Chuck Shute Podcast

Jon Donais (Anthrax & Shadows Fall guitarist)

March 26, 2021 Jon Donais Season 3 Episode 119
Chuck Shute Podcast
Jon Donais (Anthrax & Shadows Fall guitarist)
Show Notes Transcript

Episode 119- Jon Donais! Jon is the current guitarist of Anthrax, but also played with Shadows Fall for many years. He has a new band as well, called Living Wreckage that will be releasing new music soon.  It was a lot of fun talking to him about music. We covered everything from Metallica and Skid Row to Pantera and Five Finger Death Punch. Plus I get his thoughts on cancel culture, award shows, and much more!

00:00 - Intro
01:10 - Donais Last Name 
01:43 - Fan Of The Show & 80s Metal 
03:32 - Learning Power Chords & Tablature
07:50 - Melodic Shredders 
08:47 - Aftershock
09:35 - Singer of Shadows Fall & Dreadlocks 
10:53 - Playing OzzFest
12:30 - Touring with Dimebag & Vinnie from Pantera 
16:17 - Touring with Slipknot & Lamb of God
17:15 - Atlantic Records & Elektra Merger 
20:42 - Five Finger Death Punch
21:42 - Korn & Rob Zombie on Mayhem Tour 
23:18 - Joining Anthrax 
26:00 - First Show with Anthrax 
28:00 - Tour with Iron Maiden 
29:18 - Seth Meyers Show & Robert DeNiro 
30:31 - New Anthrax Album 
31:45 - Old Anthrax Albums & Songs 
32:45 - Startin' Up a Posse, Censorship & Anthrax Cancellation? 
35:15 - Living Wreckage - Arena Rock Meets Thrash 
40:15 - Anthrax & Shadows Fall Fans
42:17 - Sebastian Bach & Skid Row 
44:05 - Wrestlers 
45:16 - Bands Jon Hasn't Met Yet
46:16 - Grammies, Award Shows & Rock Music 
48:15 - Music Accessibility Now & Then 
51:02 - Pantera 
53:55 - Motley Zoo 
55:15 - Wrap Up

Anthrax Website:
https://www.anthrax.com

Jon Donais Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmdonais/

Motley Zoo Website:
https://www.motleyzooanimalrescue.org

Chuck Shute Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chuck_shute/

Support the show

Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Chuck Shute:

Welcome to the show and what a special treat that we have today a member of one of my all time favorite bands and Drax, their current guitar player, lead guitar player, john Dhoni, aka Johnny rock and roll. Such a nice guy so talented. He was actually in a band called shadows fall. That's also very talented in their own right. And with that band, he played shows alongside almost every big metal band, including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, five finger death punch corn, Rob Zombie goes on and on. And he's got some great stories. And then if that wasn't enough, then he joins anthrax, which again, is one of the biggest metal bands in the world. And then he's also got a new band called Living wreckage that we'll have new music coming out soon. So he's done some cool shit. He's got some great stories. He's down to earth. He loves hair metal, and he's a fan of my show. And so that's really cool. I love chatting with him and I hope you guys enjoy it too. Welcome, john donee to the shark shoe podcast. I hope I said that right. Did I get it right?

Jon Donais:

You got it right. I think you're like oh my god, I got it right on the first try.

Chuck Shute:

It doesn't look like a donate. It looks like don't ask or something or donuts or, but no, it's it's Italian. It's

Jon Donais:

all the time.

Chuck Shute:

It's Italian. Right? It's friend. Right? Okay, that's why I thought I was French than I googled and it said Italian I was a frickin Google's wrong, then.

Jon Donais:

As far as I know.

Chuck Shute:

You would probably know so that makes it so yeah, I just want this to go on the record. You sent me a friend request. And then you're like, yeah, I really dig the podcast. I was like, I want that to go on the wreck. I'm not paying you to say that.

Jon Donais:

No, I did get mad because you have all the guys that I listened to as a child like I like all the ad stuff. That's that's my bread and butter right there. So all most of your guests are somebody that I really look up to.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so how far down the rat because I know you like you know rat and dokken and Guns and Roses and Skid Row and Tessa and slaughter and all those guys but how far down the rabbit hole? Do you go like do you like like the dangerous toys and the bullet boys and the tops and the bang?

Jon Donais:

I do. I love the boys Jace McMasters one of my favorite singers. I think he's got an incredible voice. And actually, there's a Shadow Ball. Song out there we covered teasing, please and had Jason sing on.

Chuck Shute:

What I don't think I've heard that. Where can I find that? Is that on your

Jon Donais:

Spotify? It's got to be out there somewhere. Maybe if you go on one of the platforms, you can you can find it. But we did that we did a record where it was. It was besides and cover songs. That shadows fall days as we always love the 80s rock stuff. And we met Jason grademaster at one of our shows in Austin one night. And he came and brought us some dangerous toys merchandise. We're like, Oh my god, it's so fucking cool. And down the line. We're like, hey, this be a cool song and magically get Jason on it and share it up. It worked out.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's great. And he's in a bunch of other bands too. He does this one. It's a kind of a Judas Priest. tribute I think it is or

Jon Donais:

Yeah, yeah, he has broken teeth. Yeah, like old school. ACDC kind of rock thing. That's pretty kick ass tail.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's really cool. So you you start out playing the pier. Your mom wants you to play the piano and then you played the guitar. And you got all the Metallica tablature books which I remember when I was a kid I could play like fade to black and master puppets and sanitarium and all that stuff. But was there any some of the faster stuff? I just I couldn't do what did you ever hit a wall with Metallica were you like, like at that age? I mean, now you can probably do anything. But did you ever? Or what was the hardest band that you tried to cover as a kid?

Jon Donais:

I remember one of the first things from Metallica, that was hitting the wall. I was like how the hell these guys do that was the intro to motor breath. I've ever been about 1314 like, cuz that was like, I was still learning how to pop the band too. And then just to do those real fast triplets. Is it? Is it possible?

