The $10 Million MISTAKE That HAUNTED Anthrax
The story behind the Anthrax album Sound of White Noise
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Anthrax were facing a crisis in the early 1990s. Thrash metal was losing ground, grunge had taken over rock radio and MTV, and the band was no longer convinced that longtime singer Joey Belladonna fit the darker direction they wanted to pursue. Then came a reported $10 million deal with Elektra Records—a huge opportunity that should have taken Anthrax to the next level.
Instead, it became one of the most complicated and painful periods in the band’s history.
In this video, we explore the making of Anthrax’s 1993 album Sound of White Noise: the record that introduced John Bush as the band’s new vocalist, changed the sound of one of thrash metal’s Big Four, and gave Anthrax the biggest Billboard chart debut of their career. Produced by Dave Jerden, known for his work with Alice in Chains and Jane’s Addiction, Sound of White Noise pushed Anthrax toward a darker, heavier, groove-driven sound far removed from the classic Joey Belladonna era.
But this was not simply a story about a band evolving.
Behind the scenes, Anthrax had to make the brutal decision to fire Joey Belladonna, despite his major role in the success of albums like Among the Living, Spreading the Disease, State of Euphoria, and Persistence of Time. John Bush, formerly of Armored Saint, became the new voice of Anthrax just as the band entered a high-stakes relationship with Elektra Records.
The new lineup delivered “Only,” a song that became one of the defining tracks of the John Bush era. Sound of White Noise debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, sold strongly in its opening weeks, and earned RIAA Gold certification in 1993. On paper, Anthrax had made it through the grunge era stronger than ever.
So why did the band see it differently?
The answer involves a major disagreement over the album’s singles. Anthrax believed “Room for One More” had the potential to become their “Enter Sandman”—a heavy, catchy, summer-ready radio and MTV hit. Elektra believed the darker “Black Lodge” could be the crossover track that pushed the album into multi-Platinum territory. The label committed major resources to the “Black Lodge” video, but delays stalled the record’s momentum at a crucial moment.
Scott Ian would later describe the decision surrounding “Black Lodge” as the biggest business mistake in Anthrax history.
Was Sound of White Noise Anthrax’s greatest reinvention—or the moment they lost part of what made them special? Did grunge force the band to evolve, or did their record label prevent their biggest opportunity from becoming something even larger? Let me know in the comments.
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@rnrtruestories
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
One of my subs requested this one. As always throw topics you’d like to see me do on my channel
@jasongenung
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
I love Joey but I love Stomp 442!
@jimmyjamba7763
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Huge Anthrax fan from 1987. I came home from college in summer 1993 and the Once video came on TV at a party. I asked, "When did Soundgarden put out a new album?" It took a few minutes for me to believe everyone telling me it was the new Anthrax single.
@BongBong6983-x3d
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Joey isn't a part of any creativity of the band? Oooooh I'm sorry Scott but I hate to break it to you. Without him you are just another metal band playing heavy songs. Joey's voice is the "hallmark" of Anthrax and he's the reason you're still relevant to this day. You should be grateful you have him still to thank you for that.
@simompearson3623
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
better with joey.
@krusher6969
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
I'm a Persistence of Time & certainty Attack of the Killers B's kinda guys. But i bought The Sound of White Noise (on tape) and I can still sing along with all the words to this day.
No disrespect to John Bush, but Joey & Anthrax go together like Dredd & his Lawgiver. 🤘💀🤘
@TOGade-dj6jh
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
14:14 Room for One More is awesome. It even inspired me to write a short horror story with the same name, it even got published. 😂
@RolandDeschain1
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Didn't John Bush become rich doing those Burger King voiceovers?
@TOGade-dj6jh
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
black Lodge is excellent.
@RolandDeschain1
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Great album.
@TOGade-dj6jh
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
8:25 I think Bush has a great voice, but I prefer Joey. Replacing the frontman almost never works out. I was shocked when I bought the album and was expecting to hear Joey but didn’t. I was too busy with life in general and didn’t even know they had fired Joey.
@Tedanson
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
John Bush should've joined Bush
@GrumpInCave
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Bought the Black Lodge CD single from this album. The b side cover of Lizzy’s Cowboy Song helped me discover Thin Lizzy.
@EarlOfHouseSwole
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Scott Ian was such a weasel
@biglebowski3486
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Bush has a fine ass voice, miss him in anthrax.
@scaryeyeball
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Anthrax always sucked anyway. The only good thing that came from Ian and Betante was SOD.
