(Manual Scan/Lemons Are Yellow vet Paul Kaufman recognizes a man who set the pulse of the scene.)
Many contributors to Che Underground: The Blog have already mentioned David Anderson, a legendary figure in our musical history. To recap, he made major contributions to The Gravedigger V, The Answers, Manual Scan, The Crawdaddys, The Trebels and I Spy. This vast resumé reflects the fact that Dave was already a formidable drum talent by his early teens. At one point his kick drum read, “Your Band Name Here.”
But Dave was much more than just a guy behind the drum kit. Answers bandmate David Fleminger says, “I first met Dave (I think he was 13) when he was playing with I Spy. He’s an amazingly energetic and innovative talent who can lay down a foundation beat like no one else. A fantastic bandmate with a great sense of humor.”
“David Anderson? A legend!” Manual Scan co-founder Bart Mendoza recalls. “Some of my fondest tour stories involve him. We once snuck all our friends into the General Public shows we were opening in San Francisco and had one of the best parties ever. I remember playing bumper chairs as beer was spilled all over the floor of our dressing room at The Kabuki Theatre and the night getting pretty rowdy. David nearly caused a riot in Las Vegas because he went commando onstage. He played a squeaky-toy solo at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco.
“For a pretty funny (if not completely quoted accurately) article, dig out your copies of ‘Wha-a-am’ #6,” Bart continues. “He’s also featured along with the band in British fanzine ‘In The Crowd.’ He’s the reason the first Manual Scan album was called ‘Down Lights’ — while I was trying to record the vocals on ‘Nothing Can Be Everything,’ David was playing with the light switch, causing me to say, ‘Down lights!’ as the tape started tracking. You can hear the moment at the beginning of the song on the vinyl version.
“I thought his tenure with the Trebels was also particularly wonderful and also the Answers, The Deadbeats and Skid Roper. I have ‘New Sounds’ footage of both The Trebels and The Deadbeats and he smokes! He was also a great graphic artist — we worked on a couple of projects together, including a single that has become quite collectable, and he designed the first cassette cover of demos we made. But my favorite was a pentagram flyer design cribbed from Motley Crue he made for a show at The Backdoor with the Untouchables. The appropriate text was changed to ‘Manual Scan’ and the ‘Shout at The David’ tour. When Clyde from the UT’s saw this, he just about fell down laughing. Later that night David joined them on percussion for their encore. I’ve always considered David to be one of the people who made San Diego music scene great. He’s an all-around nice guy and excellent drummer — I’m proud to have been in a band with him.”
Mr. Anderson fills in a few gaps himself: “I was also in The Frame (Doors kinda); Fred Heath and the Slidewinders (Chicago R&B); Skid Roper and the Shadowcasters (Instrumental Surf); and the Blooters, which was a short-lived Crawdaddys thing with Ron Silva and Mike Stax. I think that covers everything else.”
Has he or we forgotten some key contributions by the icon with the paisley shirt and the black Rogers kit? Fill us in.
— Paul Kaufman
I want to know more about Dave Anderson going commando in Vegas!
And I understand birthday wishes are in order for Mr. Anderson this week … If we can secure a paddle and all the musicians he played with in the early ’80s, we should be able to form a line long enough to do this thing right.
I want to know more about Dave Anderson going commando in Vegas!
And I understand birthday wishes are in order for Mr. Anderson this week … If we can secure a paddle and all the musicians he played with in the early ’80s, we should be able to form a line long enough to do this thing right.
I have known D.W.A probably the longest of anyone besides Alice his sister, and Gonzalo Manuel, Clairemont scenester and great influence on many young Hale Jr high/Madison High attendees. When we were kids (12-14 y.o), Dave was known as Fred, for his uncanny resemblance to Fred Flinstone. He was a kid in the neighborhood who lived across the street from Hale Junior High.
