Music
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian says illegal downloaders should "lose the privilege of having the Internet"
by Tyler Munro
November 2, 2011
There’s no beating around the bush on this one: Scott Ian has no remorse for illegal downloaders. The Broward Palm Beach New Times recently caught up with Anthrax’s guitarist to talk shop and before long the conversation spiralled into the topic of record sales and illegal downloading, something Ian is obviously passionate about.
Talking about how the perception of success has changed over the last two decades, Ian launched an understandable if delusional diatribe at writer Arielle Castillo. After noting that selling 30,000 copies of an album in the first week is only awesome for 2011 (their 1993 album Sound of White Noise sold 110,000 copies in its first week according to Ian), the bearded vocalist had this today: “Before the Internet, the only way to steal music was to walk into a music store and physically walk out with something, and you were stealing, and you knew it. You knew, unless you’re a fucking maniac, that there was a consequence. If you got caught, you were going to get in trouble. On the Internet, there is no consequence for stealing.”
So how does Ian propose we stop illegal downloading?
“You lose your Internet. That’s it, no more Internet for you. Seriously! Like you drive drunk, you lose the privilege of driving. You download illegally, you lose the privilege of having the Internet. The punishment fits the crime.”
A little optimistic, perhaps, but you’ve got to respect the guy’s candour. Worship Music, Anthrax’s 10th album, is out now.
