Anthrax guitarist talks touring, Big Four and new album.

In an interview with www.geeksofdoom.com Anthrax lead guitarist Rob Caggiano discussed many topics of interest. Chatting candidly about Anthrax, John Bush, Joey Belladonna, the Big Four shows, The Damned Things and other issues Rob also talked about the new Anthrax album. Here is an excerpt:

Geeks of Doom: You’ve been playing Big Four shows for over a year now, how are you finding it?


Rob Caggiano: Oh they’re amazing. We did a short little tour in Eastern Europe with the Big Four line up and it was phenomenal. And obviously we just did the one in Indio, California, which was amazing, it was like 60,000 people there or something like that. I don’t know if you know, we’re actually doing Yankee Stadium in New York now, September 14th. That’s like the dream gig for me! Being a New Yorker and a Yankee fan, that’s like a dream gig for all of us!


Geeks of Doom: How will you cope without Scott Ian in July? Did you know Andreas [Kisser, Sepultura guitarist] before he agreed to cover?


Rob Caggiano: Yeah, we’ve known Andreas for a long time. He’s a great guitar player. It’s definitely going to be a little strange having an Anthrax show without Scott Ian. But I think Andreas is definitely going to pull it off and it’s going to be fun. I mean it is what it is; Scott’s having a baby, we’ve got to understand and respect that.


Geeks of Doom: But Andreas is a great replacement! Ok, if you could pick one band to make a Big Five, who would you choose?


Rob Caggiano:One band to make a Big Five? That’s an interesting question! Wow. The Beatles! [laughs]


Geeks of Doom: [laughs] Do you think that would go down well with Anthrax fans?


Rob Caggiano:Yeah, absolutely! [laughs]


Geeks of Doom: Were you a fan of Anthrax before you joined? And how did it all happen?


Rob Caggiano:We were all basically friends just from the New York music scene, you know, and we had a lot of the same friends in the music circle here. I’ve been a fan of Anthrax forever so basically grew up listening to that stuff. I don’t know, one thing led to another and there was an audition and it just kind of happened. I definitely made it clear to them that I wanted to play! [laughs]


Geeks of Doom: It worked out very well! Were you a fan of a particular era; the Joey Belladonna era or John Bush era?


Rob Caggiano:You know, that’s an interesting question. I like both eras of the band. You know, obviously Among The Living is one of my favorite records of all time. But so is Sound of White Noise. So I like both eras.


Geeks of Doom: You worked with John Bush for a long time, so were you excited last year to get to work with Joey?


Rob Caggiano:Yeah, you know I didn’t really know what to expect from Joey. Prior to that the only line up as far as Anthrax goes that I was involved in was with John Bush. I was real comfortable with that because John’s an amazing singer, he’s a great guy. I really didn’t even know Joey. I met Joey once in New York a while ago, but I didn’t really know him so I didn’t know what to expect. But we did the first show in Poland and it was phenomenal. He’s singing better now than he ever sang, I think, and the band sounds killer with him in it. He’s a great frontman, we’re really psyched to have him on board.

Geeks of Doom: ...And just to round up, can you tell us a bit about Worship Music, what we can expect in September?


Rob Caggiano: Worship Music is going to be a crushing Anthrax record. It’s got all the elements. There’s moments where it has the spirit of Among The Living, at the same time it’s also a progression from We’ve Come For You All, certain aspects. Joey sounds phenomenal on the record, so excited about it. All of us have been working on these songs for so long, this record’s taking forever! But it’s great to actually finally hear a lot of these tunes finished and with the right vocalist singing! [laughs]

Dave Mustaine and Dan Spitz join forces in Red Lamb.

According to Blabbermouth.net Dave Mustaine of Megadeth has joined forces with ex-Anthrax lead guitarist in a group now dubbed Red Lamb. The band is a reformation of the project Spitz was working on called Deuxmonkey until recently when vocalist Wade Black (Crimson Glory/Seven Witches/Leatherwolf) opted out. The rest of the line-up is rounded out by Accept bassist Peter Baltes and drummer Patrick Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen/Wasp). No official word whether Mustaine will sing lead only or also play guitar in the project. The album was been produced by Johnny K of Disturbed fame and Mustaine himself.

