ANTHRAX Guitarist Discusses THE DAMNED THINGS Side Project

Robert Gray of Ultimate-Guitar.com recently conducted an interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Rob Caggiano. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Briefly, what is your view of the Dan Nelson [ANTHRAX singer 2007-2009] situation? To summarize?

Caggiano: It just didn't work out. The band stands behind its statement that it put out [in July 2009], and that's really all there is to say about it.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: At the moment, are there ongoing legal issues which prevent you from discussing the topic?

Caggiano: Yeah, there is.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: But do you feel that once those legal issues are resolved, the truth will emerge?

Caggiano: Yeah, I think the truth will emerge. I think people already know the truth. (laughs) Even though some people might be misled here and there, everyone that's close to the situation knows the truth about what really happened. We're not worried about any of that. We're just trying to move forward into the future, because none of that shit actually matters at all at this point in the game. (laughs)

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Obviously, whatever happened happened with Dan Nelson. Following that, how did [former ANTHRAX vocalist] John Bush enter the picture?

Caggiano: Basically, we approached him about doing some shows. We had a bunch of shows booked when the whole thing happened with Dan, so we had to cancel a whole bunch of shows, which was a drag. None of us were happy about that at all. We were all very upset. We were very excited to go out there and play, and just tear it up. One of the biggest shows we had was the Sonisphere show in Knebworth; it was huge, and we really wanted to play it. We approached John about doing the show with us, with no strings attached, us just getting out there, having fun, and tearing it up. He thought about it, agreed, and we did just that. We went out there, and the show was awesome. It's definitely magical, and the vibe is magical. Just to play with John again felt really, really good, and sounded amazing. Yeah, that was pretty much it. That's how it started with John again — he agreed to do a few more shows, and a few more shows after that. That's where we're at right now. We're keeping our fingers crossed that he's gonna sing on the record. Nothing's confirmed yet or anything like that, but we're all hoping it's gonna go that way.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How were relations between John Bush and ANTHRAX prior to discussing these reunion shows?

Caggiano: I think everything was fine. Obviously, there was a little turbulence a few years ago, but that's all water under the bridge at this point. I think John is just in a different place now. I don't think there's any bad blood, or anything like that. Like I said, when we got together for that first show in Knebworth, England, it was amazing. When we rehearsed the day before, it felt like we had been doing this the whole time — it didn't feel like he was gone. It was just perfect.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: At present, what are ANTHRAX's plans concerning "Worship Music" [the album that was completed last year featuring Dan Nelson on vocals]?

Caggiano: "Worship Music", I guess, falls under the whole thing of taking it day by day. (laughs) We don't really know. Like I said, we're hoping that John sings on the record, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. We don't know when that would even happen. "Worship Music" is done, and it's ready to go — it's actually mixed and everything. We just got to replace the vocals, and there you have it. Like I said though, we're taking it day by day. I know John heard the music — he liked the music. We'll see what happens.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Whether John returns or not though, is the plan to re-record "Worship Music"'s vocals?

Caggiano: Yes, absolutely, but the lyrics might change, and some of the melodies might change. I don't really know how true to the original form they're gonna be when John sings them, if he sings them (laughs). There's also the possibility of coming up with a few brand new tracks with John as well. Like I said, we're just taking it day by day, and we're hoping it goes that way.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: It's been reported that you're part of a side project called THE DAMNED THINGS. Is that true?

Caggiano: Yes, it is.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How did THE DAMNED THINGS come to form?

Caggiano: Basically, it's a band that Scott [Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist] and Joe Trohman from FALL OUT BOY were... They'd been doing this thing together for awhile. They wrote some tunes here and there, and just tried to get it going. Everyone's schedule was just impossible — it was just hard to get everyone on the same page schedule-wise and so on. They asked me to be a part of it, and since then, we've actually been focusing on getting music together. It's been killer. I'm actually very excited about this project.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: And THE DAMNED THINGS' lineup also features FALL OUT BOY drummer Andy Hurley, and EVERY TIME I DIE vocalist Keith Buckley?

