Interview with Alex Skolnick from Metal Allegiance: “It’s nice to not have this show be predictable . . . you never know who is going to show up.”
METAL ALLEGIANCE is a supergroup of sorts, beginning as a celebration of heavy metal, the “core 4” of the band – David Ellefson, Mark Menghi, Alex Skolnick, and Mike Portnoy have assembled a rotating list of extreme music’s most revered trailblazers for both their two full length albums and their soaring live shows. On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the band will perform at what has become an annual event at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA.
In addition to the “core 4”, the 2025 show will also include Chuck Billy (Testament), Bobby Blitz (Overkill), John Bush (Armored Saint), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves & God Forbid), Brandon Ellis (The Black Dahlia Murder), Marty Friedman, Gary Holt (Slayer / Exodus), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Jeff Loomis, Mark Tornillo (Accept), Angel Vivaldi and more.
Metal Insider caught up with Metal Allegiance core member and Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick to discuss the early days of Metal Allegiance, new Metal Allegiance music, preparing for the live show, the 2025 Anaheim show as well as when to expect new music from Testament.
The annual Metal Allegiance show is happening on Thur Jan 23 at House of Blues in Anaheim. Last year in 2024 Metal Allegiance celebrated its 10-year anniversary and here we are in 2025 going on year 11. When this all started it was initially called Metal Masters, did you participate in those initial events?
I never did initially. I think it would have happened eventually. How this happened was on the Motorboat cruise, Motorheads final cruise. That was when I finally got onboard (no pun intended) – that was the debut of this being called Metal Allegiance and not Metal Masters. With Metal Allegiance it was a full concert instead of also having the workshop and Q & A which was the case with Metal Masters.
Out of all the different musicians involved, how did the “core four” turn out to be you, Mark Menghi, David Ellefson and Mike Portnoy? Did you know those guys prior to Metal Allegiance?
It’s kind of interesting how it happened, it was definitely unpredictable as I mentioned previously since I was not part of Metal Masters. So yeah very quickly I became a core member of Metal Allegiance. I had bumped into Mark (Menghi) once or twice, he had worked in the music manufacturing world but with none of the companies I was connected with. Mike Portnoy I would run into at events and concerts but did not know him well. I didn’t know David that well either, but in his case, we had been on tours together before.
So I wouldn’t have predicted this but it made sense that we all hit it off as we are all very open minded musically, we all like to write and play not in just one style. I’ve been doing projects outside my band back when it was not so cool to do so and even Portnoy, he has had a reputation in being in many different bands with different styles (I think there is even a lot of jokes and memes about that) but it just makes a lot of sense on that level and also the fact that we don’t have other members that are too close out side of Metal Allegiance.
For example, any Megadeth guitarist (in the core group) would have overshadowed it being Metal Allegiance if you had half of Megadeth. Or if you had John Petrucci, it then becomes a Dream Theater side project so not having those associations made us (Menghi, Portnoy, Ellefson, Skolnick) a logical combination.
As a fan Metal Allegiance is an amazing concept, as it is the equivalent to like back in the late 70’s having members of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple all getting together. It turns out to be a special show every year.
Yeah it’s really caught on over the years and it’s developed its own fan base. It’s true – you never used to see this in the old days. Occasionally you we see a “one off” tribute project like Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder in a project paying tribute to Andrew Wood and then there were some charity concerts back in the 70’s with like George Harrison who would get people from different groups. I also remember there was Page, Beck and Clapton on tour together (long time ago – I wasn’t old enough to attend) but now it is not uncommon to have folks from many different groups to play together. But if I can toot my own horn it is pretty rare to have one like this (Metal Allegiance) – which is a very well run live show which we pride ourselves in.
So Metal Allegiance has two full length albums and an EP out, all of which are just killer and I know there has been talk of another Metal Allegiance album in 2025. What is the one ingredient that makes that happen, is it all based on scheduling?
Scheduling for sure has a lot to do with it, there is also business considerations. Fortunately, we had a lot of support when we initially were going into this. We had a great situation with Nuclear Blast Records but that was short-term and now we are free agents so to speak. We are planning to talk amongst ourselves and talk about the music but also talk to various folks about the business arrangements for the group (including Nuclear Blast) – it all depends on who is the most interested. Also, we have a bit more of a calling card than we did initially as we have been around for awhile now, we have put on these great concerts – I mean this annual Anaheim show during the NAMM convention – that is a coveted spot and its successful. Last year sold out, I predict it will also sell out this year, so with all that I think there is interest in us doing another album of original music and it will have a much bigger launch this time due to the familiarity.
