ANTHRAX - Back In Time with Metal Photographer Bill O'Leary - June 26, 1987 AMONG THE LIVING Tour photos #anthrax

ANTHRAX – Back In Time with Metal Photographer Bill O’Leary – June 26, 1987 AMONG THE LIVING Tour photos #anthrax

From Bill O’Leary —>

Now called one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal music, ANTHRAX was one of many bands at the time bringing an updated faster sound to heavy metal. This tour in 1987 was in support of their newest album “Among the Living”, now considered to be a classic in their career. I was very excited to shoot this show as I had been following the band for the previous 4 years and knew they were going places. The venue was a smaller club like setting with some 600 metalhead’s crammed inside. There was a stage barrier up in front and I knew the band personally, so I had complete access, including behind the drum kit. Complete and free access to all areas of the stage is always great for any photographer, that opens a world of unique and different shooting angles. Shooting from within a thrash metal crowd can be impossible, especially anywhere near the “mosh” pit.

The band launched into the title cut, “Among the Living” and the energy level went thru the roof. As I’ve mentioned many times before, even when the energy and volume level are at the highest levels, it is amazing how quiet it can be while looking thru your viewfinder and being in the photographer “zone”. ANTHRAX was another band that was highly active on stage, constant movement throughout. Again, not my preference but I did shoot some shots with a flash as many publications at the time requested it. Another great night of shooting on a hot summer night in June of 1987. After the show I spent some time on the band’s tour bus, showing guitarist Dan Spitz some very old photos of him playing in the band OVERKILL, complete with stage makeup, prior to him joining Anthrax. It was great to catch up with Scott Ian and Charlie Benante as well.