Laurie Anderson Biography (1947-)

Full name, Laura Phillips Anderson; born June 5, 1947, in Glen Ellyn (some sources say Wayne or Chicago), IL; daughter of Arthur T. and Mary Louise (Rowland) Anderson; companion of Lou Reed (a musician). Addresses: Office: 530 Canal St., New York, NY 10013.; Agent: Monterey Peninsula Artists, 509 Hartnell St., Monterey, CA 93940.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Performance artist, writer, composer, violinist, sculptor, illustrator
Birth Details
June 5, 1947
Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • Performance Art Pieces
  • Automotive, Town Green, Rochester, VT, 1972
  • Story Show, 1972
  • O-Range, Town Green, 1973 , also Lewisohn Stadium, City College ofthe City University of New York, New York City, 1973
  • Duets on Ice, Town Green, 1973 , also produced in New York City, 1973
  • The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin, Brooklyn, New York City, 1973
  • How to Yodel, The Kitchen, New York City, 1974
  • Songs and Stories for the Insomniac, Town Green, 1975 , also produced at Artists Space, New York City, 1975
  • Songs and Stories for the Insomniac ... Continued, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, 1975
  • Out of the Blue, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 1975
  • Dearreader, Holly Solomon Gallery, New York City, 1975
  • Dearreader--2, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, 1975
  • Dearreader--3, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, 1975
  • Fast Food, Artists Space, 1976
  • Stereo Stories, M. L. D'Arc Gallery, New York City, 1976
  • Engli-SH, Akademie der Kunst, West Berlin, West Germany (now Berlin, Germany), 1976 , then Louisiana Museum, Humleback, Denmark, 1976
  • Road Songs, St. Mark's Poetry Center, New York City, 1976
  • Songs, New School, New York City, 1976
  • Refried Beans for Instants, 1976
  • For Instants, Part 5: Songs for Lines, Songs for Waves, The Kitchen, 1977
  • Audio Talk, School of Visual Arts, New York City, 1977
  • That's Not the Way I Heard It, Documenta, Kassel, West Germany(now Germany), 1977
  • On Dit, Paris Biennale, Paris, France, 1977
  • That's Not the Way I Heard It--2, Galleria Salvatore Ala, Milan, Italy, 1977
  • Some Songs, International Cultural Center, Brussels, Belgium, 1977, then And/Or Gallery, Seattle, WA, 1978 , later Mills College, Oakland, CA,1978
  • For Instants--Continued, Otis Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, 1978
  • Like a Stream, The Kitchen, 1978
  • (With the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra) Like a Stream--3, Walker ArtCenter, Minneapolis, MN, 1978
  • Down Here, Texas Opry House, Houston, TX, 1978
  • Some Songs--2, Portland Center for the Visual Arts, Portland, OR,1978
  • For Instant--6, DC Space, Washington, DC, 1978
  • A Few Are..., Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1978
  • Songs for Self-Playing Violin, Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, OH, 1978 , then Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT, 1978
  • Handphone Table, Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 1978
  • Some Are..., benefit for Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY, 1978
  • Americans on the Move--Preview, Carnegie Recital Hall, New York City, 1979
  • Americans on the Move, The Kitchen, 1979
  • Blue Horn File, Mudd Club, New York City, 1979
  • (With David van Tieghem and Peter Gordon) Commerce, United StatesCustoms House, New York City, 1979
  • Fuer Augen und Ohren, Akademie der Kunst, 1980
  • New Music America, Walker Art Center, 1980
  • Privates, New York City, 1981
  • Bonds, New York City, 1981
  • It's Cold Outside, Alice Tully Hall, New York City, 1981
  • United States, Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA, 1982
  • United States, Parts I-IV, Park West, Chicago, IL, 1982 , then Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York City, 1983
  • Empty Places, Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1989
  • Voices from Beyond, 1992
  • Stories from the Nerve Bible, 1993
  • Other performance art pieces include Born, Never Asked.
