Newly released Midnight Special episode from 1973 boasts Mott the Hoople doing “Drivin’ Sister”

By Steve Newton Seeing as it’s guitar legend Rory Gallagher‘s birthday, it seems like a good time to share something about one of my other all-time favourite rock acts from the ’70s. A friend of mine on Facebook, M.G., sent me a link to a video posted on YouTube yesterday that features an hour-long episode … Continue reading Newly released Midnight Special episode from 1973 boasts Mott the Hoople doing “Drivin’ Sister”

Mott the Hoople’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Mott the Hoople are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Neither is Ian Hunter, or either of the Micks (Ralphs and Ronson). Screw the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By Steve Newton 20. “Death May Be Your Santa Claus” (Brain Capers, 1971) 19. “Walkin’ with a Mountain” (Mad Shadows, 1970) 18. … Continue reading Mott the Hoople’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

5 guys from Chilliwack High’s Class of ’75 rob hall photo By Steve Newton The title track wasn’t always the best song on an album in the ’70s. But when you were standing in the record store, rabidly poring over the brand new LP by your favourite band, that title could get deeply imbedded in … Continue reading The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

By Steve Newton As I mentioned yesterday, since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has just announced its seven inductees for the Class of 2023, my own little institution located in the wilds of British Columbia–Newt’s Rock Hall–is gonna counter with seven different inductees of its own. And of course mine will be better. … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

Rock Hall inducts 16 artists, but none of them are named Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, or J.J. Cale

By Steve Newton Yesterday the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted 16 artists for its class of 2024, but none of them were named Johnny Winter or Rory Gallagher. Or even J.J. Cale, for that matter. The braindead twats at the Rock Hall seem to believe that acts like Cher, Kool & the Gang, … Continue reading Rock Hall inducts 16 artists, but none of them are named Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, or J.J. Cale

Braindead Rock Hall nominates Mariah Carey and Cher, snubs Johnny and Rory yet again!

By Steve Newton It looks like Newt’s Rock Hall won’t be closing down any time soon. Three months ago I posted a blog in which I stated that, once the waaaaayyyy overdue inductions of Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher into the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced, I’d be shuttering the underground … Continue reading Braindead Rock Hall nominates Mariah Carey and Cher, snubs Johnny and Rory yet again!

One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF

photo by the newt By Steve Newton It’s good to have hobbies. Several years ago I found a new hobby in which I’d spend a fair amount of time lobbying for the inclusion of Link Wray, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was astonished and, frankly, disgusted … Continue reading One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF

Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?

By Steve Newton After ten years of my complaining about Link Wray not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the boneheads who run the high-falutin’ joint in Cleveland finally caved and decided to induct him, in the “musical influence” division. It’s about freakin’ time. Wray, who pretty well invented the raunchy guitar … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?

Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 2009 By Steve Newton Back in 2006, power-pop stalwart Matthew Sweet and sometimes-Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs collaborated on Under the Covers Vol. 1, in which they performed versions of ’60s hits by groups like the Beatles, the Who, and the Beach Boys. On Under the Covers Vol. 2 the … Continue reading Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)

Oh my f***ing god! Rock Hall snubs Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and Link Wray yet again!

By Steve Newton Well, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has done it again. A few days ago the Cleveland-based institution nominated 17 bands and artists to its class of 2022, but once more just plumb forgot the three artists most deserving of immediate induction: Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and Link Wray. Instead they … Continue reading Oh my f***ing god! Rock Hall snubs Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and Link Wray yet again!

That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”

By Steve Newton Back in February of 1984, 10 months before a drunk-driving Vince Neil killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle, I interviewed that band’s lead guitarist/main songwriter Andy McCoy and bassist Sami Yaffa. They were both pretty wasted, and shouldn’t have been doing interviews, but at one point in the conversation McCoy proved he was … Continue reading That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”

Iron Maiden loses out to the Go-Go’s and Jay-Z as the Rock Hall’s head plunges even further up its ass

By Steve Newton Iron Maiden are one helluva rock band. If they weren’t I wouldn’t have interviewed them six times. But those inept turdballs down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame seem to think that a group like the Go-Go’s–who put out three studio albums in their heyday and another one 17 years … Continue reading Iron Maiden loses out to the Go-Go’s and Jay-Z as the Rock Hall’s head plunges even further up its ass

Album review: Mick Ronson, Heaven and Hull (1994)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 27, 1994 By Steve Newton From his early-’70s glory-and-glitter days as the muscular, platinum-haired axeman in David Bowie‘s Spiders from Mars to his workmanlike late-’80s club gigs with Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson always proved himself a rock guitarist of the highest order. When Ronson succumbed to cancer on April 29 of … Continue reading Album review: Mick Ronson, Heaven and Hull (1994)