Chuck Shute:

And was that where you join it from tablature? Or was that just by ear?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, absolutely. It was pretty much like me learning how to riff was Metallica and mega tablature. I was taking lessons at the time at the mall. And they were really formal and wanted you to read music and stuff. And the guy the guy was like in a jazz and he wore suit and tie in. I just want to play rock and roll. And so right. I was like, I don't know, man. And then he's trying to teach me how to read music and I'm playing like all the shit like Twinkle, twinkle, little star, all that kind of stuff. And then one day, that guy didn't come in. He had, he called out a blessing to I had a substitute. And he was more of a rock guy. And he had an electric guitar at the time. And he got it because at first I started out on acoustic, okay. My parents went to music, but then I probably got an electric guitar. He goes, How long had that like, I just got it. He goes, do you know? Do you know how to do a power core? I just knew like C and G, the full chord that the power chords I got no, I never heard what a power chord was. I was like, you gotta know how to play power chords. If you have electric guitar. He showed me that I was like, Oh, shit. All right.

Chuck Shute:

Well, that's funny too. Because the power chords I feel like were easier at least for me because we had like, two fingers whereas the regular cord so sometimes like these weird things, and I'm like, I can't even frickin do this. And then you're you're trying to change from one to the next really fast. It's hard.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I was like, before cords at first and those are really hard. And yeah, the power cord. When do you have distortion? Those power chords that sounds That's the sound that's rock and roll. Yes, for sure. I was like, dude, you just open up a whole new world to me. And he goes, do you know how to read tab? Like No, he doesn't. What was your favorite bad data? Alright, he goes down. He goes to the bookshelf. grabs Metallica tabs show got a retired? Yeah. And then that changed everything. Oh my god. But let's do this. And then that I end up quitting. It's hard to tap.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, cuz you can just do I mean, if that's the thing for me, though, I just I don't have your talent. So it's like at some point, I was like, I can't do this stuff. But so you eventually were able to pretty much do everything right. Is there anything that you can't play now?

Jon Donais:

Oh, yeah, of course. Really. I mean, a 10 year old kid on Instagram kicks my ass. The people out there now just ridiculous. Like, people are so good at guitar. Now. It's light years beyond what I can do every time I go on Instagram. Like Yeah, I really I don't know. I don't know what it's like.

Chuck Shute:

That's depressing. But you're in anthrax, so you must have been good enough for them. I mean, that's a pretty Yeah.

Jon Donais:

What everyone's got their style. Yeah. You know, some people over the top want to do the the full odd strap building they open top stuff some guys just want to do the egg is young, laid back and do some pentatonic stuff stuff. It's, it's not what you want to do. And it's all you know, music isn't. It's not like a sport. It's like, it's how it makes you feel so true. Yeah. So it's not like some people would rather listen to something like Nirvana and some people want to listen to racer x. And they're both great at what they do.

Chuck Shute:

Definitely, definitely rock, rock and roll but that stuff's harder the racer acts like the Eddie Van Halen, the eruption and that kind of that's that's hard harder play isn't it?

Jon Donais:

So yeah, my favorite guys are the guys who are melodic shredders so they can do that crazy over the top stuff but then they also write these big follow that you still want to air guitar too and it doesn't for a listener who doesn't play guitar it like guys like noodle bet and core ledge john Sykes back wild die like both guys could they could shred their asses off but they they make these beautiful solos to on top of it and they just not just run and scale the whole time and and burnin it up the whole time

Chuck Shute:

when they write good songs too.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, so those are my favorites got absolutely that melodic shredder

Chuck Shute:

was aftershock Was that your first band and that was with the Is it the drummer from Killswitch Engage?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, so he what he did play drums at first he's it's added up to a tee. Yeah, right. Well, most talented guys I know he knows how to play every instrument. Great engineer, great producer. He's just one of these guys born with and pisses you off, but actually it's like most goddamnit but I went to high school with him and he was a couple years older than me and ended up going to Berkeley So then after shock slowed down wasn't really paying playing too much because he was in school. So that's when I started shuttles fall.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so that's your first like kind of big band. And so you went through a couple singers but that the singer you guys finally got was a Brian fair. I want to show people I've never done this before on I tried to do a share screen here. Because they need to see what this guy is. Let's see if it works. Is it working?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, there it is. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

those dreadlocks? How does he clean those? How does he I mean, I thought you had to shave your head after a few years of dreadlocks. He just kept it going. No.

Jon Donais:

He still got a man. Still got it. I used to sleep underneath him on the bus. So it'd be great like to wake up all hung over and pull my curtain open then I have to go through that too.

Chuck Shute:

It's like a curtain of dreadlocks. I mean,

Unknown:

so like,

Chuck Shute:

does he have to wash it? Because it can you not wash your hair if you have dreadlocks? Or what is the How do you clean it?

Jon Donais:

You know, I really don't know. That's something I never asked him. You never

Chuck Shute:

saw him like washing his dreadlocks or wiping it down with a rag or something?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, like cleaning them out like or like after a shower and stop and ringing them out. But I don't know.

Chuck Shute:

Oh, so he did show them. Okay.

Unknown:

Oh, yeah. Okay.

Chuck Shute:

Fair enough. That'd be interesting. If you ever took them out what he like his

Jon Donais:

head would probably just be going like that. Because, you know, matching the weight of those.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's crazy. So you guys played in some clubs. And then it didn't take long. And then all of a sudden you're playing oz fest on the main stage with Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath and Black Label Society. I mean, you've got to feel happy.

Jon Donais:

What that did take some time. That took some time, though, because that was pretty much five years of non stop touring. And we're on our third record by then.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, I mean, yeah, so it did take take some time.

Jon Donais:

The very first OS fest we did is when we we paid to play like that's when bands were on the second stage would pay to get on because it was just great exposure. So you're like, that's the best story you could get. If you were a metal band. That's, that's the best commercial you could have. Sure. So we did that. And we ended up doing really well on it. And then a couple years later, we were one of the Masons, one of the mainstage acts. So how do you get out? Yeah. And that was with like you said, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath. zakk Wylde, Black Label Society. So I had all these heroes there. And that was, that was one of the holy shit moments of my life. I can't believe we're on this tour.

