Andy Newman (musician)
Andy Newman | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Andrew Newman |
| Also known as | Thunderclap Newman |
| Born | 21 November 1942 Hounslow, England, UK |
| Died | 29 March 2016 (aged 73) |
| Instrument(s) |
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| Formerly of | Thunderclap Newman |
Andrew "Thunderclap" Newman (21 November 1942 – 29 March 2016) was an English multi-instrumentalist. He was the pianist and namesake of the one-hit wonder group, Thunderclap Newman.
Biography[edit]
Thunderclap Newman[edit]
Newman was a GPO engineer when he was hired by Pete Townshend of The Who, whom he first met at Ealing Art College through a mutual friend called Rick Seamen,[1] to record the song "Something in the Air" in 1969, under the name "Thunderclap Newman", which was Andrew's nickname.[2] The song went to number one,[3] and a critically acclaimed album, titled "Hollywood Dream", was released the next year. On the album, Newman played fifteen different instruments. The band helped start the careers of Speedy Keen, who was a personal driver for Townshend and the Who, and Jimmy McCulloch, who later was a member of Paul McCartney and Wings.
Later life and death[edit]
Thunderclap Newman split up in April 1971. In the same year, Newman released the solo studio album, Rainbow.[4][2] Newman played assorted instruments on "Rebel Trousers", the debut solo album by Roger Ruskin Spear of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, who Newman also first met at Ealing Art College.
Newman led a new version of the band, that was active from 2010 to 2012, and included Pete Townshend's nephew Josh and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki. Newman died on 29 March 2016, aged 73. His death was announced by the Who's social media.[5] Newman was the last surviving member of Thunderclap Newman (Jimmy McCulloch died in 1979, Speedy Keen died in 2002).
References[edit]
- ^ Evans, Richard (2016-04-25). "A CONVERSATION WITH ANDY 'THUNDERCLAP' NEWMAN". The Who. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ a b "Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman, pianist - obituary". The Telegraph. 2016-04-04. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Virgin Books. p. 1180. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Rainbow by Andy Newman - RYM/Sonemic, retrieved 2024-01-24
- ^ Lynch, Joe (2016-03-31). "Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman Dead at 73, The Who Reports". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
External links[edit]
- Andy "Thunderclap" Newman discography at MusicBrainz