In an industry where musical trends come and go, few bands have managed to maintain their identity quite like Armored Saint.
For more than four decades, the LA-based metal veterans have carved out a career built on powerful riffs, memorable songs and an unwavering commitment to doing things their own way. While countless bands have chased the latest musical movement, Armored Saint remained firmly planted in its own territory; earning a fiercely loyal following and the respect of musicians and fans alike.
At the center of it all is vocalist John Bush, whose unmistakable voice has helped define the band’s sound since its earliest days. Along the way, Bush also spent more than a decade fronting thrash metal giants Anthrax.
Now 63, Bush shows little interest in slowing down. With new music and another tour on the horizon, he’s still doing what he loves.
I recently caught up with Bush to discuss Armored Saint’s remarkable longevity, his years with Anthrax, and what continues to inspire him after more than forty years in heavy metal.
James Wood: When you look back at more than forty years of Armored Saint, did you ever imagine you’d still be doing this today?
John Bush: The young John Bush would probably look at me now and say, “That guy is ancient!” (laughs). I think longevity is really what you strive for. Success is something you can’t predict. You don’t know how popular you’re going to become or how long it’s going to last. The most important thing is believing in the music you’re making and hoping you can have a long career. For the most part, I’ve been able to do that.
One thing I’ve always admired about Armored Saint is that the band never seemed interested in following trends. Whether it was glam, hair metal and thrash in the eighties or grunge in the nineties, you maintained your own identity. Was that a conscious decision?
Bush: In the eighties we probably had a little bit of an inferiority complex because we didn’t really fit into either scene. There was the thrash movement and the hair metal scene, and we were somewhere in between. We were from Los Angeles and played with bands from both worlds, but we didn’t sound like either one. We were heavily influenced by European and British heavy metal. For a while, that probably worked against us. It wasn’t until we were writing Symbol of Salvationthat we really embraced who we were. We’d been dropped by Chrysalis Records, and we’d learned that Dave [Prichard] was sick. The future looked pretty bleak, but we still had the band. So we decided to just write songs and follow our instincts. That’s why I think Symbol of Salvation is probably our most emotional record. There was so much at stake.
You and bassist Joey Vera have been the creative backbone of the band for decades. Has your songwriting relationship changed over the years?
Bush: We really just keep doing what we do. I love all the Armored Saint records because they’re different from one another. Win Hands Down and Punching the Sky were both great records for us, and our new album, Emotion Factory Reset, continues that evolution. We’re a groove-oriented heavy rock band with a lot of soul, cool riffs, great rhythms and bluesy vocals. We try to write interesting lyrics without putting limitations on ourselves. I think we’ve developed a style that’s uniquely ours. Hopefully, people continue discovering it.
You mentioned Symbol of Salvation being an important album. When you perform those songs today, do they carry a different emotional weight?
Bush: I think music grows with you. You can listen to something you loved when you were younger, and it means something completely different later in life. Singing those songs has changed. I recorded them when I was much younger, so I approach them differently now. I actually think they sound warmer with my current voice. “Last Train Home” is still an emotional song about hope. “Tribal Dance,” which dealt with the war on drugs, still has relevance today. The songs evolve because we evolve.
You also spent a significant part of your career fronting Anthrax. What did that experience teach you that you eventually brought back to Armored Saint?
Bush: That’s a good question, because I really did learn a lot. There was definitely a different attitude. Those guys were New York, and we were Los Angeles. They looked at life differently, and I absorbed some of that.
I’ve always tried to let the people I work with bring something different out of me. Anthrax had this raw energy and punk attitude. The energy, songwriting and especially the live performances brought something into my life that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. When I returned to Armored Saint, I definitely brought some of that with me.
The music industry has changed dramatically since Armored Saint released its first album. Do you think it’s easier or harder for young metal bands to build lasting careers today?
Bush: If I were starting a heavy metal band in 2026, I’m not sure what I’d do. Today, you can reach people around the world immediately through social media. Back when we started, we had pen pals. We’d write letters to people in Belgium or England, and eventually you’d meet people through fanzines and magazines. It was organic.
I have a side project called Electric Spaghetti that’s more blues, country and soul. We’re still figuring out how to release the music because I’ve always worked with record companies. Younger musicians understand this new world because they’ve grown up with it. But making it is still difficult. There are so many bands competing for attention. Finding a way to stand out has never been easy.
Armored Saint has an incredibly loyal fan base. At this stage of your career, how do you define success?
Bush: I can’t measure it strictly by money because we were never that big. It wasn’t like everybody could retire and buy houses. But there’s a lot of love for this band internationally. We’ve stood the test of time and made some really great records. I always joke that Armored Saint will probably become much more successful after we’re dead (laughs). There’s probably a little truth to that. But we’ve come full circle, and we’ve stayed true to ourselves. We’re still doing this when so many of our peers aren’t. People still want to see us perform, buy our records and wear our T-shirts.
After everything you’ve experienced: the records, tours, friendships, losses and unexpected turns, what still excites you about walking onstage with Armored Saint? And what do you hope people remember about the band’s legacy?
Bush: It’s the songs. You get up there, and you want to sing well, sing from the heart and make people feel something. Whether it’s a slower song or something aggressive, you want the performance to affect people. And you want to have fun. Because if it’s not fun, what’s the point? We’re still making incredible music, and I hope people look back one day and say, “Wow, that was a really cool band that made music that stood the test of time.”
The Seventh Echo is available now from
Adverse City Publishing
© 2026 James Wood
Leave a Reply