Anderson: Rebel with a cause
If Andy Anderson had his way, the ultimate performing artist would be someone with the looks of James Dean, the stage magnetism of Elvis Presley and the voice of Ray Charles.
He grew up in the 1950s with a love of movies and rock’n’roll. He was rebellious like James Dean and wanted to share the microphone with Elvis, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong. In his own unique way, Anderson at 71, has achieved all of these.
He played his dad’s collection of 78s, LPS and 45s on the family radiogram and decided he ‘‘wanted to go with these guys’’.
Hearing Ray, Louis and Elvis was a magical moment. With his collar up and anti-social attitude, Anderson took to the drums like a rebel without cause. First it was the school dances, then the youth clubs around Wellington. He joined The Corvairs, and did the local circuit with Ray Columbus, Max Merritt and other rockers.
One of his vivid memories is sitting immediately behind Ringo Starr when The Beatles toured New Zealand. ‘‘I knew all his moves and, in my mind, told him ‘just fall off your perch and I’ll be there.’’
Ringo didn’t and Anderson jumped the ditch for more experience in Australia. He joined The Missing Links. They were Neanderthal in every sense – early punk, he recalls. He graduated to Running, Jumping, Standing Still, another wrecking ball band. On one occasion Anderson toppled over on stage. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurism and spent two weeks in hospital but then returned to his hard living, dynamic lifestyle.
Back in New Zealand, booze, drugs and health issues finally caught up with him. Following a bout of pancreatitis, he recalls crying for help as he was wheeled down a hospital corridor to intensive care.
Help came from Sir Charles Burns, head of the National Society of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, who confronted Anderson and sent him to Hanmer Springs.
While his time as a rocker was over, a new career would unfold. In an earlier life he worked for Parks and Reserves, and he returned to mowing lawns and beautifying gardens. It was a tranquil moment at a traumatic time, but it wasn’t enough. The spark of achieving success was still there and Anderson was a self-starter. He took a photo of himself and daughter, Christal, wrote some words and sent the submission to anyone interested. With his looks, charisma and stage experience, he found South Pacific Television was hooked. His life in TV and movies begun.
In 1979, Anderson joined the cast of Radio Waves – a TV drama about a radio station – and he called on his previous life to play a stoned out DJ. ‘‘I was great at playing dickheads,’’ he said.
But that’s a disservice. Anderson had a special presence in front of the camera and that charm took him back to Australia to play Jim Sullivan in The Sullivans and receive the best actor award.
For the next 25 years he was in demand on either side of the Tasman, playing principal roles in TV series and guesting in episodes of such productions as Packed To The Rafters, Sea Patrol, All Saints, Roche, Man From Snowy River, Mcleod’s Daughters and Prisoner.
Then there were cameos in movies such as Swerve, House Of Wax, Honk If You’re Horny and Anacondas. When you count them up, Anderson’s familiar face appeared in more than 40 movies and TV productions.
In between there was stage work; Sweeney Todd for Downstage, Me And My Girl, The Pirates Of Penzance and Billy Elliot.
When Anderson came to live in Palmerston North with his wife Karen, life changed again.
He was ready to return to his singing career but, this time, with 35 years of sobriety and two heart attacks behind him. ‘‘As heard on my latest CD, Andersongs, my own style is a mix of my roots. I sing rock and roll, ballads, blues, country rock, reggae,’’ he says.
He’s looking after himself and, when he’s not singing or penning his own material, he’s writing film scripts and a ‘‘sort of memoir’’.
‘‘I’ve gone back to music again. It has the healing power to create something meaningful,’’ he says. It’s a great message.
In an impressive career, Anderson has created something meaningful both for himself and his audience, and he wants to continue doing it.
‘‘I’ve had a great, action packed life.’’
‘I’ve gone back to music again. It has the healing power to create something meaningful.’