Anthrax needs a new guitarist. On Thursday, guitarist Rob Caggiano announced that he's decided to leave the band.

"I'm extremely proud of my time in Anthrax,” said Caggiano in a statement. “It's been a wild ride (to say the least) from Day One and I wouldn't change one single thing about the last 12 years. This is an extremely difficult and emotional decision for me to make but my heart is just steering me in a different direction right now.”

Caggiano adds that he will now be focusing on his other passion: producing records. "I can't wait to get back in the recording studio again,” he reveals.  “Over the years, I've been blessed with the privilege of working with a wide range of great bands/artists from Anthrax and Cradle of Filth all the way to Bruce Springsteen , and I look forward to a hopeful continuation of that side of my career while I figure out my next move as an artist.”

A replacement for Caggiano has yet to be named.

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