Antony Hodgkinson

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Antony Hodgkinson
Background information
Also known asTony the Interpretative Dancer
Born1967 or 1968 (age 55–56)
St Albans, England
OriginNottingham, England
Years active1990–present

Antony Hodgkinson (born 1967 or 1968; also known as Tony the Interpretative Dancer)[1] is an English rock drummer. He has performed with Bivouac and Julian Cope. He is known for his association with Nirvana, with whom he danced on stage during their British tours.

Early life

Hodgkinson was born in

Lakota Sioux, but he was adopted and raised in Derby.[2] He took up BMX riding in the 1970s, visiting nearby Nottingham to do so. Hodgkinson took up drumming after a self-described troubled childhood.[1]

Nirvana

Hodgkinson was hospitalised with a serious illness and, shortly after recovering in 1989, was asked by a friend, music booking agent Russell Warby, to collect Nirvana from the airport on their arrival for a British tour.[2][4] Hodgkinson became friends with the band who he said accepted him despite being "a bit depressed" following his illness.[2]

Hodgkinson accompanied Nirvana on their 1990 UK tour, by which time

Reading Festival appearance, starting about halfway through their set.[4]

Novoselic and Cobain performing, c. 1992

Hodgkinson is remembered most for his dancing during Nirvana's headline appearance at the 1992

pogoing to many of the songs.[2] Hodgkinson claims that some of the moves drew inspiration from Native American dances.[2] The set was largely unrehearsed and Hodgkinson recalled "I was absolutely shattered at the end of it" and had to wear a neck collar afterwards, because of whiplash.[4]

Hodgkinson features prominently on the band's Live at Reading DVD, appearing in 12 of the 25 songs featured.[2] The festival was Hodgkinson's last meeting with Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994, shortly before embarking on a planned British tour.[4][2] The event caused Hodgkinson to give up drumming for six years.[4]

Since Nirvana

He has returned to drumming and is now a semi-professional musician with Dogntank, Island Apes and Great Raven.[4] He has also drummed for Punish the Atom and Julian Cope and has worked on the soundtrack for the latter's debut novel One Three One.[1]

Hodgkinson lives in Nottingham and also works installing recording studios and as a tester in the software industry.[5][2] Late in life he was diagnosed as severely dyslexic.[1] He no longer dances due to injuries incurred while surfing. Hodgkinson was interviewed for the 2021 BBC documentary When Nirvana Came to Britain.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Klotschkow, Paul (18 November 2010). "Interview: Tony the Interpretive Dancer". LeftLion. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Allen, Jamie (22 February 2010). "Catching Up With ... Dancing Tony From Nirvana's Live at Reading DVD". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "An Interview With Antony Hodgkinson, The Guy Who Danced Onstage With Nirvana". Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Reading and Leeds Festivals: Nirvana dancer Tony reflects on their 'gig of the decade'". BBC News. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. ^ Thomas, Rhys (20 June 2019). "A chat with the man who danced with Kurt Cobain's Nirvana in Leeds". LeedsLive. Retrieved 26 August 2022.