Despite receiving a personal invitation from none other than Slash to open for Velvet Revolver on their upcoming UK tour, Anthrax axe God Scott Ian will be taking a step back from the limelight to play rhythm guitar in Pearl - the new band fronted by his fiancé, and daughter of rock legend Meat Loaf, Peal Aday.
"I love playing guitar in Pearl," Ian told Kerrang! dot com. "It's much more akin to the stuff I grew up on like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin etc. It's a much less disciplined style of guitar playing than what I am used to in Anthrax and so much fun to be able to just be the rhythm player like Malcolm Young!!
"Besides," Ian adds, "Pearl doesn't need any help up front. She's got it in her blood! Huge voice and presence and the band fucking rocks!"
Pearl have finished recording their new album and are currently receiving offers to release it. But if you can't wait 'til then, Pearl have a six-song self-titled EP available for download from the iTunes music store.
"The EP features myself, Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains) and Ted Nugent on the tracks," explains Ian. "It's real organic rock, not the packaged rebellion shoved down your throat by the media."
Catch Pearl with Velvet Revolver at the following shows:
March
22 Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
23 Birmingham, Carling Academy
25 London, Brixton Academy
26 London, Brixton Academy
27 Brighton, The Brighton Centre
Pearl will also be playing a headline show at London's Camden Barfly on Friday March 21 (Click here for tickets).
"Come check us out at the Barfly and see for yourself!" grins Ian. "We'll be hanging out after as well for a meet and greet. So come out and rock!"
In related news Anthrax are currently working on the follow-up to 2003's We've Come For You All and already have eight songs written.
"We're really happy with the eight songs or so that we've finished," says Ian. "And we hope to write five or six more killers!
"It's fuckin' pummelling!" he adds. "It sounds like Anthrax from 1987 through a 2008 sound system if that makes any sense!?!"
