Andy Anderson (b. Clifford Leon Anderson, 30 January 1951-d. 26th February 2019) was an English drummer, best known for his short stint with The Cure.

Life and work

Anderson worked on Hawkwind's Nik Turner's Sphynx's Xitintoday album in 1978. He played with Steve Hillage on two albums, Live Herald and Open, and had a brief stint in Hawkwind in 1983, but did not record with them. His tenure in that group was cut short when he played with The Glove on their first and only album Blue Sunshine.

He later joined The Cure as their drummer in 1983, after drummer Lol Tolhurst switched to keyboard duties. Anderson recorded on the albums Japanese Whispers, The Top, and Concert in addition to the singles Love Cats and The Caterpillar. Anderson was, and still is, the only member of The Cure to have been of African descent.

Throughout the years, Andy Anderson has collaborated with a number of artists, including Iggy Pop, Jimmy Somerville, M, Jimmy Pursey's Sham 69, Harry Williamson and Friends, The Glove, Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock, Brilliant, Martin Glover, The Gun Club's Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the Steve Hillage Band, Circus Hazzard, Steve New, Edwyn Collins, The Burning Sensations, Jason Donovan, David Michael Phillips, Hooky Dallion Nik Turner's Sphynx & Inner City Unit, Mick Hawksworth and Friends, Zeke Manyika's Dr. Love, The Edgar Broughton Band, Lol Tolhurst's Levinhurst, Peter Gabriel, Midge Ure, Isaac Hayes, The Last Poets and Mike Oldfield.

Anderson works as a session musician/producer of TV commercials and record companies as well as various artists and charities.

Anderson posted newly recorded solo tracks on YouTube as Front & Centre.

Anderson was diagnosed with terminal cancer in February 2019 as announced on his Facebook page.

Discography

Nik Turner's Inner City Unite

• Nik Turner's Sphynx (1978)
• "Exit into Day"

The Cure

• Japanese Whispers (1983)
• The Top (1984)
• Concert (1984)
• The Cure Live In Japan (1984) VHS
• Standing on a Beach (1986)
• Greatest Hits (2001)

The Glove

• Blue Sunshine (1983)