Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. The band has had a revolving cast of singers and lead guitarists, including Neil Turbin, John Bush, Dan Spitz and Rob Caggiano. Since 2013, the band has consisted of Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Ian and Benante (who replaced one-time drummer Greg D'Angelo in 1983) are the only two members to appear on every album, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing original bassist Dan Lilker. After two stints in Anthrax, from 1984 to 1992 and again from 2005 to 2007, Belladonna returned to the band in 2010.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax_(American_band)
Studio albums
Fistful of Metal (1984)
Spreading the Disease (1985)
Among the Living (1987)
State of Euphoria (1988)
Persistence of Time (1990)
Sound of White Noise (1993)
Stomp 442 (1995)
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998)
We've Come for You All (2003)
Worship Music (2011)
For All Kings (2016)
air
Anthrax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A childhood's end, it's lunacy
Pure dictation, they don't listen
And you're just waiting for what you're missing
Welcome to your nightmare
You just can't walk away
It's time for you, to choose, your fate
You just can't let it lay
Your whole life's on the way
Today
You're no good, misunderstood, A.I.R.
All their hopes and visions, of what they want you to be
Crucial times, made up minds, A.I.R.
So high and mighty, though much too blind to see
Who are you gonna live your life for?
Conformity will trap you like a locked door
Independence means owning your decisions
Authority will put your soul in prison
Fight, or go insane, there's no one else to blame
Stop, their influence, you can't give them a chance
Break, right through the wall, that separates us all
Start, your second life, without their hands in sight
You got your pride, you got your visions
Don't subside, don't ever give in
Don't compromise just keep on grinning
The games they play you just keep on winning
Keep on winning
Keep on winning
Keep on winning
A.I.R.
The song "AIR" by Anthrax speaks to a personal struggle against societal expectations and pressures. The first verse refers to the frustration of being young and feeling like your thoughts and feelings are not being heard, leading to a sense of being stuck in a nightmare. In the second verse, the idea of conformity is explored, as the pressure to conform to societal expectations can be overwhelming and lead to a loss of independence and individuality. The chorus serves as a rallying cry to fight against these forces and to remain true to oneself.
The lyrics of "AIR" were influenced by the band's frustration with the music industry and the pressures they faced to conform to certain commercial expectations.
The song's title, "AIR", is an acronym for "Adolescence Instilling Rebllion".
"AIR" was the opening track on Anthrax's 1985 album "Spreading the Disease", which also featured the hit single "Madhouse".
The song has been covered by several other bands, including Children of Bodom and Sepultura.
Anthrax's drummer, Charlie Benante, has cited "AIR" as one of his favorite songs to play live.
The song's music video features the band performing in a dark, industrial setting, interspersed with shots of a young boy experiencing the pressures and frustrations of growing up.
"AIR" is known for its fast-paced, thrash metal sound, which was a hallmark of Anthrax's early music.
The song's lyrics have been praised for their relatable and empowering message, encouraging individuality and resistance against societal pressures.
While "AIR" was not a commercial hit, it remains a fan favorite and a staple of Anthrax's live performances.
Chords: The main riff of "AIR" is played on the low-E string with a palm-muted chugging, and the chords used are E, G, and A. The chorus uses the chords B, C, and G.
Line by Line Meaning
Young and free, something you'll never be
The feeling of youth and freedom is a distant memory that you can never have again.
A childhood's end, it's lunacy
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a crazy and irrational experience.
Pure dictation, they don't listen
People in authority dictate their expectations without any regard for your input.
And you're just waiting for what you're missing
You're constantly searching for something that you feel is missing from your life.
Welcome to your nightmare
Life may feel like a nightmare at times.
You just can't walk away
You feel trapped and unable to escape your problems.
It's time for you, to choose, your fate
You have the power to make choices that will determine your future.
You just can't let it lay
You can't just ignore your problems and hope they disappear on their own.
Your whole life's on the way
Your entire lifetime is ahead of you.
You're no good, misunderstood, A.I.R.
You believe that people see you as worthless and not capable of much, and life feels like a constant struggle to be understood by those around you.
All their hopes and visions, of what they want you to be
People in authority have certain expectations and ideas of what they want you to become.
Crucial times, made up minds, A.I.R.
It's important to make a decision during a critical time in your life, even if it goes against the opinions of others.
So high and mighty, though much too blind to see
Those in authority may believe they are above everyone else, but they are actually oblivious to the true needs of the people they oversee.
Who are you gonna live your life for?
A question that prompts a critical decision about what values and priorities to live your life by.
Conformity will trap you like a locked door
Fitting in with what authorities want will keep you from discovering your true potential and lead to a life of limitations.
Independence means owning your decisions
True independence means being accountable for your own choices and responsible for your own path in life.
Authority will put your soul in prison
Giving up control of your life to those in power will severely limit your personal growth, creativity and potential.
Fight, or go insane, there's no one else to blame
When faced with challenges, it can be easy to feel helpless, but you must maintain a fighting spirit to avoid falling into despair or madness.
Stop, their influence, you can't give them a chance
You must take control of your own life and resist the influence of those in authority, even if it's difficult to do so.
Break, right through the wall, that separates us all
Regardless of what's keeping you from what you want, you must push past obstacles, whether tangible or metaphorical, to achieve your goals.
Start, your second life, without their hands in sight
Detach from the influence and authority of others to create a new way of living free from their control.
You got your pride, you got your visions
You have your own unique goals and ideas, and you should be proud of them.
Don't subside, don't ever give in
Despite challenges and roadblocks, you must remain steadfast in your beliefs and stay committed to your goals.
Don't compromise just keep on grinning
Maintain your values and keep pushing forward with optimism and positivity, even if it's hard.
The games they play you just keep on winning
Despite the competition and challenges presented by others, you must maintain a winning attitude and strive to achieve success.
A.I.R.
The acronym stands for “All their hopes and visions about what they want you to be, Crucial times make up minds So high and mighty, though much too blind to see, Who are you gonna live your life for? Conformity will trap you like a locked door, Independence means owning your decisions, Authority will put your soul in prison” - which represent themes of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLIE L. BENANTE, DANIEL ALAN SPITZ, FRANK JOSEPH BELLO, JOSEPH A. BELLARDINI, SCOTT IAN ROSENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evillive
on Now its dark
Jesus… you need your art spoon-fed to you.
Now It’s Dark is about the movie Blue Velvet.