Chuck Shute:

So how do they decide that like, is Sharon make that decision? Is Ozzy personally pick you guys? Or is it like, based on how many listens?

Jon Donais:

I don't know exactly who picks I know, that has people who work for them. And then they just see what's going on at the moment. And they see a band making noise and people are talking about them. They're gonna they're gonna pick up with Todd at the moment. Okay,

Chuck Shute:

so YouTube, he did that to her and then also you toured with you got to tour with a dimebag and Vinny from Panthera when they were doing their band I think was damaged plan. And I've seen Yes, guys, they do some crazy shit. I've heard stories I've seen videos where they still crazy at that point are they kind of settled down in 2004?

Jon Donais:

Oh, no, man, that's where we were going hard every night. We are bad. I'm glad I was in my 20s back then. Because I would feel my handle those hangovers now. But yeah, I mean, it was it was the black tooth. Shots go like crazy. The hot that was on that door. They were they were pretty good drinkers themselves. So yeah, there was a lot of lot of rock and roll party and on that and just die. Die is my all time favorite guitar player. I think he's the MVP write songs. He could write riffs. And he could follow his ass off. He had the stage presence. He just had the whole rock star thing to on top of it. And that to me was just and then just watch those Panthera videos when I was a kid. I was always like, I would want to meet this guy so bad. I feel like I get along with him so well. It's just he just looks so cool to me and I absolutely loved his playing love Panthera path there's probably right up there in the top three bands for me. So then we got the call that we're going to do absorb with them. I was like this is gonna roll I'm going to be able to tour one of my heroes and he was everything that I wanted him to be and more he lived up to that that to who he was on those videos and will be away every night when is played and just hanging out with him after the show. I've never seen another like Rockstar do that he'd be just like hey man, let's let's go to the bar around the corner. And I would just love to follow behind died just to watch people's jaws drop when he walked in, in the into the local watering hole though

Chuck Shute:

does he get recognized because he's that

Jon Donais:

core Plus, you know, everyone after the show goes to the closest bar, okay, we're sitting around backstage or on a bus like you know you want to get out because all you do is sit around in a backstage or a bus or you know, after a show you you get an FTA Oh yeah, let's go let's go play. It's got some fun. And he was always down for that and just was I would love to watch him walk in a bar. The people like Why every buddy freak out and you'd actually buy them drink you'd like what do you guys do? He was shot but

Chuck Shute:

didn't know. So this this is kind of before the cellphone air so people are trying to get pictures of them. They just call Yeah.

Jon Donais:

I'm glad I'm glad there wasn't cell phones. Yeah, I mean, there were cell phones but I don't know if they were taking pictures yet. Okay. They might have been like, because this is 2004 they might have been like some shitty flip phone. Yeah, yeah. I don't think I'm not sure the video and and camera thing was quite there. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

that would be so weird to just I know I talked to like the guys from warrant tricks are in firehouse when they did that tour. And they said the same thing like after the shows, they would just go to the nearest bar and they would actually like get up on stage and jam with like the bands and stuff, which is just crazy.

Jon Donais:

I think that's awesome. Yeah. Imagine like back then when Warren trickstar. firehouse are doing it. That's when rock was at its like peak for me. It was all over MTV. Right? Yeah, like those bands are playing 10,000 seat arenas. No problem. And people were just ready to go and have a good time back then. Yeah. And then I can't imagine telling arena Hey, we're going to count the street.

Chuck Shute:

That's I know that's insane. I don't know how they didn't get more but so then you guys toured also with a slipknot and lamb of God. And you said, Tell me the story. Corey Taylor. He came out with buck naked on stage one time with a sign that said I love shadows fall like,

Jon Donais:

yeah, I think it was like the last last night of the tour. I think he just had fuckin duct tape wrapped around his deck and ran out of doors. They were all pranking us because of the last day. Wow. Yeah, that that was a fun tour, too. That was really my God. And we go back with leymah godsey. But that was Chateau smalls. First arena door. Okay. So very exciting. Because it was exciting to see metal kind of come back to that point. Again. It was especially for something that had

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, those bands are still pretty big, though. I

Jon Donais:

mean, yeah. Oh, my god, they're bigger than ever right now.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. And then. So when you guys did the threads of life album that was that? Was that your first one on Atlantic? What is the difference between B i think that was the only one you did on Atlantic? I mean, there's got to be a difference between being a bigger budgets with a bigger label. And then I mean, do you like that better? I've heard people say they made more money with the indie labels.

Jon Donais:

Um, at the time, we did really well on an indie label. So we were thinking with Atlantic's money, and then backing up, it can only get better, right? Well, that wasn't the case at all. Probably in hindsight, it would have been better to stick with Century Media and be the bigger fish in a smaller pond. We got a lot of attention from social media, and they did absolutely great for us. But the thing about Atlantic too. I mean, you never know what what happened. It could have been the record we wrote. It could have been a lot of things that we kind of lost traction, but it didn't help that the people that signed us and what was one guy who brought us there was the president Jason Flom, and he signed Skid Row. Yeah. Like all the all the bands that we love on Atlantic and the 80s and ham and john rumely and release pod and a bunch of other rock acts for Atlantic and they brought us out to eat and Flom was like, Alright, we want to make this a metal label again. And he goes, I'm not going anywhere. You're gonna you're like Alright, well, that's the president saying I you feel pretty confident that you're going to get some attention. Well, electric and Atlantic merged. And I think they end up having electric president and Atlantic's President if I remember correctly, something like that. That wasn't going to work, obviously, to have one guy who was at the top. And I think I think they bought Jason out or he left or something happened where flogged was gone. Okay. So was john rubelli. So two of the major guys that want to say are gone before record even came out.

Chuck Shute:

That's also this is a time when selling records is really you're making more money on the tours anyways, right?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I mean, we always never thought much money from records. It was always stayed on the road and selling merchandise.

Chuck Shute:

So does Atlantic take a piece of the touring and merchandise or do they only get the records?

