Bill O’Leary’s 1980 photo of Judas Priest’s K.K. Downing might be the most metal concert image of all time

Bill O’Leary photo By Steve Newton Just came across a photo by American concert photographer Bill O’Leary that blew me away, so I had to share it (with his permission, of course). It’s a live shot of Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing that was taken on July 3, 1980, during Priest’s British Steel Tour, at … Continue reading Bill O’Leary’s 1980 photo of Judas Priest’s K.K. Downing might be the most metal concert image of all time

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 Rob Halford told me that Judas Priest’s new Defenders of the Faith LP was almost platinum in the States

By Steve Newton I did the first of my five interviews with Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford back in May of 1984. He called me up before a gig in Portland, Oregon, while the band was touring behind its ninth studio album, Defenders of the Faith. At one point in the conversation I mentioned that … Continue reading That time Rob Halford told me that Judas Priest’s new Defenders of the Faith LP was almost platinum in the States

10 minutes on the phone with Ronnie James Dio during the Sacred Heart Tour of 1985

By Steve Newton Last night on Crave I watched the Ronnie James Dio documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which I thought did a fine job of detailing the heavy-metal singer’s career in music. I especially enjoyed hearing the commentary from metal musicians like Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, Quiet Riot’s Rudy Sarzo, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Ronnie James Dio during the Sacred Heart Tour of 1985

That time I asked Rob Halford what his personal fave tune was on the new Judas Priest album Painkiller

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford four times, and he’s always been a very amicable, well-spoken chap. The second time was back in October of 1990, one month after the release of Priest’s Painkiller album. At one point in the conversation I asked Halford what his personal favourite tune was on … Continue reading That time I asked Rob Halford what his personal fave tune was on the new Judas Priest album Painkiller

Album review: Judas Priest, Angel of Retribution (2005)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 3, 2005 By Steve Newton Metalheads the world over have no doubt been pulling the metal-studded wristbands out of the attic in anticipation of the new Judas Priest CD, iron-lunged screamer Rob Halford‘s first recording with the core lineup since 1990’s Painkiller. I for one have been searching … Continue reading Album review: Judas Priest, Angel of Retribution (2005)

That time Marc Storace told me that Krokus and Judas Priest gave people hell on the World Vengeance Tour

By Steve Newton Back in 1983 I did an interview with Marc Storace, frontman for Swiss heavy-metal band Krokus. The band had just released its seventh album, Headhunter, which went gold in the States. The album was produced by Tom Allom, who’d helmed the last few Judas Priest records, and featured background vocals by Rob … Continue reading That time Marc Storace told me that Krokus and Judas Priest gave people hell on the World Vengeance Tour

Coney Hatch’s Andy Curran on the benefits of working with Kim Mitchell and the challenges of opening for Judas Priest

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 19, 1982 By Steve Newton Things were a little tense backstage in the Coney Hatch dressing room after last week’s Pacific Coliseum gig with Judas Priest. A relatively mild crowd response coupled with technical problems and the fact of no soundcheck had the boys from Toronto “bummed out”, … Continue reading Coney Hatch’s Andy Curran on the benefits of working with Kim Mitchell and the challenges of opening for Judas Priest

Coney Hatch seeks the middle ground between metal and mainstream with Friction

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 22, 1985 By Steve Newton Toronto rockers Coney Hatch have been tearing things up at Outlaws for the last few days, working hard to take their new album Friction to the party-hearty crowd that frequents that cub. And tomorrow (Saturday) night their younger fans will have a chance to see them, … Continue reading Coney Hatch seeks the middle ground between metal and mainstream with Friction

That time Vinnie Paul told me about experiencing “the ultimate high” when Judas Priest fanatics Pantera jammed with Rob Halford

By Steve Newton Back on February 20, 1992, I did my one and only interview with Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul. That was five days before the Texas metal band released its most popular album, the double-platinum Vulgar Display of Power. At one point in the conversation I asked Vinnie about Rob Halford’s professed love for … Continue reading That time Vinnie Paul told me about experiencing “the ultimate high” when Judas Priest fanatics Pantera jammed with Rob Halford

Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

By Steve Newton As I mentioned yesterday, since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has just announced its seven inductees for the Class of 2023, my own little institution located in the wilds of British Columbia–Newt’s Rock Hall–is gonna counter with seven different inductees of its own. And of course mine will be better. … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

That time Rob Halford called me up from the Defenders of the Faith tour and said that Judas Priest had been playing “lethal” shows

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Rob Halford five times between 1984 and 2015–four times when he was in Judas Priest and once when he was in the industrial-metal project Two. This was the first time, on May 14, 1984, four months after Priest had released its platinum Defenders of the Faith album (the one with … Continue reading That time Rob Halford called me up from the Defenders of the Faith tour and said that Judas Priest had been playing “lethal” shows

Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?

By Steve Newton After ten years of my complaining about Link Wray not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the boneheads who run the high-falutin’ joint in Cleveland finally caved and decided to induct him, in the “musical influence” division. It’s about freakin’ time. Wray, who pretty well invented the raunchy guitar … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?