Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian is mourning the loss of his father, Herbert Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld, a jewelry professional from Boca Raton, Florida, was 83 years old.
Ian shared a few photos of his father on social media to remember him and bid farewell to him with a lengthy message.
“He wholeheartedly supported my decision to drop out of college to follow my passion to be in a band,” he revealed. “That decision got me thrown out of my house, Dad and my step-mom Rhea let me come live with them in Merrick. Dad said, ‘You have to try, you give it your all and if it doesn’t work out you can always go back to school or work with me.’ He was my rock.”
“Dad was even-keeled, solid, and I give him all the credit for that part of my personality, how I’m able to be calm and roll with stressful situations. I’d never have made it 43 years in a band without his influence. And more importantly than that its how I saw him as a husband to Rhea and a father to me, Jason and Sean, and a doting, silly, face-making Grandpa to Revel.”
“When you find the right person you know it and you dedicate your life to making that relationship everything, making your family everything with unconditional love, and that was my dad. We are the sons of a fine man,” Ian finished.
Among the musicians sharing their condolences on Ian’s post was the band’s bassist Frank Bello.
He wrote: “So sorry to hear this Scott- I loved Herb, he was a great man and always so supportive of everything we did. May he rest in peace…”
“Man… I knew how great of a man he was, he made me feel like his son. He was warm and just comfortable to be around. I’m so sorry,” the drummer Charlie Benante added.
Former Anthrax and Volbeat guitarist Rob Caggiano wrote: “My deepest condolences to you and your family Scott. Your dad was always so cool to me.”
Anthrax’s current lineup features Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna, and guitarist Jon Donais.
