by Former Anthrax vocalist John Bush recently revealed details about a proposed dual-singer tour that never materialized. He shared his perspective on the decision in an interview with Eon Music.
Bush’s comments came in response to a question about the period surrounding the release of ‘Return of the Killer A’s’ compilation in 1999. There was discussion of a tour featuring both him and original vocalist Joey Belladonna during this time.
“Well, actually, when that record came out, that was when we were talking about doing it, and I was supportive of doing that,” Bush said. “I thought it was a cool idea, because it wasn’t something that anybody had really had ever done. It might have even been prior to Helloween doing it, which they’ve done since then; they have the three singers, which is really cool, but at that time, it was something that was kind of unusual and different.”
Bush explained that his initial enthusiasm for the concept later changed when the idea resurfaced after different circumstances.
“So I was supportive of it. It was later, I think maybe after ‘We’ve Come For You All’ was actually out, and we’d toured for it, that the idea came back up, and then that was when I said; ‘look, I already gave this an option, and it fell through,’” he continued. “So my feeling was at that point, if the idea was to kind of do a reunion, why don’t you do it without me? Because, you know, I’ve already entertained the idea of doing the tour with the two singers, and it didn’t happen, so at that time, I guess I was less interested in doing it, but the first time, when it was brought to our attention and discussed, I was totally in favour of doing it.”
Bush’s revelations shed light on a fascinating chapter in Anthrax’s history that could have changed the landscape of metal touring forever.
Metal Archives reported that *Return of the Killer A’s* was released in November 1999 as Anthrax’s first hits compilation. The album marked their debut release on the Beyond Music label. The album featured 16 tracks that showcased the band’s evolution across different vocal eras. This made it a perfect backdrop for discussions about celebrating both singers’ contributions to the band’s legacy.
The compilation’s unique positioning in Anthrax’s catalog highlighted the band’s willingness to acknowledge their dual vocal heritage. Last.fm noted that the album included some tracks with contributions from both Belladonna and Bush. This illustrated the rare overlap between the two vocal eras and underscored the potential appeal of a dual-singer tour concept.
Bush’s reference to Helloween’s later success with multiple vocalists proved prescient. The German power metal band eventually adopted multi-vocalist tours that celebrated their different eras. This validated the concept that Anthrax had considered years earlier. This approach has since become more common in metal. Bands now recognize the commercial and artistic value of honoring their complete vocal history.
The proposed tour would have been groundbreaking for its time. It potentially could have set a precedent for how legacy metal bands could celebrate their entire catalog. IMDB documented that a retrospective video collection titled *Return of the Killer A’s* was also released in 1999. The collection featured music videos and live performances with both Belladonna and Bush. This further demonstrated the band’s recognition of its dual vocal legacies and the commercial viability of such collaborations.
The revelation provides insight into the internal discussions that shaped Anthrax’s touring decisions during a pivotal period in the band’s history. It shows how timing and circumstances can determine whether innovative ideas come to fruition.
