WHAT THE CRAP?! IS COREY TAYLOR THE NEW SINGER FOR ANTHRAX?!
Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 at 10:50am by Axl Rosenberg
Blabbermouth reports that Slipknot/Stone Sour singer Corey Taylor has been working on new material with Anthrax. When asked if he was the band’s new singer, Taylor neither confirmed nor denied that he had taken the position, stating “It’s been banded about. I’m not saying anything right now because all it’s been is just talked about… I know that we worked on about eight or nine songs together that I’ve written lyrics for, and there was a song that I had actually written for them… But there’s nothing definite right now. It’s one of those things where it’s like we’re just gonna kind of play it by ear and just see what happens. So there’s nothing definite. It’s something that we’re talking about — it’s something that we kind of wanna do. But I’m in two huge bands right now. So it’s like I barely get enough time to sleep, let alone do another band.”
Needless to say, this is going to start a war of words between metal fans everywhere. Allow us to get the ball rolling…
Taylor isn’t the greatest singer in the world – live, especially, he seems to get easily winded and consequently just blends lyrics together, Vince Neil-style – but he isn’t an awful singer, either, and he’s a pretty awesome frontman who knows how to get a crowd pumped. And the purists can say what they want, but Slipknot were largely responsible for launching the American New Wave and bringing real metal back into the spotlight. What the last band to be on the cover of Rolling Stone while promoting an album as heavy as Iowa? What was the last band to go multi-platinum playing music that intense, with virtually no radio or MTV support? What’s more, Taylor clearly has the chops to play a diverse array of metallic styles – Stone Sour’s first album kinda sounded like Slipknot-lite, but their more recent work really sounds nothing like the ‘Knot (and Scott Ian, by the way, thinks that Stone Sour are the shit). Finally, Taylor joining the group will throw a lot of attention the band’s way, and pretty much guarantees that if they can write something as good (or even half as good) as We’ve Come for You All again, it won’t get ignored this time*. In other words: Anthrax could do a lot worse than Taylor.
On the other hand, there are a LOT of purists out there who will never give Taylor a chance just because he’s spent most of his career running around in a silly costume (although that never seems to bother Kiss fans). And a lot of these purists tend to be older fans – like the ones that will largely populate your average Anthrax concert (of course, ‘Thrax might be hoping Taylor can bring in some younger fans).
Furthermore, as Taylor himself says, it’s hard to imagine WHEN he would find time to front a third band – Stone Sour are still on tour right now, and Slipknot are scheduled to head back into the studio at the end of this year. Taylor’s schedule is action packed, and even if he can find some time to record with Anthrax, I can’t imagine when he would ever be able to do a tour – unless he wants to pull double duty, Zakk Wylde at Ozzfest style… but I imagine it’s much harder for a singer/screamer to pull off that trick than a guitar player, at least without doing serious damage to his pipes.
Right now, of course, this is all still very tentative, and we may never find out what an Taylor-led Anthrax would sound like. But, just for fun, here’s a video of Taylor joining the band on-stage during the John Bush era for a rendition of “Bring the Noise.”
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/lLy2nZUI5C8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Now let the metal community in-fighting begin!
-AR
*It’s the same situation Velvet Revolver found themselves in: hiring Sebastian Bach might have seemed at the outset like a cool choice at the outset, but it was never gonna get them the attention that Weiland brings to the band, because Bach had already become a punchline in too many circles. Put more simply: with Baz at the helm, VR would’ve essentially been Slash’s Snakepit Version 3.0.
OK. I have a few issues with this post, but first I want to start by saying that I think having Corey Taylor front Anthrax is actually a pretty neat idea. First and foremost, his voice is surprisingly similar to John Bush’s — he’s got the same kind of deep sing-growl that Bush does, and this means he can handle playing live all of the Bush-era material, which in my opinion is GREAT news! Secondly, Taylor is also a decent live showman — he will bring the energy to the stage, that’s for sure. And thirdly, as Axl pointed out, this will most certainly make a whole new generation of younger fans aware of Anthrax. He may not be the best singer, and frankly I’d rather have Bush — but he’s not a bad choice.
Now, on to this post. Mainly my issues with it have to do with Slipknot, not Anthrax, so they’re kind of secondary but I feel like I need to address them. Calling Slipknot the beginning of the American New Wave is a huuuuuge stretch — nay, I think it’s just wrong. Slipknot were a nu-metal band in every way; they chose style (costumes/masks) over musical ability; they rapped; they played simple riffs and no guitar solos. Even whatever Slipknot has evolved into these days… I feel more that it’s updated nu-metal than American New Wave. Now don’t get me wrong, I really liked “Vol 3″ — there are some very solid songs there, and actually I think the whole album is very good. But if it weren’t for the sick abilities of Joey Jordison… this band would be so mediocre! Their aesthetic is pure nu-metal and so is their crowd (side note: I admittedly love Sevendust. Nu-metal doesn’t ALWAYS mean “bad metal.” I’m just sayin, though).
