That time I asked Robin Trower if fans still shouted out “Day of the Eagle!” or “Too Rolling Stoned!”

By Steve Newton Back in February of 1990 I interviewed Robin Trower, one of my all-time favourite rock guitarists from the ’70s. At the time he was touring behind his 15th album, In the Line of Fire, which I wasn’t that crazy about. It wasn’t the same quality as his seventies LPs, like his 1973 … Continue reading That time I asked Robin Trower if fans still shouted out “Day of the Eagle!” or “Too Rolling Stoned!”

Album review: Dan Fogelberg, Windows and Walls (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 30, 1984 By Steve Newton Dan Fogelberg rocking? Is nothing sacred? Well, from the sound of the opening cut on his new album, you might start to wonder. “The Language of Love” is sinfully heavy in comparison to the heartfelt, semi-sentimental ballads Fogelberg is famous for. But rock is more the … Continue reading Album review: Dan Fogelberg, Windows and Walls (1984)

Canada’s ubertalented Breit brothers chose music over hockey

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 19, 1989 By Steve Newton For twin brothers Garth and Gary Breit–and younger sibling Kevin–growing up in the small Ontario town of McKerrow (pop. 250) did not offer a lot of youthful diversions. Hockey and music were the two biggies, and fortunately the Breit (pronounced “bright”) brothers made a career out … Continue reading Canada’s ubertalented Breit brothers chose music over hockey

Steve Miller’s first guitar teachers were Les Paul and T-Bone Walker

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 23, 2022 By Steve Newton As a youngster, Steve Miller had the best guitar teachers you could ever ask for. I mean, Les Paul and T-Bone Walker? Are you kidding? That must have been like the ultimate fairy tale for a music-loving kid in the 20th century. “I grew up in … Continue reading Steve Miller’s first guitar teachers were Les Paul and T-Bone Walker

Album review: Bryan Adams, Into the Fire (1987)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 10, 1987 By Steve Newton The most highly anticipated album ever by a Vancouver artist, Bryan Adams’ Into the Fire comes 2-1/2 years after the release of his seven million-selling Reckless LP. Recorded in the living room of the 27-year-old’s North Van home, Into the Fire contains 10 … Continue reading Album review: Bryan Adams, Into the Fire (1987)

Skynyrd’s Live at Knebworth ’76 makes me pine for Ronnie and the shitkicker days of southern-rock

By Steve Newton There’s quite a few bands that I really wish I’d seen perform live in their prime, but Lynyrd Skynyrd is right up there at the top. On August 21, 1976–the day Skynyrd played the Knebworth Festival along with the likes of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, 10cc, and the Rolling Stones–I was still a … Continue reading Skynyrd’s Live at Knebworth ’76 makes me pine for Ronnie and the shitkicker days of southern-rock

Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington got hooked on Pink Floyd at age 13

By Steve Newton Brit Floyd guitarist-vocalist and musical director Damian Darlington got his first guitar as a Christmas present when he was 11 years old, but it took him a couple of years before he really got into it. In the meantime, he bought his first-ever album (Eagles Live), which was followed by the purchase … Continue reading Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington got hooked on Pink Floyd at age 13

Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

Geez, even Jimi knew Johnny ruled. By Steve Newton Back in September of 2010 Gibson.com posted what it felt were the 50 greatest guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it. Most conspicuous by his absence is Texas blues-rock legend Johnny Winter. I for one am getting sick and tired of … Continue reading Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. says that the healthier you are, the more fun it is to fuck yourself up

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 2006 By Steve Newton Apparently, no one ever told Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. that you shouldn’t speak with your mouth full. When he hooks up with the Straight from his band’s management office in Manhattan, the 26-year-old rocker communicates around a bulging mouthful of salad from … Continue reading The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. says that the healthier you are, the more fun it is to fuck yourself up

Kim Simmonds ponders an early-’70s era Savoy Brown reunion with the guys from Foghat

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 21, 1998 By Steve Newton I know a little about seminal blues-rockers Savoy Brown. I know that they’ve been around since 1966, that founding guitarist Kim Simmonds is the only original member left, and that the boogie tune “Tell Mama” used to rock my world in the early ’70s. What’s news … Continue reading Kim Simmonds ponders an early-’70s era Savoy Brown reunion with the guys from Foghat

Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 8, 2008 By Steve Newton Steve Stevens is best known as the raven-haired foil to platinum-blond pop-punk icon Billy Idol; he’s the leather-clad Les Paul–lover whose incendiary solos lit up Idol hits like “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding”. But Stevens also moonlights as an instrumental rock-guitar virtuoso, and … Continue reading Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)

Collective Soul’s Ed Roland is still shocked by the success of “Shine”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 1994 By Steve Newton In today’s high-tech, high-finance music world–where flavour-of-the-month recording “artists” of questionable talent can essentially buy fame with expensive corporate-funded video clips–it’s nice to know that devoted, honest folks with simple, strong tunes can still get a shot at the big time. Such is the case with … Continue reading Collective Soul’s Ed Roland is still shocked by the success of “Shine”

The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s

By Steve Newton Remember how you’d set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. “(Ain’t Nothin’ But a) House Party” (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) “All the Way From Memphis” (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) “Already Gone” … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s