you all was a cool record because it kind of resourced the band a little bit, especially in Europe because it was on nuclear blast and they did a great job there. So they're all cool in their own right. And I think it's I think whatever you dig, you know, I'm happy about it. I'm just trying to figure out what songs to play. People are pulling on the line and I'm going wow, a lot of people like that song, which is really surprising sometimes. So it's cool. I dig that kind of stuff. Yeah, well, we all hear things differently and it's cool to see why somebody likes this one over here. I mean, as you mentioned, he said, well, maybe I don't like that one as much, but somebody else thinks it's the best song you did, right? You know, you never know with that stuff, but it's always fun to to find that out and, you know, get a chance to potentially play those songs, make those people happy. Right. For me, you know, I know maybe what went into the writing of it and to the process of recording it and who knows? Maybe there was a little bit of difficulty with that. And so maybe I associate with that records are done. It's done. You know, I kind of don't think twice about that kind of stuff. But I never want to say this record is better than that record. To me, they're all just different. And that's that's the way they should be. Because because really, it doesn't really matter what I think it's really with the public things. At that point, I'm just one part of the public. So I let the public kind of make those decisions and kind of battle over it, which is always kind of comical and funny. But it's I mean, I just want them to like them all. Actually, that's all I care about. Well, I did, I did always appreciate that the four records were somewhat different from one to another. So each one had their unique character and elements with in it. And that, you know, I think, you know, is what makes them stand up. They're not, you know, none of them were clones of sound of white noise. That was a big album. It was a successful thing. It was a turning page, but you guys kept going out and doing something new and pushing the boundaries, which is always very cool. Absolutely. And anthrax does that. You know, anthrax is a band even before I was in the band was always wanting to take chances about doing things. I mean, they did on the man, you know, and it was the way ahead of everybody else. And that was risky, you know, because they were this metal band. A lot of people might have been like, why? What is this? But everyone loved it. But then they did bring the noise. And now they were just always wanting to take chances when I was in the band and when I was not in the band. So I really commend them for doing that, especially in the world of metal or sometimes it's, I say this and I say with the utmost positivity, but sometimes a metal community can be a little rigid. You know, it's like, you got to stay within these boundaries. And if you go out too far, exactly. And it's like, look, man, you get some music. And you got to take chances. So I'm just doing something where you truly feel it's kind of insincere or not really for the right motive behind it. If you believe in something, you should be able to do it. Even if it's a little bit outside the box. And that's the way I see it. I certainly want to make music that way because I love all kinds of music. So I don't, I don't want to be pigeonholed too much. It's metal. It's hard rock. It's always going to be rounded in that. And you know, it's not like I always make the joke. It's not like it's going to come out with like this, you know, new school countries slash trip off coffee house. That's a metal record. You guys should know it. Love it. Right. Right. Yeah. I think if it's got John Bush's name on it, we know what to expect to a degree. At least on the bluesy hard rock, having a metal singer that at hard. So that's really that's what you're going to that's going to be the roots of it for sure. Well, and you guys took chances on sound of white noise with the song Black Lodge on there. I mean, they'd never done a song that was like that. And yet that connected with a lot of people. That was a very successful single off of that album. Right. Yeah. What's going to connect. Yeah, I love Black Lodge. It was killer. It was it was Angela Bollett and Mente. We did all the instrumentation on it. And that was really outside the box at that time. The twin peak movies and TV show was a TV show at that point. It was really cool and very just strange and different for sure. So and he did all the music to it. So it really kind of ushered in this kind of new way of thinking of things, at least for anthrax. And then we made the weird video with Mark Pelin. I think Mark Pelin was his name. I believe he did the Jeremy video for Pearl Jam. And it was weird. It was probably a little too weird for anthrax at that time. I don't think we were hardly ever featured except for one quick photo of our faces, which is in retrospect, probably a bad idea. And maybe Black Lodge wasn't meant to be the second video at that time. It would have been probably smart to do like the third or fourth, I think. And again, this is I'm being on Money Morning Quarter back a little bit with this stuff. But it doesn't really matter. And Chetta Elfman was in that video who went on to be a pretty big star. And she was nothing at that point. She was very just early stages of an actress. So it was a trip. But yeah, it's a great song. It's really, really cool. And I did my plan. I'll plan that by having this going to be awesome. Cool, man. So now back when you were, you got the call to join anthrax. Was there any hesitation or what were your thoughts about replacing a singer in a band? Because you found your own band at that point. I did. Yeah, I was taught. It was taught. You know, Joey Belladonna's voice is extremely distinctive and unique sounding and he was very associated with anthrax. I knew it was going to change because my voice is very different. Once I got the official approval of joining the band, I had it not look back. I had to just go and be positive. And that was the mentality I had. I embraced all the old tunes and tried to sing them as best as I could in association with the way they were recorded. But you know, it's kind of always, thank you very much, great to be able. But it's always going to sound a little different, of course, because our voices are different. But I honored them. They were like my stepcades, if you were to the parenting as a connection there. And I did everything, my power to be the best I could be in the band. So you know, again, I respect Joey because he's, again, he's associated with anthrax the most in the 80s and that and wasn't easy to replace a singer. But you got to do it. What are you going to do? You can't grow in there with any kind of hesitancy. You got to go for it. Right. Yeah. And I think it was cool that you came in and you made those songs your own. You sang them in your own style. You didn't try to replicate Joey Beladonna