Point two: to say that Slipknot achieved success without radio or MTV is just completely wrong. Remember, we live in a no-radio bubble here in NYC. Slipknot got their start with massive radio and MTV support for “Wait and Bleed.” I kind of lost track of them between then and “Vol 3,” but I can tell you for certain that “Duality,” and “Vermillion pt 2″ got massively, hugely, enormous radio support on radio from the entire spanse of the country we seem to forget exists in between NYC and LA. Not to mention the huge hit that Taylor’s other band got out of “Bother,” which STILL gets recurrents to this day.
Anyway, this stuff is all secondary. What matters is that Taylor will, or may, be Anthrax’s new singer. I think it’s pretty cool. Aside from the reunion with Joey Suckadonna, Anthrax has shown an ability to continually update their sound. John Bush helped them stay relevant when hair-metal wasn’t cool anymore. Now it’s time to take the next step. I think the key actually lies not in the singer, but in whether they invite Rob Caggiano back into the fold. Dude came up with some SICK riffs for We’ve Come For You All, not to mention that he produced the whole thing.
My two cents.
-VN
Well, well. I was right again. This is just proof positive that Anthrax have never been anything other than trend jumpers. Let me lay out a quick history for you.
1. Bullet belts and Spandex- followed the typical metal trend.
2. Spreading the Disease (enter me and NYHC) Shorts- The idea they stole from me because the crumbsuckers used to wear them on stage. Go to PRO PAIN on myspace and ask Gary Meskle about this..
3 AMONG the Living. Steal Indians riff from me try to copy right the NYHC logo. Roger from Agnostic front saves their ass along with me when NYHC thugs want to sow them a real mosh.
4 Enter Jon Bush- Grunge is huge unlike ANTHRAX- Frank Bello is seen on an ANTHRAX record wearing a flanel shirt. ANTHRAX never did this before. Look at Franky’s face. Staring at the ground in shame.
5. ANthrax say Dimebag death is the reason for reunion. LIES-LIES-LIES_. Not only 6 months before Darrells death did I know of the re union but ROb CAggiano comes out on reunion bashers in an exclusive interview and says they did it for the money and planned it before the dime thing. CASHING IN ON DIMES DEATH IS THE SCUMMIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF……
6. Reunion- Everyone but Jon BUSH and ROB CAGGIANO is happy. HAlf way through the reunion they try to replace spitz.Both Paul CRook andCAggiano are too busy. Joey and Danny don’t get the same pay as the other guys on shirts. Hm… that is bullshit!!!! Reunion Done!!!!
7. Now with no fans- no BUsh- no BElladonn they get Corey from Slipknot to do the record in a desperate attempt to save their already over carreer.
On another note. Nu metal sucks, Slipknot is garbage and more importantly ANTHRAX have jumped the new metal train to palookaville. Did I mention NU metal sucks????
Milano
PS. NEW MOD IN SEPTEMBER. hahah.
Vince is right that the ‘Knot started as a nu metal band of course – they have a fuckin’ DJ, fer Chrissakes – and I’ll even concede the radio/MTV point. But then Slipknot would be to nu metal as GN’R were to hair metal – a band that came in at the tail end of the trend and didn’t really fit the scene, and may have very well, deliberately or not, kicked the door open to allow other bands to come in and do their thing.
I would completely, violently disagree that Jordison is the only talented musician in the band – although he’s certainly the most talented, and seems to be pretty much solely responsible for bringing back super fast double bass drumming into style.
Which brings me to my next point: the drumming, Taylor’s screaming, the undeniable death metal influence that pervades IOWA – Slipknot opened the door for harder edged bands like LOG and KsE to walk into the spotlight. I’m not saying they were revolutionary any more than GN’R were revolutionary, I’m just saying that one year this type of music wasn’t popular and the next year it was, and Slipknot were, as far as I can tell, the band that bridged the gap.
