METALLICA, JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH Members Pay Tribute To ANTHRAX

Metal musicians congratulate ANTHRAX on their 20th anniversary:

MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine: "ANTHRAX is a band that I have always respected, that has always mattered and was very important to the American metal scene. As part of the 'big four' they were responsible for an enormous amount of the credit for helping establish American metal bands as serious contenders in the world of metal."

METALLICA's Kirk Hammett: "ANTHRAX's music matters. In the pantheon of modern metal, ANTHRAX are certainly a cornerstone, and if one listens, one can hear their influence on any number of up and coming bands of the new generation."

DEFTONES' Abe Cunningham: "ANTHRAX plays a huge role in Stef and me meeting and starting to jam together; we met through a mutual friend who gave me my first copy of 'Among the Living'. DEFTONES started in 1988, but before that it was just the two of us in his mom's hot ass garage with the dryer on and the washing machine overflowing trying to make it through 'Indians' and 'Caught In A Mosh'. I would like to thank you guys for the inspiration, your precision, your tones, your dedication and for having the nut sacks to try shit that no one would. Happy 20th Anniversary!!! All the best."

JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford: "Everyone in JUDAS PRIEST congratulates our good friends from ANTHRAX for passing their 20th-year metal milestone. We have always been fans of the band and had the pleasure to do many shows together. ANTHRAX are true pioneers with their unique style, sound and heavy brand of metal. They have always and will continue to inspire and influence those around them within the metal world."

SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor: "ANTHRAX is to me one of the most influential bands of my generation, albeit one of the most under rated with no real reason to be. They are concise, they are fast, they're just all around fuckin' badass. Whether they had Belladonna or John Bush, they remain one of the best bands out there, bar none."

DAMAGEPLAN's Vinnie Paul: "ANTHRAX is one of the most kick-ass American metal bands of all time. They have out lasted every trend to come along in the last 20 years and are still relevant today … my hat's off to them … definitely one of Dime's and my favorite bands of all time."

LAMB OF GOD's Chris Adler and Mark Morton: "ANTHRAX has always embodied the culmination of the early NYC crossover trend and the evolution of an entirely different heavy metal sound. This is the band that developed a sound that truly brought the fans of hardcore and metal together — influencing anyone and everyone with a distortion pedal and/or two kick drums that came after them. Never afraid to bend the boundaries and pave their own way, ANTHRAX has brought about and unleashed an undeniable contagious disease of heavy fucking metal. ANTHRAX are true pioneers of thrash metal. They've always had the unique ability to reach blazing speeds without losing any mass or power in the song … and they always stayed focused on the SONG, a rarity in the genre. Their mastery of the elements of fast and heavy has been a lesson to us all. Scott Ian's right arm is simply ridiculous … he hits so hard and stays so steady, it's literally funny to watch someone that good … and the riffs are straight up classics. Throughout the '90s, their resilience and dedication helped keep metal alive when it had all but died. Cheers to ANTHRAX for 20 years of thrash. Thanks dudes.”

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Howard Jones: "To me, ANTHRAX is the epitome of what was and is metal. Whether it is 20 years ago or 20 days ago, they still do what they do better than most bands could ever dream of doing. It's great to see they are still going strong."

SUPERJOINT RITUAL's Phil Anselmo: "In a time when bands seem to stay together for an extremely limited time period, ANTHRAX stays together and does what they do in their own way and in their own time. Big ups' to these guys always."

Rob Zombie: "For twenty years ANTHRAX has steamrolled over every obstacle that has gotten in their path. Nothing can stop them. ANTHRAX is an unyielding metal machine."

SHADOWS FALL's Jason Bittner: "The first time I saw ANTHRAX live was in May of 1987 on the 'Among the Living' tour. It was the most intense thrash show I had been to at that point in my life (and I just saw MEGADETH/OVERKILL the night prior)! The band, the energy, the songs, THE JAMS (some of you may be too young to know about that period!). ANTHRAX made me want to mosh, Scott Ian made me want to play rhythm guitar and Charlie Benante was instantly one of my drumming heroes. In the years that have passed, those same feelings still apply, except for now not only is Charlie still one of my heroes, he's one of my friends!"

FOO FIGHTERS' Dave Grohl: "ANTHRAX? The cover of 'Fistful of Metal' says it all. I bought that fucker when it came out in '84, without hearing even so much as a note. They haven't disappointed me since. Unmistakable riffs, mindfuck drumming and classic songs — they've opened too many doors to mention. Badasses. They are better than your band."

PUBLIC ENEMY's Chuck D: "The world of music to me is about pioneers and groundbreakers, doing bold and daring things in the face of critics and nay-sayers, while only to have everybody snatch credit when that innovation is overstood as the fabric of the terrain. There is no question in my mind regarding MY friends ANTHRAX in this regard, and dragging me along in the process of making history. Pushing the envelope, yup, plus the fact that they set a high bar on killer shows and max-throttled songs has not only entertained me but inspired me as well…"

MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy: "Who would have thought, all those years ago, that the boys would do so well?"

AUDIOSLAVE's Tom Morello: "The ANTHRAX collaboration with PUBLIC ENEMY was one of the critical turning points in breaking down barriers of race and genre in heavy music."

MUDVAYNE's Chad Gray and Matt McDonough: "ANTHRAX is a cultural institution in the world of heavy metal music.”

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Flea: "ANTHRAX shreds. ANTHRAX rocks. Their Joe Jackson cover made my kidneys flip upside down."

SUM 41's Dave Baksh: "The reason I started playing guitar was 'Caught in a Mosh'."

KISS' Gene Simmons: "ANTHRAX is cool — They've always been cool and 'Anti-Social'."

BLOODSIMPLE's Kyle Sanders: "Our first ANTHRAX show consisted of human flesh, metal chairs and blood ... the most vicious whirlpool of a circle pit we have ever witnessed! ANTHRAX was one of the few who fueled our fire to fuckin' rip it up ... Frankie and Charlie bottom line layin' it down!"