Black announced his departure from Deuxmonkey in April, explaining that the band's "songs were not up to my standards." He added that he gave Spitz "a verbal cease-and-desist on all my lyrics and vocals" in order to ensure that Wade's contributions would be completely wiped off the project's debut release.

In a December 2010 interview, Mustaine revealed that he helped fine-tune the songs on Deuxmonkey's debut album after hearing some of the material in its early stages of development.

"[Dan] was working on a little side project, and I'd heard it a while ago and it kind of went by in passing 'cause he was just starting it," Mustaine said. "And I heard it about three weeks ago; he was almost done. And I said, 'Man, I love this record.' I said, 'And do you think it's done?' And he goes, 'Yeah.' And he goes, 'Why? What do you think?' And I said, 'Well, I would kind of do this and that.' And he goes, 'Really? Go ahead.' And I went, 'Really?' So I rolled up my sleeves and I completely dedicated myself to Danny's record for the last three weeks, working tirelessly in my studio on this record with him. And it's that good. I heard it and I just went, 'Oh my God!' It's like a cross between, say Disturbed, Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine kind of thing. Little bit of some smatterings of Anthrax because of the speed stuff, but it's much more modern and much more heavy sounding."

Anthrax, Megadeth members speak on Big 4 tour

Artisan News caught up with Anthrax' Scott Ian and Megadeth's Dave Ellefson about rolling the tour across the globe...

Says Ian - "Once it was announced last summer in Europe, the whole world was clamouring for the Big 4. We'll get there. This is a really big piece of furniture to move around, with all the logistics and schedules. All 17 guys in these four bands want to continue doing these shows. That's the impetus to make this happen more cuz we all want to do it."

Adds Ellefson: "All lot of fans are screaming for it. We have a lot of territory in front of us, so hopefully it will just carry on."

Big 4 Bronx Pricing Info Released

You asked for it, you got it!! We read your posts, e-mails, tweets and saw the pleas for a general admission floor at this show, so ask and you shall receive! We know you won’t be sitting down for one second, so here’s how it will work – the floor will be divided into two sections, literally a front and a back (simple, uh?).

Ticket prices are as follows:

Front G.A. floor: $225
Back G.A. floor: $175
Reserved lower level seats: $119
Upper deck reserved seats: $90
Additional Ticketmaster and facility fees will be applied.

Check back shortly for hotel packages and shuttle bus/ferry travel packages. There will not be a VIP ticket package now that the entire floor is G.A.

"A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the desert this past weekend . . . we felt the enormous love and support, so we just had to find a way to make one more Big 4 show in the States happen. Enter New York . . . that's right, the Big 4 of Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and 'Tallica will be in the new version of the famed Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2011! We can't wait for a night in the Bronx as our second American show and for those of you who love fun facts, this will also be the second live music event hosted at the new ballpark.

ALL seats are reserved for this show and tickets go on sale Friday, May 6 at 10:00 AM via www.ticketmaster.com. Met Club members should log in for more information about a special pre-sale starting on Wednesday, May 4. Yankees season ticket holders will have their own pre-sale, also on May 4, starting at noon.

Check back here next week for more information about VIP packages and long distance shuttles."

source: metallica.com

The Big Four is coming to New York in September

Following the success of last weekend's Big Four of Thrash show in Indio, California Metallica has announced that there will be a second show in Yankee Stadium on September, 14. Tickets for the show go on sale next Friday May 6^th via www.ticketmaster.com. All seats will be reserved meaning there will likely not be general admission seating available. This makes sense with the Yankees likely in the thick of a pennant race. Lars Ulrich commented in the announcement:

“A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the desert this past weekend . . . we felt the enormous love and support, so we just had to find a way to make one more Big 4 show in the States happen. Enter New York . . . that’s right, the Big 4 of Anthrax, Megadeth, Slayer, and ‘Tallica will be in the new version of the famed Yankee Stadium on September 14, 2011! We can’t wait for a night in the Bronx as our second American show and for those of you who love fun facts, this will also be the second live music event hosted at the new ballpark.”

