Jimmy Kay from Canada’s ‘The Metal Voice’ recently spoke to John Bush lead singer of ARMORED SAINT and former front man of ANTHRAX. Watch the interview below.
Bush spoke to ‘The Metal Voice’ about Metallica, the early years of armour, jousting, car crashes with Tommy Lee and his 13 years of up and downs in Anthrax. As well as Armored Saints new Album ‘Win hands Down’
When asked how they financed their first E.P. that launched their career
“We were doing a show. One of the few people who attend the show was Tommy Lee. Tommy and Joey Vera were in a band before Armored Saint together and after the show they took off to go party somewhere. They ended up getting in a car accident. Next thing you know we get a call the next day and they said Joey is in the hospital and his hands are all cut up. It turned out he was going to be fine but he did obviously had an injury and he had some kind of insurance settlement that paid for the recovery of his hands and also got some extra money and from that extra money he decided to pay for the demo of the band. Funny thing is its actually in the book ‘The Dirt’ from Motley Crue. Vince talks about it but Vince gets it wrong he says they were on a motorcycle which was not true at all at was a car
When asked if Armored Saint was still in debt from recording their debut Album ‘March of the Saints’
Oh yeah because the record end up costing so much money, I’m speculating somewhere in the neighbourhood of $350,000. We were 20 years old, we didn’t know any better , it was an awesome moment and we were riding the wave. We don’t get any money from the first three records
When ask if he ever auditioned or jammed with Metallica after being made the offer to sing for the band
“No it never got to that, I think for me it was an easy decision to make because Armored Saint was becoming popular and all the guys in Armored Saint and I grew up together. It didn’t make sense for me to go quit my band that I am in with my friends and join this other band . I always make the joke, I would have change the face of Heavy Metal I don’t need that kind of pressure”
When asked about his decision to join Anthrax
I had to think about it . We just made Symbol of Salvation that was a great record. I didn’t like the idea that I was leaving the band and kind of abandoning the band. But I just had to, the results were kind of similar to what we had accomplished before. It was time for me to move on. I think it was important for me in Anthrax to be part of the songwriting process I didn’t want to go and be told what to do . I heard that’s kind of how they worked with Joey
When asked his feeling about finding out about Anthrax’s decisions to do the reunion tour with singer Joey Belladonna
I was pretty close to all of them in my own way. I think it could have been handled a bit better. The manager created a kind of wedge. If those guys would have come to me and said were considering doing a reunion tour it’s the right time. I’m sorry, I would have said I understand. The rumours were already circulating we were still touring and people were asking questions and those guys are trying to deny it, we were doing like interviews together and I knew.
It’s water under the bridge. I would entertain Armored Saint opening for Anthrax. I do love the music I created in Anthrax. I would actually prefer them to play a couple of songs (John Bush era)
When asked about his feeling towards the Armored Saints new album ‘Win hands down’
I think it’s an amazing record. It’s pretty awesome to say after all these years there seems to be that kind of feeling behind it that maybe it’s best record we ever did which is quite an accomplishment For us the whole general feeling was to able to take what we do and to take it a step beyond.
Watch interview here:
