Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has revealed how he fibbed to singer John Bush to get him back in the band for their triumphant Sonisphere performance at the beginning of the month.
The band had been forced to cancel their planned tour with Slipknot after parting company with previous singer Dan Nelson, citing вЂpersonal differences’. They managed to persuade Bush to return for what was called a вЂone off’ show at the Knebworth Park festival – which was a challenge because they’d sacked him in 2005 in favour of вЂclassic era’ singer Joey Belladonna.
Now naughty Benante has explained he told a white lie to cement the arrangement. He tells Absolute Radio: “To get John to do this, and because John is a huge Boston Celtics fan, I told him, вЂLarry Bird is gonna come out and announce us if you do it’.”
Bird is an NBA basketball legend from the 1980s and 1990s, regarded by some as the greatest player of all time.
Benante continues: “So he was like, вЂGet the…’ – I think he believed it though.
“To play Knebworth, where Led Zeppelin played in 1979, has this emotional value for me. As soon as I heard that, we were like, вЂYes, we’re doing it’. But then we had a problem where we made a singer decision.
“It was an emotional thing for us to do it – especially to ask John to come and do this for us.”
Hopes are still high among band members, fans and most people who saw the blistering set that the reunion will become permanent. Guitarist Scott Ian has already said he’d love the arrangement to stand, and Metal Hammer Magazine is running a Bring Back Bush petition in support of the cause.