People: This metal-head struck gold
The tagline for the 2001 movie “Rock Star” – “The story of a wannabe who got to be” – might as well have been about Dan Nelson.
The part-time singer and personal trainer from Long Island was just a regular working Joe until mid-December, when heavy metal icons Anthrax announced that the 31-year-old would become their new lead singer.
“The other night my friends took me out for dinner and one of them bought me ‘Rock Star’ as a joke,” Nelson says.
“So I watched it and it was weird – the whole beginning of the movie is similar to what’s happened.”
The film’s hero, played by Mark Wahlberg, is a photocopier technician by day whose favorite band asks him to become their singer.
That was loosely based on the true story of Tim Owens, singer in a Judas Priest tribute band who was chosen to replace his idol.
Now Nelson gets to rock out with Anthrax, the group he idolized as a kid.
But unlike Wahlberg’s character, whose life spirals out of control with the pressures of fame, Nelson doesn’t plan on letting it go to his head – or trashing any hotel rooms, either.
“No, I’m not that type,” the married singer says, with a laugh. “I’ll be trashing stages. Every stage I play I’ll be destroying.”
Nelson’s big break comes courtesy of MySpace. He met Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano several years ago and, buoyed by encouragement from his wife, Kim, recently contacted Caggiano through the social networking Web site.
“I sent him my stuff on MySpace and he sent me a (message) back with his number and said, ‘Call me immediately,’ ” Nelson recalls.
“I called him up and his response was, ‘What rock have you been hiding under?’ “
Anthrax had a reunion tour with former singer Joey Belladonna last year, but talks to continue fell through.
Nelson flew to Chicago to meet with Caggiano, and after a 10-hour jam session, the guitarist told him: “I think you should try singing for Anthrax.”
He auditioned for the band in late October, and they had him “on pins and needles” for a month until breaking the good news.
“I was in shock,” he said. “I’m still in shock. I mean, who am I kidding? You know, I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Anthrax was among heavy metal’s biggest acts in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, right up there with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.
The group made its mark in 1991 by crossing genres with Public Enemy on the rappers’ “Bring the Noise.”
Nelson is eager to get to work on the band’s upcoming album.
“It’s gone from the excitement and disbelief to ‘OK, let’s go,’ ” he says.
“I want the next thing. I want to get in the studio. I want to record the album. I want to be on the road. I can’t wait for that.
“It’s my dream to do that – and I can’t wait.”
The birthday bunch
Actress Mary Tyler Moore is 70. Actor Jon Voight is 69. Singer Marianne Faithfull is 61. Actor Ted Danson is 60. Singer-actress Yvonne Elliman (“Jesus Christ Superstar”) is 56. Actress Patricia Clarkson is 48. Comedian Paula Poundstone is 48. Actor Kevin Weisman (“Alias”) is 37. Actor Jude Law is 35. Actor Mekhi Phifer (“ER”) is 33. Actor Shawn Hatosy is 32. Country singer Jessica Andrews is 24.