ANTHRAX to be rejoined by bassist DAN LILKER after 40-years for April/May 2024 tour dates
28-03-2024
ANTHRAX has announced that, due to personal reasons, bassist Frank Bello will not be able to accompany the band on its upcoming South American tour, set to kick off April 13 at MXMF The Metal Fest in Mexico City. Filling in on those dates, as well as two U.S. festival shows in May, will be ANTHRAX founding member and original bassist Dan Lilker, marking his first appearance with the band in 40 years. Lilker, who co-wrote and played on ANTHRAX‘s debut album “Fistful Of Metal”, was also a member of STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH with Charlie Benante and Scott Ian.
“I’m really looking forward to jamming with ANTHRAX again,” said Lilker. “When we parted ways back in 1984, they told me to stick around because they might need me in 40 years.”
Added the band: “We’re all very excited about with playing with Danny again, and we really appreciate his filling in for Frank. It’s been way too long since we played South America, so you don’t want to miss these shows, they’re going to be insane.”
Bello said: “I wanted to let all my friends know that I’m sorry that I won’t be coming to play the upcoming ANTHRAX dates in Mexico, South America or the couple of U.S. festival dates in May. Everything’s OK, but for personal reasons, I won’t be able to make those shows. I want to thank my friend Danny Lilker for stepping in for me; he’s gonna rock it! Enjoy the shows. I’m sure they will be great, and I’ll look forward to seeing you all soon.”
Lilker has not been idle over the past four decades, having played in a wide variety of bands. He was the bassist for the thrash/metal band NUCLEAR ASSAULT and the grindcore band BRUTAL TRUTH. He also plays bass for EXIT-13, MALFORMED EARTHBORN, THE RAVENOUS, OVERLORD EXTERMINATOR, VENOMOUS CONCEPT, and more.
Lilker, who played bass on “Fistful Of Metal” and wrote most of the music for the record, told Knotfest about ANTHRAX‘s 40th anniversary: “I’m definitely proud of that whole thing. I think it’s great that those guys are still going… That was real good memories back then. I know people go, ‘Oh, they fucking threw you out after that,’ and blah blah blah. But, obviously, I got over that and formed NUCLEAR ASSAULT. And next year we were doing S.O.D. So I’m not the kind of guy who stays bitter forever. But, yeah, the memories of those times, writing that record and recording it and everything was… ‘Cause there was no blueprint or anything; we just had influences and just tried to put our own stamp on ’em back then. So, yeah, it kind of sucks being thrown out three days before [it got] released, but it gave me an excuse to do something else.”
In recent years, Ian has voiced his appreciation for the role “Fistful Of Metal” played in giving ANTHRAX its start, telling Metal Hammer: “Let’s face it, ‘Fistful Of Metal’ gave us our career. It got the band some attention, made people all over the world aware of what we could do — and for that reason alone I have to be grateful to everyone involved. The record was vital in launching us, and everything we’ve done, and become, since stems from that debut record. I may be critical of it in some ways, but I could never do anything other than admit we owe it all to ‘Fistful Of Metal’. If that had never happened… well, perhaps you would never have heard of ANTHRAX.”
ANTHRAX released its last live album ‘XL‘ in June 2022 under Nuclear Blast.
ANTHRAX‘s latest album, “For All Kings”, came out in February 2016 via Nuclear Blast.
ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.
Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the “Big Four”.
“For All Kings” was called by some critics ANTHRAX‘s strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX‘s inclusion on the “Big Four” tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP “Worship Music”.
ANTHRAX released a live album called ‘XL‘ in July 2022.
Order ‘XL‘ HEREStream/purchase ‘The Devil You Know‘ live HERE.‘The Devil You Know‘ was the first official single released from the band’s highly-acclaimed 2011 album, Worship Music, and was a stand-out track with the media. Rolling Stone referred to it as “…a relentlessly heavy number…as aggressive and punishing as you would expect from the band, but with a touch of old school AC/DC swagger thrown in for good measure,” while Loudwire wrote that it was “addictive and propulsive…Scott unleashes what might be the riff of the year.”
‘XL’ tracklisting:Time/Fight Em ’Til You Can’tMadhouseCaught In A MoshMetal Thrashing MadGot The TimeI Am The LawKeep It In The FamilyLone JusticeThe Devil You KnowBe All End AllNow It’s DarkAntisocialIn The EndMedusaEvil TwinIndiansSkeletons In The ClosetBlood Eagle WingsBring The NoiseA.I.R.Among The LivingCredits:Anthrax: Scott Ian/guitars, Charlie Benante/drums, Frank Bello/bass, Joey Belladonna/vocals, Jon Donais/guitarsProduced by Jack Bennett, Mike Monterulo, AnthraxDirected by Jack BennettMixed by Jay RustonRunning time: 2h 5m 34s
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