Musician Anton, 58, recently discussed various aspects of his life, including the impact of his open-heart surgery, his health management, political opinions, and past on-stage incidents. He also shared his perspectives on audience dynamics, the "Dig!" documentary, and personal preferences.
Health and Mortality: A Candid Look
Anton, 58, discussed his open-heart surgery, stating that the experience increased his awareness of mortality. Despite a past lifestyle that included being thin, eating fish, and 12 years as a vegetarian, he attributes his current health issues and an estimated reduced life expectancy (less than five years due to smoking, according to one account) to previous heavy alcohol consumption and ongoing smoking.
He manages his health with approximately 20 daily medications for both heart and manic/bipolar conditions. Anton acknowledged a need for improved self-care, noting he had previously quit smoking but resumed.
Despite a past healthy lifestyle, Anton attributes his current health challenges and a significantly reduced life expectancy to previous heavy alcohol consumption and ongoing smoking, managing his conditions with extensive daily medication.
Political Landscape: Views from Berlin
Living in Berlin, Anton expressed disappointment with the political situation in the United States. He described himself as "conservative by nature," supporting the concept of "a fair deal for everybody."
He criticized what he described as failures of checks and balances, citing issues such as Supreme Court appointments and presidential immunity discussions. He also found the characterization of "basic fairness" as "insane liberalism" concerning.
Describing himself as "conservative by nature," Anton criticized what he perceives as failures in the U.S. political system, particularly concerning checks and balances.
On-Stage: Chaos, Professionalism, and Redemption
Anton recounted several on-stage incidents from his career. These included a band member reportedly throwing a cymbal that struck an audience member and Anton tackling a guitarist to prevent a microphone stand from being thrown into the crowd. He also described a past incident in Australia where a glass thrown at him led to a former guitarist retaliating by throwing one back, who then subsequently attacked Anton after being asked to leave the stage.
Anton stated his commitment to providing positive concert experiences and noted that his current band members are more professional. He expressed a desire to deliver quality performances and stated a feeling of responsibility to "redeem himself" or "regain audience respect" for Australian fans following previous events.
Anton recounted multiple volatile on-stage incidents from his past, yet now emphasizes his commitment to professionalism, aiming to deliver quality performances and "regain audience respect," particularly in Australia.
Audience and Media: Addressing Misrepresentation
Anton observed that a segment of his audience seeks chaos, sometimes engaging in disruptive behavior such as yelling or spitting, which he distinguishes from his genuine fanbase.
He views the "Dig!" documentary as having misrepresented him through selective editing, asserting it portrayed him as combative or confrontational without sufficient evidence and that he was often reacting to others' instigations.
Anton criticizes the "Dig!" documentary for misrepresenting him through selective editing, stating it portrayed him as combative when he was often merely reacting to others' provocations.
Personal Insights: From Insomnia to Ideal Sandwiches
Regarding insomnia, Anton advises utilizing the time productively. He mentioned reading the Bible multiple times in his youth to gain an understanding of religious arguments.
He described his ideal sandwich, an "Anton sandwich," as containing tuna fish, mayonnaise, white onion, Cornish pickles, pepper, pine nuts, baby spinach, and either aged cheddar or parmesan cheese. For his funeral, Anton humorously suggested "Waltzing Matilda" and also proposed Tism's song "(He’ll Never Be An) Ol’ Man River."
From productive use of insomnia to a detailed description of his "Anton sandwich," his personal preferences offer a glimpse into his unique character.