In regard to rehearsing for the live shows, how much rehearsal if any takes place with all the participants? How easy is it to play with other professionals you have never played with before?
It keeps it fresh bringing in new folks into the picture and it’s nice to not have this show be predictable . . . you never know who is going to show up. There is a lot of familiar faces besides us (the core four) as this year there is a lot of returning players like John Bush, Bobby Blitz so they have that familiarity so there’s never a surprise when they show up but when you have somebody that doesn’t show up so often, like a Marty Friedman for example or some of the brand new folks like Angel Vivaldi, Brandon (Ellis) from Black Dahlia Murder and there maybe some surprise vocalists making an appearance (I can’t comment more on that) – it keeps it exciting for sure with new players. With that there is always a surprise factor, it just keeps it fresh for us and the fans as well.
That is what I love about the Anaheim shows, the unpredictability for sure.
How about the setlist, how do you all decide on a final song list? Is it one of you, is it decided by democracy, how do you choose the songs?
I would say there is a very small hierarchy. Happy to put Mike Portnoy at the top of that hierarchy, as he has a great vision for these shows and what is going to work and what is not. So ultimately the songs are usually decided by him but the rest of us weigh in on that and usually make some changes.
But Menghi has a lot to do with it as well . . . it’s really those two that hash it out first but the rest of us make suggestions. At some point a rough set list is sent out to everyone so yeah the four of us weigh in on it first but we also let others have a say as well, especially the singers as they are the ones who will be singing the songs. I can think of a few songs in this upcoming set where the guest vocalist had a lot to do with the song decisions.
I think you all do a fantastic job mixing up the thrash classics with the heavy metal/rock n roll classics and the Metal Allegiance originals. One of my favorites from past shows was you had John Bush play a couple of the Anthrax songs from when he was in the band, that was a surprise and absolutely amazing.
That’s what makes it fun as where else are you going to hear that live? We want to keep all music alive and it goes over huge with the crowd. Those Anthrax songs with John were really great – as long as we have John we can do that.
I have experienced seven Metal Allegiance shows in Anaheim during NAMM and there really is nothing like it. It’s a one-off incredible night of all your favorite metal artists. As mentioned, this year there are many of the usuals – Chuck Billy, John Bush, Blitz, Gary Holt, Andreas Kisser but I see you will have Marty Friedman and Jeff Loomis participating as well. How does the band choose who to invite? Is it based on friendships, who’s available?
Yes – both. One great thing about Metal Allegiance is that we don’t ever have anyone who makes the show just about themselves. There’s no shortage of stories of gossip especially with all the metal websites – the drama stories, people don’t get along . . . that is all left at the door in Metal Allegiance. Quincy Jones (may he rest in peace) famously told all the artists for “We are the World” . . . “Check your egos at the door”. Not that we need to say that to our crew, but we never have that problem.
If you notice, there is never any Blabbermouth stories about Metal Allegiance other than a show review or announcement but never any gossip. We just don’t want the gossip or drama, all of us know its about the music and about the fans.
I know Marty has played with Metal Allegiance before but have you ever played with Jeff Loomis?
I have, yes. I don’t recall the exact show but he has played with Metal Allegiance before but I don’t remember what song we played. I have much respect for Jeff but playing together sure doesn’t happen that often. It’s always exciting to play with him.
Jeff is a super nice guy. Obviously he has the same last name as me (no relation) but I always joke he is my cousin.
Will there be any unannounced surprise guests this year in 2025? I think it was back in 2019 you guys had Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy and Doyle come out towards the end of the show unannounced . . .
Yes I can guarantee there are some surprises this year. I can’t reveal names or give anything away there will be some exciting surprises for sure.
You should bring out Rob Dukes to sing since it was just announced he has rejoined Exodus.
That would be fun.
Do you have any standout moments from any of the shows where you just kind of said to yourself, “I can’t believe I am playing with so and so” or someone you never played with before just turned out to be way more talented than you thought they were.