Jon Donais:

They did it for us. I mean, we didn't have a 360 deal. A lot of times you do. I think today that's very common, but I think we we we were right there when you would still there were still recording budgets. They were still good budgets from the label. Okay, still to our support. It was before it really all just went away. God two albums were still selling back then. But then like, years later, that's when like, kind of all crumbled and right. And yeah, so when that record came out, we didn't our people were gone. Gotcha. I think some people were like, Alright, what do we do with this stuff? And but, you know, you can't blame that deal because you know, I've read like a lot of fans don't like that record. So you ever you ever know. You got to take the blame yourself. I know a lot. A lot of people like to just, I can't. I don't know, if I knew I'd be in a much better position on what right like that works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, for sure. So then you guys did a tour with a five finger death punch. Now tell me about Are you a fan of this band? Because I this is the first time I heard the other day like some people were kind of ripping on them. Like, is there some backlash towards that band? Because maybe they're too mainstream and aren't hard enough.

Jon Donais:

I think any band that gets popular is just going to get it. I see it when I mean, you see it with bands that big with whether Slipknot events sevenfold five when you're at the top of the food chain. You've got a target on your back home. People want to take you down and it's jealousy. Yeah, for the most part. So we've ever had a problem with them. They treated us great. We played sold out shows every night had a great time. So sounds fun. Yeah, and hey, any band that's going to get any more than mainstream to get into metal and hard rock. I mean, that's okay with me.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, and speaking so then Korn and Rob Zombie Tell me about that too. Or did you get to interact with them at all because those guys are big rock stars.

Jon Donais:

Well, I think that must have been on was that I think that was a mayhem

Chuck Shute:

Mayhem Festival Yeah, it was it was like multiple dates it look like

Jon Donais:

Yeah, but we we were on the main stage on that one we very rarely saw those bands would say what was the first time we did our best with record to but they're on mainstage you didn't really see the mainstage bands even if you are on the main stage. A lot of bands everyone thinks everyone's just getting together a party and backstage a lot of camps just kind of stay in their own

Chuck Shute:

and that's why a couple Yeah, that's why it's about like you turning with a dime bag cuz like sometimes those guys are too cool for that.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, guy wasn't like diamond one hang and have fun. But a lot of times to justice a lot of bands do kind of hang out in their own quarters. Yeah, just but then there's other times where tours quick like like those chicks are firehouse warrant guys are saying they're all just families I've been on tours like that to where you know at the Chateau slaw. God forbid Bama God kill switch you know, we did the Headbangers ball to our there was just like, you just walk on somebody blocks. You don't have to knock you know or what? It's just there's some tours that that you build on tours where you're like, I haven't even seen a guy you know, except when they're on stage.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, happens so. So tell me about anthrax. Did you know those guys before when Rob called you to take over for him? Because he was doing something that we asked you to fill in? Did then like you didn't hear anything for a month and then Scott even called you? Did you already have Scott Ian's like phone number in your phone? Or it wasn't like an unknown number. And it's like, Hey, this is Scott. Ian. Like cuz that would freak me out. Yeah.

Jon Donais:

No, we knew anthrax because we opened up shows for them and got to know them a little bit. And they were they're always a big influence on shadows fall. Yeah. So we hung out with them a little bit. And so I definitely did have Scott's number. He had mine and because I remember hanging out on a few occasions with him. And yeah, the whole anthrax thing, Rob, just want a break. And he thought I'd be a good fit for them. And he knew I got along with the guys already. So he just wanted to make sure that he had someone to fill in a spot so that they weren't hanging. Just hang in there and have a tour coming. I'm like, What the hell are we gonna get now? We got a tour in a month.

Chuck Shute:

But they wanted you to write that's I heard Scott say like, you were the only person they consider they didn't audition anyone else.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I don't know. I cuz I remember. I told them. I absolutely want to do this. I told Rob Yeah, I want to do this 100%. And at first see, it's funny, the whole story was I got a call from Rob's management. And then I called them and they told me the whole thing. And then I talked to Rob and I was just wanting to make sure it wasn't going to be A quick thing I knew he was going to do a couple of weeks, and then he come back. I'd like as much as I would love to do that show this fall was still really active at the time. I'm like, this is gonna be a lot of work.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Didn't you have a tour lined up with testament or something? And so yeah, I want to do on that.

Jon Donais:

So I was worried about that, too. So I had to make sure my guys I did what Rob did, I called one of my buddies. Hey, I can't say why. But I might not be able to do this tour, what testament and Nero Would you be able to fill in for me? And once he said that, that he could then I went back to Caggiano, and I said, Hey, man, I'm in 100%. Because what's what's Rob said? That that was it. For him. I was like, Okay, now this can be a long term opportunity for me. And I absolutely would love to have the chance to play for them full time. And they just kept having tour after tour. That guy just kept sticking around.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, but so the first show you did was in a club, and you said that you had never rehearsed. You only played a little bit with Scott. So you're like shaking? How do you push through that fear? I mean, that's got to be terrifying.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, that's probably one of the scariest moments of my life. And I jam with Scott a little bit because I was living in LA at the time. So I went to his house, and I was playing with Scott and john deti, who was the billing jumper for anthrax. And we damn but I never jammed with the full band. And so we went there and Scott would correct me whatever I was playing around with so I mean, the right way to play the rest and then you know, put Australia and that just while they actually won't good thing is is definitely a live video. So I do how to end the song start the song out, we're all segways were so it know that and yeah, just study that video. And. And, yeah, I tell people sometimes it was, it was hard to enjoy that show. Even like, it's like, holy shit. I'm playing with anthrax, but the whole time they could don't fuck up don't like myself. So I'm trying not to psych myself out here because I don't want to fucking completely botch apart.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, once you made it, you did it. You did good. Right and fuck up.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, it went pretty well. And then yeah, then things were going great. And it was just a tour after tour. They just kept getting tours and and then they started showing me demos for their for their new stuff. And, okay, put down some leads with and let's see what you got. And I think the studio was my last audition I have if I can get through the studio and make them happy then they were going to keep me in. Okay.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. So and then you did like this tour with? What's that? What's that?

