Anthrax members Scott Ian and Charlie Benante have teamed up with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl for a cover of Bad Brains’ “The Regulator” that will be released as a vinyl single on Record Store Day (April 20th).
The rock legends got together when Anthrax were recording their new album at Grohl’s Studio 606, forming the one-off outfit G.B.I. (Grohl, Benante, Ian). While Benante is best known as the drummer in Anthrax (as well as the current incarnation of Pantera), he played bass on the Bad Brains cover, letting Grohl handle drums and lead vocals, while Ian laid down the guitar track.
As Ian mentioned in an Instagram post, proceeds from the single will benefit Bad Brains singer H.R., who is suffering from SUNCT Syndrome, which causes cycles of intense headaches that make it impossible for him to perform.
The Anthrax guitarist gave the full details on the cover song as follows:
“GBI! Release date 4/20/24! It’s a Record Store Day exclusive – only 3000 pressed! Here’s the story: Anthrax were recording our new album at 606 and the Foo’s were there rehearsing at the same time. Dave had popped into the studio to hang and listen to what we were doing and we’d gone over to hear the Foo’s rehearse. I texted Dave the next morning and said: ‘Hey! Good to see ya the other day. Are you rehearsing today? I’ll be there doing guitars. Wanna record a Minor Threat song? Bad Brains?’ He replied immediately with the Spotify link for ‘The Regulator.’ I said I’d be there at 12:30pm and he said, ‘See you at 1.’ It was that simple.
We recorded at 606. Charlie and I asked Dave if he’d play drums and sing as well, he was in. Charlie plays bass and I’m on guitar. Charlie did the badass art for the cover. GBI!
The spark to do this was to raise money for HR’s healthcare. All the proceeds will be donated to him for that. And what better day to do it than Record Store Day? It helps Indie stores as well, win/win.
We ripped ‘Regulator’ live in 2 takes, the way it should be! It was so much fun to get to play with Dave on drums and to hear his voice with my guitar! We’re all such huge Bad Brains fans and have asked WWBBD? (What would Bad Brains do?) many times. Hope you get a copy!”
Benante recently hinted at the collab to Heavy Consequence, telling us, “I felt like it was back in those old-school days of just jamming with your friends to old punk-rock / hardcore songs, and God, I loved it!”
Anthrax are expected to release their long-awaited new album sometime this year. They are slated to play the Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple festivals in May, as well as embark on a Latin American jaunt in April and a UK/European tour in November. Pick up tickets to their upcoming shows here.
Grohl, meanwhile, will be out on the road with Foo Fighters on a US summer stadium tour. Tickets to those shows are available here.
Check out the artwork for “The Regulator,” created by Benante, below, and see a list of other Record Store Day releases here.
“The Regulator” Artwork: