Steve New
Encyclopedia
Stephen Charles New, later known as Stella Nova, (16 May 1960 – 24 May 2010) was an English
guitarist and singer, known for his work with a number of punk
and new wave
bands in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was formerly known as Steve New, since his days in the punk scene, when he was noted as guitarist with the punk rock
band Rich Kids, until the 2000s when he changed his artistic name to Stella Nova and formed Beastellabeast, his last music group.
, he attended Quintin Kynaston School
in St. John's Wood, London, and started playing with the London Jazz Orchestra at the age of 14. He came to attention with his connections with the city's punk scene at the age of 15 after being asked to audition for the Sex Pistols
as a second guitarist alongside Steve Jones
When Pistols' bass player Glen Matlock
was ousted from the band, he invited New to join his new group Rich Kids alongside Rusty Egan
and former Slik
singer Midge Ure
. He later played with Sid Vicious
, Public Image Ltd, Iggy Pop
, Chrissie Hynde, Kim Fowley
, and a solo Glen Matlock
.
A longtime transvestite, in his later years he came out, and preferred to be known as Stella Nova. He was the composer/musician/producer in Beastellabeast, along with lyricist/vocalist Beatrice Brown.
Nova died on 24 May 2010, aged 50, leaving his children, Diva Atlanta New and Frank James Lightning Hopkins-New.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
guitarist and singer, known for his work with a number of punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
bands in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was formerly known as Steve New, since his days in the punk scene, when he was noted as guitarist with the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Rich Kids, until the 2000s when he changed his artistic name to Stella Nova and formed Beastellabeast, his last music group.
Biography
Born on 16 May 1960 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he attended Quintin Kynaston School
Quintin Kynaston School
Quintin Kynaston is a local comprehensive secondary school in the St John's Wood area of north London. It became a Specialist Technology College in 2001. The school intends to become an academy in September 2011.-Admissions:...
in St. John's Wood, London, and started playing with the London Jazz Orchestra at the age of 14. He came to attention with his connections with the city's punk scene at the age of 15 after being asked to audition for the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
as a second guitarist alongside Steve Jones
Steve Jones (musician)
Stephen Philip "Steve" Jones is an English rock guitarist, singer and actor, best known as guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.-Childhood:...
When Pistols' bass player Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
was ousted from the band, he invited New to join his new group Rich Kids alongside Rusty Egan
Rusty Egan
Rusty Egan was the drummer for the British new wave band, The Rich Kids. They were founded by former Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock, bass guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; with Steve New guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; and fronted by Midge Ure guitarist, lead...
and former Slik
Slik
Slik were a Scottish pop group of the mid 1970s, most notable for their UK no.1 hit "Forever and Ever" in 1976. Beginning with glam rock and changing their style to soft rock/bubblegum...
singer Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
. He later played with Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
, Public Image Ltd, Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Chrissie Hynde, Kim Fowley
Kim Fowley
Kim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
, and a solo Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
.
A longtime transvestite, in his later years he came out, and preferred to be known as Stella Nova. He was the composer/musician/producer in Beastellabeast, along with lyricist/vocalist Beatrice Brown.
Death
Facing terminal cancer, Nova played with a reformed Rich Kids in London in January 2010 at a benefit concert for his family.Nova died on 24 May 2010, aged 50, leaving his children, Diva Atlanta New and Frank James Lightning Hopkins-New.