Jon Donais:

I didn't say it's been I mean, here we are.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, there so Yeah, we are. You did this tour with Iron Maiden. And you said that Bruce Dickinson was flying the plane he said that's gotta be weird as see the singer of Iron Maiden is like, he's like getting on the intercom and saying this is the captain Bruce Dickinson.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, that was that was a pinch me moment. That whole Iron Maiden answer. We got to fly on their prize like 747 I think it was in South America where Iron Maiden is a religion.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so you're playing like soccer stadiums like these

Jon Donais:

are here. Yeah, like 50,000 80,000 people sold out or people are just going off this fucking maniacs for Iron Maiden and and then we're flying on their plane with them. And tickets and flying it and telling you how the weather is, and how long the fights gonna be like total brawl. But you know that voice from here and it's so many times. Yeah. And just like seeing so many interviews with him as a kid and then just nobody foundlings, like, man, I can't believe broomstick and fly knitted Iron Man's taking a piss in the bathroom agents Miss waiting to go in.

Chuck Shute:

Crazy. This is insane. So and then this is another pinch me moment. It's got to be when you guys played Seth Meyers show. And I mean, it's always funny when you play the talk shows because you don't know who the other guests are going to be. But it just happened that it was Robert De Niro was the guest that night. You guys got to meet him?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I don't know what it is about me. Bathrooms that run into awesome celebrities. Yeah, however, we're about to go on though. It's gonna take a week like it did. Robert Townsend ever washed his head?

Unknown:

Like, holy shit.

Chuck Shute:

He doesn't have like a handout or somebody pushing people away that

Unknown:

well, not in the bathroom.

Chuck Shute:

I guess Nah. Wow. That's I mean, easy.

Jon Donais:

But that's, you know, that's that's as big as you get an acting. That's that's, that's the top of the line.

Chuck Shute:

He's kind of like introverted, though and kind of quiet in real life, right? I mean, the movies, he's as tough every guy, but in real life, he's like kind of introverted, right?

Jon Donais:

I mean, I don't really, really no, I can't say we met him for like, a couple minutes. And he was super nice. And super cool to hang out with. So that's all I can really base that off of. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

that's cool. That's a cool moment for sure. So you guys did that album in 2016? What was it called for for all kings? Is there any talk of a new Anthrax album? It's because it's been like five years.

Jon Donais:

Yeah. The band to work on the new album, hopefully, once this pandemics over there'll be a new record and a ton of touring behind it.

Chuck Shute:

So they're working on it now? Are you working on it with them? Are you sending solos and stuff?

Jon Donais:

Not yet. But I know the band is working on stuff. And I know they got stuff written. It's just, I haven't gotten to the studio with him or anything yet...

Chuck Shute:

Do you send them riffs like, hey, do you guys want to use this riff or anything? Do you do any of the writing or they do all the writing?

Jon Donais:

They've done all the writing, and that's pretty much they got they got a system down. And, all bands work different. It works great for them. They've been they've been successful for over 35 years. So they're just going strong, stronger than ever. Really right now. And the last few records have been amazing.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Have you heard any of the new stuff? of the new Anthrax? Yeah, you have not yet. Okay. So what are your favorite old anthrax albums or songs?

Jon Donais:

I haven't. I'm sorry. You froze up? No.

Chuck Shute:

What are your favorite old anthrax albums or old anthrax songs like, either to play or just to listen to?

Jon Donais:

Ah, man, there's so many good ones. But you know, what I wrote, which I find funny is they're not big fans of stadia Borya. And I love that record. And that's big, because that was my first anthrax record. Okay, so I like to play stuff off that album, which doesn't get added too much. But that was my first introduction to them. And I played that tape all the time. When I first got it. I remember being anti social on MTV as a kid. And I actually brought that song to my guitar teacher at the time to learn. That's so crazy.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so I remember mine was uh, this is crazy, but it was because it was like 9192 and I was getting into metal and so I actually bought the first one I bought was Attack of the killer bees. Do you remember that was like the besides inside?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I had that there.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so it's funny because rock like back in the day is like, I mean, it's crazy. It's like 30 years ago, it used to be rock used to be all about like, against the authority in the establishment. And freedom of choice and expression and it was all against censorship and I remember the song do you remember the song starting up a posse?

Jon Donais:

Yep.

Chuck Shute:

So I love that song as a kid and I feel like it's like relevant today... the lyrics " you can't censor my feelings. You can't censor my thoughts. censorships everything America stands for you fucking whores.... shit, fuck... swearing... I was listening to this song is so fucking awesome. Like, but do you? Am I crazy? Or is that song like relevant again? Like, is Anthrax... do they have to apologize for that song now though? Are they like still feel like "fuck censorship? Fuck the man fuck authority"

Jon Donais:

I'm not sure but if they do ever play it again, but I'd be game to... I always love that chours as a kid... But yeah, I don't think I don't think they're too worried about about that stuff.

Chuck Shute:

No, because like, I think I look at the song"Indians." I mean, that song is not even PC now. Or like, "Kep it in the Family." Which is ironic because I feel like that song is against racism, but they use racial slurs in the song. I mean, I'm like, worried like Anthrax might get canceled.

Jon Donais:

I think anything at this point, you never know. I mean,

Chuck Shute:

I'm looking to Anthrax for guidance on this. Like, are they are people gonna cancel Anthrax? Is Anthrax gonna be like, "Fuck you" or they're gonna apologize or ..... I'm just curious. Like, if they're a part of though they just trying to hope nobody brings this shit up like me.

Jon Donais:

I think everyone... just nobody knows what to do these days. It's interesting time we're living in.

Chuck Shute:

I guess so. Yeah,

Jon Donais:

you gotta watch every step now.

Chuck Shute:

No, cuz I always thought like, I mean, Anthrax was kind of into that, like they did the song with Public Enemy and so they were kind of into that kind of stuff like that kind of move like "against the authority" and so that's kind of what like I said, that's what drew me to them as a kid was all this like... the angst...

