How to go
What: The Wiggles Go Bananas Live! tour
When: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Palace Theatre, Columbus
Tickets: Range from $15-$38 and are available online at www.ticket master.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000
Bring a book
Fans are encouraged to bring a new children's book to the concert as part of the nationwide early literacy program Reach Out and Read. For information, visit www.thewiggles.com.
It was loud and crowded, and there were plenty of squabbles with seven children under one roof.
In one word, it was perfect β at least for Anthony Field, aka the Blue Wiggle.
βWe had two bedrooms; the four boys were in one, and the three girls were in the other,β Field said. βIt was very crowded, but it was a fun house to grow up in.β
As the youngest of seven, Field couldnβt escape the other children in the tiny house back then, and he has chosen to spend his life entertaining children as one of the founding members of The Wiggles, the popular Australian band that caters to the preschool set.
The Wiggles, in their 18th year performing, are bringing their Go Bananas Live! tour to Columbusβ Palace Theatre β their closest tour stop β for a pair of shows on Thursday, Aug. 27. Field calls it their βmost acrobatic and dynamicβ tour to date, complete with new songs and familiar favorites as well as Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and Captain Feathersword, in addition to Field, Jeff Fatt (Purple Wiggle), Sam Moran (Yellow Wiggle) and Murray Cook (Red Wiggle).
Field took time from a recent tour stop in Pittsburgh to discuss the wonder of the Wiggles.
Q Did growing up in a house full of children influence your decision to go into such a kid-centered career?
A Actually, I think it was my mum. She taught us that there are three important things in life: children, music and flowers. I don't have the same love of flowers, but I do understand the other two.
Q You were in a rock band and the army before you completed your degree in early childhood education. What made you decide on that somewhat nontraditional course of study?
A You're right, none of the rock 'n' rollers were doing early childhood learning. But after a few years in the army, I decided I should go back to school and find a good use for my brain. And I was taught early on that if you look after children, you will be a better person for it. It took me six years to do a three-year degree, but I finished.
Q When you, Murray, Greg (Page, the original Yellow Wiggle) and Jeff first came up with The Wiggles concept almost two decades ago, did you ever imagine this kind of success?
A No, not at all because we were told there was no market for what we wanted to do. A lady who booked acts for the schools said four guys and a guitar weren't going to make it. Someone else told us we'd be lucky to sell 3,000 copies of our first record. (The Wiggles have sold more than 7 million CDs and 23 million DVDs worldwide.) But we didn't care. We wanted to do something good with what we learned at university. It was a real passion of ours. Murray and I were teaching preschool, Greg was still in university and Jeff was doing home remodeling, but none of us could wait for the weekend to do shows.
Q How did you guys pick the colors you have become so clearly associated with over the years?
A We actually had loud shirts, like Hawaiian shirts, in the beginning, but it was confusing for the children because it wasn't as easy to tell us apart. So when we decided to change it, Murray liked red, and Jeff liked purple. Greg and I both wanted green, so we decided on yellow and blue (which makes green) instead to be fair.
Q What instruments do you play?
A I'm one of those jack-of-all-trades. I actually played bagpipes in the infantry and am pretty proficient with bagpipes, but it's not the kind of instrument you just take out and play β not if you want to keep your friends. I also play guitar and violin, and I'm a very bad trumpet player. Sam is the trumpet player β the good trumpet player.
Q Jeff loves to sleep, Murray loves to play guitar, you are the Wiggle who loves to eat. Is that true offstage as well?
A When we started out, it was. I would pretty much eat anything you put in front of me, especially pizza. But over the past few years I've gotten myself fit. I eat more natural foods now, and I'm a lot healthier than I've been and I have a lot more energy.
Q What's the best part of being a Wiggle?
A You can't beat going on stage and seeing the children, and the moms and dads too, have a good time. There's nothing better.
Q How has being a parent (to daughters Lucia, 5, and Maria, 3, and son Antonio, 2) changed your perspective?
A I have a better understanding of what the parents go through β how many diapers to pack, how much food to bring. And how even if they enjoy the show, they might have a tantrum afterward. I understand all of those things. So it makes me really want to work hard on the show so they have the best experience possible.
Q What can fans expect from a Wiggles show?
A First, they are welcome to take as many pictures and movies as they like so they can take a memory with them. We encourage people to get up and sing and dance with us. We want children to just be children.
Q When you have downtime what do you do for fun?
A It may not sound like fun, but I like walking around the city I'm in and going to American diners. I also like going out for coffee, we really only have espresso in Australia, and reading the paper.
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