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YouTubeTony Newman - Rock drummer extraordinaire
Tony Newman is a British drummer who is best known for his work with the band T.Rex. Newman started his music career in the early 1960s, playing with various bands in London. He gained a reputation as a versatile and talented drummer, and in 1969 he was asked to join T.Rex, which was then led by the iconic glam rock musician Marc Bolan. Newman played on T.Rex’s classic albums “Electric Warrior” and “The Slider,” which are considered to be some of the greatest albums of the glam rock era. He was known for his dynamic, hard-hitting drumming style, which helped to drive the band’s energetic sound.
Drumming on TRex's biggest hits
When Tony Newman joined the band they were known as Tyrannosaurus Rex. Newman’s martial arts drumming style proved to be a perfect match for Bolan’s glam rock sound, and the two musicians quickly formed a strong musical bond. He toured extensively with the band, performing to adoring crowds around the world.
After leaving T.Rex in 1973, Newman continued to work as a session musician, playing with a wide range of artists including David Bowie, Jeff Beck, and Donovan. He also played with the power pop band the Rubinoos in the 1980s, and with the blues rock band the Animals in the 1990s.
Tony Newman strikes up a relationship with David Bowie
Tony Newman worked with David Bowie on his 1971 album “Hunky Dory.” He played drums on several tracks on the album, including “Changes,” “Oh! You Pretty Things,” “Life on Mars?,” and “Andy Warhol.” “Hunky Dory” is considered to be one of Bowie’s most influential albums, and it marked a turning point in his career as he transitioned from a folk-influenced singer-songwriter to a more experimental and avant-garde artist. Newman’s dynamic drumming style helped to give the album a strong rhythmic foundation, and his contributions to the album are highly regarded by Bowie fans and music critics alike. In addition to his work on “Hunky Dory,” Newman also played drums on Bowie’s 1973 album “Pin Ups,” which featured the band covering songs by some of their favourite artists from the 1960s.
Tony Newman played drums on several albums by the Everly Brothers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Newman first worked with the Everly Brothers on their 1968 album “Roots,” which featured the brothers’ take on classic country and rockabilly songs. Newman’s drumming helped to give the album a more contemporary sound and provided a solid foundation for the brothers’ vocal harmonies. Newman also played on the Everly Brothers’ 1970 album “Stories We Could Tell,” which featured a mix of original compositions and covers. The album was produced by legendary musician and producer John Sebastian, and it included the hit single “That’s Old Fashioned (That’s the Way Love Should Be).” In addition to his work on these albums, Newman also played on several of the Everly Brothers’ singles, including “The Price of Love” and “Bowling Green.”
Early work with the Everly Brothers
Tony Newman also played drums on several albums by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Newman first worked with Donovan on his 1968 album “The Hurdy Gurdy Man,” which featured the hit singles “Jennifer Juniper” and the title track. Newman’s dynamic drumming style helped to give the album a more driving, rock-oriented sound than Donovan’s previous releases. Newman also played on Donovan’s next album, “Barabajagal,” which was released in 1969. The album featured collaborations with a number of other musicians, including Jeff Beck and Mickie Most, and it produced the hit singles “Atlantis” and “To Susan on the West Coast Waiting.” In addition to his work on these albums, Newman also played drums on a number of Donovan’s singles, including “Riki Tiki Tavi” and “Laléna.” Overall, Tony Newman’s contributions to Donovan’s music helped to give the singer’s work a more rock-oriented sound and helped to establish Newman as one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers of his era.
Playing with the late Jeff Beck
Tony Newman played drums on Jeff Beck’s critically acclaimed 1969 album “Beck-Ola,” which is considered to be one of the guitarist’s most important and influential recordings. “Beck-Ola” was the second album by the Jeff Beck Group, which also included Rod Stewart on vocals and Ronnie Wood on bass guitar. The album featured a mix of original compositions and covers, and it showcased Beck’s innovative and virtuosic guitar playing. Newman’s powerful and dynamic drumming style helped to drive the music forward and provided a strong rhythmic foundation for Beck’s incendiary guitar solos. The album’s standout tracks include “All Shook Up,” “Spanish Boots,” and “Jailhouse Rock.” After “Beck-Ola,” Newman continued to work with Jeff Beck on various projects, including Beck’s collaborations with other musicians like Donovan and Tim Bogert.
In addition to his work as a musician, Newman also became a successful music producer and engineer, working with artists such as Rory Gallagher and the Jam. Today, Tony Newman is still active in the music industry, and continues to perform and record with a variety of artists. He is considered to be one of the most respected and influential drummers of the glam rock era, and his contributions to the music of T.Rex and other bands continue to be celebrated by fans and musicians alike.
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Tony Newman joined T.Rex in 1976. He appears on the Dandy In The Underworld, Bolan’s final album in 1977. Tony was the T.Rex drummer from late 76 for live work. He toured with T.Rex Feb 1977 for a few warm up dates in France, presiding The UK Dandy In The Underworld Tour of March 1977.
I saw T.Rex twice on that tour, Tony was amazing, a brilliant addition to the band. Tony played on the final ever T.Rex gig in Stockholm in May 1977. Tony appeared a few time on TV as part of the 1977 T.Rex line up, including 2 fantastic ‘live’ versions of ‘Soul Of My Suit’ and ‘Dandy In The Underworld’.
Tony appeared in all 6 shows of the ‘MARC’ TV series in the summer of 1977 and although the music was rather weak and mimed, it was all good fun and Tony looked like he was having a great time!
Tony Newman attended Marc Bolan’s funeral in Sept 1977 at Golders Green.