The attendance last weekend was placed at over 50,000. The new ballpark that opened in 2009 usually holds upwards of 50,000. The seating can be expanded to 54,000 plus as it was for a college football game last December. 

Metallica drummer confirms more Big 4 US shows will be announced in the coming weeks

Lars Ulrich spoke to RollingStone.com concerning more Big 4 US shows:

"We are looking to book something on the East Coast because of the success of this — it should hopefully come together in a week or two," Ulrich said. "Maybe we'll do somewhere in the Midwest and South, too. Still, I don't think it will turn into a 40-date arena tour; that would make it less special. I like the fact that there's an element of chaos to the whole thing. It shouldn't be sterile, streamlined and perfect: it needs an edgy underbelly to remain authentic."

Megadeth's Mustaine and Slayer's King talk Big 4

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine spoke with Steve Appleford from LA Weekly this week about a number of topics including tomorrow's (April 23rd) Big Four show at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA and finally getting over METALLICA. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

LA Weekly: Leaving Metallica and then becoming a platinum-selling artist on your own was a huge accomplishment, but your acrimony with that band seemed to go on for years.

Mustaine: "It was a pretty big mountain to climb. The thing was, I wasn't really looking at what was right in front of me. I was looking down the road at my pals that had left me behind because the different chemical reaction that alcohol had on us. When we drank, those guys would get happy and I would get angry. I grew up fighting. My whole life I was living on the streets, scratching and clawing. I'm almost 50, and when I think back . . . David Ellefson and I had an asinine agreement: We were panhandling in Hollywood, and if we didn't make it, we were going to handcuff ourselves to a light pole and pull a hand-grenade pin and go out in a bang. Obviously we were stupid and probably stoned at the time."

LA Weekly: You've said that performing 'Am I Evil?' with all those guys in Bulgaria last year was an important moment for you.

Mustaine: "Well, I think it was important for everybody. It was almost like a cosmic polarity thing that happened between two opposing forces. Me and James (Hetfield) were the guys that people used to always put against each other. For us to be onstage finally playing . . . The sad thing was, when they put a face to the feud, it was me against James. So when it was over, I remember hearing the audience when I hugged James and how loud they were - it was like a global sigh, like the world going, 'Uhh, finally.'"

LA Weekly: Tom Araya of Slayer told me he would actually be interested in doing 'The Four Horsemen' (an early Metallica song originally written by Mustaine). He said it was more representative of what you guys were all about.

Mustaine: "Wow. On tour I've gotten to know Tom and I really like that guy. He's a really interesting and cool guy. Today I just walked in [to Slayer's dressing room] and said I heard from (ailing Slayer guitarist) Jeff Hanneman - because I texted Jeff and told him I've been praying for him about his arm and asking if he wants to talk to me. I said to Jeff, "Look, I want you to remember I had an arm injury that almost ended my career. And I know what it feels like to not be able to play."


SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke with Steve Appleford from LA Weekly about a number of topics including tomorrow's (April 23rd) Big Four show at at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA and the status of guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

LA Weekly: That's a gigantic venue to fill in Indio. How are these four metal bands (METALLICA, Slayer, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX) able to fill it?

King: "Metallica is pretty huge on their own. The historic-ness of it - four of the biggest metal bands to come out of the US getting together. The media named us the Big 4 so long ago, it's been every fan's pipe dream."

LA Weekly: What is the latest news with [guitarist] Jeff Hanneman?

King: "He's trying his ass off. He's been talking about playing that show, but I just don't see how physically he'd be able to do that. I'm just being realistic. He came to the last rehearsal and surprised everybody. I was blown away that he was even out of the house. That was after his first or second skin graft to fix the huge opening he had. He was totally out of gas because he hadn't left the house much. He was cold because his immune system was all fucked up. We haven't talked since then. I get updates through management. He's doing whatever the doctors tell him to do."