or do anything like that. For me, at least, that made all the difference. You're going to come in, make it your own and do that. And then it's not just a clone at that point. Yeah. I mean, our voices, again, are very, they sound very different. So there was no way that it wasn't going to sound a little different. I'm probably a little more, it could be a little bit viewed as more aggressive. But now I have kind of raspy or obviously, but I still sang them as the way they were, the phrasing, everything. I didn't want to change things too much. I wanted to keep them as was because, because that's what people want to hear. So they know those songs. I mean, I feel that same way about the songs that I'm doing that I recorded. It's like, they got to be right. They got to sound like those songs. So, you know, my voice has changed. It's funny. It's like, as with Frankie Bella, not too long ago. And he was saying, how's it singing these songs? I go, it's a good challenge because I was 30 years younger. But it's just about kind of going back, remembering, using the things that I've learned as a singer through the years to help myself out. And yeah, that's going to be fun. Absolutely. Well, I think you're still sounding great on your new project, category seven here. Quickly, as we start to wrap things up here, how did this project come together? Yeah, that was cool. It just kind of happened real naturally. Obviously, I know Phil from doing some stuff with metal legions. He's a guy who's been around the business for a long time and extremely talented. And yeah, this idea with him and my girl Anna were working on some tunes and Jason Pitner. And they said, would you be interested? And I said, well, send me some stuff. I don't know until you tell you hear it. And they did. And I was pretty blown away with a couple of songs that I heard. I was like, wow, this is this is really cool stuff and really heavy, but yet it sounds unique and it just sounds kind of retro, but at the same time modern. So the key ingredient was for me to write to it to see if I could add to it and make it better. And I started doing that. And the lonely hole we had a couple of songs within maybe a couple of months. And then we demoed them. But we all were just like, wow, this is awesome. So we just kept working and working and next thing we owe. We had enough material for a record. And it just made sense to make an album. Why not? We were talking all these songs. We went to metal blade records, which is the record they won with what I'm saying. And they were interested. And so I was excited about making this record because I think it's great material. Some there was some kind of errors along that way that were made in conjunction with some of the decisions that we made with touring. And not necessarily in the marketing of it, because we did make five videos for that record, which is really cool for a new band. And we are technically a new band, even though we're all veterans of the business. But I think the record's great. It's one of those records. I think people will be able to look back on 10 years, 20 years from now. But that was a great record. So what happened with it as far as the success level and people's awareness. And those are the kind of things that I can't really control. Anyway, believe me, I know of all my years in the business. I want you to make a record. You can't have to just let it go. You got to just go and hope for the best. And you gave everything you got. And that's how I feel about that. So, you know, it's always there. People can always go back and listen and look at those videos. And it's going to get a little boost here by doing these shows. It made sense to kind of piggyback off one another. So for these three shows, it's going to be great. And it's going to be fun. And category seven has been played in Chicago, outside Chicago, should I say, or New York or New York. So it'll be cool to play those two places. Only one show we've ever done was in LA at the Whiskey. So that'll be a repeat performance in a way. But it's going to be cool to be playing New York and, you know, microlandos from New York. So I'm sure he's really excited to play some town. Absolutely. Well, no, I'm definitely glad to see you guys are getting out and doing some shows that this is more than like a side project. Kind of things with a lot of people these days go and, you know, make an album. And it's just coming to get you to do it. But it's not really collaborative. What you're just described to me made it sound like. It's a very collaborative thing. It's a bad thing. So I hope you guys choose to do more. Yeah, it really is a good album. I mean, it probably would be a good idea to make another record. I mean, it's not something I'm thinking about today by any means. But then that would make it less, make it feel less than like it was just a project. And I know a lot of people, they don't like that word. I hear it from lots of people. Don't say that word. And they're okay. All right, that's all the side project. Yeah, I don't call it side project. It's a negative term, but I don't. Yeah, it doesn't bother me. But yeah, it bothers some people actually. Yeah, I know. There are some fans that won't give it a hundred percent their attention if they think it's not a full thing. Right. I don't know why. For me, if the people that are in the band, I like those people, then I'm going to follow them. It's just warm music for me to enjoy for my favorite artist. That's how I see it. And I saw a lineup for this. And I said, oh my god, we got to kill a little super group here fronted by John Bush. Why would I not want to? Yeah, right? I appreciate that. Thanks, Brandon. I mean, I don't know why why not listen to it. You know, who knows what's going to come out of it? And maybe something big, maybe not. It doesn't matter. It doesn't take away from the material. The material was great. Yeah, absolutely. Well, John, I thank you for your time today on this. And certainly wish you the best on those three upcoming anthrax shows that you're going to be well playing anthrax music. Let's call it down right here. And so again, LA, California, you're doing a show on December 13th. St. Charles, Illinois is on December 18th and New York City on December 20th. And I'm going to pray and wish that you do some more shows later on when your schedule opens up. But get out there for all the other fans to be able to see it. So I appreciate that brother come. I hope come to the New York show and say hello to me. And I'll make sure that we have a chance to say hello to one another. And thanks for all the support. Really appreciate it. Absolutely. No problem. And again, thank you for being here. And everyone out there tuning in. You can't make it to the show. But definitely go check out Category 7. And with John Bush telling us he's got a new armored St. Album on the way. Keep an eye out for that. I know I certainly will be awesome. All right, everyone. Take care. Have a good one. And we'll talk to you soon. Bye. Thank you, brother.