551 Hello Anthrax - I Am The Law

Chart  entered :  28  February  1987

Chart  peak : 32

Number  of  hits  : 10

This  record  coming  in  at   number  37  was  further  evidence  that  a  band  with  a  strong  fanbase  need  make  no  concession  to  commerciality  to  enter  the  Top  40.

Anthrax   were  formed  in  Queen's , New  York  City  in  the  summer  of  1981  by  guitarists  Scott Ian  and  Dan  Lilker. Scott  was  born  in  1963  and  was  inspired  by  Kiss, Black  Sabbath, Iron Maiden  and  Motorhead   although  he  also  listened  to  The  Ramones.  He  got  the  name  of  the band  from  a  biology  textbook  and  liked  its  evil  implications. There  already  was  an  anarcho-punk  band  of  that  name in  Britain, of  whom  he  was  probably  unaware.  The  early  line  up was fluid  as  they  built  up  a  live  reputation. They  are  considered  one  of  the  four  originators  of thrash  metal, a  combination  of  British  metal   values  and  US  hardcore  punk  influences especially  the  ultra-fast  drumming  with  two  bass  drums. The  lyrics  were  usually  serious  and pessimistic  although  Anthrax's  unique   contribution  to  the  genre  was  to  add  a  little  humour  to the  mix.

In   1983,  Charlie  Benante   joined  as  their  third  drummer  and  Dan  Spitz  ( born  1963 )  came in  as  a  guitarist  as  Lilker  switched  over  to  bass . Charlie  was  born  in 1962  and  hailed  from The  Bronx. In  addition  to  his  drumming  abilities  Charlie  was  a  graphic artist  and  designed   their  sleeves  and  T-shirts. The  band  became  friendly  with  record  store  boss  Jon   Zazula   whose  record  label  Megaforce  had  just  released  " Kill 'Em  All", Metallica's  debut  LP.  He signed  Anthrax  up  and  they  released  the  single  "Soldiers  of  Metal"  in  November  1983 followed  shortly  after  by  the album  "Fistful  of  Metal". To  me  it all  sounds  like  speeded  up Iron  Maiden  with   a  similar  disregard  for  a   decent  tune.  The  track  "Metal  Thrashing  Mad" gave  this  admittedly  ferocious  sound  a  name  but  the  only  track  that  stands  out  is  the  cover of  Alice  Copper's  "I'm  Eighteen"  where  they're  obliged  to  slow  down  a  bit. Tellingly  Scott   refused  to  play  on  the  track  which  was  included  at  Zazula's  insistence . Neither  record charted.

Shortly  after  the  album's  release,  both  Lilker  and  singer  Neil  Turbin  were  fired. Charlie's  nephew  Frank  Bello    ( born  1965 )  who  had  been  roadying  for  the  band  stepped  in  on  bass.  The  band  briefly  converted  to  a  hardcore  punk  covers  band  called  The  Diseased  while  they  looked  for  a  new singer.  They  eventually  chose  Joey  Belladonna  ( born  1960 ).  His  first  recording  with  the  band  was  the  "Armed  and  Dangerous"  EP    in  February  1985 ( although  its  live  tracks  featured  Turbin ). The  title  track  hinted  at  versatility  with  a  semi-acoustic  intro  before  the  gallop  begins  and  the  EP   featured  a  version  of  the Pistols' "God  Save  The  Queen "  sung  rather  too  politely.

In  the  autumn  they  released  their  second  album  "Spread  The  Disease"  which  was  distributed  by  Island  in  the  UK.  With  Joey  doing  a  creditable  impersonation  of   Rob  Halford  they  now  sounded  more  like  speeded  up  Judas  Priest  than  Maiden  with  Joey's  phrasing  making  the  lyrics  more  intelligible.  Despite  that  it's  still  likely  to  send  any  casual  listener  looking  for  the  aspirin  bottle. They  picked  "Madhouse"  for  the  next  single ( it  could  have  been  any  track  really )  and  made  a  promo  for  it  but  it  got  banned  for  being  in  bad  taste. The  album  made  a  minor  mark  on  the  US  chart. With  some  spare  studio  time  available  Scott  and  Charlie  recorded  an  album  of  punkier  material  under  the  name  Stormtroopers  of  Death.

Anthrax  spent  most  of  1986  playing  live  and  were  on  the  European  tour  with  Metallica  which  ended  with  the  death  in  a  road  accident  of  the  latter's  Cliff  Burton.

"I  Am  The  Law"  was  the  lead  single  for  their  third  album  "Among  The  Living". Like  The  Human  League  song  of   the  same  name  it  was  inspired  by  2,000 A.D.s  zero  tolerance  cop  of  the  future. Its  chart  success  owed  everything  to  their  hard  work  in  building  an  audience  and  Island's  marketing  nous  ( there  was  a  picture  disc  version )   , nothing  to  any  attempt  to  sweeten  the  pill. "I  Am  The  Law"  has  a  shouty  chous  of  sorts  - including  the  line  "Don't  you  fuck  around  no  more "  so  I'm  guessing  there  was  a  radio  edit  available  -but  it's  an  uncompromising  pounding  noise-fest  with  their  usual  trick  of  accelerating  when  you  might  be  expecting  them  to  wind  it  down. Outside  of  The  Friday  Rock  Show,  I  would  hazard  a  guess   this  is  one  of  the  least-played  Top  40  hits  of  the  deade.