In a recent conversation with Scott Itter from Dr. Music, John Bush, the renowned vocalist for ARMORED SAINT and former frontman of ANTHRAX, shared his thoughts on the possibility of penning a book. "Absolutely! It's something I've contemplated quite a bit, but I haven't actually taken any steps to make it happen yet," he revealed. Bush explained that for many years, he has maintained a personal journal documenting his live performances. This practice dates back to the 1980s, where he diligently noted the venues and cities where he played, creating a sort of calendar filled with memories.
He elaborated, "I’ve been keeping track since the '80s. I’d jot down the city and venue, followed by a few lines about the experience—perhaps something like, ‘The vocals were terrible tonight,’ or ‘It was freezing in the venue.’ Typically, I’d write about six or seven sentences regarding each show." While he mentioned that he lost track of some earlier entries from his time with ANTHRAX, he has continued this habit since ARMORED SAINT's resurgence in the early 2000s, claiming, "I've got all those notes stored in my garage now. It's become my form of journaling. Though it’s not a detailed narrative, the stories often emerge during interviews and discussions. Someday, I might compile these experiences into a book. I think it could be quite entertaining.
But there's one challenge: my handwriting is nearly illegible! I sometimes look back at my notes and wonder, ‘What does this say?’ even though I wrote it myself. Perhaps that will add a unique charm to the book if I ever manage to find those old entries from the '80s... wherever they might be hidden."
Bush also provided updates on the highly anticipated documentary titled "Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers," which premiered in May 2023 at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood. Directed by Russell Cherrington, who guided the project and facilitated numerous interviews, the film aims to chronicle the band's journey. When asked about the release timeline, Bush stated, "The time is now for it to come out. If we delay too long, it risks becoming outdated because many interviews reflect a specific period. I really don’t want it to seem years old. Sure, we have a history that stretches back to the early '80s, but..." He continued, "Russell is working hard to finalize everything. There were some legal matters regarding permissions from various interviewees, but I believe they are close to resolving those issues. Securing approvals from notable figures they interviewed was essential to move forward. Regardless, I sincerely hope it gets released soon because it's something special, featuring fantastic interviews not just with the band, but also with key players from our history, such as Ron Fair, who signed us, Brian Slagel from Metal Blade Records, Cliff Burnstein, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield from METALLICA, and others. There's a wealth of insightful commentary throughout the film."
Looking ahead, ARMORED SAINT's ninth studio album is tentatively set to release in April under Metal Blade Records. The album is being mixed by Jay Ruston, who previously collaborated on their 2020 release "Punching The Sky" and the 2015 album "Win Hands Down."
In late September 2025, the band toured the U.K. alongside W.A.S.P. before returning to the States to support the legendary guitarist Michael Schenker during his "My Years With UFO" tour. ARMORED SAINT celebrated the 40th anniversary of their second album, "Delirious Nomad," performing a special five-song set featuring tracks from that record.
In June 2024, they released a cover of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)," a classic originally penned by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and first brought to life by PEOPLE in 1970. This song has seen various renditions over the years, including versions by THE FOUR TOPS, SANTANA, and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS.
This cover was produced by Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston, and mastered by Maor Applebaum, adding to the band's extensive discography.
Moreover, ARMORED SAINT commemorated the 30th anniversary of their influential album "Symbol Of Salvation" with the release of the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021. This project featured a live performance of the album in its entirety at New York City's prestigious Gramercy Theatre during their 2018 tour.
In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was honored with an induction into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the iconic Whisky A Go Go venue in West Hollywood, California, marking yet another milestone in their enduring legacy.