@thecult3220
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Whenever they play Only, even to this day I go to the bathroom and then get a drink. I like John Bush but only with Armoured Saint.
@KirkWilliamsIsBroken
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
I personally have only listened to the "John Bush Era" of Anthrax. Hell…Volume 8 is my favorite…and I mean that unironically.
@thecult3220
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Grunge sucked! Alice in Chains was not Grunge.
@thecult3220
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Everything without Joey sucked.
@warriorxtman2
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Their songs were never great, mostly average with a few pretty good ones. No chance to be as good as the big 3
@Jones_Rustiver
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
September '91: nevermind + use your illusion = two best albums of the '90's (just an opinion)…
@facelessandnameless
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Room For One More is my favorite song on the album.
@redleader3394
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Bush elevated Anthrax big time! The songs were just better. I still liked the Belladonna version of Anthrax and classic lineup but when they got John Bush, it was just better in my opinion.
@montmn
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
You stated it multiple times… how was SOWN heavier than POT? Because it was slower? That is dumb.
@bennybongosbigolebonanza894
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
7:39 Wasn’t the heaviest decision for the band the riffs?
@ZachariahSalazar
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Sellouts that didn’t sell out well
@axelki5748
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
This was awesome when it came out. The John Bush era was fantastic. They were let down badly by stupid record labels and commensurate legal issues.
@chrissmart9761
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
"If Only" will endure! 🤘
@adyjw33
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Anthrax Sucks 😂😂😂. They made one good album and lost the best thing they ever had.
@GRIND-CORE-247
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Sound of White Noise will always be the only album I like form Anthrax. I will die on this hill.
@myconiusmaximus1022
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Among the Living is their best album.
@PabloRichardFernandez
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
It wasn’t grunge as a musical form that led to this shift. The grunge era only lasted for three years, maybe four and only created a handful of records
Of any consequence. The shift was the result of record companies and MTV pulling support from established bands in favour of finding the next Nirvana, but finding a few one-hit-wonders instead.
@shanegamroth3491
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
I loved Anthrax no doubt, but when Bush came along I absolutely loved it. I don’t understand the hate thrown his way. He was asked to join and every album he did with them kicked ass. So many want to hate on him, but I think it’s total bs.He helped bring them to more success, period. Even when he sang the old school stuff, in my mind sounded better. Unfortunately I finally saw them when Belladonna came back, I say that cuz any of the songs Bush did he would be an absolute baby saying his in ears didn’t work or whatever excuse he could conjure. I lost so much respect for Belladonna afterwards. He should’ve been happy to be back in the fold but instead he constantly bitched about their most successful songs cuz he had NOTHING to do with it. I’m aware that most of you think otherwise, but without Bush Anthrax would’ve died. Bush did what he was asked to do and he totally knocked it out of the park. I know most will disagree and say otherwise, BUT Bush was their best vocalist. If you don’t think so check it out for yourself, Belladonna was and is the true meaning of prema donna. He’s the picture beside the meaning. Go ahead and hate on me, but the fact is Anthrax was at their absolute best with Bush
@ShonnDaylee
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
By far the best Anthrax album. It's not even close. There isn't one bad track on it. Legendary 90's album.
@gpeckerd
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
That’s what happens when East Coast bands move to Southern California.
@grace86rascal
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
white noise is a great record but Joey will always be the voice of Anthrax
@ks-bg5uk
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Hey Rock N' Roll True Stories, where is your source that the Anthrax confronted Joey's "drug and alcohol" abuse? Joey has never had a drug or alcohol problem in his career. I've been following Anthrax since in the 80s.
@dakotahdunham9888
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
New album out September 18th can’t wait
@mg-Staplehead
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Nothing against John Bush but was not a fan of any the Anthrax albums with him. Those albums sucked.
@brentlohr3394
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
White Noise was utter garbage. The band should have changed their name to something as stupid as the band had become
@bensaunders9269
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Sound of white noise is the best album they’ve ever made
@giustinoscalise3177
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Deep Purple had success with 4 different singers.
@MC-fj8fz
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Invisible, best Anthrax song ever. Only is a very close second.
@MC-fj8fz
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Sound of White Noise is one of my favorite albums, ever. I loved their work with Joey but his voice didn't really fit the time. That being said, I love the new stuff with Joey.
@matthewpejkovic183
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
John is the better singer especially luve
@MrJbone1973
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
My favorite anthrax album is the sound of white noise.
@1S7N9-cb9xj
September 11, 2026 at 11:03 am
Say what you want, that's their best album. LOL