Jonathan Donais

Jonathan Donais (born April 5, 1979),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> also known as Jon Donais, is an American guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Anthrax since 2013, and as co-founder of metalcore band Shadows Fall.

Career

Early career and Shadows Fall

Prior to co-founding Shadows Fall with fellow guitarist Matt Bachand in 1996,<ref name="formation">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Donais was a member of metalcore band Aftershock from 1993 to 1997,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which morphed into Killswitch Engage, although after his departure.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shadows Fall's first line-up included Donais and Bachand alongside Damien McPherson (vocals), Mark Laliberte (bass), and David Germain (drums). By late 1996, the band recorded and released a demo titled Mourning a Dead World, of which only about 200 copies were produced.<ref name="formation" /> It consisted of the songs Lifeless, Suffer the Season, Fleshold, Forever Lost, A Souls Salvation, and Deadworld. McPherson decided to leave the band, and was replaced by Philip Labonte in 1997. Around the same time, bass guitarist Paul Romanko, formerly of the hardcore band Pushbutton Warfare, was recruited as a permanent replacement for Laliberte, who had originally joined on a temporary basis.<ref name="formation" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Now with a more solid lineup, the band released its first EP, To Ashes, with Aftershock member Adam Dutkiewicz playing as a session drummer. The band's name, according to Bachand, comes from the title of a comic book published in the early 1990s.<ref name="Name interview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Shadows Fall went on hiatus in Summer 2015 after completing "farewell" tours in Europe and North America.<ref name="finaltour">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="summershow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On June 22, 2021, vocalist Brian Fair confirmed that Shadows Fall were reuniting for their first show in over half a decade at the Worcester Palladium on December 18. Supporting acts for this show were Unearth, Darkest Hour, Within the Ruins, Sworn Enemy and Carnivora.<ref name="reunion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Flair also said that the band could release new music.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Anthrax

Prior to Shadow Falls going on hiatus, Donais was announced, on January 11, 2013, to be joining thrash metal legends Anthrax on their Metal Alliance Tour,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> replacing Rob Caggiano who had left the band to join Volbeat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Donais made his live debut with Anthrax in Australia without a single rehearsal with the band. "I jammed with Scott [Ian, guitarist] a little bit, but it was, 'Here. Learn these songs and be ready,'" he recalled. "Oh. God. That first show — I was shaking."<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Donais was originally a touring member until August 13, 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first Anthrax release that Donais appeared on was Chile on Hell live album and video in 2014, which was from a concert recorded at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile, on May 10, 2013.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Donais appeared on the bands following studio album For All Kings in 2016.

File:Anthrax-Rock im Park 2014 by 2eight DSC8081.jpg

Donais (left) and Scott Ian performing with Anthrax in 2014

According to Donais, his predecessor in Anthrax, Rob Caggiano, hooked him up with his current gig. "'Cause he knew he was gonna leave, and he wanted to make sure that they were all set."<ref name=":1" /> Donais' appearance with the band has been an overall positive experience for the band with bassist Frank Bello saying: "I think Jon has brought a great energy to the band. He stepped up and then some on this record." Scott Ian said, "Jon's approach towards lead guitar playing, he's more of a guy who's looking to construct something that makes sense and helps a song rather than the 45 seconds for him to be showing off how many notes he can play in X amount of measures."<ref name=":1" /> Donais has said that it was "a dream come true! I'm playing for a band that have been a huge influence for me.".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Donais is set to appear on the band's next studio album, expected to be released in 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has stated that he is not involved in the band's songwriting process saying, "Nope. Nope. Nope. All bands work different, man. They have a way that's worked, and they've [had a] strong 40-year career. So, if it's not broken, don't mess with it."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Living Wreckage

Donais is also a member of supergroup Living Wreckage which is composed of Donais, vocalist Jeff Gard (Death Ray Vision), guitarist Matt LeBreton (Downpour), bassist Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall, Act of Defiance) and drummer Jon Morency (Let Us Prey),<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the band came about during COVID-19 pandemic and was composed of musicians who lived near each other so "we could get in the basement once a week and just do it the old school way of, you know, having some beers, jammin and just having fun with friends. And that's what it is. We're all friends from the same area. We're in the same scene. So things fell together really quickly and Matt LeBreton, the other guitar player, he writes a lot too. So between the both of us songs are coming out left and right pretty fast."<ref name=":2" /> The bands music is a cross between thrash metal and arena rock, like "Skid Row, Tesla, the mainstream MTV stuff that was in the eighties. And then also nineties metal and rock. Bands like Sepultura, Nevermore and Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, stuff like that."<ref name=":2" />

Influences

Donais main influences are guitarists Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and Dimebag Darrell (Pantera) (both of which he has toured with),<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne), James Hetfield (Metallica), Warren DeMartini (Ratt), John Sykes (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) and Alex Skolnick (Testament).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early bands that influenced him include Skid Row, Guns N' Roses, Tesla and Whitesnake.<ref name=":2" /> He has also recommended DVD's of the teaching of Paul Gilbert<ref name=":4" /> and John Petrucci.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

As band member

Aftershock

• Two Songs EP (1996)<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Shadows Fall

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Anthrax

• Chile on Hell (2014)<ref name=":3" />
• For All Kings (2016)<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
• Kings Among Scotland (2018)<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
• "Indians / Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (2019)<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
• XL (MCMLXXXI - MMXXI) (2022)<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Living Wreckage

• One Foot In The Grave (2021)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Living Wreckage (2022)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other appearances

Year	Artist	Title	Notes
2006	Brian Posehn	Live In: Nerd Rage	Guitar solo on "Metal By Numbers", also features then future Anthrax bandmate Scott Ian.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
2008	Various	We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year	Appears on track "Silent Night" alongside Chuck Billy (Testament), Scott Ian (Anthrax) & Chris Wyse and John Tempesta (The Cult).<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
2011	Stryper	The Covering	Additional backing vocals on track "God" with Maria Ellena Leone, as Jon Donais.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
2012	Hatebreed	Perseverance	Gang vocals on unspecified songs.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
2020	Lost Symphony	Chapter II	Appears (as Jon Donais) on track "A Murder of Crows" alongside Matt Bachand & Jimi Bell.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline