Paul Newton from Uriah Heep talks to Phil Aston for the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast

Paul Newton from Uriah Heep talks to Phil Aston for the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast
Welcome to another episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast! In this episode my guest is Paul Newton. He’s known for his remarkable bass playing skills, he’s been a part of the progressive rock scene since the late 60s, and he was the original bass guitarist for Uriah Heep. Recently, he added ‘author’ to his impressive repertoire.
Paul’s music career is one to be celebrated. His early days with the progressive group Shinn saw him collaborate with organist Don Shinn and drummer Brian "Blinky" Davison. He then joined forces with Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake in a reformed line-up of The Gods before becoming a founding member of Uriah Heep. Paul played a pivotal role in Uriah Heep's first three albums, which really set the foundation for the band’s illustrious career.
He has appeared on a plethora of recordings. In recent years, he's taken the stage with Uriah Heep Legends, alongside fellow Uriah Heep alumni Ken Hensley, John Lawton, and Lee Kerslake.
He was also at the Masters of Rock Festival in the Czech Republic on 11th July 2019, where he played with Uriah Heep for the first time since 1971. That was a momentous occasion for rock fans around the world!
Paul has made his debut as an author with the release of his book 'Bone Structure: A Journey From Boy To Band'. This fictional story, based on his life, gives us a unique glimpse into his journey through the eyes of an alter-ego.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
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[@seansweeney2875]

I met Paul and his wife at heepvetion 2000. Really nice guy..heeps original bass player. Unsung hero. So honest and umble 🎵🎶im gonna get his book..👍

[@impalaman9707]

I wished that UH had kept Paul Newton---I really liked his bass playing! There is one correction that needs to be made: Deep Purple didn't just have one singer early on. They had harmony vocals in the "Rod Evans" era, because Nick Simper sang with Rod, before he, too, was ousted for Roger Glover. The early DP harmonies sounded a lot like the Moody Blues

[@Heepster69]

A great interview Phil! I love hearing Paul talk, he's got a great memory, and his time in Heep is greatly underrated

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil :)

[@lexpeters735]

Wow Phil, this interview was fantastic.! How did you organise such a thing? I first became aware of Uriah Heep as a 16 year old in 70's Australia by walking into a record store with my then best friend and seeing a girl friend of ours on headphones having her own private party. I gestured to her "what are you listening to?" and she screamed, being on headphones, "Demons & Wizards by Uriah Heep, it's fucking brilliant!". She was ejected from the store and I took over on the headphones and ended up buying the record. I was then hooked. Once working full time, I started buying the back catalogues of my favourite bands, Purple , Heep, Zep etc. I started noticing Paul Newton's name on the liner notes and always wondered why he left as they were breaking big. Rock music's history is littered with so many names who have left bands just breaking or at their peak and I always wondered why? Once again, I learned one of my heroes was not being a nice guy was a contributing factor. Phil, you have excelled yourself and I continue to look out for any new content from your channel.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Lex, thank you so much for sharing your story and feedback. I am planning to increase the number of interviews I do so thank you for the encouragement! Phil

[@TigerRogers0660]

This is a fascinating video!! Thanks for doing it with Paul Newton!! As a long time Heep fan i have always wanted to hear Paul's side of the story!! I have been a big fan of his input into the first 3 albums - & also his great bass playing. Someday it would be nice to go thru the albums with him track by track - as he seems to have a very good memory, & would give on honest review of everything. It was refreshing to hear him talk about Ken in an honest way too. Just wish he was with the current band.

[@renetrachet]

I saw Uriah Heep, with Paul Newton in, if my memory is correct, 1969 in my hometown in Ghent [Belgium]. Never forget de guiter solo of fifteen minutes in Gypsy.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories - Phil

[@yopage]

This is so interesting, I haven't heard Paul in an interview before. Heep is known for its line of excellent bassists, Paul was the first. The first 3 Heep albums are actually my favorites. I didn't know so much about Ken Hensley, although I knew Mick Box never talked to him in later years. BUT, what music they created! I want to know more about the early days of Spice, playing at the famous Markee Club and such.

[@jimmycampbell78]

This was a great interview Phil. Paul was very honest about his feelings regarding Ken Hensley and thank you for not editing out his thoughts and memories. It was very interesting to hear his perspective as a guy who was there at the beginning and an original member of Heep. Superb interview, well done.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching and listening. Judging by the comments I am pleased I published the interview in full. I am a huge fan of Ken Hensley and have all his solo albums but Paul was there at the birth of Uriah Heep and I am pleased he felt comfortable to talk about those early days. Phil

[@azstarbar]

My favorite song is July Morning. It means SO MUCH to me!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

A truly beautiful song

[@azstarbar]

@@NowSpinningMagazine It's at the core of my soul. I feel like it's me......