There’s a whole bunch. Billy Sheehan has joined us a couple times. He is a real musical hero of mine and we played some heavy stuff with him, he’s played Slayer with us. We played the Testament version of a Queen song “Dragon Attack” with Chuck Billy on vocals if I remember correctly and that was exciting (we actually never played that live in Testament)- the song has some great bass breakdowns so that was exciting.
Also the guys in Mastodon are great to play with, Troy is practically a regular as he joined us back in New Jersey for that show and Brann on drums is great to, in fact there was one show we did a scaled down version of Metal Allegiance in Chicago and we played tribute to Black Sabbath – that was a lot of fun with Brann on drums. Too many memories to mention.
One of my favorite memories was back in 2019, you opened the show playing several Black Sabbath songs and Menghi had on a Geezer Butler wig and you had on a Tony Iommi mustache and it kept partially falling off.
Wow, you remember that . . . it was hilarious and a lot of fun.
Who is the one musician you wish you can get on stage with Metal Allegiance?
There are so many. Anyone from the classic bands from the late 70’s. Iron Maiden is one, we haven’t had anyone from Judas Priest. Sammy Hagar would be great. I would love to play with some of the real legends – those are the ones I have my eye on. Yeah if Alex Van Halen changes his mind and decides to play again that would be incredible, If we can get him out of the house that would be a real dream.
I wanted to mention how awesome the Metal Allegiance Meet n Greets are. Very well priced and affordable and you get to meet so many artists in one shot. Kudos to you guys for that offering that. What are your thoughts on doing meet n greets with fans?
They are really fun, they are drama free. We all line up and sign everything, a lot of ball busting between the group, lots of jokes. We are all there for the same purpose – the music and to have fun, we are celebrating music together.
It’s great to meet folks like that as after the show there’s always just big crowds of people and it gets crazy. Yeah the Meet n Greet gives us a chance to say hi to everyone individually, take a picture in a very orderly fashion.
While you are in Anaheim, do you have any other plans – will you be attending NAMM and doing any signings or demos? I know the Alex Skolnick Trio will be performing Friday night Jan 24 at The Marriott.
So yeah this is actually a different Trio . . . It’s not the Alex Skolnick Trio although I just did a big announcement about The Alex Skolnick Trio. Our new album is coming out – it’s called Prove You’re Not a Robot and will be released in the spring and a European tour will happen March 6 to March 26, I have posted the dates online.
But the group that is playing at NAMM is called the SF/NY Guitar Trio which is myself (Alex Skolnick) with Ron Jackson and George Cole. We are just three guitar players that come from very different places but we have in common that we all love the guitar especially the type of guitar played by folks like Les Paul, Al Di Meola, Django Reinhardt. So yeah its just three guitars – we played a show last week and people seemed to really love it. Ron played a seven-string jazz guitar, George plays whats called a Manouche guitar which is played by Gypsy Jazzers and I’m playing a semi-hollow body with a warm jazz guitar sound. It’s a new thing and it just kind of happened organically – again it will be at 10:00pm at The Marriott on Friday the 24th.
I will also be playing at Ultimate Jam Night a couple hours before that at the convention center arena.
On to Testament . . . looks like you will be releasing a new album in 2025? Is there any timeframe when the album title or first single will be announced and when can we all expect the release date to be?
I don’t think we have decided on a title yet but the music is almost complete. There is a few tracks left to be done, in between my trips I have been plugging away at my parts, there is a couple vocal tracks left but it is very close. The album title will be decided once all the music is recorded.
So sounds like the release date will be the second half of the year?
Yes, second half of the year but definitely 2025. With tour dates to follow.
I see ESP guitars is celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary as we go into NAMM week. I know you have a few signature models already, is there any new Alex Skolnick signature guitars in the works?
Yes . . . this past year and a half I’ve been playing a guitar I’ve nicknamed Dr. Green, it’s a great guitar. We taken characteristics of that guitar and applied them to my signature AS model. So the new guitar is an LTD but boy it plays just fantastic. It has a tremolo system and a neck much like the real Dr. Green. It’s a thinner neck than my previous models, a great tone and it will be on display at NAMM – its coming out just in time for ESP’s 50th anniversary. Check it out – you won’t miss it, it’s very green. (AS-1FR – The ESP Guitar Company)
Alex, thanks so much for your time and we all look forward to the Metal Allegiance show Thursday Jan 23 at House of Blues in Anaheim. All the best in 2025 and beyond.
