That time I asked Mark Kelly if it bothered him when people compared Marillion to Genesis

Marillion’s Fish and Genesis’ Tony Banks get the joke By Steve Newton As a prog-rock fan who was crazy about bands like Yes and Genesis in the seventies, it made sense that I liked Marillion in the ’80s. I interviewed Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly back in March of 1986, when the band was touring behind … Continue reading That time I asked Mark Kelly if it bothered him when people compared Marillion to Genesis

Album review: Martin Briley, One Night With a Stranger (1983)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 1, 1983 By Steve Newton Former Ian Hunter Band member Martin Briley comes on strong with his second solo album (his first for Attic Records), One Night With a Stranger. Brimming with catchy pop/rock tunes like “The Salt in My Tears” and “Just a Mile Away”, Briley’s newest … Continue reading Album review: Martin Briley, One Night With a Stranger (1983)

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, September 1 to 3

Bonnie Raitt plays the Queen E. By Steve Newton FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: TheatreSports features two teams of improvisers creating comedy sketches inspired by audience suggestions at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) runs from August 19 to September 4, featuring carnival rides, games, the SuperDogs competition, jousting and high-dive … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, September 1 to 3

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 20-22

Robert Connely Farr plays the Fox Cabaret By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Rogue Folk Club presents Italian folk-roots guitar virtuoso Beppe Gambetta at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James. That dude can play! FRIDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena. The … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 20-22

That time Steve Hackett told me about hearing Queen’s demo tapes and thinking Genesis’ label should sign them

By Steve Newton Before Queen became one of the top rock bands on the planet, they were just another struggling band trying to score a record deal. That’s how Steve Hackett remembers it, anyway. When I interviewed the former Genesis guitarist back in 1993 I asked him about his relationship with Queen guitarist Brian May, … Continue reading That time Steve Hackett told me about hearing Queen’s demo tapes and thinking Genesis’ label should sign them

Luther Wright & the Wrongs go country and punkgrass on new Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 11, 2003 By Steve Newton Luther Wright & the Wrongs raised a few eyebrows—and tweaked a lot of ears—with Rebuild the Wall, their 2001 country-bluegrass adaptation of Pink Floyd’s epic concept album. On their new CD, Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs, the Canadian roots performers continue to draw attention with … Continue reading Luther Wright & the Wrongs go country and punkgrass on new Guitar Pickin’ Martyrs

That time I asked Mike Rutherford about the biggest highlights of Genesis’ career

By Steve Newton Way back in December of 1983 I did an interview with Mike Rutherford, who at the time was the guitarist-bassist in Genesis, joined by singer-drummer Phil Collins and keyboardist Tony Banks. Two months earlier the band had released a self-titled album that was a huge success, spawning the hits “Mama”, “That’s All”, … Continue reading That time I asked Mike Rutherford about the biggest highlights of Genesis’ career

Eddie Van Halen’s favourite AC/DC album was Powerage

By Steve Newton I’ve long held the opinion that AC/DC’s Powerage is their best album. Keith Richards agrees, and he knows a thing or two about rockin’. And more importantly, Malcolm Young himself has named Powerage as Number One. When I met Young backstage after an AC/DC show in Vancouver back in 2001 I mentioned that … Continue reading Eddie Van Halen’s favourite AC/DC album was Powerage

That time Geddy Lee told me that Rush had 4,000 albums

By Steve Newton Back in April of 1997 I did my first interview with Rush bassist-vocalist Geddy Lee. At the time the group was touring behind its Test for Echo album, and that tour marked the first time Rush had taken the “An Evening With” approach, where there is no opening act and it’s just … Continue reading That time Geddy Lee told me that Rush had 4,000 albums

That time back in ’84 when Judas Priest’s Rob Halford told me that metal was a young musical force

bev davies photo By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford back in May of 1984, when Judas Priest was touring behind its Defenders of the Faith album. At one point in the conversation I mentioned how one of Priest’s songs from two years earlier, “You’ve Got Another Thing … Continue reading That time back in ’84 when Judas Priest’s Rob Halford told me that metal was a young musical force

That time Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars told me that the music he loves most is blues-based stuff like Edgar and Johnny Winter

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Mick Mars a couple of times. The first time was way back in 1985 when Mötley Crüe was touring behind its Theatre of Pain album. The following excerpt is from my second interview with Mars, which happened in March of 1999, when the original lineup had reunited after recording one … Continue reading That time Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars told me that the music he loves most is blues-based stuff like Edgar and Johnny Winter

That time I asked Neil Finn what inspired him to write one of my all-time favourite tunes, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Crowded House frontman Neil Finn back in August of 1998, when he was touring behind his debut solo album, Try Whistling This. I’d been a fan of Crowded House since the 1986 release of its first album, which featured one of the most beautiful pop songs … Continue reading That time I asked Neil Finn what inspired him to write one of my all-time favourite tunes, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”

That time I asked Bruce Dickinson what the backwards message was on Maiden’s new Piece of Mind LP

By Steve Newton Way back in June of 1983 I did my second Iron Maiden interview, following up the previous year’s chat with the soon-to-be-replaced drummer Clive Burr with a conversation featuring 24-year-old frontman Bruce Dickinson. At one point in the interview I asked Dickinson about the backwards message that could be heard between the … Continue reading That time I asked Bruce Dickinson what the backwards message was on Maiden’s new Piece of Mind LP