  • Major Tours
  • Mister Heartbreak, U.S., Canadian, and Japanese cities, 1984-85
  • Home of the Brave, U.S. cities, 1986
  • Natural History Tour, 1986
  • Empty Places Tour, 1990
  • Voices from Beyond Tour, 1991
  • Nerve Bible Tour (solo show), U.S. cities, including Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA, 1995
  • Film Appearances
  • Home of the Brave (also known as Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson), Cinecom International, 1986
  • Heavy Petting, Academy Entertainment, 1988
  • Hotel Deutschland, \[Germany\], 1991
  • Voice of newborn baby, The Rugrats Movie (animated), Paramount, 1998
  • Film Work
  • "Closed Circuit," System ohne Schatten, 1983
  • Music performer, Nicaragua: No Pasaran (documentary), New Yorker Films, 1984
  • Director, coproducer, and soundtrack coproducer, Home of the Brave(also known as Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson), CinecomInternational, 1986
  • Performer of "Strange Angels," The Doctor, Buena Vista, 1991
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • "John Cage: I Have Nothing to Say and I'm Saying It," American Masters, PBS, 1990
  • Presenter, The Second International Rock Awards, ABC, 1990
  • CyberSpace, The Disney Channel, 1995
  • "Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart," American Masters, PBS, 1998
  • Herself, Searching for Jimi Hendrix (documentary), 1999
  • Episodic
  • Host and her clone, "What You Mean We?," Alive from Off Center, PBS, 1987
  • Herself, "Art Show," Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, The Cartoon Network, 1996
  • Television Work
  • Director; Episodic
  • "What You Mean We?," Alive from Off Center, PBS, 1987
  • Radio Appearances
  • Specials
  • Outline for the Next Wave: The New Performing Artist, National Public Radio, 1982
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • It's Not the Bullet That Kills You, It's the Hole, 1977
  • Airwaves, 1977
  • Big Ego, Giorno Poetry Systems Records, 1978
  • Walk the Dog, O Superman, 110 Records, 1981
  • Big Science, Warner Bros., 1982
  • Let X = X, Artforum, 1982
  • Mister Heartbreak, Warner Bros., 1984
  • United States Live, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Home of the Brave, Warner Bros., 1986
  • Strange Angels, Warner Bros., 1989
  • Bright Red, Warner Bros., 1994
  • The Ugly One with the Jewels and Other Stories, Warner Bros., 1995
  • The Speed of Darkness, 1997
  • Singles
  • "O Superman," 110 Records, 1981
  • "In Our Sleep/Poison/Quija Board," 1995
  • Contributor to Albums
  • New Music for Electronic and Recorded Media, Arch Records, 1977
  • (With William S. Burroughs and John Giorno) You're the Guy I Wantto Share My Money With, Giorno Poetry Systems Records, 1981
  • Nona Hendryx, Nona, RCA, 1983
  • Attack of the Killer Bs, Vol. 1, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Jean-Michael Jarre, Zoolook, Polydor, 1984
  • Peter Gabriel, So, Geffen, 1986
  • Cutting Edge, JCI, 1987
  • Wings of Desire (soundtrack), Wea/Atlantic/Nonesuch, 1989
  • Mark Dee, All in a Day's Work, MCA, 1990
  • Marisa Monte, Rose and Charcoal, Blue Note, 1994
  • New Wave Hits of the '80s, Vol. 7, Rhino, 1994
  • Peter Scherer, Very Neon Pet, Blue Note/Metro Blue, 1995
  • Dave Stewart, Greetings from the Gutter, Elektra/Asylum, 1995
  • Lou Reed, Set the Twilight Reeling, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Red Hot and Latin: Silencio = Muerte, Hola, 1997
  • Women in Electronic Music, Composers, 1997
  • Poptronica, Volume 3: Romance, BMG/Buddah Records, 1999
  • Wired--Music Futurists, Wea/Atlantic/Rhino, 1999
  • Vinicius Cantuaria, Tucuma, PolyGram, 1999
  • Nona Hendryx, Transformation: The Best of Nona Hendryx, Razor andTie, 1999
  • Searching for Jimi Hendrix, Capitol, 1999
  • Composer of Songs for Albums
  • With Others
  • Peter Gabriel, So, Geffen, 1986
  • Philip Glass, Songs form Liquid Days, CBS Records, 1986
  • Black Tape for a Blue Girl, This Lush Garden Within, Projekt, 1997
  • Album Work
  • (Director) Janie Fricke, Now and Then, Branson, 1993
  • (Assistant producer) O. C. Smith, After All Is Said and Done, Triune, 1993
  • (Producer) Sedated in the '80s, Vol. 3, Capitol, 1994
  • (Producer) CMJ the Year in Alternative Music 1981, PolyGram, 1998
  • (Producer \[with others\]) Wired--Music Futurists, Wea/Atlantic/Rhino, 1999
  • (Producer) Searching for Jimi Hendrix, Capitol, 1999
  • Produced Chance Operation: The John Cage Tribute, Koch International; producer of other albums and tracks.
