Tribute to Anthony Stewart Head

[shadowkat]

This one hit me harder than expected. What a lot of folks may not realize, is Head was also an excellent musician and singer. I first fell for him - when he performed in Chess.

1. Rocky Horror

Anthony Head performing Sweet Transvesite from Rocky Horror Tribute Show

Watch on YouTube

And with Amber Benson for Rocky Horror Tribute:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LH43hTh5KI

2. Anthony Head testing James Marsters and Juliet Landau on British Slang:

Watch on YouTube

3. Chess

I first saw Head in Chess in 1988.

Here's the song he didn't get to sing in Chess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sCP3nTIDDs

(which he does a cappella).

4. Anthony Head as Giles singing "Free Bird" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Watch on YouTube

5. Head singing Yet Another Hero Died Tonight

6. Giles singing "I Wish I Could Stay"

Watch on YouTube

7. Giles singing Behind Blue Eyes, by the Who

Watch on YouTube

8. REPO: The Genetic Opera - singing the lead of REPO.

9. And here's a retrospective of all of his film and television roles...posted 13 years ago:

Film and Television Roles

And BBC's retrospective of his film/television career

10. Anthony Head on acting.

11. Finally...all those Nescafe Gold Blend Ads (I thought it was Tasters Choice..). which was from 1987-1993.
It's how my mother fell in love with him. LOL!

I'll miss him. I've been following his career off and on since 1987.

Comments

[kerk_hiraeth]

Gold Blend in the UK; Taster's Choice in the US.

Decided to post three of my Giles Fics, and I might try and post a couple of clips myself later today; most of my faves aren't on YT though.

For now I'm headed down to the war memorial in the center of town.

June 6th and I feel the need to go down and try and medidate for some perspective as the sun's coming up.

At least I can pay my respects.

kerk

[shadowkat]

Thanks, and yes, I couldn't find my favs' on youtube either.

[kazzy_cee]

Yes, it's a real shame as he wasn't that old. I did think he didn't look particularly well in Ted Lasso (he was very thin). It's such a shame, as I think he was a very good actor as well as a talented singer (I have his album!).

[shadowkat]

I had his album "Music for Elevators". Don't now - although it may be uploaded on my computer. (I got rid of my CDs and albums a while back - no record player or CD player or room for one.)

I agree - he looked very thin and frail in the last few things I've seen him in - a rom-com, and Ted Lasso. And I think his wife's death may have been hard on him? But he wasn't that old.

From all reports he was a very kind man - everyone who worked with him appeared to love him.

[dar_vidder]

Thanks for posting all those clips. It was such a shock to hear the news today. I'm really going to miss him.

[shadowkat]

You're welcome!

[avrelia]

thank you! that's a lovely tribute.

[shadowkat]

Thanks, and you are welcome. ;-)

[cjlasky7]

I don’t know if anyone else could have played all the facets of Rupert Giles as well as Anthony Head. Fussy, tweed-bound librarian, reformed bad-boy dark wizard, cold blooded pragmatic Watcher, frustrated would-be rock star.

Could anybody contain these contradictions and make them a believable character? Head seemed to do it effortlessly, with charm and charisma to spare. When the kids watched Giles perform "Behind Blue Eyes", I think the actors were just as awestruck as their characters. Is there nothing that man couldn't do?

You gave a great "ASH greatest hits"--and it's still just a fraction of what he could do. 72. He had so many great roles in front of him.

[shadowkat]

Thanks. His loss is just so painful - because he had so many roles he could have done. He'd have been an excellent King Lear or an aging rock star.

I couldn't find some of my favorites - such as his role in VR5 - which I loved, and his run as Freddie in Chess. He even played Doctor Who in the Radio Show. And was in Warehouse 13 with Marsters at one point. Excellent character actor - who could also pull off leading man roles.

And you're correct no one else could have played Giles as he did - as I also read elsewhere - because he played Giles, the writers were able to provide the character with interesting layers, and make Giles a singer.

When asked who was the nicest person on the Buffy set and the biggest jerk, James Marsters responded that he wouldn't tell people who the jerk was, but the nicest person, hands down no contest, was and is Tony Head. He gave members of the cast foot massages. And took Marsters aside to fix his accent and help him get it right.

When asked who the best actor was? Marsters replies every time - Tony Head. He watched Tony Head to figure out how to do screen acting. He was amazed at how good he was.

[dirtygreatknife]

I was so shocked when I first heard. He was so brilliant.