By Steve Newton As I mentioned in a post last month, my longtime friend and concert-going buddy Ferg, aka Brian Ferguson, passed away in March of this year in Vernon, B.C., after developing a rare form of dementia called primary progressive aphasia. After his death at the too-young age of 63, I inherited some of … Continue reading Looks like my old buddy Ferg made a rubbing of Jimi Hendrix’s gravestone
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 20, 2000 By Steve Newton Ever since Woodstock happened, the music world’s been hearing about Jimi Hendrix’s performance at the fabled ’69 rock fest. I’ve seen some of the film footage and heard the recordings, and indeed the legendary guitarist appears in good form—but sometimes I wonder if … Continue reading Michael Hill say fans were eyeing the skies when Jimi Hendrix played the national anthem at Woodstock
By Steve Newton The vast majority of my music interviews over the last 40 years were originally published in the Vancouver weekly, Georgia Straight, but I’ve also done some writing for other publications. Back in 1998 I interviewed guitar god Steve Morse–who’d been with Deep Purple for four years at that point–for Experience Hendrix, a … Continue reading That time Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse thanked me for bringing up the topic of Hendrix
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 9, 1987 By Steve Newton Way back in May of 1968, three heavy power trios occupied the number nine, 10, and 11 spots on the Billboard album chart. The frontrunner of those was Cream’s Disraeli Gears, followed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced? And hot on Hendrix’ heels was … Continue reading Cult metal band Blue Cheer returns, brings The Beast is Back to the Town Pump
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
By Steve Newton Few guitar players have proven as influential as Jimi Hendrix. As the years go passing by, the rock legend’s influence just keeps growing and growing. Back in 2001 I interviewed Randy Hansen, the world’s best-known Hendrix tribute artist, and at one point I asked him what he thought was so great about … Continue reading That time I asked Randy Hansen what he thought was so great about Hendrix when he first heard him
By Steve Newton Hardcore Jimi Hendrix freaks with a hankering for some previously unreleased music by the master have something to look forward to. On November 20, Experience Hendrix L.L.C. and Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings will release a brand new feature-length documentary titled Music, Money, Madness…Jimi Hendrix in Maui, along with the previously unheard album … Continue reading Hendrix’s 1970 Hawaiian happening captured in new film and previously unreleased Live in Maui album
By Steve Newton If there ever were a guitarist who deserved being paid tribute to, it’s Jimi Hendrix. Randy Hansen has been doing just that for decades now, and few Hendrix aficionados have complained. I interviewed Hansen back in August of 2001, and he told me about the first time he heard his idol. Have … Continue reading That time Randy Hansen told me that everything became clear to him when he first heard Jimi Hendrix
By Steve Newton Jimi Hendrix has to be the most influential electric guitarist of all time. Joe Satriani surely wouldn’t argue the point. When I did the first of my eight interviews with Satch back in 1990, after the release of Flying in a Blue Dream, I asked him if it was true that he … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me that he vowed to take up guitar on the day Jimi Hendrix died
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
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 2004 By Steve Newton The saddest thing I think I’ve ever seen on-stage was Johnny Winter‘s performance at the Commodore Ballroom a few years back. In his heyday, the albino blues-rocker was an absolutely amazing guitarist–easily up there with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Winter, I’m a Bluesman (2004)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 9, 1995 By Steve Newton During my years as a rock scribbler I’ve been fortunate enough to have interviewed lots of amazing guitarists. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t around anymore. Roy Buchanan hanged himself in a jail cell (or so the story goes). Danny Gatton shot himself in … Continue reading Michael Schau dedicates Livin’ the Blues to Stevie Ray, Hendrix, and the two Alberts
By Steve Newton I was just listening to an old interview I did with Lemmy Kilmister back in 2002 and came upon a bit where he talks about being a roadie for Jimi Hendrix back in the day. Having never seen Hendrix in concert myself, I had to ask Lemmy if he was really as … Continue reading That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Jimi Hendrix was “the best you’ll ever have”
