That time I asked Alex Van Halen how he thought Van Halen had evolved musically since Sammy Hagar joined

By Steve Newton When I interviewed Alex Van Halen back in 1995 his band was touring behind Balance, its fourth and final studio album with Sammy Hagar at the mike. At one point in the conversation I asked Alex how he would say the band had evolved musically since Sammy joined for 5150. Have a … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen how he thought Van Halen had evolved musically since Sammy Hagar joined

That time David Lee Roth told me what he really thought of Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen

By Steve Newton I did my second interview with David Lee Roth back in June of 2003, when he was touring behind his last studio album, Diamond Dave. The previous year Roth and his replacement in Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, had joined forces for the Sam & Dave Tour, which saw them trek across the … Continue reading That time David Lee Roth told me what he really thought of Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen

Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend

By Steve Newton I haven’t interviewed that many drummers over the years, mainly because when I cover a band I shoot for the guitarist, since that’s the instrument I’m most drawn to. But after interviewing Alex Van Halen on August 6, 1995, in advance of a Van Hagar show on the Balance tour, I should … Continue reading Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend

That time Fernando von Arb called and told me that Krokus was kicking Sammy Hagar’s ass on tour

By Steve Newton If you’re old like me you may remember Swiss metal band Krokus for that early-’80s tune “Long Stick Goes Boom” and for the fact that they sounded a lot like AC/DC. I interviewed guitarist Fernando von Arb on November 12, 1984, three months after the release of the group’s Vancouver-made, Bruce Fairbairn-produced … Continue reading That time Fernando von Arb called and told me that Krokus was kicking Sammy Hagar’s ass on tour

Album review: Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (2009)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 11, 2009 By Steve Newton It’s a shame that so-called “supergroup” Chickenfoot—composed of guitar wizard Joe Satriani, drumming ace Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a couple of guys who won’t be featured on the upcoming version of Guitar Hero: Van Halen (singer Sammy Hagar … Continue reading Album review: Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (2009)

Album review: Boston, Walk On (1994)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 1, 1994 By Steve Newton Twenty years ago, I liked Boston. The band’s tight harmonies, uplifting melodies, and surging, echo-laden guitars could always put a smile on my teenage face. Heck, even now I’ll reminisce about those halcyon mid-’70s rock days by cranking up “More Than a Feeling” … Continue reading Album review: Boston, Walk On (1994)

Looks like my old buddy Ferg got to see Van Halen with David Lee Roth

By Steve Newton After more than 40 years as a professional music writer, lord knows I’ve seen a lot of concerts. But one of the bands I really regret not seeing live was Van Halen with David Lee Roth. Oh sure, I saw them with Sammy Hagar a few times–at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium in … Continue reading Looks like my old buddy Ferg got to see Van Halen with David Lee Roth

That time Alex Van Halen told me that Sammy Hagar was almost Van Halen’s first singer

By Steve Newton Everybody knows that David Lee Roth was Van Halen‘s first singer. But not everybody knows that he almost wasn’t Van Halen’s first singer. At least that’s the “little dirt” that Alex Van Halen dished up for me when I interviewed him back in 1995. Have a listen: To hear my full 21-minute … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me that Sammy Hagar was almost Van Halen’s first singer

Vancouver blues-rocker Dave Chisholm recalls his band the Fins opening for Johnny Winter

The Fins frontman Dave Chisholm opening for Johnny Winter. Photo by Bruce Law. By Steve Newton The Commodore Ballroom is one of the best places in Vancouver to see a concert. Back in the seventies, before I started working as a music writer for the Georgia Straight, I would make the one-hour trek from my … Continue reading Vancouver blues-rocker Dave Chisholm recalls his band the Fins opening for Johnny Winter

Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview

By Steve Newton Here’s a special treat for all you Van Halen freaks out there–even the ones who liked the Sammy years. For the first time ever the entire audio of my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen is being offered to the public for free, thanks to a partnership between Ear of Newt and … Continue reading Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview

That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance

By Steve Newton On January 24, 1995, Van Halen released Balance, its 10th studio album and the last of the four that featured Sammy Hagar on lead vocals. The LP–which hit #1 on the Billboard chart and sold over three-million copies in the U.S. alone–was produced by Vancouver’s Bruce Fairbairn, who had previously helmed multiplatinum … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance

That time David Lee Roth told me that a reunion with Van Halen was possible as long as he could “bang that high note like a freebie from a Vegas call girl”

By Steve Newton Back in June of 2003 I did my second interview with David Lee Roth. At the time he was touring behind his most recent solo album, Diamond Dave, but of course I had to ask him about the possibility of getting back together with Van Halen, which had been on hiatus for … Continue reading That time David Lee Roth told me that a reunion with Van Halen was possible as long as he could “bang that high note like a freebie from a Vegas call girl”

That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave

By Steve Newton If you asked me which of Van Halen‘s David Lee Roth-era albums was my fave, I’d probably have to say the first one. I mean, that album is pretty freakin’ hard to beat. I liked Van Halen II a lot as well, but there was nothing like hearing Eddie for the first … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave