Lee Aaron on the state of heavy metal, touring with Bon Jovi, and lovin’ every minute of Loverboy’s new song

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1985 By Steve Newton Lee Aaron recorded her first album, The Lee Aaron Project, at the tender age of nineteen, joined on that LP by the likes of Rik Emmett (Triumph), Buzz Shearman (Moxy), Rick and Mark Santers, and Frank Soda. Her second LP, Metal Queen, was released last year. … Continue reading Lee Aaron on the state of heavy metal, touring with Bon Jovi, and lovin’ every minute of Loverboy’s new song

Bon Jovi tours behind debut album, frontman Jon Bon Jovi claims it’s “not your typical opening act”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 27, 1984 By Steve Newton “Before the album came out we’d play anywhere with anyone at any time,” says Jon Bon Jovi. “We were just happy to be playing. But now that we’re out in support of a hit record it’s a lot nicer–and a lot more luxurious than six guys … Continue reading Bon Jovi tours behind debut album, frontman Jon Bon Jovi claims it’s “not your typical opening act”

That time future Trailer Park Boy Mike Smith told me about his band Sandbox snubbing Bon Jovi

By Steve Newton Before he became famous for his role as googley-eyed goofball “Bubbles” on The Trailer Park Boys, Mike Smith was a member of Canadian ’90s alt-rock band Sandbox. One day back in March of 1996 I interviewed him in advance of a Sandbox show at a Vancouver bar called the Starfish Room. At … Continue reading That time future Trailer Park Boy Mike Smith told me about his band Sandbox snubbing Bon Jovi

That time Richie Sambora told me why Bon Jovi switched producers from Bruce Fairbairn to Bob Rock

By Steve Newton Bon Jovi may have been hugely popular back in the day, but I actually enjoyed guitarist Richie Sambora’s solo debut album, Stranger in This Town, more than any Bon Jovi band release. I even preferred Sambora’s lead vocals over Jon Bon Jovi’s, especially on solo tunes like “Ballad of Youth”. So it … Continue reading That time Richie Sambora told me why Bon Jovi switched producers from Bruce Fairbairn to Bob Rock

That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts

By Steve Newton I did my second interview with Jon Bon Jovi in July of 1986, when his band was heading to Vancouver for a date opening for Judas Priest. Little did anybody know that one month later, when Bon Jovi released its made-in-Vancouver album Slippery When Wet, it would rocket to worldwide fame and … Continue reading That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts

That time I said hello to Little Steven from Jon Bon Jovi and then things got political

By Steve Newton June 18, 1987 was kind of an interesting day as far as my endless adventures in rock journalism go. That was the day I interviewed Little Steven–who was promoting his highly political Freedom–No Compromise album–just minutes after interviewing Jon Bon Jovi–who was promoting his highly non-political Slippery When Wet album. They’re both … Continue reading That time I said hello to Little Steven from Jon Bon Jovi and then things got political

That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance

By Steve Newton On January 24, 1995, Van Halen released Balance, its 10th studio album and the last of the four that featured Sammy Hagar on lead vocals. The LP–which hit #1 on the Billboard chart and sold over three-million copies in the U.S. alone–was produced by Vancouver’s Bruce Fairbairn, who had previously helmed multiplatinum … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance

That time I asked Alice Cooper if he had a personal fave tune on his new album, Trash

By Steve Newton Back in September of 1989 I did my third interview with shock-rock legend Alice Cooper. The Coop was promoting his latest album, Trash, a star-studded affair that included guest appearances by Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Lukather, Kip Winger, Richie Sambora, and four of the guys from Aerosmith. At one point in the … Continue reading That time I asked Alice Cooper if he had a personal fave tune on his new album, Trash

That time Alex Van Halen told me that his band switched producers in ’94 because they didn’t want to make For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Part 2

By Steve Newton When I interviewed Alex Van Halen on the phone from Boston back in August of 1995, Van Halen was touring behind its latest album, Balance, which hit #1 on the Billboard chart and sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone. Balance had been produced by big-shot Vancouver knob-twiddler Bruce … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me that his band switched producers in ’94 because they didn’t want to make For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Part 2

36 years later I finally got turned on to the rockin’ glory of Warren Zevon’s “Even a Dog Can Shake Hands”

By Steve Newton I’m a little show on the uptake sometimes. For example, just yesterday I was typing up my old interview from 1987 with Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, giving the article new life on the internet after being trapped on yellowing newspaper and stashed in a banker’s box for decades. In the … Continue reading 36 years later I finally got turned on to the rockin’ glory of Warren Zevon’s “Even a Dog Can Shake Hands”

Rick Santers makes power trio Triumph a power quartet on The Sport of Kings Tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton When Canadian power trio Triumph plays the Pacific Coliseum this Sunday (December 28), its long-time fans will be in for a bit of a surprise. For the first time in its 12-year career, the group will be sporting a fourth member, Toronto guitarist Rick Santers. Santers, … Continue reading Rick Santers makes power trio Triumph a power quartet on The Sport of Kings Tour

Album review: Loverboy, Just Getting Started (2007)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 8, 2007 By Steve Newton “Just getting started”, my ass; these guys were toast ages ago. Do we really need them to step out of the Lamborghinis they’ve driven from their mortgage-free mansions to create the kind of ultra formulaic fodder Bon Jovi got bored with around 1983? … Continue reading Album review: Loverboy, Just Getting Started (2007)

Bob Rock resurrects the Payola$ with Paul Hyde and sets up a helluva three-night benefit for B.C.’s Children’s Hospital

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 8, 1994 By Steve Newton When the time comes to interview Bob Rock about the recent resurrection of the Payola$, the prospect is particularly appealing. Rumour has it that the big-time Vancouver producer (the Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe) is to work with Metallica again soon, and I’m … Continue reading Bob Rock resurrects the Payola$ with Paul Hyde and sets up a helluva three-night benefit for B.C.’s Children’s Hospital