
Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West Sussex, England, he migrated with his family to New Zealand in 1946, settling in New Plymouth before moving to Wellington in 1948. Lawrence spent most of his life in New Zealand, but also worked extensively in Australia. He was a renowned jazz and rock drummer, playing drums in many bands, including Max Merritt & The Meteors, Quincy Conserve, Blerta, and The Crocodiles. His last recording was with Bernie McGann, Larry Gales and Jonathan Crayford on "Jazz at the St. James" in 1989. In the early 1970s, Lawrence founded Blerta ("Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition"). The multi and theatrical co-operative toured New Zealand and in parts of Australia. Blerta saw him performing alongside many people he would work with later as an actor, including director Geoff Murphy, and actors Martyn Sanderson and Ian Watkin.

Frontline

Utu

The Great Bookie Robbery

The Quiet Earth

Goodbye Pork Pie

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Carry Me Back

Smash Palace

Hurry Hurry Faster Faster

Race for the Yankee Zephyr

As Time Goes By

Spotswood

The Delinquents

The Rainbow Warrior

Initiation

Jack Be Nimble

Grievous Bodily Harm

バトルトラック

The Rogue Stallion

Death Warmed Up

An Indecent Obsession

Rikky and Pete

Heart of the Stag

The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy

Bridge to Nowhere

Making Utu

Cowboys of Culture

Gino

Wild Man