The Best Of Steve New and Stella Nova

Steve New auditioned at age 15 (fresh from the London Jazz Orchestra) to be the Sex Pistols' second guitarist. That didn't work out, but in 1977 he and Midge Ure (McLaren's first choice for Sex Pistols singer) joined Glen Matlock's new band, Rich Kids. 

Midge, Glen, Steve, and Rusty

Steve New played drums on Steel Leg vs. The Electric Dread, and keyboards on the PiL song "Pied Piper". As a guitarist, he backed Sid Vicious,  Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Pearl Harbour, Barry Andrews and Gary Twinn (him again?) Pearl Harbour said, "Steve had the most unique guitar sound & his solos were from another planet."

Pulling faces with Pearl Harbour

Steve New played lead guitar on the Gen X single "Dancing With Myself". Billy and Tony James reportedly wanted Steve to be their new lead guitarist, but were concerned about the severity of his heroin addiction. There are long periods of silence in the Steve New discography.

From 1996 until his death in 2010, Steve New was a member of Glen Matlock's Philistines. Steve also led his own musical projects Lude, The New, and Beastellabeast (the latter two with Beatrice Brown). He worked with Lawrence on the Go-Kart Mozart album Tearing Up The Album Chart.

Stella Nova and Beatrice Brown

Beastellabeast was the first group where Steve embraced his identity as Stella Nova. Previously his transvestism had been kept hidden. The two albums by Beastellabeast are musically adventurous and worlds away from the Rich Kids and Philistines. There's some extraplanetary guitar work, stuttering rhythms and musique concrète in the songs of Beastellabeast and The New. Stella Nova had a fine singing voice, and it's a shame that we didn't get to hear more of it. 

Stella Nova died of cancer in 2010, less than six months after a Rich Kids reunion show. Phil Singleton's description of the show makes me wonder if any recordings exist from that night. Rest peacefully among the stars, Stella Nova.

Post Pistols: A Singles Chronology

Three of my favorite bloggers are posting music again: AJ (Themes From Great Cities), Ape Mummy (Primitive Offerings), and my brotherman Nathan (Nothin' Sez Somethin'). 

AJ recently shared the Great Rock & Roll Swindle soundtrack, and I've been listening to the Rich Kids (while prepping a Steve New primer). A thought occurred: what was it like for the true blue Pistols fans, who followed the music press and bought each record as it came out in the aftermath of the US tour?  With the help of Fodderstompf, Rockmine, and Phil Singleton's Cook And Jones website, a timeline was assembled.

Rich Kids: Matlock, Midge Ure, Steve New

January 1978: Rotten walks off at Winterland.  "Rich Kids" b/w "Empty Words" is released. 

June 1978: "No One Is Innocent" b/w "My Way" is released. 

August 1978: Ghosts Of Princes In Towers is released, and the Vicious White Kids (Sid, Glen, Steve New, and Rat Scabies) play a one night stand in London.

October 1978: Nancy Spungen is found dead, and "Public Image" b/w "The Cowboy Song" is released.

December 1978: First Issue is issued, and PiL plays London on Christmas and Boxing Day.

Oi! Where's the money?

February 1979: Sid dies. Lydon goes to court against McLaren. The Swindle soundtrack is released, followed by four singles with various singers (Sid, Jonesy, Ronnie Biggs, Edward Tudor-Pole and Whispering Malc).

April 1979: Ultravox reforms with Midge Ure as singer. (Rich Kids had broken up sometime in 1978, before Midge and Rusty Egan started Visage.  Matlock and Steve New will join Iggy Pop's band before year's end.)

June 1979: "Death Disco" b/w "No Birds Do Sing". Stay tuned for Part 2...