LA Weekly: Outside the Long Beach last time, there were a couple Christian protesters. Do you still get a lot of that?

King: "I think it was bigger before. Now I think people are more tolerant of different people's views and opinions. The funny thing about protesters is, you never see atheists or Satanists protest anything. They're comfortable in their beliefs. It's only Christians that are so uncomfortable with how they feel, they're not happy unless everyone believes what they believe."

Exodus guitairst Gary Holt will fill in for Jeff Hanneman during Slayer's set in Indio, CA for the Big 4 show.

Famed author Stephen King speaks on how Metallica, Anthrax and Judas Priest inspires him to write

According to Theatlantic.com, the May 2011 issue of The Atlantic features the short story Herman Wouk Is Still Alive, by Stephen King. James Parker, The Atlantic's entertainment columnist, talked to King about how the story came into being, about King's creative process, about the state of short fiction today, and about the relative merits of BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST as background music to write to. They spoke on April 1.

Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Theatlantic.com: Are you still listening to music when you write?

King: "I listen to music when I rewrite now. I don't listen to music when I compose anymore. I can't. I've lost the ability to multi-task that way!"

Theatlantic.com: You used to listen to METALLICA, right?

King: "Metallica, ANTHRAX, I still listen to those guys... There's a band called the LIVING THINGS that I like a lot. Very loud group. I never cared for Ozzy very much."

Theatlantic.com: I'm obsessed with BLACK SABBATH.

King: "No, no. They don't really work for me. 'I AM IRON MAN!'"

Theatlantic.com: That doesn't do it?

King: "No. JUDAS PRIEST, now…"

Theatlantic.com: I love Judas Priest.

King: "Did you ever hear their cover of 'Diamonds And Rust'?"

Theatlantic.com: Yes. I love it. Now: In your grand maturity...

King: "(laughs) I don't feel very mature."

Theatlantic.com: ...what is your favorite part of the creative process?

King: "It's still when you sit down and you get a really good day, and something happens that you don't expect and you just take off, you just go off on the material - I love that, when that happens."

Read more at Theatlantic.com.

This article is courtesy of Bravewords.com.

More details released for Eddie Trunk's upcoming book.

Publishing house Abrams has released more details about the upcoming book “Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal”. Trunk is well known as the host of  VH1 Classic's hit program “That Metal Show” as well as his shows on Sirius Satellite radio and his syndicated Friday Night rocks show as well. The book, which contains a forward written by no less than “The Metal God” Rob Halford covers Eddie's favorite bands in rock and metal with a brief overview of each bands' career. He details all of the crucial albums, important songs and adds Eddie's own one-of-a-kind anecdotes and memories of his career in music.

New jersey born, Trunk got his start in radio at WDHA-FM before beginning his career in the music business at Megaforce Records during the First Wave of American Thrash Metal. Eddie contributed to such iconic bands successes as Anthrax, Overkill, King's X, Metallica, Raven, helped revive Ace Frehley's solo career after Kiss as well as supporting and promoting tons of underground bands. In addition to his TV and radio work Eddie is an expert on all things in metal history, runs his website, writes liner notes for bands and still a sought after MC at many New York and New Jersey rock and metal events.

New episodes for the 8th season of That Metal Show begin this Saturday night, March 19th. 

Anthrax guitarist to miss eight shows in July.

Scott Ian will miss eight shows this summer when his wife Pearl Aday is due to give birth to their first child. Filling in for him during that stretch will be none other than Sepultura guitarist Andres Kisser. No word on if this will affect Sepultura's touring plans behind their forthcoming new album Kairos, due in June from Nuclear Blast.

Pearl is well known as the daughter of rock legend Meatloaf as well as a gifted singer in her own right. Her debut album Little Immaculate White Fox in 2009 was excellent and Ian is a part of her band as well.

Ian has had a busy year already busy year recording a new album and touring with Anthrax and his rock supergroup The Damned Things as well.  

Former Anthrax singer Dan Nelson launches another new project.