Finally, I’d like the record to show that the editors of Guitar One magazine, at least, would agree with me that Slipknot were one of the first American New Wave bands:
http://cgi.ebay.com/April-2005-GUITAR-ONE-SLIPKNOT-KILLSWITCH-ENGAGE_W0QQitemZ110020837848QQcmdZViewItem
-AR
ummmm, vol.3 is grudgingly, pretty good. Sucksour sucks, core-ie taylor has extremely grating between song banter. The worst. That live slipknot cd drives me nuts for just that reason. Shut up and sing the song! Gimmee jon bush, anyday. Also, Suckadonna does indeed, as reported, suck.
interesting points Axl, but I’d wager that suckknot cannot take sole credit for those things. They have a gimmic and they got big on it. so did the Insane Clown Posse. Need I say more?
billy – wow man. I hope there’s another side to that story. never have been the biggest thrax fan, but I’ve always respected Ian’s hard work.
Jason,
You deliberately miss my point for the sake of your own argument – I’m pretty sure (and by “pretty sure,” I mean “absolutely positive”) that I addressed Slipknot’s use of gimmickery in above article, implicitly if not explicitly, when I discuss how purists hate them for wearing costumes. Slipknot weren’t the first artist to use costumes as a gimmick – I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about Alice Cooper, Kiss, Gwar, Marilyn Manson, Mushroomhead, or, yes, Insane Clown Posse.
That being said – to compare Slipknot to Insane Clown Posse is, for lack of a better term, incredibly silly. There’d be surface similarities at best. I’m not saying you don’t have a right to dislike Slipknot for their music – but comparing Snickers to Skittles just ’cause they’re both types of candy wouldn’t provide very much insight, either.
-AR
Billy Milano = Washed up before Anthrax ever was, and now comes off as a bitter douche bag.
If Ian had asked Milano to join in the past few years he would have jumped at the chance.
FACT!
Sorry Mr. Milano, but aside S.O.D. what other good music have you put out?
None worth mentioning or remembered by anyone.
The faint light you have on yourself is as an inside eye on Anthrax news.
If you are so smart and original why haven´t you gone anywhere?
is it the weight of the grudge, bubble butt?
seriously…
get off their shadow if they stink so much.
you’re right AR. I was intending to write something far more meaningful and in depth, but decided I didn’t want to use the energy once I got to the writing point. the bottom line is, slipknot make metal for people who don’t know any better. and for the record, the only one out of that group you listed that is worth a shit is Alice. He actually wrote good songs, AND put on a show. well, GWAR is entertaining, but they don’t even take themselves seriously.
Dost thou dare to suggest that Kerry King “doesn’t know any better?”
“”Well, the CD that seems to be in my CD player 90 per cent of the time is the Slipknot album, ‘Slipknot.’ Because, the rapping aside, when they get angry and pissed off it’s great, I love it… it’s the first fresh, heavy, in-your-face, angry thing I’ve heard in years.”
-Kerry King, 2001
http://www.slayersaves.com/interviews_kerry2.htm
we all get led astray from time to time. The disk in his player now is Demiricous, and that’s some real deal, motherfuckin metal!!
HOLY SHIT! WE FINALLY AGREE ON SOMETHING!!! Demiricous are the shit…
Anthrax are over. Anthrax fans are bitter washed up never been musicians. SOD was and always will have more props than Anthrax. SOD sold records Anthrax sold out. I have made more record and record deals for people than anthrax have product. SOD reunion was Scotts idea when he begged me to do it. SOD reunion in 2005 turned down by me. ANTHRAX fans dont deserve SOD live shows. Charlies wife is a used hand me down wife with a kid , just like every Idea scott or charlie have is a used stolen idea from somebody else. Slipknot suck. ANTHRAX stole and wrote lilker out of their history. How fucking telling…..\
I wish Scott Ian was shot in the head instead of Darrell. At least Darrel respected his fans.
Billy you’re a fucking idiot
billy just sounds bitter and resentful, billy milano said “Anthrax fans are bitter washed up never been musicians” so dave grohl isnt a musician and all the other successful musician fans they have aren’t musicians
and wishing death upon someone is not an acceptable thing to say.
I hate to say it, but Billy has a point (just one). Just read the trash that Spitz said on metal-rules and then desperate tries to deny. See how many VH1 shows Scott Ian can get on. What was with Frank joining Helmet?
The Anthrax reunion was a cash grab, no doubt. 80’s atavism is all the rage these days.
[...] Which begs the inevitable question: will this be Corey Taylor’s live debut with the band? According to Pollstar, Taylor has a gap in his itinerary with Stone Sour on this date, and should be somewhere on the East Coast. If this will, indeed, be Taylor’s first show with the ‘Thrax, it should be, at the very least, one of the more interesting concerts of the year. [...]
Damn, Axl. I know this was a long time ago (lol 2007), but thanks for stickin’ up for the ‘Knot anyways. A lot of people just look at them and don’t give them a chance. Their loss though, I suppose.