Caggiano: Yes, it does.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: What is THE DAMNED THINGS' musical style?

Caggiano: Hard to say. There's a lot of different elements, and music. It's almost like.. Shit, I don't know. There's element of THIN LIZZY, which I love — there's a lot of screaming harmony guitar parts, and things like that. I don't know. People have been asking — they've been asking me all the time what it sounds like. I don't think any of us really know how to answer that question. It's definitely unique, and has its own thing, which is really cool.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Would you say that THE DAMNED THINGS is still developing its musical style perhaps?

Caggiano: No, no. I mean, obviously things are gonna develop. We're just in the demo stages right now, but the sound is pretty much there. I just can't put my finger on what it is exactly, and I think that's a really good thing, a really positive thing. There's a very classic feel to the music, which I love.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: What are your thoughts on some of the responses to THE DAMNED THINGS? News about the project leaked, and peoples' responses were "ANTHRAX members and FALL OUT BOY members working on a project?"

Caggiano: (Laughs) I guess to a lot of people out there it wouldn't make sense that those two bands would collaborate, and do something together. It totally makes sense though, and I think once people hear the music, it'll really click.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: So you're saying that there's a different side to Joe then, and that he can write material different to what he's associated with in FALL OUT BOY?

Caggiano: Oh yeah. Joe is a very well-rounded musician, and has a lot of different influences. He's actually a total metalhead (laughs),and so is Andy, the drummer. I just think he's getting to do a lot more of the stuff that he can't do in FALL OUT BOY, so it's really good that he has that creative outlet.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How did Keith Buckley become a part of THE DAMNED THINGS?

Caggiano: He was asked to do it (laughs). He's a phenomenal, phenomenal vocalist. He's great. Actually, I worked a little bit with EVERY TIME I DIE a few years ago as a producer; I cut a track for them for this compilation that came out on Ferret, and that's when I first met Keith and the rest of the band. I was always very impressed with those guys. EVERY TIME I DIE are a phenomenal band, and they totally rule.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How would you describe Keith's vocal contributions to THE DAMNED THINGS?

Caggiano: With this new band, there's definitely a lot less screaming — it's almost a hundred percent singing now, which is great. He's got a phenomenal singing voice, which is really, really great, really strong. We took that side of him, and really pushed it. We're all really psyched about the results. It sounds awesome.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: You said that several tracks have been demoed, so how many tracks have been demoed thus far?

Caggiano: We've pretty much demoed a whole record. As far as the vocals, we only have two songs tracked right now. Everything's written; the whole record's written at this point. A couple of arrangements might change here and there, but the whole album's written.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Is there a specific producer THE DAMNED THINGS might work with?

Caggiano: I'm actually gonna produce the record. We're not sure who's mixing it yet, but we're throwing some names around. That's pretty much how things are going down, as of right now.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: How many tracks will THE DAMNED THINGS' debut likely have, in your opinion?

Caggiano: It'll probably end up being a ten song album, and we'll have quite a few extra B-sides. There'll probably be ten tunes on the record though. We don't want to make the record too long.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Have any record contracts been signed?

Caggiano: No, not yet.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Are contract negotiations underway?

Caggiano: No, not yet. That's too premature.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: But there is an interest from record labels to sign THE DAMNED THINGS?

Caggiano: Yeah, yeah. There's tons of interest. Yep.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: Although tracks have been demoed, has studio time been booked where these tracks can be properly recorded by the group?

Caggiano: Yeah. We're trying to figure out everybody's schedules right now. EVERY TIME I DIE is out on tour, and I know ANTHRAX has these shows coming up, so we're just trying to figure out when it's gonna happen. It's gonna be sometime in 2010, for sure, though.

Read the entire interview from Ultimate-Guitar.com.

Photo below courtesy of U.K.'s Sonisphere festival.