Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released 9 studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene. When thrash metal began to gain a major following in the mid-to-late 1980s, Anthrax were dubbed one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer.
Anthrax was formed in mid-1981 by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. The band was named after the disease the two saw listed in a biology textbook, using it because it sounded "sufficiently evil".[1] The initial line-up of Anthrax was rounded out by drummer Dave Weiss and bassist Kenny Kushner.

Kushner was soon deemed inadequate for the band's needs and was replaced very early by bassist Paul Kahn, who also was quickly ousted. Lilker chose to take over on bass and Greg Walls joined as lead guitarist. Drummer Dave Weiss was replaced by Greg D'Angelo early on as well. The vocalist position was temporarily filled by the band's roadie John Connelly (who later went on to form the band Nuclear Assault with Dan Lilker), Scott Ian's younger brother Jason Rosenfeld, and Tommy Wise within a short period of time before the band finally settled on vocalist Neil Turbin in late August 1982. A steady lineup was finally in place.