Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s ‘The Metal Voice’ recently spoke with ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian, talking about his book ‘I’m The Man’ and ANTHRAX’s coming new album:

When asked about the music scene when Anthrax first started out.

“At the beginning there was no scene in New York for bands playing their own music, there were just cover bands at the time. We were just a bunch of guys who were into metal and wanted to write our own songs and had a rehearsal space,  we there six, seven times nights a week just working on trying to be the best band we could be. By 1984 there was a scene because Raven, Metallica and Anthrax  sold out the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, none of us had a major record label deal yet  3500 kids showed up and lost their minds.

Remembering Johnny Z being playing him Metallica’s  ‘No life ‘Til Leather’ Demo for the first time

“I remember he played me the  ‘No life ‘Til Leather’ demo at his store one day, just blew me away sounded so cool and he told me he’s bringing them to New York and he’s going to make an album and he’s starting his own record company.  I was like how do you do that? How are you going to start a record label? How do you even know how to do that? He was honest, I don’t know but nobody else is going to do it. I’ve been playing this demo for every major label and they just stick their fingers in their ears and they throw me out of their office.

When asked about the golden era of metal in the 1980’s

When it comes to heavy metal certainly what happened in the US in the 80’s was a big deal  and a lot of people worldwide are still interested in us and Metallica and Slayer, so it just shows what we were doing  as kids in the early 80’s really has left a big imprint on this planet. I am glad I can give a peak behind the curtain for people who weren’t a part of it. If you read my book you can kind of just to see what was going on

When asked about which stories  did not make it in this book ‘I’m The man’

“Hopefully you’ll read them in book two. I feel like I have more than enough material I don’t know what book 2 is going to be yet it’s obviously not going to be another memoir. So I haven’t really figured out what it’s going to be yet. I’ve got a ton of material

When asked about the up and coming Anthrax album

It’s coming along great we’re going to take a break we head out on tour and be able to get away from it, live with it for awhile and then come back in June and spend another month finishing it up . We’re in a real good zone creatively and I think if you like the last record your really going to love this new one.

Watch the interview here: