Anthrax is a thrash metal band from New York that was formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker.
The band appeared on Married... with Children in the season 6 episode, "My Dinner with Anthrax".
Biography[]
The band appeared as themselves on MWC in what is commonly referred to as the "classic" lineup or the "Joey Belladonna era", which lasted from 1984 to 1992. The lineup includes Joey Belladonna (vocals), Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), Dan Spitz (lead guitar), Frank Bello (bass) and Charlie Benante (drums).
This lineup would breakup shortly after this episode’s original airing, but reunited for a tour in 2005. As of 2010, this lineup has remained together, minus lead guitarist Dan Spitz, who had left the band in 2008 to focus on his watchmaking career.
As of 2025, Scott Ian is the sole continuous member of the band. He and Charlie Benante are also the only members who have appeared on every album.
Along with Metallica, Megadeath, and Slayer, the band is considered one of the "Big Four" in metal music.
Appearance on Married... with Children[]
In the Season 6 episode, "My Dinner with Anthrax", Bud Bundy and Kelly Bundy win the opportunity to have the band perform at their house for themselves and their friends. In order to make it happen, the kids then send their parents, Al Bundy and Peggy Bundy to Florida, as it also happens to be their wedding anniversary. But on the day of the performance, Chicago experiences a massive snowstorm, making it impossible for any of their friends to show up and party with them and the band.
Sometime later, the Bundy's neighbor, Marcy D'Arcy stops by to check on them, unaware that they are hosting the band behind their parents' back. Growing frustrated by the lack of guests and food, the band decide to raid the fridge and consume Peggy's Mystery Pack, which causes all five members to start hallucinating. A few moments later, the band is now motivated to play "In My World" as Bud, Kelly, and Marcy rock out and destroy the living room.
After their parents return home, it was revealed that due to the band consuming the mystery pack, they are forced by the Environmental Protection Agency to quarantine at the Bundy house for 6 months. As Al begins to wonder what kind of music will he have to endure for the next few months, the band is then shown outside of the house singing an a capella version of "Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)" with Edd "Kookie" Byrnes.
Gallery[]
Additional Information[]
The band had been longtime fans of MWC before appearing in the show: there is a poster from the late '80s wherein Scott Ian is wearing a shirt with the show’s logo on it.
The idea of Anthrax coming to the Bundy's house after winning a contest was actually inspired from a real-life contest that happened on MTV's Headbangers Ball in 1989, where a girl won and Anthrax came to her house and trashed it, along with a new car that was to be presented to her.[1]
The band originally wanted to do some voice work on FOX's animated series, The Simpsons, which was another series they liked. An employee and future head of their label, Megaforce constantly contacting Fox to make this happen. Although the staff at The Simpsons loved the idea, the show had already worked out their entire season in advance and would not be able make a new episode for the band.[2] Eventually, they were told the producers of MWC needed a metal band in an episode and asked if they would like to be on the show. Being aforementioned fans of the show (and according to Scott Ian, having encountered the cast at a charity softball game prior) and excited by this proposal, they gladly accepted it.
Scott Ian, the band's rhythm guitarist and sole continuous member, has said there was meant to be a scene in which Kelly led him upstairs to have sex, and admitted to being excited about the prospect but Scott found out at a table read a short time later the scene was edited out of the script at the request of Christina Applegate, who reportedly said: "I know my character's a slut, but not that much of a slut."[3][4]
During his panel at Steel City Con 2023, Scott Ian retold the story and expressed his disappointment about the scene being changed. He also explained how they began the week on set, starting with table script readings on Monday, then rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday, dress rehearsals on Thursday and filming on Friday, with constant rewrites going even during taping. He noted that the scene was in the script up until Wednesday, and how he and Applegate practiced walking up the stairs during that time, before finding out on Thursday that it was changed at her request. He then stated that he did not confront Applegate about the scene being cut and that the band later took her to see Metallica in concert, as they had done the same for David Faustino during rehearsal.[5]
During rehearsal, the band was interviewed on the MWC set for MTV's Headbangers Ball, where they told the host how much they enjoyed acting and being on set. Faustino was also interviewed and revealed that Anthrax had taken him earlier in the week to see the metal band Metallica in concert. He then mentions that the next day, he arrived at the studio 45 minutes late because of the concert and hanging out with the band.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Headbangers Ball Uncensored (documentary).
- ↑ Anthrax 40th Anniversary Episode 15 -- Married With Children TV Show.
- ↑ Anthrax Talk "Married... with Children" & Almost Banging Kelly Bundy - Full Disclosure.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Anthrax interviewed on the Bundy set.
- ↑ ANTHRAX Scott Ian Panel – Steel City Con August 2023