SEPULTURA's ANDREAS KISSER Says Playing With 'Big Four' Has Been 'Amazing'

Jackson Guitars conducted an interview with SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser at the U.K. installment of the Sonisphere festival, which was held July 8-10, 2011 at Knebworth House. You can now watch the chat below.

Kisser filled in for ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian at 11 shows in July while Ian spent time with his family following the birth of his first child.

Commented Kisser: "It's just an amazing feeling that I never really dreamt. It's like something that I was very surprised, but at the same time very honored, very happy.

"When Scott called me last December to be a part of ANTHRAX for two weeks, including 'Big Four' shows, and then I'm jamming with everybody on stage at the end of the show, it's great. And to bring the Brazilian heavy metal here I represent Brazil heavy metal somehow. I'm a guitar player from SEPULTURA; they called the guitar player from SEPULTURA.

"We play a little bit of SEPULTURA here, and the reaction of the crowd was amazing, screaming the name of the band and stuff, in the middle of the 'Big Four'.

"It feels great to be a part of this. It's something amazing that I'm gonna keep the rest of my life. And my whole family is really enjoying that and my fans in Brazil, they're proud and stuff. And I just cannot say anything bad about it. [laughs] It's very positive and it's very amazing.

"I play the guitar the way I play because I have their DNA. It's like Scott Ian, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Gary Holt Somehow they're all here. EXODUS is not here, but Gary Holt is here. [laughs] It's like, what else could you ask? Even in Italy, Scott came to jam with us, so I jammed with the complete ANTHRAX in a 'Big Four' date.

"It's been amazing. It's something special. It's like a heavy metal would always dream to see that. And I am a heavy metal fan, and I'm here in the middle of it, participating with my guitar playing and with my input."

Kisser made his live debut with ANTHRAX on July 2 at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany as part of a "Big Four" show with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

In a letter addressed to Andreas on ANTHRAX's official Facebook page, the band wrote, "Words cannot express the feeling of love we have for you. From the first day, you were a part of the family. You were the only choice to fill in for Scott and that decision proved to be the right one. Thank you for being you, we miss you already. Have a great tour with the mighty SEPULTURA."

Speaking to RockAAA at the U.K. installment of the Sonisphere festival, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello, "Andreas locks in with the band like he was always here. So there's not a thought to playing; we don't have to worry. It's nice to go on stage and not have to worry. That's the last thing we wanted to do. And he's good, he's so locked in, even with the cues, the vocals everything. Boom! It's ANTHRAX."

Ian and Pearl Aday, welcomed a son on June 19 at 10:19 a.m. Revel Young Ian, who came into the world three weeks early, weighed in at six pounds, nine ounces.

Ian previously stated that the choice to sit out the upcoming ANTHRAX shows "was a deeply personal one" but added that "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."

Regarding how Kisser came to fill the temporary guitarist slot, Ian said, "We chose Andreas 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."

Photos below courtesy of Andreas Kisser's Twitter: