DALLAS — Dave “DA” Anderson, longtime “Screen Guy” and, later, “LED Guy,” died May 15 in Dallas from double pneumonia. He was 58. Anderson started out as a projectionist before developing a unique blend of engineering skills to support the nascent video touring industry as it got invented and then flourished alongside live event lighting, staging and audio production.
Anderson worked primarily for Danny O’Bryen as one of the original team at BCC Video, then Screenworks/NEP, recalled longtime co-worker Mark Haney. He played a key role on Jake Berry-led tours for Metallica and the Rolling Stones and stadium-sized gigs for George Strait, and also enhanced the visuals for other top artists including Barbra Streisand and Britney Spears. He was sought out for his engineering know-how and keen eye and ability to make the screens look good for TV and concert film cameras along with live audiences.
Friends recalled how Anderson lived life to the fullest, from the time of his youth in Thousand Oaks, CA, riding dirt bikes on trails all day and gravitating toward rock music. “David was many things — a loyal friend, a hard worker, and an amazing guitar player,” Haney recalled. “He often played with Neil Young’s band during their time off the road.” Anderson was also a devoted son, taking care of his mother in Oregon until she passed away. He lived with his partner Kristi in the Dallas metro area, and “she was by his side as he left us,” Haney noted.
“If there had been a description of a ‘Screen Guy’ in the dictionary, there would have been a picture of Dave Anderson,” Haney concluded. “He was relentless in attacking problems and fixing them, as well as painting amazing images on his screens. He was a wonderful musician, and irascibly funny, but I’ll remember his wonderful friendship. Somewhere up there is a load-in meeting with DA, Bundy, Robby Knouse, Wally, Lance, and the Pig! They’ll talk about all the gigs, God Almighty, there were so many… Rest easy my brother.”
