New ANTHRAX frontman DAN NELSON has his wife to thank for winning a place in the band, after she begged him to follow his dream.

The 31-year-old former personal trainer was forced to quit singing to support his spouse Kim through open heart surgery.

When she recovered she insisted Nelson approach Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano about filling the gap left by former lead singer Joey Belladonna.

Nelson says, "When she made it though the surgery I asked her what I could do to help her get better. I would do anything. She looked at me and said one word: `Sing.’ "That really lit a fire under me. I guess I have my wife to thank that I’m in Anthrax."