Former Anthrax singer Dan Nelson has launched another new band in the form of the Levittown (Long Island) New York group Farewell to Washington. Joining forces with Dan “Shaggy” Hoffman and Joe Post in what Nelson calls a rock/blues/punk/metal/hardcore/fun band. The band will record its first demo next week and Nelson says of the project:

“People should expect very little from us, as we expect even less from ourselves.”

Nelson was the singer of Anthrax from 2008 to early 2009 and performed several headline gigs, opening shows for Iron Maiden in addition to recording an albums worth of new material that was to be called Worship Music. The band has since reunited with Joey Belladonna (after courting John Bush first) and is re-working the Nelson recordings with Belladonna for a late 2011 release.

Nelson has kept busy with his full time thrash band Blackgates featuring Paul Bostaph of Testament and Slayer fame on drums, Jeremy Epp on guitars and Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake) on bass. He also recorded a duet with Long Island metallers Dormitory Effect on their 2010 record About Time called “Hand That Feeds". 

Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson Jr. talks Big 4 bands and future concerts

Legendary Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson Jr. was interviewed by Mitch Lafon for Bravewords.com. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Bravewords.com: It really is great, but it was a little late in the making don’t you think? The Big 4 should have been done ten years ago.

Ellefson: "The truth of it is – it should have been done twenty-five years ago, but there was a period of time where we were all carving out our own paths and our own destinies which would eventually become our own names for ourselves. To be honest with you, we all had our own course to chart and I think that the fact that we all four went and did that… We were called the Big 4 in the early ‘90s or late’80s even, but it took us to go through what we needed to go through to build our own legacies. Every one of these bands has its own legacy, which then creates this dynasty called the Big 4.”

Bravewords.com: You mentioned Judas Priest earlier. They’re on their ‘farewell’ tour. Has that topic come up with Megadeth or are you ready to go for another fifty years?

Ellefson: "You know with Megadeth, we really live for the moment. It’s always been like that since day one. From the day Dave and I met, this thing has always been for the moment. Yes, there has been ideas and planning about what’s supposed to happen, but anytime we’ve gotten in to these long terms strategic plans… shit changes. It never works out and sometimes I hear people talk with corporate lingo like that and I’m like ‘dude, this is a rock ‘n roll band that you’re talking about and rock ‘n roll is a wild beast that changes. It ebbs and it flows and like a wild animal when it gets hungry it wants to eat. That’s how rock ‘n roll is. It’s wild and untamed. Megadeth is most definitely a real rock ‘n roll band.”

Bravewords.com: Before we wrap up – can I get a quote about your Big 4 brothers? Slayer what does that mean to you?

Ellefson: "Slayer were the one band that never changed, never went with the trends and really carried the torch for our genre through thick and thin and without deviating at all.”

Bravewords.com: Anthrax…

Ellefson: "Anthrax are a rowdy New York party band, but they’re from the street and not from the club which is what makes them cool.”

Bravewords.com: And Metallica…

Ellefson: "We wouldn’t be here without Metallica – plain and simple. If Lars hadn’t put those feelers out through The Recycler to try and put a band together… none of us would be here. We owe a lot to him and certainly to him and James for carrying the torch all these years. Metallica is the 800 lb gorilla and I’m thankful for them every day.”

Joey Belladonna Tweets about recording next Anthrax album.

Joey Belladonna has updated fans on progress of the new Anthrax album via his Twitter account. The band has inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for their next album due late in 2011. This will mark their first original music since 2004's We've Come For You All and their first recording in twenty years with Belladonna. Of the the recording process Joey tweeted:

“It's sounding great.......Everyone loves it! ….......I am killing it!”

Anthrax is making their second attempt to finish their latest album which was previously titled “Worship Music” and was recorded with singer Dan Nelson (now in Blackgates) who was briefly in the band from 2008- 2009. No word yet if that title is still in the mix or if new artwork and merch, some of which had been leaked would be redone. Other than a few shows in Europe in 2009 former vocalist John Bush has retired for the most part from music (specifically touring) to concentrate on his voice over career, most notably for Burger King and to spend time with his family.

