That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young

By Steve Newton There’s been a lot of rumours in the past year or so–some started by yours truly–about AC/DC making a new album in Vancouver with Mike Fraser. But nothing has been announced officially by the band, so at this point it’s still possible that 2014’s Rock or Bust could be AC/DC’s last studio … Continue reading That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young

That time I asked Doc Neeson if Angel City were inspired by AC/DC

By Steve Newton Way the funk back in 1985 I did my one and only interview with Doc Neeson, frontman for Angel City, who were known as the Angels in their native Australia. I thought Angel City were an awesome band. They put out an album called Face to Face that–with killer tracks like “Take … Continue reading That time I asked Doc Neeson if Angel City were inspired by AC/DC

That time I asked AC/DC which songs they most liked doing live and Malcolm said it was all about the kids

By Steve Newton Okay, this is probably the last audio excerpt I’m gonna post from that old interview I did with AC/DC back in ’83. You people must be getting sick of them by now. It’s a short one, at least. It’s from when I was interviewing Malcolm, Brian, and new drummer Simon Wright, and … Continue reading That time I asked AC/DC which songs they most liked doing live and Malcolm said it was all about the kids

That time I asked Malcolm Young if AC/DC were from Australia and he politely set me straight

By Steve Newton Here’s one of my favourite audio excerpts from my interview with Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, and new AC/DC drummer Simon Wright back in 1983. At one point in the conversation–which took place on a Vancouver hotel-room floor where the lads were sipping tea and smokin’ ciggies–I asked about the Australian music scene, … Continue reading That time I asked Malcolm Young if AC/DC were from Australia and he politely set me straight

That time I asked Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge

By Steve Newton Back in December of 1991 I wrote an article in the Georgia Straight–the weekly Vancouver newspaper I still work for–on local producer-to-the-stars Bob Rock, who’d made a name for himself in recent years with bands like Blue Murder, Motley Crue, and especially Metallica (he’d helmed their breakthrough Black Album, which was released four … Continue reading That time I asked Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge

AC/DC’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Guess I’m just more of a Bon guy. 20. “T.N.T.” (High Voltage, 1976) 19. “Problem Child” (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976) 18. “Hells Bells” (Back in Black, 1980) 17. “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” (Let There Be Rock, 1977) 16. “Whole Lotta Rosie” (Let There Be Rock, 1977) 15. “Gimme … Continue reading AC/DC’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

AC/DC-in-Vancouver news-breaker talks recording rumours, the Warehouse connection, and the magic of Malcolm Young

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed hundreds of rock musicians over the past 35 years, but I’ve only been interviewed myself a few times–most of those discussions taking place earlier this year when local Tragically Hip fans like Jody Vance and Drex wanted to know about the book I’d just written about Gord Downie. But I was on … Continue reading AC/DC-in-Vancouver news-breaker talks recording rumours, the Warehouse connection, and the magic of Malcolm Young

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd’s presence in Vancouver prompts raves from local skinbasher Pat Steward

photo by nick yacyshyn, rufus drum shop By Steve Newton You may have heard that several members of AC/DC have been spotted at Vancouver’s Warehouse Studio, leading to speculation that they’re recording a new album here. It all started when I got a call from one of my rock ‘n’ roll sources on the street, … Continue reading AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd’s presence in Vancouver prompts raves from local skinbasher Pat Steward

AC/DC in Vancouver: Mike Fraser spotted with Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd, maybe calling Cliff Williams on his phone?

photo courtesy Glenn Slavens and Crystal Lambert (cgrocker18@gmail.com) By Steve Newton Hardcore AC/DC fans and photographic rumour-spreaders Glenn Slavens and Crystal Lambert are at it again. The dynamic Vancouver duo–he has the camera, she has the pad–have shared another photo with Ear of Newt that furthers the idea that everybody’s fave hard-rock band is working … Continue reading AC/DC in Vancouver: Mike Fraser spotted with Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd, maybe calling Cliff Williams on his phone?

