If anything can be said about Anthrax - in addition to the crunching tunes and killer performances - it's that they can roll with the punches. With three decades in existence and an array of personnel changes, Anthrax knows how to adapt, move on, and continue to destroy.
Last week's news about lead-guitarist, Rob Caggiano, leaving the band after 12 years came as a surprise to many. But with a spring tour looming the question at hand was who'd be chosen to play guitar for the band. That answer came today - Shadow's Fall guitarist Jon Donais. Donais will temporarily fill in for band's upcoming tour dates in India, the series of Soundwave Festival shows in Australia, and the North American Metal Alliance Tour which will be making a stop here in Chicago.
"Jon is a bro and he's also a total f**king ripper," stated Anthrax's Scott Ian in a press release. "I've worked with him twice before on side projects and he tears it up. I'm excited to have him on my right burning up the stage with Anthrax. 13's gonna be a good year."
Donais himself had this to say: "I grew up on Anthrax, they're the thrash scene, they're one of The Big Four, I'd be crazy to not want to play with them. Initially, Rob called and told me he was leaving the band, and asked if I'd be interested in filling in. Then Scott called me and everything fell into place. Rob and I are using Skype to work on solos and other guitar parts, so he's being great. I also have to give special thanks to my band - Brian, Matt, Jason and Ed - who have been incredibly supportive and encouraged me to do this."
Anthrax, with Donais, will be coming to Chicago's House of Blues on their Metal Alliance Tour on April 5 where they'll perform their Among The Living album in its entirety. Click here for tickets.
The band is also working on an EP release entitled Anthems. Due out on March 19, some of the tracks included are Rush's "Anthem," Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak," AC/DC's "TNT," Cheap Trick's "Big Eyes," Boston's "Smokin'," and "Keep On Runnin'" by Journey, and more.
Never a dull moment in the Anthrax camp - and fans wouldn't have it any other way.
Dates for Anthrax's upcoming concerts with Jon Donais on guitar are as follows:
(India)
FEBRUARY
16 Fly Festival, Delhi (with Limp Bizkit, Mastodon)
17 Fly Festival, Bangalore (with Limp Bizkit, Mastodon)
(Australia - all dates with Metallica, Slayer, Linkin Park, more)
FEBRUARY
23 Soundwave Festival 2013, Brisbane
24 Soundwave Festival 2013, Sydney
MARCH
1 Soundwave Festival 2013, Melbourne
2 Soundwave Festival 2013, Adelaide
4 Soundwave Festival 2013, Perth
(Metal Alliance Tour/North America - all dates with Exodus, High on Fire, Municipal Waste, Holy Grail)
MARCH
22 House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
23 House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV
24 Marquee, Tempe, AZ
25 House of Blues, San Diego, CA
27 House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA
28 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
29 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
30 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC CANADA
31 Showbox SODO, Seattle, WA
APRIL
2 Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO
4 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
**5 House of Blues, Chicago, IL
6 The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
7 Bogart's, Cincinnati, OH
9 House of Blues, Dallas, TX
10 House of Blues, Houston, TX
12 House of Blues, Orlando, FL
13 Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC
14 Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD
16 House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
18 Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
20 Irving Plaza, New York, NY
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