Belladonna is in his third go-round in the New York metal legends, and has been back in the band since last summer when Anthrax took part in the “Big Four” concerts throughout Europe. Joey is re-recording some of the tracks Nelson had done as well as some new songs specifically written for him since he rejoined.

Anthrax will play the first American “Big Four” concert in Indio, CA on April 23^rd. For ticket info click here.  

Anthrax Guitarist Scott Ian Offers Update On New Album

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HellYeah Confirmed Asian Dates

HellYeah the USA band featuring members from Pantera, Mudvayne and Damageplan has just confirmed more asian dates:

April:
30 - Manilla, Philippines - Pulp Summer Slam Festival

May
2 - Bangkok, Thailand - Thunder Dome (with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL)
5 May Tokyo, Japan - O-East *
6 May Tokyo, Japan O-East *
7 May Naka-ku, Nagoya-Aichi, JAPAN Diamond Hall *
9 May Osaka, Japan Big Cat *

* with Anthrax

Metallica and Anthrax members comment on the Big 4 USA concert

RollingStone.com interviewed Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich about the upcoming Big 4 concert in Indio, CA on April 23rd, 2011. Here are comments from Mr. Ulrich:

"Most of the egos and sandbox issues from the Eighties and Nineties have dissipated," Ulrich said. "We actually enjoy each others' company and are comfortable celebrating the past while continuing our path into the future. It's cool. Who would have known that anybody actually still gives a shit? We're very fortunate."

He added, "A lot of this music has aged really well. There are a lot of 12-year-olds that show up at these rock shows. It's scary to see a whole slew of 12-year-olds up against the barricade down in the front. It's a great thing to be part of their right of passage."

Regarding the possibility of additional "Big Four" U.S. dates, Ulrich said, "I'm not saying this is the last one. But I don't want this to turn into something that overtakes everybody's schedules for the next couple years. If we keep it special, it's better than to overstay your welcome and people run screaming away. Let's see what happens."
Artosan News Service interviewed Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian who had the following to say:

"Under the umbrella of hard rock and heavy metal, you've had so many different branches come off that tree. We're just another branch, we created something new in the early '80s. We were all influenced by the same thing, we all came from the same school, so to speak, and, you know, we created thrash metal. We started something new. And I think that's the best thing you could say about any band, or any musician or any artist... is if you create something that wasn't there before. It's just an amazing thing to be able to say that all these years later — we started this band in 1981, Metallica formed in '81 — 29 years later, we're still doing this, because there's so many people on this planet that still love what we do and that are interested in what we do and that wanna be a part of this scene and a part of this music. It's just amazing to me that all these years later... We're on almost a second generation of fans now — 13-year-olds coming to the gigs still just love what we do so much. And that's just such a privilege that we get to go out and do this."

Tickets are on sale starting Friday, January 28, at 10:00 a.m. PT. Metallica fan club members are advised to visit MetClub.com for pre-sale and VIP package info.

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax Big 4 announcement will be for one US concert?

In what some metal fans may deem as a let down, we can exclusively reveal that the Big 4 announcement for tomorrow will consist of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax performing only one show in the USA. It will not be a tour, a mini tour - just one show. A one time destination event. Rumors have run rampant over cities which would host the event (as a tour stop) and the cities mentioned the most have been Los Angeles, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Columbus, OH. My bet is that the concert ends up being close to 3 of the 4 bands headquarters which is located in California.

A new rumor has the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA as hosting the event. The same field which hosts the annual Coachella festival. Sounds like it will be a big day for metal not limited to only the Big 4. We will have the official word when it is released by Metallica representatives tomorrow.

Big 4 Tour Announcement Tomorrow

It's probably no surprise to anyone by now, but Metallica's website posted this picture this morning, linking fans to a Big 4 Facebook page. With it came the news that the Big 4 is indeed going to tour the US! The exact details are going to be announced at 8 am PST/11 am EST tomorrow. As reported before, it is expected to be a short tour with a handful of dates, similar to what Ozzfest did last summer. Whether it will be a festival-type show or a standard tour with just the 4 bands remains to be seen. All will be revealed tomorrow.