When Punk Rock came to Clairemont, Dave and Gonzalo were willing participants. They invited me to “jam” in Dave’s bedroom in late 1981 early 82. I witnessed the ability, the talent of Dave on Drums. Noone called him Fred after that. Through Gonzalo’s LP and 45 collection, we learned of the new (Dave’s older sister Alice had a big influence musically): Gonzalo had that 5051 EP, the Salvation Army LP on Fronteir. I heard alot of the first Jamaican ska comps through these guys (intesified! etc). We started I Spy’ we met Dave Flem at Shari Gross’s graduation Party;and soon after Dave was the Answers “fill and flam” man on drums.
Dave and I did a lot of fliers at Madison high using their printing press. Dave was prolific; The “i don’t care what you Heart” bumper stickers were everywhere. Why he didn’t do a “Lutan!” decal is beyond me. he continued to print and design many fliers. The “shout at the David” flier is legendary.
Dave’s house was the “after school” hangout, in 1983. All the Mira Mesa Mini Mods would descend upon his parents condo and raid the snacks his parents kept hidden away .The daily crew of Darren Graelish, Bert Huerta, Rich Walker, Dave Acopora and Dave n’ me became the base unit for our “Big Bad Bubba Bert and the Freaky Four” proto rap group . Armed with Kevin Ring’s Digital delay and a Kiss “alive II”record, we did our best to become Clairemont’s answer to Blow Fly and the SugarHill Gang. Raps to the live fan fadeout from the above mentioned Kiss LP and a Dr Rhythm drum machine. The legend of Darren’s ability to base on others was born. Dave could spit out some rhymes, too!
DWA filled in on drums when I was in the ‘Scan. He stayed on after I left. By this time he had become the go-to guy. Armed with his 1968 VW Autostick Bug, he could be summoned at a phone calls’ notice.
I haven’t even mentioned his Vespa 90 with the early polini kit.
I have known D.W.A probably the longest of anyone besides Alice his sister, and Gonzalo Manuel, Clairemont scenester and great influence on many young Hale Jr high/Madison High attendees. When we were kids (12-14 y.o), Dave was known as Fred, for his uncanny resemblance to Fred Flinstone. He was a kid in the neighborhood who lived across the street from Hale Junior High.
When Punk Rock came to Clairemont, Dave and Gonzalo were willing participants. They invited me to “jam” in Dave’s bedroom in late 1981 early 82. I witnessed the ability, the talent of Dave on Drums. Noone called him Fred after that. Through Gonzalo’s LP and 45 collection, we learned of the new (Dave’s older sister Alice had a big influence musically): Gonzalo had that 5051 EP, the Salvation Army LP on Fronteir. I heard alot of the first Jamaican ska comps through these guys (intesified! etc). We started I Spy’ we met Dave Flem at Shari Gross’s graduation Party;and soon after Dave was the Answers “fill and flam” man on drums.
Dave and I did a lot of fliers at Madison high using their printing press. Dave was prolific; The “i don’t care what you Heart” bumper stickers were everywhere. Why he didn’t do a “Lutan!” decal is beyond me. he continued to print and design many fliers. The “shout at the David” flier is legendary.
Dave’s house was the “after school” hangout, in 1983. All the Mira Mesa Mini Mods would descend upon his parents condo and raid the snacks his parents kept hidden away .The daily crew of Darren Graelish, Bert Huerta, Rich Walker, Dave Acopora and Dave n’ me became the base unit for our “Big Bad Bubba Bert and the Freaky Four” proto rap group . Armed with Kevin Ring’s Digital delay and a Kiss “alive II”record, we did our best to become Clairemont’s answer to Blow Fly and the SugarHill Gang. Raps to the live fan fadeout from the above mentioned Kiss LP and a Dr Rhythm drum machine. The legend of Darren’s ability to base on others was born. Dave could spit out some rhymes, too!
DWA filled in on drums when I was in the ‘Scan. He stayed on after I left. By this time he had become the go-to guy. Armed with his 1968 VW Autostick Bug, he could be summoned at a phone calls’ notice.
