Dan Spitz

Daniel Alan Spitz (born January 28, 1963)[1] is an American musician and watchmaker best known for his work as the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band Anthrax from 1983 to 1995 and from 2005 to 2008. With Anthrax, Spitz was nominated for three Grammy awards[2] and earned several platinum albums. Spitz also founded the Christian music group Red Lamb,[3] which was known for lyrics on autism awareness.[4] Spitz has earned Swiss and American degrees in luxury mechanical watchmaking and micro-mechanical engineering, certified as watchmaker instructor for the North American operations of Swiss watch company Chopard.[5][6]

Dan Spitz
Background information
Birth nameDaniel Alan Spitz
Born (1963-01-28) January 28, 1963
Rockland County, New York
GenresThrash metal, heavy metal, Rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer, mixer, master watchmaker of mechanical complications specialist, watchmaker instructor
InstrumentsGuitar, Weissenborn Lap Slide Guitar, Resonator Lap Slide Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboard, piano, programming
Years active1980–1995, 2005–2008, 2010–present
LabelsElektra, Island, Megaforce
Associated actsAnthrax, Overkill, Red Lamb
Websitedanspitz.com

Career

Dan Spitz was an early member of Overkill in 1981[7] and joined Anthrax in 1983. From 1983 to 1995, he was lead guitarist and backing vocalist on the Anthrax albums Fistful of Metal, Armed and Dangerous, Spreading the Disease, Among the Living, State of Euphoria, Persistence of Time and Sound of White Noise, earning him multiple RIAA-certified gold and platinum records.[8] Anthrax sold more than 30 million albums worldwide during this period.[9]

In 1995, Spitz left Anthrax to pursue a career in luxury Swiss watchmaking, attending the Swiss watchmaking school WOSTEP on a full scholarship. He was certified a Mechanical Complications Specialist, earning Swiss degrees in micro-mechanical engineering, and opened his own luxury watch service.[10] In 2012 Spitz was voted the number 1 interview of the year for the watchmaking magazine Hodinkee.[11] In 2016, the production company Great Big Story produced a documentary on Spitz's work as a watchmaker.[12]

Spitz reunited with Anthrax for a classic lineup reunion tour in 2005, appearing on the tour DVD Alive 2. He left the band again in 2008 to return to his watchmaking career. In 2010 Spitz formed a new Christian rock/metal band Red Lamb, which also included singer Don Chaffin from Voices of Extreme and keyboardist Chris Vrenna. Dave Mustaine was an early member but ultimately stepped back into a songwriting role with Spitz.[13] Mustaine and Spitz wrote the song "Puzzle Box" which was claimed to be the first heavy metal song to deal with autism; the song's video featured Bob and Suzanne Wright, co-founders of Autism Speaks.[14][15] In 2017, Spitz formed another Christian metal band with former Journey drummer Deen Castronovo.[16]

Personal life

Spitz was born in a small town in Rockland County, New York as the second son of a lawyer and a high school substitute teacher.[17] Spitz comes from an orthodox Levite tribe Jewish family and converted to Christianity / Messianic Judaism in 1993.[18] His older brother is heavy metal bassist/guitarist Dave Spitz.

Spitz has two daughters from his first marriage. Spitz also has identical twin sons who were born in 2007; they were diagnosed with autism at 16 months of age. The Spitz twins were in numerous movies and television commercials before their autism diagnosis, including the film Away We Go.[19]

In June 2009, Spitz had a massive heart attack, causing him to undergo an emergency triple bypass. He fully recovered but required stents in many arteries.[20]

Spitz divorced his second wife in 2014.[21]

Spitz's height is 1.55m (5' 1"), making him the shortest member of Anthrax.[22]

Equipment

Spitz was originally known for his use of Jackson Guitars (he was famous for his Jackson Randy Rhoads model with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles painted on them), and he collaborated on guitar designs with Grover Jackson. During the Anthrax Reunion tour, Spitz endorsed Paul Reed Smith Guitars, using a custom model with a "Spitz" head stock.[23] This guitar was also painted with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by tattoo artist and painter JR Linton. Spitz terminated his endorsement with PRS after leaving Anthrax in 2007.

In the early days of Anthrax, Spitz used Marshall amplifiers, using one of the first incarnations of a pre JCM800 derived from a collaboration with Jim Marshall. Around the time of "Among the Living," Spitz switched to Mesa/Boogie, using many Mark IIC heads modified by Spitz. During the Anthrax Reunion in 2005–2007, Spitz used Matchless heads and Marshall point-to-point wired 2203 modded heads he hand-built himself that were pushed by a Keeley-modded Boss DS-1.

Discography

Anthrax
Main article: Anthrax discography

Red Lamb

References
  1. Dan Spitz at IMDb
  2. "Grammy Awards: Anthrax". Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  3. "Metal Rockers Shine Light on Autism". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  4. "Autism Speaks Ambassador and Lead Guitarist of Anthrax Dan Spitz Featured in Rock Revolt Magazine". Autism Speaks. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  5. Reardon, John (August 22, 2012). "Meet Dan Spitz, Anthrax Guitarist Turned Master Watchmaker". Hodinkee. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  6. "Credentials | Official Dan Spitz Blog and Community". Danspitz.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  7. "Interview With Rat Skates". Metal-Rules.com. May 3, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  8. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  9. "Bio | Official Dan Spitz Blog and Community". Danspitz.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  10. "Photograph of workshop" (PNG). Danspitz.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  11. Clymer, Benjamin (December 30, 2012). "The 2012 HODINKEE Year-End Recap + Our Ten (+/-) Most Popular Posts Of The Year". Hodinkee. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  12. "Meet ehe Metal Thrasher Turned Virtuoso Watchmaker". Great Big Story. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  13. Rosenberg, Axl (February 6, 2012). "Red Lamb: Dan Spitz/Dave Mustaine Supergroup Releases Debut Album without Fanfare or, uh, Dave Mustaine". MeatlSucks.net. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  14. "From Anthrax To Autism Awareness, Dan Spitz Returns With Red Lamb". Blabbermouth.net. May 21, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  15. "Red Lamb - About". Facebook. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  16. Drespling, Josh (April 1, 2017). "Former ANTHRAX Guitarist, Ex-JOURNEY Drummer Join Forces In New 'Thrash' Band". Empire Extreme. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  17. Leland, John (July 1987). "My Son the Headbanger". Spin. 3 (4): 51–53.
  18. Butcher, Andy (February 2000). "Back from the Belly of the Beast". beliefnet.com. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  19. "Away We Go (2009) : Photos". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  20. "Former Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz still among the living following heart surgery.html - The Gauntlet Heavy Metal News". Thegauntlet.com. June 8, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  21. "EXCLUSIVE — Anthrax Guitarist Dan Spitz: My Wife's Engaged to Another Man!". Gossipextra.com. May 21, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  22. Rosenberg, Axl. "Wife of Former Anthrax Guitarist Dan Spitz Says He Did Not Beat Her, But He May Have Parkinson's Disease". MetalSucks. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  23. "Paul Reed Smith Dan Spitz Headstock Original Drawings | Official Dan Spitz Blog and Community". Danspitz.com. March 23, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
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