The positive feedback from my last story was encouraging. So I decided to write up six more that I left out or forgot.
For those who missed the
first story, this is a compilation of musicians who made significant life and career changes. I'm not talking opening a tattoo shop or strip club. These are major changes that often require significant education and training. So here we go:
Victor Agnello![]()
When Metallica moved to San Francisco in 1983, they weren't the top band on the scene for a while. At one point, they were the opening act for Laaz Rockit, who ruled the Bay Area at the time and everyone thought would be the breakout band. It didn't happen, though, and Agnello left in 1989 to attend UC Davis, where he graduated with high honors.
He then went on to George Washington University Medical School and served in the military for a time. He then decided to specialize in allergy-immunology and settled into Charlotte, North Carolina, where he founded the Allergy and Asthma Center of Lake Norman.
He reunited with Laaz Rockit and Metallica for a Japan tour in 2009, this time Metallica as the headliners. Unfortunately, Vic
died of leukemia at age 50 last year.
Jason Everman![]()
Jason has the dubious distinction of being kicked out of two of the biggest bands of the 1990s. First, he was a member of Nirvana, playing second guitar. He loaned the band $606 to get their "Bleach" EP released. Without him, Nirvana might not have happened. His reward was to be tossed from the band in 1989 for being "moody." So he joined Soundgarden as bassist just in time for the "Louder Than Love" tour. The tour ended and he was tossed out again for being a head case.
So what did he do? Join the Army. He was in basic training when Kurt Cobain killed himself and his secret got out to the drill sergeants. After a three year tour as part of the Rangers, he went to Nepal and lived as a Buddhist monk for a few years. But he felt the call of the military and re-enlisted in 2001, applying and getting into
Special Forces school just in time for 9/11. He spent 5 years in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He left in 2006 and applied to Columbia University on a lark. General Stanley McChrystal wrote a letter of reference. He got in and earned a degree in philosophy. These days he's a military consultant and has been the subject of
severalprofiles because his story is so incredible.
Dan Spitz![]()
Dan Spitz was the lead guitarist for Anthrax from 1983 to 1995 before burning out and quitting. He'd had a lifelong interest in high-end antique jewelry and watches thanks to a grandfather who owned an antique jewelry shop in the Catskills, where he worked on the best watches from around the world from the age of 8.
Dan enrolled in the Bulova school for watch making and broke a 53-year-old record in completing the watchmaker’s course and then
winning a scholarship to go to WOSTEP, the most prestigious watch making school in the world based in Switzerland.
Dan occasionally plays with a band called Red Lamb. His twin sons, born in 2007, both have autism and he is active in raising awareness and money for research.
Matt Barlow![]()
Iced Earth is one of those bands that would have been huge if it came a decade earlier or later. Instead, it's an underground band in the U.S. and enormously popular in Europe. It's also a rare patriotic band when it's fashionable to shit on the country for many bands (RATM, SOAD). When I saw them in 2002, Barlow came out carrying a huge American flag while band leader Jon Schaefer played the national anthem on guitar.
And that led to his departure. Barlow left in 2003 because he was affected by 9/11 and wanted to do something more significant than just sing heavy metal. He got a degree in
criminal justice administration. He has made one-off appearances with Iced Earth and took part in a band called Ashes of Ares that went nowhere. His day job for now is a
police officer in Georgetown, Maryland.
Torry Castellano![]()
I've covered her in a
previous ONTDO. The seriously cute drummer for The Donnas began breaking down in 2003 when she had surgery for tendonitis and had to learn how to hold drum sticks the correct way. Then in 2008 she developed a nagging shoulder problem that would not heal despite surgery and therapy. She left the band in 2010 reluctantly.
Since then, she went to Santa Monica College, then transferred to
Stanford University, where she majored in Political Science. After graduating with honors, she enrolled in Harvard Law School where she is taking part in a
public service fellowship. She may still be in school but she will do well.
Jimmy Chamberlin![]()
Jimmy achieved fame with the Smashing Pumpkins ad was acknowledged as one of the more talented drummers to come along in his generation. His drug problems got him kicked out of the band, but he eventually cleaned up and returned, although by that time, the Smashing Pumpkins had run its course.
He became involved with a Chicago tech company, LiveOne, which offers the livestreaming social media application CrowdSurfing. CrowdSurfing's home page said it "instantly transforms a static Web page into a customizable, real-time social network that complements and enhances any content with any video player on any device." It works with Budweiser, NBC Sports, RedBull, YouTube, Sony Music and more. Eventually he
became its CEO. It would be a real shame if a drummer like him never picks up a pair of sticks again.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
