Joe Satriani compares the musical styles and backgrounds of recent G3 tourmates John Petrucci, Uli Jon Roth, and Phil Collen

By Steve Newton I interviewed Joe Satriani a couple of weeks ago, in advance of his show in Vancouver this Friday (June 1) at the Commodore Ballroom. I’ve seen Satch a bunch of times–including on various G3 Tours with the likes of Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Steve Vai–so I wanted to ask him about … Continue reading Joe Satriani compares the musical styles and backgrounds of recent G3 tourmates John Petrucci, Uli Jon Roth, and Phil Collen

Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 1985 By Steve Newton Uli Jon Roth used to be known as Ulrich Roth, and he used to play lead guitar on Scorpions albums like Virgin Killer and Taken By Force before the Scorps replaced him with current axeman Matthias Jabs and struck it rich with Blackout … Continue reading Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)

Joe Satriani likes Uli Jon Roth’s “beautiful sounding” Sky guitar, but figures 24 frets are enough for him

By Steve Newton Back in 2016 I went and saw Uli Jon Roth’s Ultimate Guitar Experience in Vancouver, and man–the things the German guitar wizard and ex-Scorp can do on his 32-fret Sky guitar are something to behold. So a few weeks later when I interviewed Joe Satriani for the sixth or seventh time I asked him what … Continue reading Joe Satriani likes Uli Jon Roth’s “beautiful sounding” Sky guitar, but figures 24 frets are enough for him

Uli Jon Roth makes Vancouver debut, local guitar geeks eat it up

By Steve Newton Masterful rock guitarist Uli Jon Roth made his Vancouver debut last night (March 19), and for local fret freaks, it was well worth the wait. Scrape Records and the Invisible Orange brought Uli Jon Roth’s Ultimate Guitar Experience to Venue, and the German axeman displayed his stunning virtuosity on a bill that also … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth makes Vancouver debut, local guitar geeks eat it up

Uli Jon Roth is psyched about his first visit to Vancouver and the city’s “Jimi Hendrix connection”

By Steve Newton When I was wrapping up my interview with Uli Jon Roth last week–in advance of his Ultimate Guitar Experience show in Vancouver tomorrow–I asked him when he last played here. Turns out that, even though the 61-year-old guitar legend has spent a large part of his life traveling all over the world … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth is psyched about his first visit to Vancouver and the city’s “Jimi Hendrix connection”

Uli Jon Roth offers fret freaks the Ultimate Guitar Experience

By Steve Newton Uli Jon Roth is a visionary guitarist. That became abundantly clear when he conceived of a guitar with 30 frets, the Sky Guitar, because, hey–24 frets just weren’t doin’ it for him. Roth takes it to the next level when it comes to touring as well. As if his legendary six-string (and … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth offers fret freaks the Ultimate Guitar Experience

Uli Jon Roth talks guitars and amps, why he’s forsaken his idol’s Strat/Marshall plan

By Steve Newton When Uli Jon Roth first came to prominence as a member of the Scorpions, he was strictly a Strats and Marshalls kinda guy. It was no wonder, since his main influence and greatest inspiration has always been Jimi Hendrix. But nowadays you won’t find Strats and Marshalls in Roth’s onstage arsenal, because … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth talks guitars and amps, why he’s forsaken his idol’s Strat/Marshall plan

Uli Jon Roth invented the Sky guitar because 24 frets weren’t enough

By Steve Newton German guitar legend Uli Jon Roth plays Vancouver this Saturday (March 19) on a bill with fellow six-string sensations Jennifer Batten and Andy Timmons. The show is part of Uli Jon Roth’s Ultimate Guitar Experience, a tour that promises to be a perfect warmup for the Generation Axe show in April, which … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth invented the Sky guitar because 24 frets weren’t enough

That time Uli Jon Roth told me that Yngwie Malmsteen was “one of the alltime greats”, but that he wasn’t impressed by speed

By Steve Newton When Uli Jon Roth called me up in 2016 to promote his Ultimate Guitar Experience show in Vancouver, we ended up chatting about some of the other guitar tours he’s been on, like the G3 European Tour back in 1998, when he shared the stage with Joe Satriani and Michael Schenker, who … Continue reading That time Uli Jon Roth told me that Yngwie Malmsteen was “one of the alltime greats”, but that he wasn’t impressed by speed

