My first concert I went to was Iron Maiden (Fear Of the Dark tour ) back in 91. Anthrax open up for them I was a 17 old headbanger and got to meet the bands. Well here Dan Spitz story. Bio Anthrax has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, been nominated for three Grammy Awards, crossed the globe on more than fifty arena tours spanning 32 countries on five continents, released ten studio albums,and has left an indelible mark on the music industry and of course as all music lovers know was the first Heavy Metal band to fuse Hip Hop with Heavy Metal. Anthrax broke all the stereotypical rules of music. Dan working in Switzerland How could one man’s passion and dream end so abruptly and without explanation, but at the same time open doors of adventure that even a past career of the most coveted and award winning kind could not equal?This is the Biography of a man who not only left his band when they were still on top, selling millions of Cd’s, countless platinum albums as well as three Grammy nominations for music he co-wrote and co-produced , but who left music in his past and didn’t turn back. He started tearing the stereos out of his cars, removing all music from his house of all forms and nature and gave more than fifty touring and studio guitars away to hang on the walls of the Hard Rock Cafes around the globe. Dan working on a perpetual calendar Dan had lost the love of his instrument, his best friend and the only thing he knew since childhood that made him breathe, music. Something like this has happened to other world famous musicians as well, such as Sir Elton John. After his departure from Anthrax in 1995, he set foot on getting the paper degrees necessary to complete his knowledge base in micro-mechanical engineering and micro-electrical engineering, to become a Swiss trained Master Watchmaker.After completing a three year study in half the normal time expected at the Bulova School of Watchmaking (breaking a 53 year old record of completion time) and countless apprenticeships for complicated watches the president of the school helped to land Dan a full paid scholarship to the coveted WOSTEP School of Watchmaking in Neuchatel, Switzerland (the equivalence of a Harvard degree in Switzerland’s land of of Watchmakers).”The same passion that I used to have for Anthrax, I have for watchmaking.” says Spitz Spitz Live Anthrax Being one of only ten students chosen from the world each year for attendance to learn and master the most complex mechanical timepieces known to mankind. A school who’s curriculum is based on the slowest student catching up to the fastest student’s mechanical aptitude and abilities to solve mathematical calculus problems that could pose a vulcan mind melt on mere mortals. The school doors are open 24/7 giving the students ambition and drive to succeed a new found meaning. At this level of watchmaking the amount of time to complete something on the Watchmaker’s bench has no bearing. These are works of human art and micro mechanics that are usually so complex in their construction it borders on insanity. ”It was quite awesome to work on what I consider a Formula 1 race car engine that fits on a humans wrist each day I was breathing over there. A human work of art at it’s fullest potential with time and money having absolutely no interference on craftsmanship, this blows my mind.” The interesting connection is where he went from shredding his guitar on the song “Got The Time,” writing a platinum RIAA awarded album titled “Persistence of Time,” and collaborating with the Hip Hop legendary band Public Enemy who’s infamous member Flavor Flav stood side by side with Dan wearing a giant clock around his neck in videos played on MTV to becoming one of the world’s most coveted Swiss trained Master Watchmakers on the planet working inside the most complex luxury mechanical timepieces known to mankind. Funny coincidence? Owning two private service centers in the USA, countless hours at the watchmaking bench working on vintage timepieces that go back centuries, manufacturing parts long lost and not obtainable today himself using percision micro machines and working non-stop towards his goals of ripping apart extremely complex luxury watches is his goal. The word of his rare talent spreads and this brings Mr.Spitz a phone call from the world famous watchmaking and jewelry company Chopard and one of the most powerful people in the watchmaking world, Mr. Thierry Chaunu.Chopard’s need for a Master Watchmaker with his credentials is not alone. There is an extreme shortage worldwide of Master Watchmakers of Dan’s Swiss pedigree and abilities. Mr.Spitz agrees to be Chopard’s sole and only ”Watchmaker of Complications Specialist” for the entire North American continent. Dan with friends at Chopard Switzerland In addition he was to train other Watchmakers for their less complicated models. In fact he was the first American in the company’s century and a half existence to ever be allowed into the masterpieces