FRANK BELLO, CHARLIE BENANTE, AND SCOTT IAN OF ANTHRAX RETURN FOR THE LATEST EPISODE OF “THAT METAL SHOW” AIRING FEBRUARY 28TH
Following last week’s highly successful return of That Metal Show featuring Rush’s Geddy Lee and Dream Theater’s John Petrucci (the Season 14 premiere was the second most watched Season Premiere in the history of the series) VH1 Classic’s centerpiece in original programming returns with an all-new episode this Saturday at 9:00PM ET/PT, repeating at 11:00PM ET/PT. This week Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, and Scott Ian of Anthrax stop by the acclaimed hard rock/heavy metal talk show, hosted by Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine. The guys from Anthrax give us an update on their new album, their side projects, and share stories about their longtime relationship with Eddie. The hosts get the Anthrax guys to Rank their own albums, to Put It On The Table with answers to some serious questions, and engage in a passionate debate in the Throwdown when it’s KISS Unmasked vs. KISS Dynasty. Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna checks-in from the recording studio in Los Angeles via the Metal Modem. Joey updates everyone on how the recording is going for Anthrax’s new album while taking a break from tracking his vocals.
The episode also features Testament’s ace shredder, Alex Skolnick, making his return to the show. The guitar wizard discusses his latest acoustic solo album Planetary Coalition. He also fills the hosts in on the upcoming Testament/Exodus tour, and how much he’s looking forward to those shows. Alex even donates one of his ESP LTD signature guitars to the Box Of Junk for one very lucky and excited winner.
Stump The Trunk gets dramatic this week when Eddie melts down after he mishears a question. TMS Top 5 discusses the Top 5 Cover Songs, and this week’s Take It Or Leave It has the guys discuss the increase of bands recording and releasing cover albums these days, which leads to another tirade from Eddie about the Grammys.
This week’s That After Show consists of everyone discussing what music was important to them growing up. It makes for an interesting discussion and offers unique insights into the music that inspired the guys in Anthrax to make music. Fans can watch That After Show as well as previous episodes and other exclusive bonus clips at ThatMetalShow.VH1.com and the new VH1 app.
Audience tickets for upcoming tapings are now available via Gotham Casting at gothamcasting.com/gothamrsvp.
UNMASKED or DYNASTY?: The correct answer is DESTROYER. It’s funny when Eddie has meltdowns during Stump The Trunk, so I’m looking forward to that. Although, in Eddie’s defense, some of the questions he’s asked are completely ridiculous, especially the 2-part questions. Now, for my Top 5 Cover Songs:
1. Anthrax: SABBATH, BLOODY SABBATH
2. Black Country Communion: MEDUSA
3. Judas Priest: GREEN MANALISHI
4. Metallica: AM I EVIL
5. Halestorm: SLAVE TO THE GRIND
Unmasked has one of the best Gene songs ever, “Naked City,” a sophisticated, mature song about current affairs, and his singing is incredible. I dig all of Ace’s songs, and Gene’s, not crazy about Paul’s contribution, however, and he wrote 4.
Dynasty, was pretty underwhelming…but it’s still a stronger record than Unmasked.
The Elder kicks the crap out of both of these, the fans at the time thought it was a return to form for Kiss, the ones who had completely written them off.
Creatures is so overrated. Gene is pretty good on it, but Paul’s contribution is lacking. You think the drums are loud enough?
Lick It Up is halfway decent about half the time, Vinnie Vincent is either the greatest guitar player on the planet or he’s the worst, I can’t tell.
Animalize is where they sort of got the formula that they were working on with the previous two albums to finally sound fully coherent. It’s an improved update on their two previous records. Thus, it is my pick as the best 80s, Kiss record, and it’s the clear winner. After this record they oscillate between “being Kiss” and just being a rock band that’s trying to stay current, thus, full equilibrium is not achieved on subsequent records for the remainder of the 80s…(nor the 90s for that matter, Revenge is half good, but half bloated, underwritten, and Paul sings another ballad, which he just should never do).
we debate Unmasked and Dynasty this week!
The low point for Kiss…The solos albums were a mistake, kids started really taking sides….with Ace coming out the winner most of the time, though Paul’s is the best…
Speaking of Anthrax, their best is their second record, though it could have been mixed better, the vocals aren’t mixed properly. But man, you get over to side two, with Medusa, with that total Cro-Magnon groove, that is metal.
On the other hand, the solo albums were a great concept… Maybe they were just too ahead of their time…the idea of splitting into four and then coming back together, the idea of the best songs going on the albums, not the heaviest, or the fastest, but the best…
In the early ’70s Kenny Stabler approached Al Davis’s office, Al was sitting behind his desk. “I want you to trade me,” Kenny said to Al, “I’ve been here for three years as a backup (to Daryl Lamonica), I am not going anywhere, I want to be on a team where I can start, I want you to trade me right now, I want off this team.” Al looks at Kenny, takes a breath, and says, “Kenny, go over to the corner over there and stand on your head.” And then just puts his head back down and back to his business.
Now, I just wish there was someone like Al who could’ve talked some sense into Paul, Gene, Peter, and Ace somewhere around 1979…
I thought all of Anthrax was supposed to be on…no Joey?
via Skype, was in the studio
Awesome!
I can’t believe Charlie wore a FAKE KI$$ t-shirt on the set. Why didn’t Eddie bust his balls for that?
Charlie is Gene and Paul’s good little fan. They are friends. And you know, you can’t be friends with Gene and Paul unless you support them in anything they do. Notice how Charlie wasn’t really negative during the throwdown? He’s a good little boy. “You’re a good man, Charlie B.!”
KISS is Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley , Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. KISS was Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
Brian: The impact that the original four made leaves this lineup in the dust, and 50 years from now nobody will be talking about Sonic Boom. John, Paul, George, Ringo. Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace. Tommy who? Eric who?
Actually, a few months after Sonic Boom was released nobody was talking about it.
I agree, and yet they are still KISS.