Ex-Anthrax Guitarist Rob Caggiano Joins… Volbeat?!
Ex-Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano has joined Danish rockabilly metal band Volbeat.
Since that statement probably sounds as confusing to you as it did to me when I first read the news this morning, here’s a quick recap of how things went down: 1) Caggiano quits Anthrax. 2) Caggiano flies to Denmark to produce Volbeat’s new album. 3) Volbeat offers Caggiano the band’s lead guitarist spot, vacated by Thomas Bredahl in 2011.
Here’s Caggiano’s statement about joining Volbeat, posted through the band’s Facebook page this morning:
Wow! I have to say I’m completely blown away by the turn of events over the last few weeks here in Denmark and at this point an update is definitely in order. To start with, I came to Denmark about a month ago to produce the new Volbeat record which in and of itself has been an incredibly exciting adventure from a producer’s perspective thus far. However, I’m extremely happy to say my relationship with these guys will not end there as it turns out……it’s just beginning! Michael had asked me on the phone before I got out here if I would play some guest solos on the new album in addition to my other duties and of course I was thrilled about that and agreed to do so. When I actually got to Denmark and started going through the material, this turned out to be so much more than that. After weeks of collaboration between Michael and I it became quite clear that we had an amazing creative chemistry together and a huge mutual respect for one another. It’s so refreshing and inspiring to be creative again on a songwriting level that words can’t even describe it and the vibe between Anders, Jon, Michael and I is just awesome. I’d say an artistic relationship like this one is very rare and it’s also something I don’t take for granted. When the guys asked me if I was interested in joining Volbeat the other day, my jaw just about hit the floor! It actually didn’t even register in my brain properly until the next morning but I gotta say, it also didn’t take me long to decide. It really isn’t the way I envisioned the rest of my year to play out but at the same time, THIS feels more “right” to me than anything I could have possibly imagined and I’m going for it! To all my fans, family, friends and overall supporters that have reached out to me over this last month wondering if I’m ever gonna play guitar again or what I’m up to in general etc……..See you all soon my friends and get ready for a wild ride!!!
On one hand, it’s hard to believe that this all came up as suddenly as Caggiano claims. On the other hand, his stated reason for joining Volbeat — artistic fulfillment — is consistent with the frustrations with his former band he shared in his Anthrax exit statement. On the other other hand, said exit statement was given just last week and it’s quite possible Caggiano had already been invited to join the band by then; was “the other day” Caggiano refers to before or after January 30th, when he published his last statement? We may never know, and ultimately I suppose it doesn’t matter; Caggiano is now a member of Volbeat, and the saga of Anthrax ex-members continues to get weirder and weirder. If I’m Scott Ian or Charlie Benante right now I’m all like this:
Does this mean we’ll care about Volbeat now? I kinda doubt it; Caggiano or no Caggiano — and I’m of the school that thinks his production contributions to Anthrax were under-appreciated — Volbeat will still sound like Volbeat. I saw the band live onceand in that setting their appeal totally made sense to me, but I’ve never been able to get into their records (and I know I’m not alone in that amongst MS Mansion residents). But, ya know, it’s an interesting twist, and one makes me more likely to pay attention to new Volbeat music than I would’ve been otherwise. The new Volbeat album Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies will come out on April 9th, if you’re into that sorta thing.
Thanks: Brian M.
