Anthrax guitarist and co-founder Scott Ian recently shared a powerful anecdote about when the band was banned from MTV in the 1980s. During an interview with Metal Hammerhe explained how their Music video for the song Madhouse led to this drastic decision by the music channel.
A controversial clip
Released in 1985, the music video for Madhouse shows characters in straitjackets dancing frantically in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. This content was perceived by MTV as offensive towards people with mental illnesses.
Ian says: “The video was submitted to MTV, which was already ambitious for a band called 'Anthrax' playing our style of music. MTV said very politely, 'We'll never broadcast that. You're banned from MTV because we think you're making fun of mentally challenged people.' And we were like, 'What?!'”
Also read: Dark Angel: The group will unveil its first song since 1991 in January
A badge of honor for Anthrax
Instead of being discouraged, Anthrax saw the ban as proof of his rebellious spirit. Ian continues: “We wore it like a badge of honor. We were like, 'Fuck MTV! Who needs them?!' This was before Headbangers Ball. The label even put out a press release saying we were officially banned from MTV, which got people excited.”
Despite this controversy, MTV eventually changed its attitude towards the group as they gained popularity. Their resumption ofAntisocial by Trust became a classic on the network, and in 1989, MTV held a contest where the winner could have their house “ransacked” by Anthrax.
France
Music