Uli Jon Roth recalls the friction between Joe Satriani and Michael Schenker on the 1998 G3 European tour

By Steve Newton Back in 2016 I had a nice chat with German guitar maestro Uli Jon Roth. As we were talking about Uli Jon Roth’s Ultimate Guitar Experience–the tour he was on with Jennifer Batten and Andy Timmons–I mentioned a previous guitar tour he was part of, the G3 European Tour of 1998. That … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth recalls the friction between Joe Satriani and Michael Schenker on the 1998 G3 European tour

That time Uli Jon Roth told me that he’d most like to jam with David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jeff Beck

By Steve Newton Back in 2016 I interviewed Uli Jon Roth for the first time ever, and made sure to ask him one of the more burning questions guitar-freaks might have for the legendary picker. I knew he’d played with some of the world’s greatest guitarists over the years–heck, at the time he was touring … Continue reading That time Uli Jon Roth told me that he’d most like to jam with David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, and Jeff Beck

Yngwie Malmsteen puts Ritchie Blackmore rumours to rest, praises Nicolo Paganini and Uli Jon Roth

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 25, 2014 By Steve Newton Yngwie Malmsteen likes to wear all black on-stage and play fast as hell on a Fender Strat through a wall of cranked Marshall amps, so you might think that Ritchie Blackmore is his hero. “Okay, let’s correct that,” says Malmsteen when I mention … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen puts Ritchie Blackmore rumours to rest, praises Nicolo Paganini and Uli Jon Roth

The Jonas Brothers leave the kids caterwauling in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 30, 2009 At 4 p.m., three hours before yesterday’s (June 29) Jonas Brothers concert was supposed to start, a black luxury SUV slowed to a crawl in front of GM Place’s Gate 9. A window rolled down, and the face of lead singer Joe Jonas—“the cute one”—appeared as he waved … Continue reading The Jonas Brothers leave the kids caterwauling in Vancouver

Jimmie Vaughan’s supertasty live licks tell the story of brother Stevie’s final flight

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 12, 1994 By Steve Newton I count myself among the lucky few who got to see Jimmie Vaughan‘s little brother, Stevie Ray, play the Commodore in the mid-’80s. Back then, when you went to an SRV show you knew what to expect: bass, drums, and the wildest blues-rock … Continue reading Jimmie Vaughan’s supertasty live licks tell the story of brother Stevie’s final flight

Album review: the Allman Brothers Band, Where It All Begins (1994)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Like a hearty handshake from a rarely see high-school buddy, every new Allman Brothers release is a hazy reminder of my teenage glory days, when the purchase of a southern-rock LP such as the Allmans’ Eat A Peach made everything right in my … Continue reading Album review: the Allman Brothers Band, Where It All Begins (1994)

That time I asked ex-David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan if he would jump at the chance to join Van Halen

By Steve Newton Back in August of 1989 I interviewed American bass god Billy Sheehan, who was promoting the new, self-titled debut album by his latest band, Mr. Big. The previous year Sheehan had been playing with Steve Vai in David Lee Roth‘s band, so as the conversation was winding down I asked him whether–if … Continue reading That time I asked ex-David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan if he would jump at the chance to join Van Halen

The Allman Brothers’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton If you’re wondering why “Statesboro Blues” and “One Way Out” aren’t on here, it’s because I didn’t include live recordings, just studio ones. Sorry about that. 20. “Old Friend” (Hittin’ the Note, 2003) 19. “Dreams” (The Allman Brothers Band, 1969) 18. “Pegasus” (Enlightened Rogues, 1979) 17. “Kind of Bird” (Shades of Two … Continue reading The Allman Brothers’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time Simon Townshend told me what it was like growing up with one of the world’s most famous rock guitarists for a brother

By Steve Newton Back in February of 1984 I interviewed Simon Townshend, the 23-year-old kid brother of Pete Townshend from the Who. The younger Townshend was touring behind his debut album, the Pete-produced Sweet Sound, and trying to distance himself from the shadow of his 16-years-older bro. At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time Simon Townshend told me what it was like growing up with one of the world’s most famous rock guitarists for a brother