ANTHRAX Bassist Shoots Down 'Cashgrab' Accusations Over 'Among The Living' 30th-Anniversary Tour

On February 9, Will Copping of the RaW 1251AM radio station conducted an interview with ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello before the first show of the band's U.K. tour in Birmingham. You can now listen to the chat below.

Asked about ANTHRAX's current European tour during which the band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its classic album "Among The Living" by performing the LP in its entirety, Frank said: "When you play these songs live, it brings you back to the time you recorded it; it really does. You remember where you were. It's like a reflection; it's really strange. But I think that's why it's sunk into people and people wanna hear these songs, along with the new songs. Actually, tonight's the first night [of the tour]. It should be really interesting for all of us."

Bello also talked about the trend in recent years of artists — including ANTHRAX — playing cornerstone albums from beginning to end in concert and some fans' belief that it's nothing but a "cashgrab." He said: "Cashgrab? I mean, we know people will like this. That's the whole point. It's certainly not a cashgrab. So we do it for the fans, and that's the truth. I think you put in different things to make it special. Cashgrab — we're not playing arenas. These are theaters that are great that we pack and [are] sold out. But it's for the fans, man. It's nothing else. And we'll be back again with something else. It's always… It's about the fans at the end of the day, so give them what they want, and it's important to us."

ANTHRAX's February 15 concert at the Barrowland in Glasgow, United Kingdom was filmed for a DVD, to be released later this year via Megaforce. Seventeen cameras, including five GoPros and a full-size camera crane, captured more than two hours of ANTHRAX favorites that were voted onto the evening's set list by fans and included "Madhouse", "Be All, End All", "Breathing Lightning" and "A.I.R.", followed by ANTHRAX's classic 1987 album "Among The Living" performed start to finish. In addition to the live footage, the DVD will include "fly-on-the-wall" interviews and other B-roll shot on the band's tour bus, backstage, in hotels and elsewhere.

The DVD is being produced and directed by Paul Green of the Manchester, U.K.-based Paul Green Productions who has filmed concerts for OPETH, THE DAMNED, Gary Numan, THE LEVELLERS and many others.

ANTHRAX played its last "Among The Kings" U.K. date this past Friday (February 17) in Norwich and has headed to 22 European cities, winding up in Paris on March 16.