I haven’t even mentioned his Vespa 90 with the early polini kit.
How do you add to this?
Dave, it was always a blast. Tell Alice I didn’t use ALL her AquaNet.
p.s. Ventilated insect cookie.
How do you add to this?
Dave, it was always a blast. Tell Alice I didn’t use ALL her AquaNet.
p.s. Ventilated insect cookie.
I guess the least we can do for Dave Anderson is have a thread about him after I cropped his face out the the Answers photo at the top of the page. Sorry Dave (I cropped myself out of the Rockin’ Dogs photo on the home page too, so I dont feel bad about it). 🙂
I guess the least we can do for Dave Anderson is have a thread about him after I cropped his face out the the Answers photo at the top of the page. Sorry Dave (I cropped myself out of the Rockin’ Dogs photo on the home page too, so I dont feel bad about it). 🙂
There was a rather long night at my house for Audrey…when Dave had her fooled into thinking he’d had some bad acid. It was a cruel joke, but we were sometime mean kids.
Dave, among his other talents it seems, is a darned good actor.
Everyone in the room was in on it except poor Audrey.
She was really worried about him.
Patrick Works
Co-conspirator
There was a rather long night at my house for Audrey…when Dave had her fooled into thinking he’d had some bad acid. It was a cruel joke, but we were sometime mean kids.
Dave, among his other talents it seems, is a darned good actor.
Everyone in the room was in on it except poor Audrey.
She was really worried about him.
Patrick Works
Co-conspirator
In my humble opinion, Dave was the Gravedigger V’s real comedy genius, leading prankster, most musically talented member.
I’d like to clarify something in the above post, however, which claims Dave made major contributions to the Crawdaddys. Dave was never in the Crawdaddys. “The Blooters,” formed after the Crawdaddy’s demise, was a pick up band that Ron Silva, Carl Rusk and Pete Miesner got together to play a party once in 1984 or so. I think Tom Ward may have played bass, but I’m not sure. Tom?
In my humble opinion, Dave was the Gravedigger V’s real comedy genius, leading prankster, most musically talented member.
I’d like to clarify something in the above post, however, which claims Dave made major contributions to the Crawdaddys. Dave was never in the Crawdaddys. “The Blooters,” formed after the Crawdaddy’s demise, was a pick up band that Ron Silva, Carl Rusk and Pete Miesner got together to play a party once in 1984 or so. I think Tom Ward may have played bass, but I’m not sure. Tom?
Ray: Dave Anderson puts Ron Silva and Mike Stax in the Blooters. Any confirmation possible on the Stax connection?
Ray: Dave Anderson puts Ron Silva and Mike Stax in the Blooters. Any confirmation possible on the Stax connection?
Yes. Mike, too. According to Stax, it was Mike, Carl Rusk, Ron Silva, Peter Miesner and Dave Anderson. He says, “We played one gig as Obviously Five Blooters.” I think it was a party at Carl Rusk’s parents’ house.
Yes. Mike, too. According to Stax, it was Mike, Carl Rusk, Ron Silva, Peter Miesner and Dave Anderson. He says, “We played one gig as Obviously Five Blooters.” I think it was a party at Carl Rusk’s parents’ house.
Everything seemed to happen at Carl Rusk’s house! Wasn’t that the launch pad for the Mystery Machine, too?
Never mind the coolness of Carl’s parents … How cool were the Rusks’ neighbors? 🙂
Everything seemed to happen at Carl Rusk’s house! Wasn’t that the launch pad for the Mystery Machine, too?
Never mind the coolness of Carl’s parents … How cool were the Rusks’ neighbors? 🙂
I would have liked to have heard the Blooters…what a lineup.
Another key band to add to Dave’s considerable resume is Polecats For Peace, featuring Bruce and Mark Haemmerle, and Travis Roberts. There’s a Che show flyer for them in the flyer gallery.
