Anthrax at Summer Slam XI separates men from boys

On June 16, 2010, the Bemowo Airport in Warsaw, Poland made heavy metal history when the so-called Big 4 of thrash metal – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax – shared the same stage for the first time in their decades of existence as part of the annual Sonisphere Festival. The event created quite a noise (pun intended) among fans of the genre worldwide, much more so when, in the festival’s run in Sofia, Bulgaria seven days later, Megadeth main man Dave Mustaine jammed onstage with his former band mates in Metallica for the first time since their bitter and highly publicized separation in 1983. It was a goosebumps moment, even for those who saw it only on YouTube. The significance of the event did not escape anybody who was aware of the two groups’ respective histories. But that was last year. This year, history repeated itself on April 23 when the four crashed the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was supposed to be a one-off show designed to give US-based fans the same experience as their European counterparts in the previous year. Strong clamor prevailed, however, and the cabal is set to do a second round on September 14 at the famous 56,000-capacity Yankee Stadium in New York. So, Europe in 2010, the US in 2011. What about Asia? In the Philippines, there's a sizable (but often ignored) crowd of “metalheads" and at least one organizer has expressed the intention of bringing the Big 4 in. “We would’ve wanted the Big 4," said an insider from Pulp Live Productions, organizers of Pulp Summer Slam, which, for 11 years now, has established itself as the loudest and heaviest music festival in the country. “But we all know that bringing the four of them here is not as easy as it sounds." The company did not end up empty handed with their efforts. Last April 30, at the Amoranto Stadium, in front of over 35,000 fans, Anthrax – Joey Belladona (vocals), Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass) and Rob Caggiano (guitar) – took the stage and gave their Filipino fans a healthy dose of speed and aggression. Spreading the disease “We haven’t been to the Philippines, and when the offer came up we just said yes right away," said Benante at a press briefing in an Ortigas Center suite a day before the event. “I’m really excited to meet local metal fans and just have a great time." Anthrax – in existence since 1981 and with nine albums so far, including the Grammy-nominated Persistence of Time (1990) – went onstage at about 10 p.m. When the curtains that covered the MTV-style stage during the sound check fell and the familiar intro of “Caught in a Mosh" floated through the densely packed stadium, sweet nostalgia flowed through the minds of the band’s many Filipino followers. “They’ve always been a part of my musical expansion, from the time I first laid ears upon ‘Among the Living’ during my late high school days," said Jimmy Guadalupe a.k.a. Mr. SLH, host of the Slaughterhouse, the weekly all-metal radio show in RJ Underground 105.9. “There were talks as I fondly recall of them trying to tour as early as 1989, but nothing came out of that at the time. Finally, after almost thirty years!!!" Another satisfied fan was Chen Legazpi. “I had this thing with Scott Ian when I was in high school. That guy doesn’t seem to age. He still looks the same as he did when I first saw a picture of him in 1990." As the band thundered on from one classic gem to another (they only played one new song, “Fight ‘Em ‘Til You Can’t," from their soon to be released 10th studio album, Worship Music), one could not help but notice their energy. They are so full of it despite the fact that that they have been doing this (touring, playing the same songs night after night) since the Eighties. But then again, they could have not lasted that long if it were not for their professionalism and showmanship. Men vs boys Aside from whipping the hardcore fans into a collective frenzy, Anthrax’s 10-song set also effectively – and in a literal sense – separated the men from the boys. No less than singer Belladonna took note of this. “This song came out in 1985," he said, introducing “Madhouse" from Spreading the Disease, “when you guys weren’t even born yet!" He said that with a noticeable emphasis on “born." Talk about generation gap: The sight of “kids" apathetic to the band – with some of them even poking fun at the members’ ages – did not sit well with the older fans. (At one point, Scott Ian even commented on how “f*cking weak" the crowd reaction was, noting that they did not fly thousands of miles for that.) “Shame on you," said Guadalupe in last Thursday’s episode of the Slaughterhouse, addressing those whom he said “disrespected" the group. “The bands you idolize today wouldn’t be where they are now if it weren’t for the likes of Anthrax. So how about showing some respect next time, guys?" In a private message to this writer on Facebook, Guadalupe was less civil. “Whatever Scott said that time is an offense that I vent upon these kids, for which I still think they all deserve," a portion of his message, which was loaded with unprintables, said. The others, however, could not care less. “The band looked like they had fun, and I had fun, who cares about the others? To each his own," said Legazpi. Anyway, she added, it does not take membership in a hardworking rock band to learn that no matter how hard you try, you just can’t please them all. Even the Beatles had some detractors. For now, fans could only hope that whatever impression the Filipino crowd left on Anthrax, it was reflected in Scott Ian’s enthusiastic-sounding tweet right after the show. “Manila was sick," he said. “35K at the venue. Thank you so much!" Indeed, Anthrax came and spread the disease, and nobody seems excited for the cure. Most, in fact, wanted more. “Ten songs?" said Sidney Macalinao, another fan. “Bitin!" - YA, GMA News