Former Anthrax Guitarist's Workout Fuel Involves Autism Awareness
For 13 years, Dan Spitz’s workout fuel of sorts derived from his role as lead guitarist for Anthrax, one of heavy metal’s “Big 4” bands. The group toured the world, sold millions of records and helped launch the once unthinkable rap/metal movement by collaborating and touring with Public Enemy.
But then Spitz gave it all up—the money, fame and music—to turn his attention to mastering watchmaking in Switzerland. He spent a decade honing his craft in the unlikeliest of places, taking apart and fixing watches worth thousands of dollars.
Along the way, Spitz and his second wife, Candi, had identical mirror-image twin boys. Mirror-image twins appear as exact reflections of one another. For example, if one boy has a tooth growing on the left side of his face, the other has a tooth growing in the same spot on the right side of his face.
After roughly 18 months, the Spitz family’s world was turned upside down when the boys, Brendan and Jaden, were diagnosed with autism.
“Our children were speaking at nine months, walking, talking, feeding themselves,” Spitz says. “Later on, at about 16 to 18 months, they started to unlearn what they already learned at a very fast pace.”
The boys are now five, and every day presents rough challenges for the Spitz family. Their goal has become to raise awareness of autism, and for that, Spitz has returned to a familiar platform.
Spitz’s new band, Red Lamb, released its debut album in February. Megadeth singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine teamed with Spitz to co-produce the record and co-write the lyrics. Red Lamb’s video for “Puzzle Box” speaks to the heart of the Spitzes’ plight and features Candi and the boys.
To athletes who use music, particularly the heavy metal variety, as their workout fuel, Anthrax should be well known. They can expect similar motivation from Spitz’s newest release.
Read our entire interview, and learn how to help fight against autism, here.
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Former Anthrax Guitarist's Workout Fuel Involves Autism Awareness
For 13 years, Dan Spitz’s workout fuel of sorts derived from his role as lead guitarist for Anthrax, one of heavy metal’s “Big 4” bands. The group toured the world, sold millions of records and helped launch the once unthinkable rap/metal movement by collaborating and touring with Public Enemy.
But then Spitz gave it all up—the money, fame and music—to turn his attention to mastering watchmaking in Switzerland. He spent a decade honing his craft in the unlikeliest of places, taking apart and fixing watches worth thousands of dollars.
Along the way, Spitz and his second wife, Candi, had identical mirror-image twin boys. Mirror-image twins appear as exact reflections of one another. For example, if one boy has a tooth growing on the left side of his face, the other has a tooth growing in the same spot on the right side of his face.
After roughly 18 months, the Spitz family’s world was turned upside down when the boys, Brendan and Jaden, were diagnosed with autism.
“Our children were speaking at nine months, walking, talking, feeding themselves,” Spitz says. “Later on, at about 16 to 18 months, they started to unlearn what they already learned at a very fast pace.”
The boys are now five, and every day presents rough challenges for the Spitz family. Their goal has become to raise awareness of autism, and for that, Spitz has returned to a familiar platform.
Spitz’s new band, Red Lamb, released its debut album in February. Megadeth singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine teamed with Spitz to co-produce the record and co-write the lyrics. Red Lamb’s video for “Puzzle Box” speaks to the heart of the Spitzes’ plight and features Candi and the boys.
To athletes who use music, particularly the heavy metal variety, as their workout fuel, Anthrax should be well known. They can expect similar motivation from Spitz’s newest release.
Read our entire interview, and learn how to help fight against autism, here.