Jon Donais:

a lot of art. A lot of the punk and thrash was like that. It has like a lot of punk and thrash to it. I mean, kids are always going to gravitate that kind of stuff, especially when you're angry. pissed off. Kids, or even adults? I mean, we're living in ties are pretty fucking angry.

Chuck Shute:

Right now.

Jon Donais:

I lost my job. You know, I can't play music. It's

Chuck Shute:

not Yeah, no, it's terrible. So, but tell me about your new band living wreckage. I listened to the songs that you sent. It's got the guitars, the other guitars from Shadow Falls, Matt. It sounds to me like old school metal. Like I love it. It sounds great. But you tell me or tell the listeners what it's about.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, so, um, after Anthrax for the last eight years, it's just been non stop. So I really hadn't had much time to really start anything. And I hadn't written a record since Shadow Falls last record, which was, I think 2012. So I'm sitting on a pile of material. And I knew Anthrax had a good amount of time off. So it's like, all right. I gotta find something to do here. So I just kind of started asking around people to jam with and I wanted to do like a, because I love arena rock I love like stuff like Tesla, Cinderella Skid Row, all those 80s type bands, but I also love Sepultura, Metallica, Pantera, Carcass, like like the heavy shit. So I was like, how? I wonder if I could put a band together. That's like, arena rock meets thrash. And so I was, I always wanted to play with Matt again, because we always have great chemistry, and he's one of my best friends. So he wanted to do it. He was really busy at the time with school. But he's like, Yeah, I definitely want to do it. But he was working full time and going to school. So he didn't have a ton of time we were This is where I had like all the time on my hands. So I started jamming with a drummer I knew and we started cranking out tunes. And then the other guitar player about the Matt Labretton, a friend of the drummers. And he had all these cool riffs and songs too. And we got along great. So. So that was up three. And then well, Matt knew he was going to be involved. He just had to find some time to get involved. And then Matt, the guitar player, and it gets fused in because there's two jobs and two bass in the band. So people really know who is probably like, what's going on here. I can't follow this fucking thing. But I'm still the drummer and the guitar player knew the singer and I thought he had this kick ass hard rock melodic voice with some raps. And I was like, oh, man, like, some of his screams kind of like a tie. She reminds me of Sebastian Bach, and that's my favorite saying I got that like Def Leppard Joe Elliott rasp like, that's pretty cool, too. Hey, got the screen do. So we done without a song with him. And I was like, yeah, that's, that's the guy right there. And so we went in and recorded a record in September. And now we're just kind of shopping around and hope hoping that we can find maybe label or manager that wants to work with it. And

Chuck Shute:

yeah, sounds good to me.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, I'll be glad to take it.

Chuck Shute:

Can you tour? Do you think you could tour with that? Or do you have to work around Anthrax schedule, right,

Jon Donais:

or? Yeah, I mean, who even knows? It might not ever get a deal. We might just play our local bars here. So okay. I have even thought that far. I mean, I'll be happy if we even get it out there at this point it out. It's a tough world right now. Especially for starting a new band. It's definitely that's what I should have been doing during a pandemic. I should have fucking went to school. I'm a dumb ass on I started a new band.

Chuck Shute:

Wait, why would you go to school? You're a musician. What do you need to go to school for?

Unknown:

Well, there's no jobs to musicians right now.

Chuck Shute:

Wow, that's good. Get temporary, right. I mean, hopefully this is all over soon. I think you froze for a minute there. Hello.

Unknown:

I'm sorry. You froze?

Chuck Shute:

Are you back? Yeah, you're back.

Jon Donais:

I hope so. Man. Yeah, that happened to Well, I'm hoping that I'm actually live in wreckage has a show. And at the end of May, one of our local bars are ready to play with AC DC tribute band back in black. We'll see. If that happens. I don't know what the capacity is gonna be if it's gonna be 20% or 50%.

Chuck Shute:

What city is that?

Jon Donais:

Matt, we live in Massachusetts. And it's going to be in chicopee. Massachusetts at a place called jld.

Chuck Shute:

Oh, you're still in Massachusetts, because that's where you're from. That's where you grew up. And yeah, okay. Yeah,

Jon Donais:

I live. I live where I grew up. So we're gonna do that and that'll be our first show. And then we've got another show and June 26, in Jersey, I think that okay, the metal club and that's with Corey Glover for living color as a new band with Corey Pierce from God forbid and that's their CD release party. And we're going to be on that too.

Chuck Shute:

That'll be fun. So what are the fam differences like with shadows fall and anthrax? Are the fans different? I mean, are the anthrax kind of more of the old school fans and and shadows fall the new metal fans? Or is there kind of a mix of every time?

Jon Donais:

It's kind of a mix? Because shallow fall? We read through the old school fans because we came out with a new metal was that a tight? Yeah, that's when everybody had shorthair nobody was playing guitar solos. You know, most of the bands are just using two strings on the guitar and not not all of them. And we were more. We were more Metallica and Megadeth anthrax than that stuff. We want to be like the old metal bands, we still had our long hair and playing guitar solos. So we gain a lot of old school people right away because they're like, Oh, cool. There's another band finally doing this again. And so and then anthrax do we do meet and greets. You see two generations of people, you your dad and he's bringing us you know, 14 year old kids to the show, and they both love you. Mm hmm.

Chuck Shute:

That's cool. Dude. I always wonder what the heavier bands do. They have like groupies and stuff? I mean, I know. It's not like poison a motley crew, but they've got to have some female fans too. Right?

Jon Donais:

I would think so. Yeah. I mean, there's always people out there who want to have fun.

Chuck Shute:

Or do you ever get like weird fans? Like, do you ever did you ever get like death threats or anything like that? Like, I mean, because when you're in a band that big, I feel like there's just got to be all sorts of weird stuff happening.

Jon Donais:

I never had to worry about that. But I've never really got to that status where anybody would really give a shit about Oh, really?

Chuck Shute:

Like is you're just kind of like the new guy still.

Unknown:

Yeah, I mean, I know. No one bothers me. I just, you know,

Chuck Shute:

I guess that's good. As long as like bothering you with bad stuff, right? So yeah, I can be a good thing.

