ANTHRAX Guitarist Says Decision To Miss Upcoming Shows 'Was A Deeply Personal One'

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian has released the following statement:

"I know there's been a lot of rhetoric out there regarding upcoming ANTHRAX shows, 'Big Four' [with METALLICA, MEGADETH and SLAYER] and otherwise.

"I've been debating on whether or not to make a public statement about this as it really pertains to my personal life and I generally like to keep that personal. Because this is affecting my band life, I feel like you, my friends, deserve to hear from me personally.

"I will be playing the 'Big Four' show April 23 in Indio, California as well as the shows in Manila, Bangkok, and Japan that will follow the Indio show.

"I won't be playing the shows scheduled from July 2-16 in Europe and the U.K. My wife Pearl [Aday]and I are expecting our first child and she is due literally the day of the 'Big Four' Sonisphere show in France.

"This decision to miss these shows was a deeply personal one. I co-founded this band July 18, 1981 and for almost thirty years, I have been there for everything we've ever done. I have never been faced with anything that would make me even question being there for anything ANTHRAX-related. Becoming a father is the biggest, best thing that's ever happened to me and it made the decision relatively easy. My priority is with my wife and the birth of our first child.

"As soon as I was faced with this decision, I knew, as Freddie Mercury so eloquently said, 'The show must go on.'

"I started thinking about guitar players I knew, guys that I am a fan of, guys that I respect, guys that headbang like Angus was watching them, guys that I listen to and who I thought had the spirit to enable the show to go on.

"This wasn't a hard decision at all. I asked the rest of the band what they thought, and we were on the same page.

"We chose Andreas [Kisser from SEPULTURA] because we feel he can do the gig better than anyone. He has the fire, the attitude, and the crushing right hand to do the gig. I've played with Andreas at the Roadrunner 25th-anniversary show, and I've gotten up and played with SEPULTURA and we are kindred spirits. We both play every show like we're going to jail the next day, like it's the last show we'll ever play. He has what it takes and he has the experience and history to fucking bring it and make these ANTHRAX shows something special. I can't wait to see and hear it for myself!!

"This year will bring our tenth ANTHRAX studio record featuring the return of the one and only Joey Belladonna. We're hard at work finishing it and I can say that from the tracks I have heard, it is going to tear your fucking heads off. I'm looking forward to getting back on the road with the band that is now better than we've ever been, and seeing all your sick faces and banging heads."

ANTHRAX shows with Scott Ian on guitar:

Apr. 23 - Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA ("Big Four" show)
Apr. 30 - Pulp Summer Slam Festival, Manilla, Philippines
May 02 - AP Parking, Esplanade, Ratchada, Bangkok, Thailand
May 05 - O-East, Tokyo, Japan
May 06 - O-East, Tokyo, Japan
May 07 - Diamond Hall, Nagoya, Japan
May 09 - Big Cat, Osaka, Japan

ANTHRAX shows with Andreas Kisser on guitar:

Jul. 02 - Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany ("Big Four" show)
Jul. 03 - Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden ("Big Four" show)
Jul. 05 - Komplex AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Jul. 06 - Fiera Open Air Arena, Milan, Italy ("Big Four" show)
Jul. 08 - Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, UK
Jul. 09 - Sonisphere Festival, Amneville, France
Jul. 11 - Garage, Saarbrucken, Germany
Jul. 12 - Vega Musikkenshus, Copenhagen, Denmark
Jul. 14 - Slottsfjell Festival, Tonsberg, Norway
Jul. 15 - Dour Festival, Dour, Belgium
Jul. 16 - Zwarte Cross Festival, Lichtenvoorde, Netherlands

The daughter of legendary crooner Meat Loaf, Pearl Aday was named after the infamous Janis Joplin and is the god daughter to Maria Muldaur. In addition, she has toured as a back-up singer with MÖTLEY CRÜE and she and her band have opened for VELVET REVOLVER.

When asked what it's like having the iconic Meat Loaf as his father-in-law, Ian said in a recent interview, "It's like having anyone as your father-in-law. It's not like he's on stage when you're hanging out with the guy. We actually had dinner with him last night, and all we talked about was fantasy football. He's just a regular guy who happens to be a legendary rock star."

SEPULTURA is currently mixing its new album, "Kairos", for a late spring/early summer release via Nuclear Blast Records.

Scott Ian:

Andreas Kisser: