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Chris Newman has been a driving force in the Northwest American Music scene since 1980 with his band Napalm Beach.Born from the swamps of Longview, Washington, their music was honed throughout the 70's at taverns, keggers, and house partys. When they hit Portland in 1980, they opened for Fred and Toody Cole's band, the Rats at the Long Good-bye. They were known as the Untouchables at that time, but soon had to change the name for legal reasons. Their sound and intensity got them gigs at all the underground clubs in Portland and Seattle. Soon they were opening for national acts such as PIL, X, Johnny Thunders, Joan Jet , and many others. Portlands Concert Promoters took notice and offered them an opening slot at the Paramount with April Wine. 3,500 people cheering their opening number was a dream realized, but the half hour set ended with irrate audience members booing and screaming "Punk Rock Faggots!" The match up was a little before it's time, as their music was not understood by the mainstream. Soon that all changed with music videos and commercial new wave artists popping up everywhere.

Napalm Beach were recorded by, and released on Greg Sage of the Wipers label Trap, on the Trap Sampler, which featured 3 songs by Napalm Beach, 2 by the Wipers as well as Pell Mell and Drum Bunny. By 1984 they had released 3 cassettes, "Rock n Roll Hell "(recorded and produced by Greg Sage) and "Live at the Met",Newmans 4 track recording "Pugsley".Soon to follow was their first LP, self titled, also known as "Teen Dream". Chris and Sam recorded Newmans first solo effort, "Moving to and fro" It was on cassette, recorded by Tom Robinson (local soundman) and was picked up by Berlin label Loves Simple Dreams, and released on vinyl, to German critical acclaim. A European tour was in the making.They became a regular attraction at Portlands famous Club Satyricon. In 87 local label, Flying Heart released "Liquid Love" on CD, LP, and Cassette.They toured Europe from 1989 to 1991. They were playing clubs in Berlin when the wall came down. They recorded "Fire, Air, and Water" in Germany in the middle of their tour. Inspired by all the new exposure to new cultures and fans, they vowed to stay focused and away from the lifestyle that was beginning to destroy them.Their second tour they recorded "Thunder Lizard" on their Dusseldorf label, Satyricon. Back in Portland they signed to Tim Kerr records and released "Curiosities" their Epic Masterpiece that was also released in Europe on Satyricon Records.

The band evolved throughout the 80's and so did their drug use. Eventually the addiction grew more powerful and Newman, like so many others let it take him to the place where he no longer cared who He hurt, including Himself. He was arrested for Heroin possesion in 1996 and ended up running from prosecution. San Fransisco was the perfect place for those who have given up on themselves. It was an open air drug market, and it was in business 24 hours a day. His music became a memory, but not important enough to change his ways.Chris' Mother and Sister eventually searched Him out in a homeless camp in the Mission and invited Him to move back to the Northwest. After failed attempts, Chris did move to his Mothers and begin his path to Self Respect. After a dark two months of isolation in Longview, Chris contacted Flying Heart records about an album He had just written. Jan Celt was delighted with the song "Devil in a Spoon" and booked the studio immediatly. Sam arrived, totally cleaned up for months, and sat down and recorded the entire album, having never heard the material. The man knows drums, and He knows Newman's music. Needless to say, "Tarp Town Years" was born, toothless and haggered, it is a unpolished gem.

Chris continued to falter, detoxing, and soon the Law caught up and incarcerated Newman for the old Possesion charge and Failures to Appear. He did six months, and then six months in a Mens Treatment Center. It was there that an old friend from Seattle found him through his new band Divining Rods on Myspace. Graduating and spending as much time together as they could a thousand miles apart, the new album "Love Letter to the Dead" was written and recorded. For the first year 2006 Newman began to fall back into his old ways in between visits, eventually destroying their relationship with untrust and his deception. Newman wrote and recorded the Divining Rods "Key of H" and convinced her to give him a chance and marry him.That soon went sour when she realized he was continuing to lie about his using when they were apart. He hit the downward spiral the summer and fall of 2007, finally checking into rehab and giving it a real effort.

Chris Newman Experiment came into being early November 2007. After six dark months of loneliness being estranged from his Wife and long distance marriage. When he checked out, he stayed at his recently widowed Mothers house where he was inspired to write again. He seems to work in spurts of inspiration, usually summing up the years outcome. He wrote eleven songs in two days on his wifes Martin Guitar. The collection of tunes became " La Rose Noire" recorded at Gary Schroeders Gas House Studios with Nigel and Alan Ledgerwood on Bass and Drums. They celebrated it's release on Valentines Day,Their first Anniversary, but She ended up filing for Divorce 4 months later. The Experiment lasted 9 months and disbanded. Newman wandered the Wildnerness of Pain, until Meeting his current partner in Love, and Business, Erika.

His most recent project features new tunes as well as favorites from all his bands through out the years. The name of this band is "Lost Acolytes" and its members are Sam Henry on the Piano, Organ, and Synth (Drummer of Napalm Beach), Dave "Dead Guy" Minick on Bass ( Bassist with Napalm Beach 1981-83 and various bands with Newman through out the 70's) Paul Cortez Vega on Drums , of Austin, Texas. He toured the US for 3 years straight. Chris saw him play with his old keyboard player, Roach and his band Pure Decadence, and kept Paul in mind for a future collaboration. They began recording their Album "Chasing Heaven" in January 21, 2009 at Gashouse Studio, now called Platonic Studios. Chris has teamed up with Erika Meyer on Guitar, and vocals, and Paul Vega on Drums. Inspired buy the Lux Interior Tribute they recently had played in together, the Trio "BOO FROG" was born. A Swampy mix of Blues, Country, and Psychedelia have crawled out of this Slough! Watch for their debut album on Skullman Records this summer...

Chris is the Cat with 9 lives, right when He feels like giving up, someone comes along to encourage him to continue what He does so well. That would be Singing, playing the Fuck out of His guitar, and writing songs in his sleep. Discover His music, and you will find something personally written for You!