BREAKING NEWS!! Anthrax splits with new lead singer!!

[ABlairican Pie]

ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"As announced last week, thrash legends ANTHRAX regretfully cancelled the first three dates on the second leg of their European tour due to new vocalist Dan Nelson's unexpected illness. An additional seven European dates are also cancelled, those scheduled from July 22 to July 30.

"ANTHRAX is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush [ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005] joining them for a very special one-off performance.

"The members of ANTHRAX have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this development, ANTHRAX's slot on the U.S. SLIPKNOT dates set for August and September, has also been cancelled. ANTHRAX is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to hitting the road before the end of the year."

***UPDATE: According to ANTHRAX's management, the band's new album, "Worship Music", which was previously due in Europe on October 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." It is not presently clear if Dan Nelson's tracks will be erased from the CD, which was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).***

Dan Nelson:

[catlover79]

I didn't even know they had a new lead singer. :o :lol:

[ABlairican Pie]

I didn't even know they had a new lead singer. :o :lol:
Dan Nelson replaced John Bush, who replaced former lead singer Joey Belladonna, though the band reunited with the original members in 2005 for a short-lived reunion tour. Joey Belladonna replaced original vocalist Neil Turbin in 1985. So Anthrax have had a number of lead singers. Seems that this
"illness" that plagued Nelson was a part of a bigger problem not health-related after all.

[ABlairican Pie]

Former ANTHRAX singer Dan Nelson has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET via his manager, Michael H. Nelson of MHN Management:

"On the advice of counsel, I have remained silent to the statements issued by ANTHRAX in recent days and now must address these issues to my loyal fans and others. I want to set the record straight.

"I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in ANTHRAX's July 17, 2009 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I'm sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members' decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job.

"After issuing the press release, the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had 'resigned' from the band. I never resigned from the band.

"Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as earlier today I made it clear that I was ready willing and able to continue to fulfill my obligations. After that offer was made, the most recent press release was issued which announced my 'confirmed' departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that ANTHRAX was canceling the European and SLIPKNOT tours.

"I regret any disappointment and confusion this situation has caused.

"I want to thank my loyal fans, family and friends for all their support and their many messages, emails and calls.

"My counsel has been instructed to take any and all appropriate actions to address this situation."

ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, told BLABBERMOUTH.NET earlier today that the band's new album, "Worship Music", which was previously due in Europe on October 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, will now be "pushed back to a later date." It is not presently clear if Dan Nelson's tracks will be erased from the CD, which was recently mixed at a New Orleans studio by Dave Fortman (a former member of UGLY KID JOE who has also worked with artists such as MUDVAYNE, EVANESCENCE).

ANTHRAX will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with John Bush (ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005) joining them for a very special one-off performance.

Dan Nelson and ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante were interviewed by the "Metal Eye" show on Z1 TV when ANTHRAX performed at this year's edition of the biggest Croatian music festival, T-Mobile INmusic festival, on June 25, 2009 at Jarun lake in Zagreb, Croatia. Watch the chat below. Also available is footage of the group's performance at the event.

[catlover79]

Dan Nelson replaced John Bush, who replaced former lead singer Joey Belladonna, though the band reunited with the original members in 2005 for a short-lived reunion tour. Joey Belladonna replaced original vocalist Neil Turbin in 1985. So Anthrax have had a number of lead singers. Seems that this
"illness" that plagued Nelson was a part of a bigger problem not health-related after all.
Thanks for the info!

[ABlairican Pie]

U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine conducted an exclusive interview with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian about the departure of singer Dan Nelson. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On whether Nelson was truly so ill that ANTHRAX had to cancel dates on their planned European tour or if that was a smokescreen for something altogether more cynical, as Nelson himself has publicly commented:

"We stand by every word in our official statement. Because all we've done is make public exactly what Dan told us. He certainly was not fired — he quit the band, and we accepted his resignation. As for those comments about being fit to go on the road, and that we pulled the tour for other reasons…since Charlie [Benante, drums] join us in 1983, we've only ever cancelled one gig. That was in Düsseldorf in 1987, when Charlie was running a really high fever, and we had to send him to London for treatment. When we didn't make it onto the plane to go to Sweden recently, to start our European run of dates, it went against every molecule in my body, and the same goes for the rest of the band.

"As a band, we learnt a long time ago that in these situations, it's always best to tell the truth, If you lie, then it comes back to bite you in the ass. That's why we were careful at every step to put things exactly the way Dan had told them to us. Why has he changed his story now? I can only assume it's to save his own skin, and to avoid being seen as the bad guy. I can't say that I blame him. But we have absolutely been completely truthful."

On Eddie Trunk's (co-host of the VH1 Classic television program "That Metal Show" who has a long-running radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM) suggestion that there was friction off stage between the band and Nelson at the recent Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma:

"Ed's been a friend of ours for 25 years; there are few people closer to ANTHRAX. So when he says he could spot problems… well, I can't deny it. In fact, things were weird between Dan and us from December. I'd love to say a lot more, and I will as soon as I'm able, but right now, I just cannot go into any further detail."

On upcoming one-off concert at the U.K.'s Sonisphere festival where ANTHRAX will be joined by John Bush, the vocalist who spent 13 years with them from 1992 to 2005:

"He was the first guy we called when the whole thing went down with Dan. And all of us are delighted that he can do this gig — it'll be great fun. Obviously, our set will be different to the one we'd worked out with Dan. It'll be more oriented towards the Bush era, although still concentrating on our most popular songs. That's what a festival crowd expects."

On whether Ian, in the back of his mind, is hoping that this show might lead to something more permanent with Bush:

"It's not in the back of my mind — it's right at the front of it. When our reunion tour with Joe Belladonna and Dan Spitz finished in 2007, we [Ian, Benante and bassist Frank Bello] wanted both John and [guitarist] Rob Caggiano to come back. Well, Rob returned but not John. Now, though, we've Sonisphere to look forward to with him.

"I love working with John, and I know I speak for everyone involved with ANTHRAX — the band and the fans — when I say that the best thing for us would for this to turn into a long-term relationship. But I don't want to jump the gun. Let's see how things go at Sonisphere, and take it from there."

On what is going to happen to the recently completed studio album, "Worship Music", featuring Dan Nelson on vocals:

"Until we have a new singer, I can't tell you what will happen to the record. We'll probably change a few things on it, including the vocals. However, nothing's been decided. Expect that the release date will go back, possibly to next year."

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