Jon Donais:

I'm pretty lucky. And I'm answering for myself. So

Chuck Shute:

you stay out of the way. That's cool. So you mentioned you mentioned Sebastian Bach, have you? I know that I think I saw you that you got to meet him at least once. And oh, you got to sit in with Skid Row and play slave to the grind. That's really and you do the backing vocals. Did you ever get to perform with a with Sebastian

Jon Donais:

though? I have not. I've hung out with that Sebastian a few times. We have some mutual friends. And he's always been awesome to me. That I gotta say wave the grind. Probably my favorite Vocal Performance ever.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, right. That whole record is amazing. I think songs and the vocals.

Jon Donais:

Yeah. It's funny is when we signed to Atlantic. Jason Flom asked, like, what's what's your favorite Atlantic record? And we said, our favorite Atlantic record. And I said, we're gonna drive. As a week later, a double platinum flavor to grind record came to my house with my name on it.

Chuck Shute:

Wow, that's awesome.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, like, that'd be the only Platinum record I ever get. But yeah, I mean, I I've met all the skinny guys and it's, they've been nothing but great to me and they let me jam with them once. Upon Sebastian, he's, I remember him playing like I was in my buddy's car with them. And we're driving down the street in LA somewhere. And Sebastian was in the car. You're just playing one of the new CDs and he was saying that and I was like, holy shit. Could he like, just to hear that boys like a foot away from me? Like, Oh, wow. He still

Chuck Shute:

sounds really good. Right?

Jon Donais:

Yeah. So that was that was a really cool moment to like dad even told me this when I was nine years old. I would have never been fucking believe that.

Chuck Shute:

That's great. Yeah, he's deaf. I've met him a couple times. He was really cool. I'm trying to get him on the show. I was I had Rachel on that was like amazing to me. Because again, that was our band.

Unknown:

Are you Rachel episode? Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

that was so much fun. That was great. So do you use your like, kind of fame and anthrax to like I know I saw you do like went to some wrestling stuff. Do you use that like, as a car like helium and anthrax? Like let me in the backstage and stuff like that. Does that help you get like good seats for

Jon Donais:

now I just we just happen. We work in an industry where we all run into each other at some point. So you know, we know wrestlers, they come to our shows we go to their show. Some of the production people so a lot, a lot. A lot of the routers are metal heads. Actually Seth Rollins was telling a story he said, first of all, famous which shadows fall weren't famous, but he said the first famous people that he met with Matt Nye from shadows fall when he was at our show, like we walked off the tour bus and talked in. That's awesome. And then he's got a dog metrics are there's a documentary whether about hammer one of his old wrestling Federation's on the WWE channel, and whatever wrestling company was worthwhile at the time he came out with a shadow sponsor. That's pretty rad.

Chuck Shute:

That's awesome. Yeah, I mean, seems like I saw like you have pictures with like Mark slaughter and Phil from Pantera zakk Wylde Dave Grohl. Yeah, kiss Sammy Hagar. I mean, is there anyone that like you haven't met yet or worked with or interacted with?

Jon Donais:

You know what I haven't met like, like, who is one of my favorite bands of all time? There's two bands that I've never met anybody from? I never met he went from Aerosmith, which are another Massachusetts band. Oh, yeah. I never met anyone in Bon Jovi. Really? Yeah. Those are the two. Oh, and well. Yeah, I met someone. I met Sammy Hagar. Okay. By August a Van Halen too. But Sammy Hagar came in real quick one time on an award show and said Hi there, guys.

Unknown:

Whoa, yeah.

Chuck Shute:

So you've met Metallica then?

Jon Donais:

Yeah, we shadowfall play with Metallica a couple times. anthrax is playing with Metallica.

Chuck Shute:

Of course. Yeah. The big part of the egg for that makes sense. Yeah, for sure. It's crazy. So anthrax has been nominated for Grammy. Six times zero wins. Do you think will they ever win a Grammy? I mean, does that even matter?

Jon Donais:

I hope so. But I don't think it matters. I don't really think that. I mean, I know the Grammys don't really know what's going on. I mean, look what they did for Eddie Van Halen. And then tonight, you have the rock metal thing, categorize. It's like, they used to be so big in the 80s. I mean, yeah. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

it's weird. It's like, ah, I think Ice T won for Body Count.

Jon Donais:

All those video shows I used to like the American Music Awards, MTV Video Awards, all that I used. So that was like I've ever MTV Music Awards were like, That was when I had to go back to school at some time or so I was always a shitty time, like, other year school. But that was like most of the MTV Music Awards are going to be on that. So that's going to be cool. And that was literally like, rock and roll was all over metal bands. For sure. Yeah. Cool. cuz everybody had more. There was it was just there was more of a of different styles of music on TV that, you know, you had your pop bands, you had raft and you had your glam bands, and you'd have bands like Metallica and anthrax, it just, it was just more eclectic now. Seems to be like one style that you really see. And what other than kind of in the same genre? No, everything's

Chuck Shute:

like pop like metal is just not really. Yeah. But I still feel like it's really popular. Because I mean, you go to those shows, and they're, I mean, they're like you said, you're in South America and in Iron Maiden sawn off soccer stadium. So I mean, there's still

Jon Donais:

I think you just like the internet helps all that to now you can see videos on YouTube, you don't have to wait all day to see your favorite video, you want your favorite video, you type it in. You also wait for anybody to play it. Yeah, everything's at your fingertips these days. So

Chuck Shute:

yeah, it's got to be good and bad, though. Because on the one thing, it's, it's, I mean, if you're really good, then you're going to rise to the top. But then sometimes it's hard to find stuff. Because there's so much stuff you got to weed through. Well, I

Jon Donais:

think that is the case too, is everything is so saturated. Now everybody can make a record everybody. Like, you know, if you know what you're doing, you can make a good sounding record on your, on your laptop. And people know how to make their own videos and stuff like that these YouTube guys. But that that just means there's just a ton of bands out there at once. And I think it's really hard to grab people's attention because there's so many bands when you have these things like Spotify, Apple and YouTube Music, you know, you're paying your 10 $15 a month, you just have unlimited access to everything. So it's sometimes hard to stay focused. You're just like, if you hear something like you for one minute, like, pocket swipe next one, where I remember, I would buy CDs as a kid just or tapes because I'd read about like who the bands I like like, Who Who do they think in their liner notes, Mike. All right. My take a chance.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, no, that's how it's so right.

