2019 has been one of the biggest years in heavy music in recent memory, with heavyweights such as Tool, Slipknot and Rammstein dropping long-awaited new albums, while trailblazing up-and-comers pushed boundaries in their own right. Thrash veterans Anthrax may not have dropped any new material over the last 12 months, but they have been hard at work on their next album, the follow-up to 2016's For All Kings. With that in mind, we asked guitarist Scott Ian to share some of his favorite shit from this year — below is what he offered up.
1. My son playing "Everlong" with the Foo Fighters at the Bourbon & Beyond Festival on September 9th
If you're a dad, you understand. I'm still crying.
2. Avengers Endgame
I've watched it six times. It's fucking glorious. It's everything this Seventies Marvel kid ever wanted.
3. The Mandalorian
Jon Favreau created the MCU. His foray into the Star Wars universe is a beautiful paean to nerds the world over.
4. My Gretsch Malcolm Young "Salute" Jet
Playing this guitar is the closest I'll ever get to the king of rhythm guitar.
5. Fleabag
The best show on television.
6. Being a fly on the wall watching Pearl and Cody Jinks write a song out on a ranch somewhere in Texas
There wasn't a song, and then a few hours and many beers later there was an intensely moving work of music. Magical and inspiring.
7. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Makes me wish I lived in NYC in 1958. Lenny Bruce! 'Nuff said.
8. Iron Maiden at Barclays Center Brooklyn, New York, on July 27th
My favorite metal band absolutely destroyed NYC. My neck still hurts.
9. Anthrax at Rock in Rio on October 4th
We have wanted to play this festival since we saw pics of Iron Maiden playing it in 1985. The 34-year wait was worth it. One of the best shows of our lives.
10. Being asked to be in Mr. Bungle
Speaks for itself.
11. New Anthrax songs
It's our Dark Side of the Moon — but faster.
