JOHN BUSH Explains Why He Rejected METALLICA: 'They Were Nobodies Back Then'

Summary

• John Bush confirms he was invited to join Metallica in the early ’80s, but chose to stick with Armored Saint.
• He later performed ‘The Four Horsemen’ with Metallica during their 30th anniversary show at the Fillmore.
• Bush says James Hetfield was always the right frontman, calling his vocal evolution ‘off the charts’.

John Bush, best known for fronting Armored Saint and later Anthrax, recently spoke in depth about the time he was offered a spot as Metallica’s lead singer.

In an interview with Get On The Bus, Bush confirmed the long-standing story: yes, Metallica really did ask him to join in the early 1980s.

According to Bush, the invitation came before Armored Saint had officially taken off. The person who reached out was Jonny Zazula (aka Jonny Z), who managed Metallica at the time and would later take on Anthrax.

Zazula called Bush again about a decade later, trying to recruit him into Anthrax in the early 1990s. The pattern wasn’t lost on Bush, who joked about the timing: “It was kind of funny.”

Bush said the idea of joining Metallica was flattering, but it didn’t feel like the right path. In his words: “It just was not my fate.”

A Close Call Before Metallica Took Off

Back in 1982, Armored Saint was getting attention. The band had strong local buzz, and Bush had been close with the other members since elementary school.

They were playing packed club shows in Southern California, including one in Anaheim where Metallica came to check them out.

Word spread that Metallica had eyes on Bush as a potential frontman, at a time when James Hetfield was still finding his voice as a singer and considering focusing solely on guitar.

“Metallica was nobody,” Bush said. “Armored Saint was hot. You have to remember that.” He felt no urgency to leave a band on the rise for a group of unknowns. “I didn’t know the guys either, so there was no real interest.”

Fast-Forward to the Fillmore

Bush eventually got a small taste of what fronting Metallica might’ve been like. In 2011, Armored Saint opened one of Metallica’s 30th-anniversary shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

During the concert, Bush joined the band on stage to perform “The Four Horsemen.” (watch below) Before the performance, Hetfield and Ulrich told the crowd the backstory about how they almost recruited Bush in the early days.

Bush described the moment as a special one. “It was great. It was cool,” he said. 👇

A Longstanding Friendship

The connection between Bush and Metallica didn’t end there. Over the years, Armored Saint shared tours with Metallica, including during the Ride The Lightning era.

Bush recalled those early days with some amusement. During Metallica’s recent set at Sonic Temple Festival, Hetfield gave Armored Saint a shoutout in front of a crowd of 50,000 people, even referencing some infamous hotel-trashing stories from those days on the road.

Bush said Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Robert Trujillo showed up to watch Armored Saint perform at that same festival, even though it was hours before their own headlining slot. Bush admitted he wouldn’t have done the same in their position but appreciated the gesture.

“That shows they still think highly of us,” he said.

Why Hetfield Was Always the Right Fit

Bush made it clear that he never viewed himself as the right person to front Metallica long-term. “James was meant to do that,” he said. He also praised Hetfield’s growth as a vocalist, calling his progression from Kill ‘Em All to the Black Album “off the charts.”

Over the years, other names have come up in the Metallica what-if conversation, including Jess Cox of Tygers of Pan Tang.

But Bush remains the most well-known example of someone who nearly ended up in one of the biggest metal bands of all time.

Even Metallica’s own drummer weighed in on that alternate history. In a 1989 interview with Metal Forces, Lars Ulrich said, “Thank God it didn’t happen.”

Ulrich said he couldn’t imagine Metallica without Hetfield’s signature stage presence and vocal tone. While he had nothing bad to say about Bush, he seemed relieved that the band’s original plan held firm.

Respect for Metallica’s Evolution

Bush also praised Metallica’s ability to keep pushing boundaries. In a separate interview with The Dan Chan Show, he noted how the band constantly experiments, even if it risks backlash.

From orchestras to a collaboration with Lou Reed, to thrash-heavy tracks like “Lux Aeterna” off the 72 Seasons album, Bush said Metallica has stayed creative and brave.

“They never play it safe,” he said. “And I respect them for that.”

He also described seeing the band perform at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, pointing out how their use of four stages made the massive arena feel more personal.

No Regrets

Bush has talked about this chapter of his life many times before, including during a 2021 interview with Waste Some Time With Jason Green.

Each time, the message is the same: he’s proud of the connection, grateful to have been asked, but confident that things turned out the way they were supposed to.

“It’s a huge feather in my cap,” he said, “but I had a different fate in store.”

Even without the Metallica gig, Bush built a respected career with Armored Saint and Anthrax, and his legacy is secure among metal fans. He didn’t “ruin metal,” as he once joked he might have if he’d accepted the offer. Instead, he helped shape it in his own way.

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