Jon Donais:

I would be like, No, I don't like this. But then, like at first grew on me, but I'm like, wow, I just paid 15 bucks. I'm gonna I'm going to miss I'm going to keep listening. Because I know a lot of people like these guys. I must be missing something. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

I remember. Yeah. Remember Mr. bungle. Do you remember that I remember I'd always see like rock stars wearing Mr. bungle shirts. And I was like, What is this? Like? Why do I keep seeing this? Like, there's a tractor in my balls. I was like, What the fuck does that mean? I was like, I gotta get this and I remember getting and going. I don't get this. Like, I tried to listen. I was like, I'm just not. Some of the riffs are cool, but then it grew on me. And now I definitely appreciate it way more it really

Jon Donais:

Yeah, yeah. Well, let's say time, like the first time I heard Metallica, I was like, Oh, this is you know, I was listening to the mainstream metal so I was listening stuff like rap and Bon Jovi and Def Leppard is I remember seeing that one video. This is kind of disturbing. I'm like, yeah, I'm like, I don't know if I'm connecting with this. A little bit. It was too heavy and dark for me. That you know, then become one of my favorite bands in the world that I've become like, there's like, I was obsessed with Metallica through my teenage years. Absolutely. Same with first time I saw Panthera

Chuck Shute:

Yes,

Jon Donais:

I would get romaniuk I didn't know really who Panthera was I saw. I remember. I bought tickets to the slave to the grind tour. And then I saw a mouth for war on the Headbangers ball and I was like, What is that because I like the heaviest stuff I was listening to now that was in the metallic another Metallica moment like alright, I get Metallica 100% of that. But I'm like this is another like a new level of of something right? They

Chuck Shute:

took it up a notch for sure that was like

Jon Donais:

I've ever like alright I always you know wanted to get some show early always want to see who's opening up and just I was excited you know of course your your kid going to a concert you wait all like for three months for the buy those tickets three month and you think about every day in school. So get their paradigm you know, like, Wow, I didn't like do I like this or not? I like the crowd is going crazy. Yeah. Watch it has to do with something new. And I'm like, I was pretty kick ass man. Yeah, my buddy cuz we never heard anything like that. I was like, wow, like, What? Give me a kick that and that crowd. So you know, by the end of the set, I was like, that was pretty powerful. And I was taking lessons at the mall. So I wouldn't pass the music store. And I was like I saw the band. Let me pick up the CD you know, I called them live check it out. See what the sound like on record. And yeah, I was like I just kept listening listen to that first song that was a little too heavy and I liked some more of the melodic parts more with daddy now then it just I got bit by the bug and now they're one of my favorite bands and fuck me and that was that's one of the bands too early to me. They never put out a bad record they never put out a record we were like what that this doesn't sound like bands there. Were like bands once you have you know, five six records. They have a record now that you're like I don't know what they're going for on that one.

Chuck Shute:

Right? Yeah, no, I love like,

Jon Donais:

hey, Tara like, to me it was always falling up and right on

Chuck Shute:

and their shows were crazy. I remember like I was bad. I don't know if people still maash but back in that was like when Maschine was big. And we'd be like in the mosh pit. I was just skinny little kid. I just get thrown out. I try to stay on the outskirts a little because it was crazy.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, that was probably one of the first big show that I saw was a Masha because they didn't have it was General mission on the floor. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, putting a lot of a show on crazy

Jon Donais:

shows like the ones that I would go to like, you know, it's like putting powder and stuff. A lot of them had seats. And then the skid row pan Paradorn didn't have space and people are going ballistic.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's crazy. Well, awesome. This has been fun. I do like to end each episode with a charity. Do you think I said to you, I told you that I think Yeah, yeah. Do you have one of the work whether you want to give a shout out to here?

Jon Donais:

Oh, yeah, I'd like to give a shout out to motley zoo. I don't know if you're familiar with. They're in Washington or Seattle area. But every time we play Seattle, they bring puppies out. And they're great. They like all the bands get the hang with the dogs. And they have dogs and cats. And yes, if anyone can follow them on Instagram and watch the story. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

I'm from Seattle, so I have tons of friends and family there. So

Jon Donais:

okay, cool. Yeah, check it out. And yeah, man, I'm a dog breed guide to lenient and to Allah and dogs. Dogs are one of my favorite things. And I can't imagine living without one.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, I saw all your dog pictures online. That's really cool. So all right. I'll put that in the notes to so and then people should look out for living wreckage and maybe hopefully new anthrax album too.

Jon Donais:

Yeah, so yeah, if everyone checks it out, living records has a Facebook and Instagram and there should be Something out with a song, hopefully for everyone to buy and download within the next month. Hopefully by May.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, cool. Yeah, I've heard them all. So I think they're all great. I give it the two thumbs up. Absolutely. Oh, yeah. All right. Thanks, john.

Unknown:

All right. Thanks, Chuck. Take care.

Chuck Shute:

See you later. Bye bye. So many cool stories hanging out with dimebag Darrell and Iron Maiden. It just sounds like a fun job. Being the guitarist and anthrax. Not sure I need to remind anyone to follow anthrax on social media, but they're on there. And I think they have over 2 million followers on Facebook. But also follow john like on Instagram and his new band. They have a Facebook living wreckage should have new music coming out soon. Also, if your guitar player I forgot to mention, john does Guitar Lessons via Skype. I don't know how long that's going to continue on for but it's pretty cool. So hit him up if you want to do that. Thank you for listening to my show. If you want to continue to support the show, you can like and share posts on social media. You can comment or give a thumbs up on YouTube. And make sure to subscribe wherever you listen so you can keep up with future episodes. I appreciate you all. I hope you have a great rest of your day. And remember to shoot for the moon.