Jump to content

ANTHRAX's SCOTT IAN Discusses His Mother's Near-Suicide Attempt (Audio)


dilatedmind

Recommended Posts

In a recent appearance on MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx's "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" radio show, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian recalled one of the more painful passages from his recently released autobiography, "I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax", involving his parents during a particularly turbulent period in his life."There is a story in the book about how my dad had to stop my mother from jumping out of a moving car," Ian said (hear audio below). "He knocked her out… he punched her in the face and knocked her out and drove her to the emergency room. I just learned that three months ago or something."According to Ian, he found out about the incident through his co-author, Jon Wiederhorn, who previously worked on the books "Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal" and "Ministry: The Lost Gospels According To Al Jourgensen". Ian said: "[Jon] said [to me], 'Hey, man, when I did the Al Jourgensen book, I actually interviewed Al's dad to fill in some holes in [Al's] childhood.' And he goes, 'So what do you think if I interviewed your mom and your dad? And it'll all just come from your point of view in the story.' And I was, like, 'Yeah, that sounds like a cool idea.' So he interviewed my parents, and I found that out. I'm, like, 'Holy crap! I'm 50 years old and I'm just finding this out now.'"Asked what his initial reaction was when he learned about the episode, Ian said: "I've gotta admit, I was a little bit pissed off at my mother. [Laughs] Truthfully… Not even so much that I didn't know. This happened early on… Not that early, but this was in 1975, so I was 11. This was, like, when my parents were… My parents had split up, my mom's mom died — my grandmother had passed away — and my mom was going through a hell of time. Also booze and drugs and all that [were involved]. I knew things were bad — I have all my memories of that time — I just didn't know they had gotten that insanely bad. Like, I had no idea that she had gotten that far. I just think my initial reaction was kind of, like, 'Really? She wanted to do that and not be there for my brother and I?' So, initially, I did get a little bit pissed off, but I got past that pretty quick, because my mom's 77 years old and she's doing fine, so I'm not gonna be mad at her for 1975."Ian said that his family — including his mother and his wife, Pearl Aday (daughter of legendary crooner Meat Loaf) — has been very supportve of his decision to publish his autobiography. He said: "My mom's read it, and we haven't really talked about it all that much. She actually said… I did one of my talking shows in L.A. last week, and [former ANTHRAX singer] John Bush was at the show, and he was talking to my mom after the show, and I guess she made some kind of comment about how she loves the book except for pages 1 through 26. [Laughs] But, you know, this is all… It's all… A lot of it is from her mouth, as well as my dad's and mine. There's nothing false in there; it's just the reality of it. I guess the fact that it's in the book is not that thrilling, but at the same time, she stood in line at my show and bought a copy of my book and had me sign it. I'm, like,'What are you doing?' [she stood there] with a big smile on her face.""I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax" was released on October 14 via Da Capo Press.

Read more... then come back and comment below.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...