In addition to the Big 4 tour announcement tomorrow, look for the 2011 Rockstar Mayhem Festival lineup to be announced on Wednesday, the 26th.

Update on Metallica Big 4 USA tour ***UPDATED***

According to a tweet from the host of That Metal Show and radio personality Eddie Trunk a member of one of The Big 4 bands was asked about a USA tour for 2011 and stated they knew nothing about it.

This information conflicts with information we previously reported about various band members confirming the tour at NAMM 2011 earlier in the month.

One thing we do know is that there have been occurences where band members were not told about tours until right before the official announcement due to all parties involved wanting to avoid information leaks. It is easy to explain a band member having no knowledge of an upcoming tour. What is not easy to explain are members from two of the bands saying the tour will happen when no official word has been given verifying or denying the tour.

There have been unconfirmed rumors of venues being placed on hold on certain dates for the tour (Los Angeles, Ohio, Detroit) for the tour. Those rumors could be true but I think they are unlikely. There was a new rumor about a two month long USA tour kicking off in the spring but I think that is unlikely too.

There are two rumors I believe are true. First is the rumor that the tour will happen in 2011. Metallica representatives have talked about plans for a massive production on a tour that will feature their best selling self titled album's twentieth anniversary celebrated. Not to mention all 4 of the bands repeatedly stating they want the tour to happen. Add in band members stating at NAMM that the tour will happen and this leaves us with too much evidence to think the tour won't happen.

The second rumor is that the tour announcement will be unveiled in April. This is perfect timing to unleash the official details of the tour. This will probably happen after tickets are onsale for Megadeth's strong rumored participation on the 2011 Mayhem Festival. Not to mention the band has 5 songs recorded for their next release which could be in mid 2011 if luck is on their side. It is also the perfect time for Anthrax to hype their new album with Joey Belladonna on vocals. I am not sure what Slayer will have new to offer their fans but I expect a greatest hits release or new DVD at the very least to coincide with the Big 4 tour.

Nothing is official until confirmed by band members or tour organizers in an official press release. With that said, common sense supported by evidence indicates that the Big 4 will tour the USA in 2011. The time is right and it would be a huge shock if the tour did not come to fruition this year.

***UPDATED***
By pure coincidence we received word from a source who works for one of the bands. We can confirm once again that the Big 4 will have concerts in the USA during the summer of 2011. We can also confirm that in fact there will not be a tour but a small amount of concerts, no more than a total of 6. Fans wanting to attend this tour may have to travel as it appears it will be a destination festival held at different locations in the USA.

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax tour confirmed for USA in 2011!!!

Metallica and the rest of the Big 4 -Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax - will be touring the USA this summer. Reports are coming from NAMM that various band members were overheard making statements that the tour is happening. Rumors are surfacing of certain cities being candidates to receive the shows however we do not have the information to confirm the cities at this time.

Metallica has stated that the tour would coincide with the 20th anniversary of their self titled album aka ‘The Black Album’. The band has hinted at a huge production that could rival Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour. With that in mind, it only seems natural that the band would turn the tour into a full scale festival, reminiscent of Ozzfest.  If the tour is indeed a festival, other bands would likely be included on a smaller stage. We will take an in depth look at bands that would be a possibility to be added to the Big 4 tour. One thing of note is that since we do not have any dates we cannot be sure if the Big 4 will compete/conflict with dates by other tours/events such as the Wacken Festival. Since Megadeth is likely on Mayhem Festival it seems as if the tour will not take place until mid-August at the earliest. Here are bands we think would be likely added onto the Big 4 tour:

Mastodon
Machine Head
Down
Gojira
The Sword
Fear Factory
Volbeat
Overkill
Exodus
Testament

Perhaps 5 of those bands on the small stages would be enough. Perhaps the older legends like Testament, Overkill or Exodus could open the main stage? Are there any bands you think should be included on this tour?

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