[@hartmutpeter215]

Look At Yourself by Uriah Heep is awesome. When it came out i was 10years old. It is my favorite album by the band because it is so powerful and well done produced. With Deep Purple In Rock L.A.Y. formed my music knowledge. I love both albums to death. Of course Very Eavy Very Umble and Salisbury are awesome too, but to me L.A.Y is a milestone and a blueprint for heavy rock. Paul wrote music history, absolutely. Thanks for this excellent video.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@markecclestone9324]

Thank you for this insightful and informative interview. In some ways, I feel that Paul is something of a "forgotten" member of Heep - as Ken always spoke of the "nucleus" of Heep - David, Mick and himself - gelling in the early days - without mention of Paul. Perhaps because of his later conflicts with Ken and Gerry Bron, Paul's many important contributions - founding member, songwriting, bringing Ken into the band - get diminished. While Heep went on to have several great bass players, Paul's jazz influences - as evidenced on "Wake Up - Set Your Sights", "The Park", "Salisbury" and "Why" (14 minutes) - provided Heep"s music with a dynamic that also left with Paul's departure.

[@paulduggan5323]

What a thoroughly engaging and amusing gentleman Paul Newton is. Uriah Heep is a band much like Spooky Tooth and Budgie that, despite my vintage I really need to explore more intimately, which I intend to do. I’m sure as a fan of Heap, you thoroughly enjoyed talking to Paul, whom I imagine is an interviewers dream come true. He is certainly quick to respond and run with the slightest theme you threw his way. He really is good value for money and a good sport in the detail and eagerness of his replies. It’s also a lesson to us mere mortals that not every famous rock star ended up rolling around in money on Persian rugs within large country piles. That Paul eventually worked as a surveyor was a fact that served to endear him further to me and shown him to be a beautifully grounded gentleman. First class interview Phil and yet another lesson in just how true to life Spinal Tap was.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching, so pleased you enjoyed it - Phil

[@michaelkoszowski3716]

Very interesting interview .

[@marvinmartin3438]

It was Look at yourself that introduced UH to me and my music friends. That album was and still is UH's greatest acheivemant IMHO. Just sayin

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@mrsmith7939]

Great stuff! The Spice and first 3 UH albums had a great sound. Thank you for the stories Paul! Hope it doesnt get edited!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@DavidRyan-li6fg]

Read The Book.. Brilliant Mix Of Fact And Fiction... And i Still Don't Believe That Paul Gets The Credit he Deserves For His Bass Playing in Uriah Heep. Those Three Heep Albums Paul Played On Are Classics And Those Bass Lines on July Morning And Salisbury Are Timeless. Long May he Run.

[@thomaswery3087]

I think I told you Phil I met Hensley in 73 and you would of thought he was just the opposite of what Paul was saying about him.Nicest guy you could of ever met.Said Uriah Heep were very close and had alot of chemistry

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Thomas, thank you for watching and listening I remember you saying that as well. Phil

[@jimmycampbell78]

Hi Thomas. Sometimes we don’t like to hear negative things about our musical heroes. It’s Paul’s own feelings about his relationship with Ken but bear in mind that Paul also said that Ken was a complex person. Ken Hensley was a perfectionist and immersed in his music. I think you can treasure your memory of meeting Ken!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

@@jimmycampbell78 this is a lovely comment - thank you : :)

[@danielmacdonald8349]

I have heard for years that KH was very difficult to work with - obviously like Richie Blackmore. I actually met KH in 1978 during one of their tours and he was VERY polite and friendly. And strangely enough my wife met Richie Blackmore at a renaissance fair about 10 years ago. She said she spoke to him and his wife for about 10 minutes and he also was very polite. Obviously these strong willed musicians can be very cordial to fans and strangers - but are just VERY thick headed when it comes to their music. Plus I’m sure the fact that their much older has probably mellowed them out.

[@archiepaton9263]

loved the interview Phil and just ordered his book so looking forward to a good read.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching - Phil

[@AllSpace]

gigs without a name are hard to come by these days

[@omarmy3495]

U H was very fortunate to have replaced a very astute bass player like Paul Newton with the bass mastery of Gary Thain.