Anchor Me: The Don McGlashan Story
Don McGlashan, one of New Zealand greatest singer/songwriters, has had 4 decades of hits. His songs have become unofficial anthems but little is known about the man behind the music and his personal struggle to write his unique songs. With meticulous research, comprehensive archival footage, and open access to the artist himself, Anchor Me sweeps through an international career over four decades long, incorporating rock, pop, folk, comedy and much more. From an upbringing in a house full of second-hand instruments to a high school band playing (illegally) in a local nightclub, McGlashan's beginnings were soaked in sound. The couch-crashing, student flat-playing days of the early 1980s with post-punk band Blam Blam Blam gave rise to counterculture classics like 'There is No Depression in New Zealand'. Don and Harry Sinclair created the innovative comedy duo The Front Lawn (a forerunner to Flight of the Concords). Then as frontman of The Mutton Birds, he helped define the sound of rock in the '90s with international hits like 'Anchor Me' and his version of 'Nature.' This documentary catches the highs and lows of a singular career, revelling in tales of backstage surprises and unearthing the personal stories behind chart-topping anthems. Famous colleagues like Neil Finn and Toa Fraser extol McGlashan's song-writing artistry while interviews with family members provide intimate insights into a unique creative personality. From stadiums in New York City to provincial town halls, the film paints a portrait of an artist who (as Rolling Stone has said) "has an inner world all his own.".
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Released
- 2025
Details
Release year: 2025
Storyline
Don McGlashan, one of New Zealand greatest singer/songwriters, has had 4 decades of hits. His songs have become unofficial anthems but little is known about the man behind the music and his personal struggle to write his unique songs. With meticulous research, comprehensive archival footage, and open access to the artist himself, Anchor Me sweeps through an international career over four decades long, incorporating rock, pop, folk, comedy and much more. From an upbringing in a house full of second-hand instruments to a high school band playing (illegally) in a local nightclub, McGlashan's beginnings were soaked in sound. The couch-crashing, student flat-playing days of the early 1980s with post-punk band Blam Blam Blam gave rise to counterculture classics like 'There is No Depression in New Zealand'. Don and Harry Sinclair created the innovative comedy duo The Front Lawn (a forerunner to Flight of the Concords). Then as frontman of The Mutton Birds, he helped define the sound of rock in the '90s with international hits like 'Anchor Me' and his version of 'Nature.' This documentary catches the highs and lows of a singular career, revelling in tales of backstage surprises and unearthing the personal stories behind chart-topping anthems. Famous colleagues like Neil Finn and Toa Fraser extol McGlashan's song-writing artistry while interviews with family members provide intimate insights into a unique creative personality. From stadiums in New York City to provincial town halls, the film paints a portrait of an artist who (as Rolling Stone has said) "has an inner world all his own.".
Top credits
- Don McGlashan — Self - Interviewee
- Mark Bell — Self - Interviewee
- Grant Campbell — Self - Interviewee
- Jemaine Clement — Self - Interviewee