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Waters said the touring lifestyle does get tiring after all the years on the road. However, confronting alcoholism in the late ’80s and early ’90s and cutting back on drugs and the things that can “screw up” a band helps lessen the damage. Annihilator’s early years were exciting but destructive, he said, adding, “When you tour with a band called Pantera, you drink more in two months than most do in a lifetime.”

He said the main challenge with playing high-energy rock these days is his “body deciding to break down.” That, and surviving in the narrow thrash metal market.

“Keeping your ego in check is important. This whole entire business is tougher than it has ever been before. You need to know who the good and honest people are, and you need to not piss off the good and honest people.”

Waters said the thrash metal business was great up until about 1992.

“It’s a small industry moneywise now. As a musician, you have to learn about everything and take on different roles in order to survive.”

The key to Annihilator’s continued success is in the way it fuses various heavy metal elements.

“The term heavy metal for it means thrash,” Waters said. “But it also means technical, blues, death, punk, speed, classical — we have everything you want in there. That’s where my band is a little bit different. We’re not a groundbreaking band, but the way I put this stuff together is what makes us unique.”