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Exclusive: Anthrax Premiere Cover of Cheap Trick’s “Big Eyes”

Damian Fanelli — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:00:04 +0000

Today, RevolverMag.com brings you the exclusive premiere of Anthrax’s cover of Cheap Trick’s “Big Eyes.” The song is from Anthems, the band’s new eight-song EP that pays tribute to classic songs by some of Anthrax’s favorite bands from the 1970s.

Anthems will be released in North America March 19 by MRI/Megaforce and March 22 in Europe via Nuclear Blast.

The EP includes covers of Rush’s “Anthem,” Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak,” “TNT” by AC/DC, Boston’s “Smokin’,” “Big Eyes” by Cheap Trick, Journey’s “Keep on Runnin,” plus the album version and a special remix of Anthrax’s “Crawl” from the band’s 2011 album, Worship Music.

“We were toying around with the idea of doing a Cheap Trick song, and ‘Big Eyes’ was one of our favorites,” said drummer Charlie Benante. “We recorded it, but then got busy with other things, so we never finished it. What happened was, Joey was out in LA doing vocals for the EP and Jay Ruston [co-producer] pulled ‘Big Eyes’ up and had Joey do the vocals, something we didn’t know he was going to do. But it turned out so great. Joey’s vocals are so amazing, so we knew we wanted the song on the EP.

“After Joey’s vocals, all the song needed was a guitar lead, and I did that in my Chicago studio. I think the song turned out to be one of the best songs on the EP. Everyone in the band is a huge Cheap Trick fan. They were one of the first concerts I went to, probably in 1978 when I was living in New York, I saw them at the Palladium. Actually, ‘Big Eyes’ is the second time Anthrax has covered a Cheap Trick song; in 1992, we recorded ‘Auf Wiedersehen,’ which was the B-side of their single ‘Surrender,’ as one of the bonus tracks for Anthrax’s Sound of White Noise.”

“These are all bands I grew up with and have listened to forever,” added vocalist Joey Belladonna. “It’s just great music. I had fun singing these songs and I was happy recording together with Anthrax, doing classic rock songs. Fun stuff!”

Anthems was produced by Anthrax, Jay Ruston and Rob Caggiano and recorded for the most part throughout 2012 literally all over the world: at Benante’s home studio, in Ruston’s New York studio, on the band’s tour bus while on last summer’s Mayhem Tour, in hotel rooms, and backstage at their Berlin show last December.

Anthrax — Belladonna, Benate (drums), Scott Ian (guitar) and Frank Bello (bass) — hit the road last month in support of Anthems. They’ll return to North America to headline the Metal Alliance Tour, which kicks off March 22. For all of these dates, Anthrax will be joined by Shadows Fall guitarist Jon Donais.

Check out Anthrax’s current tour dates here. Keep up with Anthrax at their Facebook page!

The Year in Live Photos

Revolver Magazine — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:40:44 +0000

As 2012 draws closer, we’re celebrating the things that have made this year great. One that stands out is all of the great concerts that took place all over the world in 2011. We’ve been posting photos from events such as the Big Four, the Revolver Golden Gods, the Wacken Festival, and many other notable concerts throughout the year right here on Revolvermag.com. Now we’re celebrating the best of the best: 75 photos of bands ranging from Metallica at the Big Four to Avenged Sevenfold’s jam with Hellyeah and Pantera’s Vinnie Paul at the Revolver Golden Gods. We can only hope next year has as many amazing moments.

Let’s also take this moment to recognize the photographers, credited below each photo, who risk life and lens to go in the pit and capture the mayhem as it happens. For those about to shoot, we salute you!

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Photos: Anthrax, Live in San Francisco, With Members of Metallica & Death Angel

Kory Grow — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:24:23 +0000

Anthrax are currently on tour, alongside Testament and Death Angel, in support of their latest album, Worship Music. On Sunday, they played San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre, where they brought on some special guests. Joining them to do guest vocals on “I Am the Law” were Death Angel frontman Mark Osegueda and their buddy in the Big Four, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. The latter even joined them for a rendition of his band’s “Whiplash.” Photographer Andrew Wilson of RockMonthly Magazine was on hand to witness the mayhem. Check out what he saw below.

