kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 21, 1993 By Steve Newton The Rolling Stones have owned the Granville Mall of late. A couple of months back Ronnie Wood played the Commodore; now Keith Richards has ripped things up a few doors down at the Orpheum. Maybe Mick Jagger will continue the trend and drop … Continue reading Keith Richards’ other great band kicks out all the jams in Vancouver
Month: April 2014
Mojo Nixon calls Debbie Gibson “a little chicken-hearted Yankee witch”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 21, 1993 By Steve Newton When Mojo Nixon calls from California, I’m glued to the boob tube, soaking up the first news of the U.S.-led military strikes in southern Iraq. Since they’ve got TVs in San Diego, too, Nixon knows about the bombings himself and has his own choice words on … Continue reading Mojo Nixon calls Debbie Gibson “a little chicken-hearted Yankee witch”
Muddy Waters didn’t want George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone”, but Bo Diddley did
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 30, 2014 By Steve Newton When you interview rockers on the road you always try to find out where they’re located, so you can write “When so-and-so calls from wherever” and establish a setting for the conversation. But when I contact blues-rocker George Thorogood--who plays the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver this … Continue reading Muddy Waters didn’t want George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone”, but Bo Diddley did
New Godzilla trailer brings that old Blue Öyster Cult tune to life
I don't normally watch trailers for movies I know I'm going to review because they often give too much away—especially with the horror flicks I specialize in. But I wasn't worried about viewing this new trailer for the Godzilla movie, which opens May 16. I already know what's gonna happen: the Lizard King is gonna wreck Tokyo. Or some … Continue reading New Godzilla trailer brings that old Blue Öyster Cult tune to life
Rush gives John Rutsey his due on ReDISCovered box set
By Steve Newton The Pete Best of Canada finally gets his due. John Rutsey, the drummer who played on the very first Rush album before being replaced by Neil Peart, will get some of the credit he deserves with today's (April 29) release of the Rush ReDISCovered LP boxed set. If you don't understand how important Rutsey … Continue reading Rush gives John Rutsey his due on ReDISCovered box set
Horror review: The Quiet Ones
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 27, 2014 In the opening scene of The Quiet Ones a deeply disturbed young woman gets purposely awakened by a loud blast of "Cum on Feel the Noize", the 1973 hit by British glam-rockers Slade. After all these years that tune still sounds killer, but considering the film's subject matter, the band's … Continue reading Horror review: The Quiet Ones
Seattle’s Sister Psychic goes against the grain of grunge
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 31, 1992 By Steve Newton From the heady, hook-filled pop-grunge soaring off Sister Psychic’s debut CD, Fuel, you’d think the members of the Seattle power trio had been together for years, honing their skills with their chosen instruments until the time was right to unleash that sound on … Continue reading Seattle’s Sister Psychic goes against the grain of grunge
Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon defines success as making it last
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 23, 1992 By Steve Newton When he was a headline-making member of the infamous Sex Pistols, John Lydon went to extremes to make sure people either loved or hated his grating, nihilistic Johnny Rotten persona. And, according to Blind Melon vocalist Shannon Hoon, Lydon hasn’t given up his Rotten ways. “One … Continue reading Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon defines success as making it last
Layne Staley says “No booze for yooz” as Alice in Chains goes all-ages in Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 23, 1992 By Steve Newton What does it mean when a venue loses its liquor licence and a concert is changed from an all-you-can-drink show to an “all-ages” event? Does it mean that anyone who goes can act like a 16-year-old and get away with it? I guess … Continue reading Layne Staley says “No booze for yooz” as Alice in Chains goes all-ages in Vancouver
Gene Simmons says Kiss putting makeup on for money is akin to wearing diapers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 10, 1992 By Steve Newton The job of interviewing Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons is not an easy one, seeing as there are so many things a ’70s rock fan wants to ask the millionaire God of Thunder. You want to glean his views on the price of riches and fame and delve … Continue reading Gene Simmons says Kiss putting makeup on for money is akin to wearing diapers
Screaming Trees find themselves suddenly cool with Sweet Oblivion
A little while back, the Screaming Trees were musical guests on Late Night with David Letterman. Everything was fine, until...
Gordon Downie goes Fully Completely Canadian on new Tragically Hip album
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 26, 1992 By Steve Newton If there were a CRTC regulation that based Canadian content on actual lyrics as opposed to the citizenship of a song’s composer, the Tragically Hip would be the darlings of CanCon advocates across the country. On their new album, Fully Completely, the Hipsters mention everything from … Continue reading Gordon Downie goes Fully Completely Canadian on new Tragically Hip album
Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson believes metal is a powerful force in the ’90s
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 26, 1992 By Steve Newton More than any other metal tune in 1992, Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction” was the one that made this jaded, riff-ravaged semi-headbanger sit up and take notice. Driven by a brutally direct, ’70s-style guitar riff, the sharp-edged cut was a welcome respite from the … Continue reading Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson believes metal is a powerful force in the ’90s