they produce solely in-house. Before this all timepieces of this caliber ($50,000-$1,000,000) were solely sent to the manufacturer in Switzerland. Even to simply set the time correctly. They do not sell any internal parts for these timepieces to anyone. At this level of complications the tools to disassemble the mechanics are actually kept in a safe after working hours, even in Switzerland’s Complicated Master Watchmaker rooms. It could take more than a year for a Master Watchmaker to learn the ins and outs of one particular complicated timepiece within a manufacturer’s line. After a year of working closely at their service center on New York City’s Park Avenue, in complete armed seclusion from spitz nottingham live 2society of course, completing Chopard’s training and diplomas in their Switzerland factory in Geneva, and being the first ever American to work on their Quantieme Perpetual Calendar Retrograde Flyback Chronographs in the USA Mr.Spitz was called to duty for a reunion of the original Anthrax members to play to sold out arenas once again.Returning briefly to bask in the limelight of success with his band mates of Anthrax from 2005-2007 Dan had to step away from the Master Watchmaker bench and pick up his PRS guitars to send his love of music to his countless fans. This was no small feat to say “yes” to when asked by his former band mates. Leaving an entire second career behind temporarily of this magnitude and accomplishment was a very hard decision to make. Once he realized his love for his instrument had returned and his obsessive compulsive disorder (he suffers from this disease) could be re-channeled toward the piece of wood with six metal strings on it he once conquered the world with, he agreed to proceed on a limited basis. This turned out to be such an overwhelming success and connection with his fans that his love for his instrument exploded to an emotion desire higher than any of his previous playing days. Corum watches complicated room Festivals in Europe with attendance of more 250,000 were normal occurrences once again for Dan and his band.During the reunion touring cycle Dan had been contacted by many of the World’s most prestigious luxury timepiece manufacturers to somehow design a timepiece that bears his name. Dan sets his sites on this accomplishment. He and his wife, Candi, are courted and flown to Switzerland countless times for meetings. Now that the Anthrax reunion cycle has ended Dan’s main focus and concentration is still firmly planted in his family tradition of an in-depth love and passion for fine timepieces. His Grandfather (“Pop-pop” as Dan called him) had him at the watchmaker bench at a mere young age of 8 years with mechanical timepieces.”Ever since my Pop-pop showed me the inside of a Patek Philippe as a young child I could never see straight again. I fixed everything in my house I could get my hands on. I even hand built the Marshall amplifiers for the reunion Anthrax tour with my own hands.”Shortly after the birth of their twin boys in early 2007, Dan was contacted by his long time friend and former President of both Cartier and Chopard, Mr.Thierry Chaunu, who had taken a new Presidential position at the new luxury brand Leviev. Dan agrees to be the sole Master Watchmaker of Complications Specialist for all of North America for the new luxury brand Leviev. Owned by one of the richest men in the world and the richest Isreali citizen, Leviev global is also the World’s largest producer of diamonds and mines the largest diamonds known to mankind.Working on human works of mechanical art in his private service center for large manufacturers of luxury timepieces (as well as for private collectors) is a dream come true for Dan. It seems Dan is quite busy giving his love to all of us in some form or fashion. Now there’s a new band coming from Dan Spitz that launches a sound that represents the struggle, the determination and fight within human flesh to succeed and overcome.Please visit DanSpitz.com to follow the news. The struggles of raising Identical Twins who have been diagnosed with Autism has taken all of his time, energy and direction since the end of the Anthrax reunion cycle. The decision to use his God given gift of music to bring awareness globally to this disease is Dan’s main mission now. Be it with his new band touring the world or playing in one of the biggest Rock based / Broadway type musicals “The 12″ in development he is ready to break down new barriers. From the noise of loud amplifiers blasting on arena stages to the quiet silence of the tic-toc of a half million dollar luxury timepiece for the wrist, Dan Spitz is truly a one and only unique individual of many challenging accomplishments. Got the Time anyone? “A luxury timepiece is a Formula 1 race car for the wrist that bears an individuals personality.” Daniel Spitz Search Official Dan Spitz Blog and Community Search Twitter Facebook Myspace RSS FEED © 2012 Dan Spitz.com . Site Design by Dan Spitz http://danspitz.com/bio/