Anthrax to Bring ‘Bare Bones, Guerilla’ Set to Mayhem Fest

Anthrax have opted to headline the Jagermeister stage as oppose to playing on the main stage at this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, in order to deliver a special high-energy show for fans this summer.

It’s not often that a band will ask not to play on the main stage at a major rock festival, but that’s exactly what Anthrax have done.  “We decided to pattern the Mayhem set on the kind of shows the Ramones used to do,” says drummer Charlie Benante, who further elaborates that fans can expect “a high-energy, non-stop barrage of hit, hit, hit, hit, hit. No lulls, no filler, totally in your face. We’re going to be playing a supersonic-paced set loaded with the best of our best.”

According to guitarist Scott Ian, one of the major factors in choosing the Jagermeister stage was the seating arrangements…or lack thereof. “We really like the idea of not ‘playing to seats,’” says Ian. “We want our crowd to have the freedom to move around, to go crazy with us. Plus, we’ve been on the road together now for about two years, so we’re tighter as a band than we’ve ever been. Our Mayhem set will be a fun, fast and furious 45-minutes, so they’d better have the EMTs on hand.”

Slipknot, Slayer, Motorhead and a rotation of The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying and Asking Alexandra will all be performing on Mayhem Fest’s main stage, while White Chapel, High on Fire, Upon a Burning Body, The Breather and Dirtfedd will join Anthrax on the Jagermeister stage.