AC/DC furor in Vancouver gets the Newt on the radio trying to explain it in 7 minutes

By Steve Newton At the ungodly hour of around 6:30 am today I talked to CBC Radio’s Early Edition and gave a rundown of all the AC/DC action that’s been happening around Vancouver in the last week, since I first reported that Phil Rudd and Stevie Young were spotted in town, then followed that up … Continue reading AC/DC furor in Vancouver gets the Newt on the radio trying to explain it in 7 minutes

AC/DC exclusive: Angus Young lights up nephew Stevie at the Warehouse in Vancouver

photo courtesy Glenn Slavens and Crystal Lambert (cgrocker18@gmail.com) By Steve Newton Alright, I’m starting to feel a tad guilty now, posting all these candid AC/DC photos. Actually, it’s only been two now–the first one being yesterday’s rumour-busting shot of Phil Rudd and Brian Johnson yukking it up on the patio deck at Vancouver’s Warehouse Studio. … Continue reading AC/DC exclusive: Angus Young lights up nephew Stevie at the Warehouse in Vancouver

AC/DC blockbuster news: Newt’s rumour proven true; Phil Rudd is in Vancouver–and Brian Johnson too!

photo courtesy Glenn Slavens & Crystal Lambert: cgrocker18@gmail.com By Steve Newton For all those AC/DC fans who’ve been hoping and praying that Brian Johnson would get back in the band–and that Axl Rose would go back to Guns N’ Roses, where he’s welcome–it appears as if those prayers have been answered. A few days ago … Continue reading AC/DC blockbuster news: Newt’s rumour proven true; Phil Rudd is in Vancouver–and Brian Johnson too!

AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place

I don’t care how tiny Angus is, the world needs his killer riffs. By Steve Newton There’s been a lot of rumour and speculation flying around the music world since yesterday, when I posted a blog on the Georgia Straight website reporting that Phil Rudd and Stevie Young had been spotted in downtown Vancouver. The … Continue reading AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place

AC/DC’s riotous rock riles the savage beast in Vancouver

property of the newt ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1988 By Steve Newton The would-be gatecrashers throwing rocks and bottles outside B.C. Place last Monday night (June 13) may have thought they were having fun, but if they’d had any sense at all they would have saved those bottles, cashed them in, … Continue reading AC/DC’s riotous rock riles the savage beast in Vancouver

Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master

By Steve Newton The hard-rock world lost one of its most beloved artists on November 18, 2017, when AC/DC rhythm-guitarist Malcolm Young passed away at the age of 64. Ill health had forced him to leave the band in 2014, and to be confined to a nursing home, where he suffered from dementia. I only met … Continue reading Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master

Album review: AC/DC, Stiff Upper Lip (2000)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 2000 By Steve Newton It’s hard to believe that the scruffy Aussie hooligans who blessed rock music with the blues-metal masterwork Back in Black are now content to churn out such substandard fare as Stiff Upper Lip. Don’t be fooled by the CD’s spirited title track, … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, Stiff Upper Lip (2000)

Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 11, 1990 By Steve Newton Has AC/DC ever put out a bad record? I doubt it. But their efforts haven’t all been great, either. The band’s latest, the Vancouver-made (and grammatically incorrect) The Razors Edge falls somewhere between the band’s strongest (Powerage, Back in Black) and weakest … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)

Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford

By Steve Newton What do you get when you gather the lead singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free on stage at the same time? A pretty rockin’ version of the ’50s chestnut “Money (That’s What I Want)”, it appears. Robert Plant, Brian Johnson, and Paul Rodgers got together at one of Rodgers’ shows in … Continue reading Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford

That time Malcolm Young told me that if AC/DC started looking a little “cabaret” they wouldn’t be around much longer