  • Videos
  • Herself, Laurie Anderson: Collected Videos, Warner Reprise Video,1990
  • Herself, The Nova Convention Revisited (also known as The NovaConvention Revisited: William S. Burroughs and the Arts), 1998
  • Video Games
  • Herself and puppet, Puppet Motel, Voyager, 1995
  • WRITINGS
  • Performance Art Pieces
  • Writer, Composer, and Visual Designer, Unless Otherwise Noted
  • Automotive, Town Green, 1972
  • Story Show, 1972
  • O-Range, Town Green, 1973 , also Lewisohn Stadium, City College ofthe City University of New York, 1973
  • Duets on Ice, Town Green, 1973 , also produced in New York City, 1973
  • The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin, Brooklyn, New York City, 1973
  • How to Yodel, The Kitchen, 1974
  • Songs and Stories for the Insomniac, Town Green, 1975 , also produced at Artists Space, 1975
  • Songs and Stories for the Insomniac ... Continued, Oberlin College, 1975
  • Out of the Blue, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1975
  • Dearreader, Holly Solomon Gallery, 1975
  • Dearreader--2, Sarah Lawrence College, 1975
  • Dearreader--3, Rhode Island School of Design, 1975
  • Fast Food, Artists Space, 1976
  • Stereo Stories, M. L. D'Arc Gallery, 1976
  • Engli-SH, Akademie der Kunst, 1976 , then Louisiana Museum, 1976
  • Road Songs, St. Mark's Poetry Center, 1976
  • Songs, New School, 1976
  • Refried Beans for Instants, 1976
  • For Instants, Part 5: Songs for Lines, Songs for Waves, The Kitchen, 1977
  • Audio Talk, School of Visual Arts, 1977
  • That's Not the Way I Heard It, Documenta, 1977
  • On Dit, Paris Biennale, 1977
  • That's Not the Way I Heard It--2, Galleria Salvatore Ala, 1977
  • Some Songs, International Cultural Center, 1977 , then And/Or Gallery, 1978 , later Mills College, 1978
  • For Instants--Continued, Otis Art Gallery, 1978
  • Like a Stream, The Kitchen, 1978
  • Like a Stream--3, Walker Art Center, 1978
  • Down Here, Texas Opry House, 1978
  • Some Songs--2, Portland Center for the Visual Arts, 1978
  • For Instants--6, DC Space, 1978
  • A Few Are..., Art Gallery of Ontario, 1978
  • Songs for Self-Playing Violin, Contemporary Art Center, 1978 , also Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT, 1978
  • Handphone Table, Museum of Modern Art, 1978
  • Like a Stream--3, Walker Art Center, 1978
  • Americans on the Move, The Kitchen, 1979
  • Blue Horn File, Mudd Club, 1979
  • (With David van Tieghem and Peter Gordon) Commerce, United StatesCustoms House, 1979
  • Fuer Augen und Ohren, Akademie der Kunst, 1980
  • New Music America, Walker Art Center, 1980
  • Privates, New York City, 1981
  • Bonds, New York City, 1981
  • It's Cold Outside, Alice Tully Hall, 1981
  • United States, Moore Theatre, 1982
  • United States, Parts I-IV, Park West, 1982 , then Brooklyn Academyof Music, 1983
  • Mister Heartbreak, U.S., Canadian, and Japanese cities, 1984-85
  • Home of the Brave (concert performance), U.S. cities, 1986
  • Composer only, Alcestis, American Repertory Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1986
  • Natural History Tour, 1986
  • Empty Places, Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1989
  • Empty Places Tour, 1990
  • Voices from Beyond Tour, 1991
  • Voices from Beyond, 1992
  • Stories from the Nerve Bible, 1993
  • Nerve Bible Tour (solo show), U.S. cities, including Washington, DC, and Seattle, WA, 1995
  • (With Germano Celant, the Fondazione Prada, and San Vittore Prison) Dal vivo (also known as Life), Fondazione Prada, Italy, 1998
  • Other performance art pieces include Born, Never Asked.
  • Composer for Films
  • (With John Cale) Something Wild (also known as Dangereuse soustous rapports), Orion, 1986
  • Home of the Brave (also known as Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson), Cinecom International, 1986
  • Swimming to Cambodia, Cinecom International, 1987
  • Song "Angel Fragments," Wings of Desire (also known as Der Himmel uber Berlin), Argos Films, 1987
  • Monster in a Box, Fine Line Features, 1991
  • Song "Strange Angels," The Doctor, Buena Vista, 1991
  • The Source (documentary), Calliope Films, 1998
  • Blind Light, 1998
  • Screenplays
  • Fourteen Americans, 1979
  • Film du Silence, 1981
  • Home of the Brave (also known as Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson), Cinecom International, 1986
  • Television Work
  • Composer; Specials
  • "Bad Blood," Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey, 1989
  • Teleplays
  • Episodic
  • "What You Mean We?," Alive from Off Center, PBS, 1987
  • Other Writings
  • The Package, Bobbs-Merrill (Indianapolis, IN), 1971
  • (Illustrator) Margaret R. Moore and John Travers Moore, Certainly, Carrie, Cut the Cake; Poems A to Z, Bobbs-Merrill, 1971
  • October, \[New York City\], 1972
  • Transportation Transportation, \[New York City\], 1973
  • The Rose and the Stone, \[New York City\], 1974
  • Notebook, 1976
  • Artifacts at the End of a Decade, with an essay by John Perreault,1981
  • United States, Harper and Row (New York City), 1984
  • Laurie Anderson's Postcard Book, 1990
  • Stories from the Nerve Bible: A Retrospective, 1972-1992">, HarperPerennial (New York City), 1994
  • Critic for periodicals, including Art Forum and Art News; contributor to periodicals, including Hotel and October.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals:
    • American Theatre, February 24, 1995, /August, 1995, p. 48.
    • Entertainment Weekly, p. 125.
    • Interview, September 24, 1994, p. 49; March, 1997, p. 144; August,1998, Germano Celant, "Life," pp. 52-54.
    • Washington Review, /November, 1981.

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