Andy Anderson, best known as the drummer for Iggy Pop and the Cure, died Tuesday (Feb. 26) of terminal cancer. He was 68.
“Andy Anderson was a true gentleman and a great musician with a wicked sense of humor which he kept until the end, a testament to his beautiful spirit on the last journey. We are blessed to have known him,” Cure founding member Lol Tolhurst confirmed the news on Twitter. Anderson joined the Cure in 1983 after Tolhurst switched to keys, and went on to work with a number of major artists including Iggy Pop, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the Sex Pistols’ Glen Mattlock, Edwin Collins, Peter Gabriel and Isaac Hayes.
It’s with a heavy heart, I have to report the passing of a Cure brother.
Andy Anderson was A true gentleman and a great musician with a wicked sense of humor which he kept until the end, a testament to his beautiful spirit on the last journey. We are blessed to have known him.— Lol Tolhurst (@LolTolhurst) February 26, 2019
Anderson revealed his diagnosis via Facebook just last week. “No Boo, Hooing, here, just be positive, for me it’s just another life Experience and Hurdle, that one has to make yet another Choice in life,” he wrote. “Be cool, I most definitely am and positive about the situation , well that’s it for now, good folk, and thank you all for the well wishes I love them all, and are held very, very close to my heart dearly, and will stay with me for ever, any way, stay well yourselves and chat soon.”
A number of fans took to Twitter to mourn the loss of the drummer. See some reactions below.
Very sad to hear about the passing of Andy Anderson, the one time drummer for The Cure and Iggy Pop. RIP
— Hot Topic (@HotTopic) February 26, 2019
Goodnight Andy you miserable old git. You will be missed. If the @rockhall of fame doesn’t include you in @thecure lineup then @RobertSmith should walk away from the whole bullshit nonsense of it all. There would be no shake dog shake machine gun fill https://t.co/bjpmh8d9B1
— Curehead (@TheCureheads) February 26, 2019
In 1998 my sister gave me a mixtape that really set me on my course to this day. Every song a standout but I’ll never forget the impact The Love Cats had on me. RIP Andy Anderson <3
— Narc Kent (@DJChoozey) February 27, 2019
Hearing reports that former Cure drummer Andy Anderson has passed away. He was definitely one of the great drummers the band ever hard. RIP.https://t.co/Zrz31dwCx9
— Nik Farr (@Nik_Farr) February 26, 2019
Tonight we play The Top in your honour. RIP Andy Anderson. pic.twitter.com/z8BYrizER0
— Dave MacIntyre (@DisarmMagazine) February 26, 2019
Another sad loss from my favorite era of music. RIP Andy Anderson. — https://t.co/IEuU94i5ox
— Margot Muraszkiewicz (@Margot_Murasz) February 27, 2019