Anthrax 2005
House of Blues Chicago, April 30, 2005
Live Review and Photos by
Adam Bielawski
20
years of Anthrax! That is a long time to keep true to heavy metal. 20 years
ago, many metal heads were just becoming, while mainstream was already
beginning to shut it down. 20 years ago, a radio station in Chicago fooled
audiences as becoming something better and then at the strike of midnight,
as all metal heads gathered on the dial anticipated something great as
marketed for weeks before. As I remember, I believe it was on a New Years
Eve all was broadcasted, “The Noise Is Gone.” Silence hit the station at
103.5 and easy listening destroyed metal in Chicago. The freakin format
changed, we in Chicago had nothing! This event remembered by many, a tragedy
of heavy metal in Chicago. We had no more radio station that we claimed
as our own, the likes of Judas Priest, Motorhead, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Scorpions
and even Van Halen had just disappeared. What just happened? We all were
puzzled? Through the early 1980’s to mid-1980’s the word spread by mouth,
by tape and even had to jerry rig antennas to catch a radio that remained
loyal. Just a year or two before this event, Iron Maiden took over Chicago
Fest, but that was not enough to keep a radio station’s format in place
for thrash / heavy metal. All through the 1980’s, bands such as Anthrax,
Motorhead, Metallica, sold out as armies of Denim and Leather youth packed
to feel and live what was explained as “NOISE.”
Anthrax was just establishing a scene, a new thrash metal band to reckon
with, a new force and idols to follow. Everyone bought the Album called
“A Fist Full of Metal.” However, few stores carried this disc, and many
of us on the south side of Chicago had to travel to stores such as Kroozin
Music and Rolling Stones, at times harassed because of our wear, denim
jackets with patches of the our favorite bands. Anthrax survived the years,
changed some members, made some albums, and now the original line up is
back for what is called a 20th Anniversary Reunion with Joey Belladonna,
Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Scott Ian and Dan Spits.
Before
hitting the stage on one of two sold out nights at the House of Blues in
Chicago on April 30th, Anthrax held a press conference expressing their
opposition of the Department of Defense (DoD) use of involuntary use of
vaccinations of soldiers. Not too long ago, the bands name, not the band,
made negative airwaves for post 9/11 terror scares of anthrax poisonings
to government agencies throughout the nation. Terror was in everyone’s
homes in the USA, as gutless bastards terrorized US citizens. Our country
took a stand and we shall win.
Anthrax voiced their stand with legal law
firm McGuire-Woods in Chicago of the DoD’s involuntary Anthrax Vaccine
program, which is allegedly one of the major causes of the Gulf War Syndrome.
A
few hours later in the day, Anthrax hit the stage with Classic Line up
at the House of Blues. As an Anthrax fan since the “A Fist Full of Metal”
I can say that I am biased towards always giving a good review of an Anthrax
show. If anyone says they suck, there full of it, the only way Anthrax
(with Joey or John) is if they are not in the house playing. Anthrax is
complete energy on stage, never taking anything serious and always giving
fans an “Awesome Freakin Time.” The lights are up high, the music is loud
and precise, the riffs are heavy and the drums pound your heart. As a photographer,
I love bands such as Anthrax; they allow me to photograph great shots because
they do not put restrictions on the media, in my case a fan as well. What
comes at many heavy metal bands is red dark light; I don’t understand why
you must hide. Anthrax is out there to show you what they got, up front
or in the back. No fan is left behind, because this is the legion of Anthrax.
During the show, on April 30th, I happen to meet one of the attorneys that
were at the press conference earlier in the day, she herself could not
express how great the guys were on stage. She expected hard rock music,
aggressive nature of fans, NO WAY, not at an Anthrax show! This night she
truly becomes a fan of the client.
Anthrax to me is beyond what is just music on a CD, the intensity displayed
on stage as if it was today or 20 years ago is show and heard in the music
they play. Involving every soul in the place, nothing to hide with Anthrax,
they are true and earned the rights to be one of the metal gods etched
in thrash history. 20 years has not been bad on the band, as I looked at
many of faces in the crowd, I know I recognize a few from back in the day
in Chicago where you had no parking restrictions, got bashed by security
guards at shows, and lived what metal was all about. Bands such as Anthrax,
lived a life for rock and roll, they survived for us, in music, actions
and freedoms. We all cannot be “Rockstars” on stage, but can feel the adrenaline
this night and remember the days. (Should I quote Mustaine on that last
line?).
The moment a shadow was recognized, the fans went wild as a silhouette
of none other than Dan Spits glowed as the rim light shined to the venue.
This crowd went wild. A prelude to the performance was a 20-minute video
of what was a brief biography of Anthrax and the impact they made to music.
When Joey Belladonna came out that is when everyone knew Anthrax, old Anthrax,
was back. Many were happy and they shouted for the beloved Belladonna and
many still hoped that John Bush would join the band as well. Many shows
I exit early to catch the rush of the crowd, but not for Anthrax, there
was no leaving the place till the lights in the house came on. The songs
played were classic, such old favorites that I have not heard or even put
on the CD player, such as Medusa. I swear I have not heard that song in
years. One of my favorites this night was “I AM THE LAW”, that gets
me going and remembrance of the days of yesterday. 20 years, is a long
time, for many all they know is new Anthrax, and Joey only from what plays
on a CD. This was a special night to hear “Indians” live one more time
with Joey Belladonna. You can say that many relived the old days, and so
many more were young and moshed. The pit exists, don’t let anyone ever
tell you that it does not, cause we are all “Caught in the Mosh.”
