Ilmar Gravis

At a time when New Zealand was witnessing protests in the streets against the 1981 Springbok tour of the country, a catchy and biting satirical song came to define the times, There is no depression in New Zealand, by Blam Blam Blam, one of the earliest bands to feature composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Don McGlashan.

Almost 30 years later, Ōpōtiki was blessed to experience Don McGlashan up close and personal, at a very well attended live performance at the Ōpōtiki Deluxe Theatre as part of Arts on Tour programme in 2011.

Over a decade on, recognisisng the longevity of McGlashan as a beloved and award-winning performer and songwriter, the Deluxe Theatre is very excited to be screening the recently released documentary, Anchor Me: The Don McGlashan Story.

Directed by Shirley Horrocks, Anchor Me debuted at the Auckland International Film Festival in 2025.

Spanning more than four decades it covers McGlashan’s career from his beginnings with Blam Blam Blam, his theatrical antics with musical comedy duo The Front Lawn, and beloved band The Muttonbirds, famous for several instantly recognisable hits, including the song Anchor Me.

Told mostly in his own voice, the movie also features interviews with whānau and friends exploring the family behind the touring and hard-working musician.

A trove of archival footage featuring concerts, band rehearsals, and music videos also helps tell the story, bringing music and image together in this highly acclaimed and well-reviewed documentary.

Though well known as a performer and writer of popular songs and music, the start of his musical career was as French horn and percussion player for the Auckland Symphonia (now the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra).

In his review of Anchor Me, music journalist Garry Steel says “any viewer for whom he’s simply “the guy from The Mutton Birds” will be amazed at the breadth and range of his creative endeavours.

The film covers each of these generously, from his participation in Phil Dadson’s avant-garde From Scratch project to his time in Richard von Sturmer’s radical multimedia The Plague and onto the new wave group Blam Blam Blam, for whom he played drums and wrote his first songs, like the classic Don’t Fight It Marsha, It’s Bigger Than Bother Of Us. (witchdoctor.co.nz 15.01.26)

Since his time in The Muttonbirds, McGlashan has forged a well-respected and acclaimed solo career, contributing to numerous film and television soundtracks, and continued touring which brought him to our very own Deluxe Theatre in 2011.

In 2022, he released his fourth solo album, Bright November Morning, which debuted on the New Zealand Recorded Music Album Charts at number 1. Bringing his experience, expertise, and achievements as a songwriter and publisher to the role, he was writer-director on the board of APRA (Australasian Publishing and Rights Association) from 2010 to 2016.

In 2023, McGlashan was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame, recognising his achievements as an award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and composer, making music and entertaining New Zealanders at home and overseas for more than 40 years.

As an extra treat for those who are looking for even more depth to the story, Anchor Me: The Don McGlashan Story will be screening at 7.30pm on Monday, February 2, with a pre-recorded 20-minute Q&A between music journalist Russel Baillie and McGlashan, exclusive to the Monday night session.

Other session times and tickets are available online at deluxetheatre.co.nz

n Ilmars Gravis is co-convenor of the Ōpōtiki–Whakatāne branch of the Green Party of Aotearoa.