John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

READ MORE

John Peel Wiki
in: Artists

Thunderclap Newman

Sign in to edit
Thunderclap Newman

Thunderclap Newman was a British rock band that Pete Townshend of the Who and Kit Lambert formed in 1969 in a bid to showcase the talents of John "Speedy" Keen, Jimmy McCulloch, and Andy "Thunderclap" Newman.

Their single, "Something in the Air", a 1969 UK number one hit, remains in demand for television commercials, film soundtracks and compilations. The band released a critically acclaimed rock album, Hollywood Dream, and three other singles (which appeared on the album), "Accidents", "The Reason" and "Wild Country".

From 1969 until 1971, the nucleus of the band consisted of the songwriter John "Speedy" Keen (vocals, drums, guitar), Andy "Thunderclap" Newman (piano) and Jimmy McCulloch (guitar). Pete Townshend (using the alias "Bijou Drains") played bass guitar on their album and singles, all of which he had recorded and produced at the IBC Studio and his Twickenham home studio. The band augmented its personnel during its tours: in 1969 with James "Jim" Pitman-Avery (bass guitar) and Jack McCulloch (drums); and in 1971 with Ronnie Peel (bass guitar) and Roger Felice (drums). The band folded in April 1971 but was resurrected by Andy Newman with a new group in 2010.

The most current Thunderclap Newman group was formed in February 2010 at the instigation of music business manager Ian Grant. The line up of the band was Andy Newman, Mark Brzezicki, Nick Johnson, Josh Townshend and Tony Stubbings. They recorded and released an album in 2010 titled Beyond Hollywood.

Andy "Thunderclap" Newman died on 29 March 2016, at the age of 73.

Links to Peel[]

According to available tracklistings on this site, Peel seemed to have first played the group in the early 70's, although it is more likely he had heard of them in the late 60's when they had a UK number 1 hit single, 'Something in the Air', in 1969.

In 1974, the group performed at the North East London Polytechnic, where amongst others Roger Ruskin Spear performed, which Peel was present at.

Peel also played solo material from musician, Speedy Keen, who wrote their big hit, "Something in the Air".

Shows Played[]

Wild_Country

Wild Country

Thunderclap Newman
Andy Newman
John Keen / Speedy Keen

See Also[]

External Links[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.