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Video: Zakk Wylde Asks, “Who Should Win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Gods?”

Jason Le Miere — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:55:31 +0000

While at the star-studded Metal Masters 2 clinic (which you can still stream right here), which took place a few days before the Big Four concert at Yankee Stadium, Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde caught up with some of the performers for exclusive interviews. In this final installment of our Zakk Wylde takeover, he asks, “Who should win the Revolver Golden Gods Lifetime Achievement Award?” Check out what Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna and Rob Caggiano, Slayer’s Kerry King, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy, and Eddie Trunk have to say.

Video: Zakk Wylde Asks, “Who Drank Harder, Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle?”

Kory Grow — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:00:14 +0000

While at the star-studded Metal Masters 2 clinic (which you can still stream right here), which took place a few days before the Big Four concert at Yankee Stadium, Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde caught up with some of the performers for exclusive interviews. In this installment of our Zakk Wylde takeover, he asks “Who would win a drinking contest, Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle?” Check out what Slayer’s Kerry King, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy, Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, and Rob Caggiano, DJ Lady Starlight, and Eddie Trunk have to say.

Video: Zakk Wylde Asks the Metal Masters, “Who has the best beard, me or Scott Ian?”

Kory Grow — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:25:22 +0000

While at the star-studded Metal Masters 2 clinic (which you can still stream right here), which took place a few days before the Big Four concert at Yankee Stadium, Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde caught up with some of the performers for exclusive interviews. In this installment of our Zakk Wylde takeover, he asks “Who has the best beard, me or Scott Ian?” Check out what Slayer’s Kerry King, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy, Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, and Rob Caggiano, DJ Lady Starlight, and Eddie Trunk have to say.

Video: Zakk Wylde Asks the Metal Masters, “Who Are the Big Four Yankees?”

Kory Grow — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:09:41 +0000

While at the star-studded Metal Masters 2 clinic (which you can still stream right here), which took place a few days before the Big Four concert at Yankee Stadium, Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde caught up with some of the performers for exclusive interviews. In this installment of our Zakk Wylde takeover, he asks “Who are the Big Four Yankees?” Check out what Slayer’s Kerry King, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy, Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, and Rob Caggiano, DJ Lady Starlight, and Eddie Trunk have to say.

Video: Zakk Wylde Asks the Metal Masters, “What Is Your Fondest Anthrax Memory?”

Kory Grow — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:38:07 +0000

While at the star-studded Metal Masters 2 clinic (which you can still stream right here), Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde caught up with some of the performers for exclusive interviews. In this installment of our Zakk Wylde takeover, he asks “What is your fondest Anthrax Memory?” since the band played that night and released their new album, Worship Music (Megaforce), last week. Check out what Slayer’s Kerry King, DJ Lady Starlight, and Eddie Trunk, as well as Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, and Rob Caggiano, have to say.

Video: Anthrax, Interviewed at the Big Four

Kory Grow — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:00:26 +0000

The Big Four of thrash—Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax—played New York City’s Yankee Stadium on September 14. It was the second time ever that all four groups have shared a stage in the United States. To mark this occasion, Revolver created Big Four trading cards for our September/October issue, and made a special issue all about the Big Four.

While at the show, we interviewed some of the bands. Check out what Anthrax had to say about playing Yankee Stadium below.

Photos: Anthrax at the Big Four

Kory Grow — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:47:45 +0000

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, performing together as the Big Four, stormed New York City’s Yankee Stadium yesterday for triumphant sets. Revolver‘s own Stephanie Cabral was there and captured the mayhem in the photo pit. Check out pictures of New York’s hometown heroes in Anthrax, who released their first new album in eight years, Worship Music, on Tuesday.

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