By Steve Newton I was never a big Duran Duran fan, let’s make that abundantly clear. Not enough wailin’ guitar solos for my liking. But back on December 12 of 1985 I interviewed the group’s keyboardist Nick Rhodes, who at the time was promoting a new LP by Duran Duran spin-off band Arcadia. That album, … Continue reading That time Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran told me that he wasn’t exactly a Pink Floyd fan
shey gonzales photo By Steve Newton A bunch of us got together in Penticton over the weekend to gather around an old friend and celebrate the upcoming 50th birthday of my nephew Jeff. He’s a big Pink Floyd fan. He’s got Pink Floyd artwork all over his house. He even took me to see Roger … Continue reading My nephew Jeff didn’t mind getting a Pink Floyd box set for his 50th birthday
By Steve Newton I did the first of my eight interviews with Joe Satriani back in January of 1990, when he was touring behind his awesome Flying in a Blue Dream album. As the conversation wound down I asked him if it was tricky controlling the acoustics at some venues, playing at the volume that … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me that he strove for a live sound worthy of Yes, Pink Floyd, and the Grateful Dead
Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets By Steve Newton MONDAY: the last night of Fright Nights: Resurrection, a Halloween-themed experience at Playland with seven haunted houses, over 15 rides, creepy décor, roaming monsters, and live performances. MONDAY: Halloween Horror Trivia Night at the Cinematheque includes a screening of director David Cronenberg’s The Fly, starring Jeff Goldblum. Wendell … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Oct. 31-Nov. 4
La Chinga plays LanaLou’s By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver Rock Shop presents the Canadian Pink Floyd tribute show Comfortably Numb at the Vogue Theatre. FRIDAY: Comedy Here Often?‘s monthly standup showcase at 604 Studios features headliner Joe Hill from New York City and B.C. comics Cassidy Anhorn, Josh De Grandi, and Patti Savard. FRIDAY: triple-bill … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, March 24 to 27
Ryan Adams plays the Vogue By Steve Newton TUESDAY: Vancouver alt-country singer-songwriter Jay Gavin (“Got Myself a Harley”) performs at Guilt & Co. TUESDAY: North Carolina alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, former member of Whiskeytown, plays the Vogue Theatre. Please don’t yell out “Summer of ’69”! All Quiet on the Western Front screens at the Rio … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, March 20-24
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 2000 By Steve Newton Kids these days. They rarely seem able to deliver the kind of energizing tunes needed to get this jaded guitar-rock junkie’s blood apumpin’. But Winnipeggers Trevor Tuminski and Dave Swiecicki, aka Jet Set Satellite, are another story. Their three-minute blast of high-octane riff … Continue reading Jet Set Satellite connects with high-octane hit “Best Way to Die”
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
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 21, 1986 By Steve Newton I went to a Duran Duran concert once. Once! But I didn’t stay very long; the noise in the Pacific Coliseum was unbearable. And it wasn’t because the band was playing too loud. It was their fans who were making all the racket: several thousand young … Continue reading Nick Rhodes talks new Duran Duran spinoff Arcadia, working with David Gilmour and the “wild” Grace Jones
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 13, 2003 By Steve Newton Wire & Wood, the latest CD by New Brunswick blues-rockers Glamour Puss, features a photo of guitarist-vocalist Travis Furlong’s 1979 Gibson ES-347 laid out on a bar. If you look closely, you can see that it has been signed by such legendary pickers … Continue reading Glamour Puss guitarist Travis Furlong wanted David “Honeyboy” Edwards to sign his Gibson ES-347
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
@shotbykevin By Steve Newton I used to love the Scorpions–especially back in the early ’80s around the time of the Blackout album. The band was also a hoot to watch in concert, because Rudolf Schenker was a total maniac. That guy rocked! I interviewed him in February of 1991, when the band was touring behind … Continue reading That time Rudolf Schenker told me about the Scorps playing at Roger Waters’ The Wall–Live in Berlin
By Steve Newton Way back in May of 1985 I interviewed Alain Caron, the phenomenal bassist for Quebec jazz-fusion band UZEB. His group was touring behind its second studio album, You, Be Easy, and headed to Vancouver for a two-night stand at the Commodore Ballroom. At one point in the conversation I asked Caron about … Continue reading That time I asked Alain Caron how he felt about UZEB being called “the Van Halen of jazz”
