Anthrax A.I.R.

Does anybody know what this acronym song title stands for? I got the Spreading the Disease album over 20 years ago and it has bugged me since then. Please help.

A quick googling comes up with "Adolescents In Red" but I have no idea if that is correct or what it means.

Here's the lyrics. Adolescents In Red sorta makes sense,but it's still just a guess.

A I R

Young and free, something you'll never be
A childhood's end, it's lunacy
Pure dictation, they don't listen
And you're just waiting for what you're missing

Welcome to your nightmare
You just can't walk away
It's time for you, to choose, your fate
You just can't let it lay
Welcome to your nightmare
Your whole life's on the way
Today

You're no good, misunderstood, A.I.R.
All their hopes and visions of what they want you to be
Crucial times, made up minds, A.I.R.
So high and mighty, though much too blind too see

Who are you gonna live your life for?
Conformity will trap you like a locked door
Independence means owning your decision's
Authority will put your soul in prison

Fight, go insane, there's no one else to blame
Stop, their influence, you can't give them a chance
Break, right through the wall, that separates us all
Start, your second life, without their hands in sight

You got your pride you got your visions
Don't subside, don't ever give in
Don't compromise just keep on grinning
The games they play you just keep on winning
Keep on winning
Keep on winning
Keep on winning
A.I.R.

It does indeed stand for "Adolescents (or perhaps "Adolescence") In Red." I remember hearing an interview with Anthrax on a metal radio show waaaayyy back when that album was released, and one of the questions the DJ asked was "What the heck does A.I.R. mean?"

Adolescence In Red

Fat Freddy wrote:

It does indeed stand for "Adolescents (or perhaps "Adolescence") In Red." I remember hearing an interview with Anthrax on a metal radio show waaaayyy back when that album was released, and one of the questions the DJ asked was "What the heck does A.I.R. mean?"

So the next question is:

Who are these adolescents and why are they in red?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

It does indeed stand for "Adolescents (or perhaps "Adolescence") In Red." I remember hearing an interview with Anthrax on a metal radio show waaaayyy back when that album was released, and one of the questions the DJ asked was "What the heck does A.I.R. mean?"

So the next question is:

Who are these adolescents and why are they in red?

They're in red because green makes them look fat, and plaid accents their calves a little too much.

Speaking of acronymns, does anyone happen to know what Flotsam & Jetsam's U.L.S.W. stands for? I've always wondered and didn't wanna make another thread. Off topic, I know, but I figured it was a good opporunity to find out.

Thank you, Metalguy,FF,Ult. I can rest a happy man now.

Trial by Fire wrote:

Speaking of acronymns, does anyone happen to know what Flotsam & Jetsam's U.L.S.W. stands for? I've always wondered and didn't wanna make another thread. Off topic, I know, but I figured it was a good opporunity to find out.

I'd like to know too.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

It does indeed stand for "Adolescents (or perhaps "Adolescence") In Red." I remember hearing an interview with Anthrax on a metal radio show waaaayyy back when that album was released, and one of the questions the DJ asked was "What the heck does A.I.R. mean?"

So the next question is:

Who are these adolescents and why are they in red?

They're in red because green makes them look fat, and plaid accents their calves a little too much.

The term "in the red" means "negative values".

The Adolescents were a great HC band from the OC. The s/t is essential for any fan of music, PERIOD!



Led by Los Angeles punk legend Rikk Agnew, the Adolescents lived up to their name, bawling out song after angst-ridden song about how much everything--mom, dad, the cops, and, most likely, you--totally sucked. Admittedly, that was nothing special for the scene that spawned them, but Agnew's jaw-dropping array of guitar tricks vaulted the Adolescents near to the top of the heap. Equal parts Dick Dale, Johnny Thunders, and Chuck Berry, Agnew didn't flaunt virtuoso moves, but the riffs he laid down on classics like "I Hate Children," "Wrecking Crew," and "Section 8" were instrumental in creating America's first mosh pits


1. I Hate Children
2. Who Is Who
3. Wrecking Crew
4. L.A. Crew
5. Self Destruct
6. Kids Of The Black Hole
7. No Way
8. Amoeba
9. Word Attack
10. Rip It Up
11. Democracy
12. No Friends
13. Creatures
14. Welcome To Reality
15. Losing Battle
16. Things Start Moving

the sentinel wrote:

Does anybody know what this acronym song title stands for? I got the Spreading the Disease album over 20 years ago and it has bugged me since then. Please help.

I've always heard it stands for "Adolescence in Revolt", which seems to go with the lyrics a lot better than "Red".

Now, anybody want to reveal what the instrumental "S.S.C." right before "Stand or Fall" from the same album stands for?

And one of my long time questions has been about "H.A.A.G." by SAINT VITUS. No clue what that one stands for.

My all time favorite though, is "D.S.F.W." by ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, which stands for "Doesn't Stand For Anything", which was a hardcore shot at the glut of acronyms present iin metal at that time (ca. 1986).

I've often wondered if A.I.R. was kind of a take off on NIB(the title, not the song).

TrogDawn wrote:

Now, anybody want to reveal what the instrumental "S.S.C." right before "Stand or Fall" from the same album stands for?

I believe it stands for "suck some c**k"

And no, I'm not trying to be a wise a$$. That's what I heard years ago.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I believe it stands for "suck some c**k"

And no, I'm not trying to be a wise a$$. That's what I heard years ago.

That's exactly what it stands for, and if you listen with that in mind it sounds so...sleazy...like Moroccan fellatio...

Fat Freddy wrote:

TrogDawn wrote:

Now, anybody want to reveal what the instrumental "S.S.C." right before "Stand or Fall" from the same album stands for?

I believe it stands for "suck some c**k"

And no, I'm not trying to be a wise a$$. That's what I heard years ago.

You are correct.

What does A.D.I. stand for in A.D.I./Horror of it All?

Required Fields wrote:

What does A.D.I. stand for in A.D.I./Horror of it All?

Awwww geez, y'know, I USED to know that one but now I can't think of it for the life of me.

Anybody else??

Required Fields wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

TrogDawn wrote:

Now, anybody want to reveal what the instrumental "S.S.C." right before "Stand or Fall" from the same album stands for?

I believe it stands for "suck some c**k"

And no, I'm not trying to be a wise a$$. That's what I heard years ago.

You are correct.

What does A.D.I. stand for in A.D.I./Horror of it All?

Andi Deris Impersonator. Sounds odd, but check out the lyrics. It makes total sense when you think about it.

Again, MG is 100% spot on.

spectrefate wrote:

Again, MG is 100% spot on.

Call me Butter, 'cause I am on a roll this morning! Hi-yoooooo!!

So that's what it means. This song rocks!

I always thought it meant air.

I met Frank Bello on the Stomp tour. He said A.I.R. stands for Adolescence In Rebellion. He said A.D.I. stands for Acoustic Dan Intro. I don't know what S.S.C. stands for (forgot to ask him).

Also met Troy Gregory when he was the bassist for Flotsam and jetsam. He said U.L.S.W. stands for Ugly Lying Stinking Wench. Also said P.A.A.B. stands for P aybacks Are A Bitch. He said E.M.T.E.K. stands for Edward Michael Troy Eric Kelly (band members names arranged to sound like a chemical company. )

'Bout time someone spoke up!! We've been waiting almost 7 years to get a confirmation on this.

I'm gonna sleep well tonight. That's for certain.