The Wiggles’ last remaining original member has reflected on his 30 years spent with the kids’ entertainers.
Anthony Field, 58, admits that the meteoric success of the group ‘blew us all away’ during an interview with News.com.au.
‘We didn’t think it would get to the heights it did,’ said the former preschool teacher.
OG member: Wiggle Anthony Field, 58, admits that the meteoric success of the group ‘blew us all away’ during an interview with News.com.au
Rock on: The move paid off, with the band eventually selling out Madison Square Garden in New York City
While still in their 20s, Field, along with original bandmates Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, and Greg Page, all went to the United States to try to expand their fan base.
The move paid off, with the band eventually selling out Madison Square Garden in New York City.
That led to them meeting celebrity parents the likes of Robert De Niro and Jerry Seinfeld.
‘At the time The Wiggles were the show to see if you were a parent, and they all came,’ said Field.
Making it big: While still in their 20s, Field, along with original bandmates Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, and Greg Page, all went to the United States to try to expand their fan base
The walk down memory lane comes a month after The Wiggles announced the hiring of four new ‘diverse’ members.
In an interview with ABC at the time, Field revealed the moment he realised the successful children’s group needed to make a change.
He explained he was working on The Wiggles’ World alongside Broadway performer James Harkness, who noted that although they had people from different cultures on the show, they weren’t wearing the coloured skivvies full-time.
Time for a change! In an interview with the ABC, Anthony Field revealed he realised The Wiggles needed to change when guest star James Harkness noted the band didn’t have people from different cultures on the show wearing the coloured skivvies full-time
‘If you really want them to be part of the club, they’ve got to have the blue, yellow, red or purple,’ Anthony told the news site.
‘Now we have Fruit Salad TV: We have four women, four men and we only have those colours because they are the Wiggles colours.’
Three women and a former pop singer will be joining Anthony, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie.
Former Wiggles dancer Kelly Hamilton, 45, will be sharing the stage with newcomer Tsehay Hawkins, a 15-year-old who was adopted from Ethiopia.
Diversity: The Wiggles recently announced the hiring of four new ‘diverse’ members: Tsehay Hawkins, John Pearce, Kelly Hamilton and Evie Ferris
They will be joined by Justice Crew member John Pearce, a 30-year-old personal trainer with a Filipino background.
Rounding out the new arrivals is Evie Ferris, a 24-year-old Indigenous dancer from Cairns.
Elsewhere in the ABC interview, when asked if he has any plans to stop working, Anthony admitted his bandmate Simon will hold him accountable.
‘If I start missing my lines and timing goes, he’s going to tap me shoulder,’ he says.
And he also hopes to continue with the band working behind the scenes as a songwriter down the track.
Trade secret: The Blue Wiggle revealed on Nova FM’s Fitzy and Wippa on Tuesday he has ‘mimed’ certain parts ‘for years’ while performing with the children’s band. Pictured in 2016
This comes after Anthony dropped a bombshell about The Wiggles, admitting he doesn’t sing all his parts because he can’t hit the low notes.
Speaking to Nova FM’s Fitzy and Wippa, the Blue Wiggle said he has ‘mimed’ certain parts ‘for years’ while performing with the children’s band.
At the time, he made the admission after being asked to sing Fruit Salad, telling radio hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli: ‘I never sing.’
Believe this or not, I mimed Simon’s voice for years,’ he said, referring to his co-star Simon Pryce, a.k.a. the Red Wiggle.
‘People ask me to sing in public and they get very disappointed,’ Anthony added.
Behind the scenes? Down the track, Anthony Field said he also hopes to continue with the band working behind the scenes as a songwriter. Pictured with Lachlan Gillespie (left), Emma Watkins (centre left) and Simon Pryce (centre right) in NYC in June 2018