I remember when I sent one of my cousins the first Answers demo with Dave Anderson….he didn’t say that much about the songs, mostly he went on about the drumming: “Hang on to that drummer! He’s great!!”
I’m still amazed by all the recordings I have of Dave, he is so solid and at the same time there’s a playfulness and invention in how he orchestrates his parts. A natural musician.
I would have liked to have heard the Blooters…what a lineup.
Another key band to add to Dave’s considerable resume is Polecats For Peace, featuring Bruce and Mark Haemmerle, and Travis Roberts. There’s a Che show flyer for them in the flyer gallery.
I remember when I sent one of my cousins the first Answers demo with Dave Anderson….he didn’t say that much about the songs, mostly he went on about the drumming: “Hang on to that drummer! He’s great!!”
I’m still amazed by all the recordings I have of Dave, he is so solid and at the same time there’s a playfulness and invention in how he orchestrates his parts. A natural musician.
I ripped a CD of a 7 song cassette of my band The Frame, which Dave plays on. We were a group largely ignored by the scenesters at the time, and are the band Dave describes as like “The Doors. Kinda”.
I ripped a CD of a 7 song cassette of my band The Frame, which Dave plays on. We were a group largely ignored by the scenesters at the time, and are the band Dave describes as like “The Doors. Kinda”.
David and I dated for about 3 years-1983 to 1986-so I was known most of the time as “David’s Girlfriend”. He was my first love and first real boyfriend. David is a one in a million. A gifted Drummer who played in so many bands and varied music. I loved Dave because he had a wide range of music he liked and bands he knew of. We shared a love for 60’s music, clothes, furniture, surf bands VWs, old cars, etc. We were major clotheshorses and could both sew. He had a great sense of fashion and we got to the point where we had coordinated/matching outfits. He had an fantastic sense of humor that was both silly, dry, and incredibly irreverent.
He had such a Joy de Vivre-he was always on-the personality, the charm, the ability to make people laugh. That was David.
I remember spending a lot of time with him and Tony Suarez, as well as the Mira Mesa crew now and again.
I remember he would pick me up from my bus stop after school sitting back on his union jack scooter, vespa 90 primavera, legs crossed on the handlebars, arms behind his back . He was very proud of that scooter and I loved riding it with him.
If he was not playing drums or making clothes he found other ways to be creative-he made some amazing flyers for shows (a lot I still have), and he made me some really groovy note paper and stationery I still use today. He is so multi talented and enthusiastic. He was great to be around.
I think I have a tape somewhere that has Big Bad Bubba Bert and the Freaky Four songs on it. And I still have my Gravedigger V album. It was so long ago, and yet it feels like yesterday.
.
David and I dated for about 3 years-1983 to 1986-so I was known most of the time as “David’s Girlfriend”. He was my first love and first real boyfriend. David is a one in a million. A gifted Drummer who played in so many bands and varied music. I loved Dave because he had a wide range of music he liked and bands he knew of. We shared a love for 60’s music, clothes, furniture, surf bands VWs, old cars, etc. We were major clotheshorses and could both sew. He had a great sense of fashion and we got to the point where we had coordinated/matching outfits. He had an fantastic sense of humor that was both silly, dry, and incredibly irreverent.
He had such a Joy de Vivre-he was always on-the personality, the charm, the ability to make people laugh. That was David.
I remember spending a lot of time with him and Tony Suarez, as well as the Mira Mesa crew now and again.
I remember he would pick me up from my bus stop after school sitting back on his union jack scooter, vespa 90 primavera, legs crossed on the handlebars, arms behind his back . He was very proud of that scooter and I loved riding it with him.
If he was not playing drums or making clothes he found other ways to be creative-he made some amazing flyers for shows (a lot I still have), and he made me some really groovy note paper and stationery I still use today. He is so multi talented and enthusiastic. He was great to be around.
I think I have a tape somewhere that has Big Bad Bubba Bert and the Freaky Four songs on it. And I still have my Gravedigger V album. It was so long ago, and yet it feels like yesterday.
.