Looks like Anthrax has done it again. In keeping with their trend of royally fucking their lead singers, new singer Dan Nelson was recently given the boot. Last week sometime, the Anthrax camp posted that singer Dan Nelson “called in sick” and was very ill causing the band to cancel the first three days of their European tour which was set to kick off on July 22. The band then announced that they were confirming the departure of Dan Nelson and that while they were canceling the first three dates of the tour, the band would be performing on August 1st at the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, England with none other than former screwed Anthrax singer John Bush filling in for this one show.
Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles today released this press statement from Dan Nelson:
“On the advice of counsel I have remained silent to the statements issued by Anthrax in recent days and now must address these issues to my loyal fans and others. I want to set the record straight.
I was never seriously ill or sick at all, as reported in Anthrax’s 7/17/09 press release. This extremely inflammatory statement hurt me tremendously. This statement misled fans, friends and family members into believing that I was seriously ill when I was not. I was not aware such a statement was being issued and it came as a total shock to me, as I’m sure it did to all of you. It was the other band members’ decision to cancel the tour dates, not mine. I was ready, willing and able to do my job. After issuing the press release the other band members decided, on their own accord, that I had ‘resigned’ from the band. I never resigned from the band.
Even in view of this action and stance taken by the band, as late as earlier today I made it clear that I was ready willing and able to continue to fulfill my obligations. After that offer was made the most recent press release was issued which announced my ‘confirmed’ departure from the band. I was not aware of the contents of this release until after it was issued, nor was I aware that Anthrax was canceling the European and SLIPKNOT tours.
I regret any disappointment and confusion this situation has caused. I want to thank my loyal fans, family and friends for all their support and their many messages, emails and calls. My counsel has been instructed to take any and all appropriate actions to address this situation.”
Dan Nelson
I can’t help but feel bad for this poor dude. I can’t wait to see how ol’ Charlie and Scott get out of THIS one. In my opinion, any ounce of credibility they were trying to re-gain is completely shot. They are done for. I have no respect for a band that seems to just drop their cargo and the first sight of criticism or issues. Their inability to make shit work with their singers is completely ridiculous. I find it hard to believe that ANY singer would would want to work with this band. I also find it extremely fishy that John Bush just happened to “volunteer” to do the Knebworth show with them. Does this mean that he might be going back to the fold? I really hope not. Why would you want to make THAT mistake twice and besides, I find it extremely hard to believe that Anthrax is really any sort of cashcow.
This kind of news really makes me loose respect for a band. I mean, it would be one thing if it were one troubled singer and they fixed their problem but the fact that Anthrax has gone through (to my knowledge) FOUR lead singers to date makes me believe that these guys are obliviously impossible to work with and they have no fucking clue just what they want. I think it’s time for these guys to just pack it in and give it a rest. They had the potential to be legends of their genre and instead have just become hanger ons that have no way of making it happen in this day and age.
Put it to rest guys.
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