By Steve Newton When I interviewed some of the guys from AC/DC back in ’83, on the eve of the Flick of the Switch tour, I asked them which groups they liked listening to in their spare time. Both Brian Johnson and Malcolm Young mentioned ZZ Top. “I just like their attitude and all ya … Continue reading That time Malcolm Young told me that if AC/DC started looking a little “cabaret” they wouldn’t be around much longer

That time Malcolm Young told me what inspired AC/DC’s “Bedlam in Belgium” and how “music tames the beast”

By Steve Newton When I interviewed Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson at their Vancouver hotel room in 1983 it was less than two months since the release of AC/DC’s eighth internationally released studio album, Flick of the Switch. One of the more intriguing tracks on the LP, the third one to feature Johnson on vocals, was “Bedlam … Continue reading That time Malcolm Young told me what inspired AC/DC’s “Bedlam in Belgium” and how “music tames the beast”

That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that he just “tinkles” on lead guitar: “You can’t outdo Angus”

By Steve Newton When I interviewed AC/DC‘s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson back in 1983 I asked Malcolm if he ever had a hankering to step out and play a lead-guitar solo once in a while. As expected, his response was along the lines of, “Why bother when you’ve got a guy like Angus around?” … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that he just “tinkles” on lead guitar: “You can’t outdo Angus”

Hangin’ with AC/DC while Brian Johnson and Malcolm Young talk Bon Scott

By Steve Newton I guess one of the cooler in-person interviews I’ve ever done was that time back in October of ’83 when I hung out with three members of AC/DC–singer Brian Johnson, rhythm-guitarist Malcolm Young, and then-new drummer Simon Wright–at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. The Aussie earbusters were in town to launch … Continue reading Hangin’ with AC/DC while Brian Johnson and Malcolm Young talk Bon Scott

That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me where Angus’s schoolboy outfit came from

By Steve Newton Back in ’83 when I interviewed AC/DC at a Vancouver hotel before the start of the Flick of the Switch tour I asked Malcolm Young whether Angus, as a kid, ever had to wear that schoolboy outfit he’s famous for. Turns out it was just a way to get attention more than … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me where Angus’s schoolboy outfit came from

AC/DC’s Brian Johnson joked about hearing loss back in 1983

By Steve Newton The biggest news in the rock world recently has revolved around AC/DC having to hire Axl Rose to take the place of Brian Johnson for the remainder of its Rock or Bust World Tour. Johnson, the band’s singer since replacing Bon Scott in 1980, had to leave the band–or got tossed out, depending … Continue reading AC/DC’s Brian Johnson joked about hearing loss back in 1983

Slash bassist Todd Kerns thinks it’s “surreal” that Axl Rose is in AC/DC

By Steve Newton I was interviewing Todd Kerns a few days ago in advance of his gig with the Age of Electric in Vancouver next weekend, and naturally–since he’s the bassist for Slash–the conversation headed in to Guns N’ Roses territory. I asked him what he thought of GN’R singer Axl Rose taking Brian Johnson‘s … Continue reading Slash bassist Todd Kerns thinks it’s “surreal” that Axl Rose is in AC/DC

AC/DC fans unimpressed with Axl Rose hiring suggest Angry Anderson, Marc Storace, and the guy from Airbourne

By Steve Newton Yesterday I posted a blog claiming that AC/DC had “f***ed up” by making Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose their singer instead of Aussie rock legend (and legendary screamer) Jimmy Barnes, of Cold Chisel fame. My blog got a lot of comments. Some folks thought I was right on, and that Barnes … Continue reading AC/DC fans unimpressed with Axl Rose hiring suggest Angry Anderson, Marc Storace, and the guy from Airbourne

AC/DC f***ed up: they shoulda hired Jimmy Barnes instead of Axl Rose

By Steve Newton By now the rock world is fully abuzz with the official announcement from AC/DC that Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses will be the new singer for the rest of its Rock or Bust World Tour. They could’ve done better, if you ask me. I don’t think Axl Rose’s voice is close … Continue reading AC/DC f***ed up: they shoulda hired Jimmy Barnes instead of Axl Rose