Happy Birthday to Dan Spitz, lead thrasher and principal songwriter for Anthrax, he turns 53 today. I know two things about Anthrax: I don’t want to get any in the mail; and they have legions of fans, including some Dubbers. Maybe some of them can flesh out the detail of this interesting guy. He was born in rural NY, younger brother of former Black Sabbath bassist, Dave Spitz. Dan lead Anthrax for its first 10 years (1985 – 1995), then stepped away for 10, during which he became a master luxury Swiss watchmaker. He returned to the band in 2005 for the reunion tour, and retired back to watch making in 2007.

Dr. Thomas “Beans” Bowles died on this date in 2000. Beans was a hugely important figure at Motown records. He was its musical director, played saxophone and flute in the house band he conducted, and was the go-to guy at the studio for anything, from music to personal issues. It was his idea to send the studio’s stars and up-and-comers on the bus trips called the Motown Revue, and he was tasked with helping to schedule, organize and go along to chaperone those tours – right down to bed checks on the artists, many of whom were under age. He also taught them how to conduct themselves as professionals, good for business and so important to surviving those tours, especially in the Deep South. Beans composed Stevie Wonder’s harmonica solo on “Fingertips” and played on many of Motown’s greatest hits, including “Baby Love” (Supremes), “Heat Wave” (Martha and the Vandellas) and “What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye).

Legendary English drummer, Jim Capaldi, died on this date in 2005, at age 60. Capaldi is best known as a founder and drummer with Traffic, along with mates Steve Winwood and Dave Mason. He wrote many of their songs, mostly for other voices, but was the lead singer on “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”. He also played with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Alvin Lee, Cat Stevens and Bob Marley. Capaldi went into the HOF as part of Traffic just 5 months before he died.