By Steve Newton I’ve long held the opinion that AC/DC’s Powerage is their best album. Keith Richards agrees, and he knows a thing or two about rockin’. And more importantly, Malcolm Young himself has named Powerage as Number One. When I met Young backstage after an AC/DC show in Vancouver back in 2001 I mentioned that … Continue reading Eddie Van Halen’s favourite AC/DC album was Powerage
By Steve Newton San Francisco Bay Area-based collectibles company KnuckleBonz recently unveiled its latest product, which is aimed at hardcore AC/DC freaks. It’s a 3-D vinyl statue depicting Angus Young as he appears on the cover of the Aussie earbusters’ best album, Powerage. So it shows Angus in his schoolboy outfit, standing and screaming at … Continue reading KnuckleBonz unveils 3-D vinyl statue depicting the cover of AC/DC’s best album
By Steve Newton A couple of weeks ago I interviewed Canadian author Martin Popoff, who is widely regarded as the world’s leading authority on all things hard rock and heavy metal. At one point in the conversation I asked Popoff–whose latest book, AC/DC at 50, looks at the history of that band through 50 milestone … Continue reading AC/DC expert Martin Popoff says that meeting Malcolm was one of the biggest highlights of his career
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 30, 2008 By Steve Newton AC/DC has it rough. Ever since the Aussie quintet came roaring back from the tragic death of Bon Scott with Back in Black, picky buggers like me have wanted them to match the consistent quality of that 1980 ear buster. There was a … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, Black Ice (2008)
By Steve Newton When you’re a young, rock-obsessed kid living in a small town, anywhere you can buy music is like the ultimate candy shop. Fortunately for author Martin Popoff–Canada’s leading authority on heavy metal–growing up in the wee burgh of Trail, B.C. offered several places where he could slake his thirst for new tunes. … Continue reading Heavy-metal expert Martin Popoff ponders his amazing career as a cranker-outer of books
By Steve Newton It’s not too often you take home a free souvenir from an AC/DC concert. Most likely you’ll be dropping $40 for a t-shirt, $25 for a tour program, and maybe seven or eight bucks for a “Have a Drink on Me” shotglass or a “Highway to Hell” keychain. Mind you, if you’re … Continue reading AC/DC dropped fake American dollar bills on its fans during the 1990-’91 Razors Edge world tour, and I’ve still got mine
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 19, 2001 By Steve Newton The members of AC/DC aren’t doing any interviews in advance of their two shows at the Pacific Coliseum on Sunday and Monday (April 22 and 23), but that’s okay, because if they were, they’d probably just want to talk about their latest album, Stiff Upper Lip. And quite frankly, … Continue reading AC/DC’s undying influence on Vancouver rockers, record-store owners, and radio personalities
steve newton photo By Steve Newton There was a lotta fuss being made in the rock-music world back on July 25, 2020, when AC/DC‘s Back in Black celebrated its 40th anniversary. But where was all the commotion on June 19, 2018, when Powerage hit the Big Four-Oh? Now that was cause for celebration! Don’t get … Continue reading Powerage is the only AC/DC album better than Back in Black
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 10, 1989 By Steve Newton It was an ear-shattering ol’ time down at the Metro Tuesday night. Volume maniacs were in their glory, along with those people who don’t enjoy talking while the band’s on. No one would have heard them anyway–Oakland’s Babylon A.D. made sure of that. A new hard-rock … Continue reading Newcomers Babylon A.D. bring ear-splitting hard rock from the land of Metallica
Vancouver Vinyl Record Show at Heritage Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Ripsesh Records presents a night of heavy stoner, psych, and rock ‘n’ roll at Green Autobody, featuring local bands Floating Faces, Gadfly, Highland Eyeway, Ghostmeat, and La Chinga. Get your rock on! FRIDAY: Vancouver comic Danika Thibault headlines Comedy Here Often?’s Monthly Showcase at … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, May 26 to 28
The Vancouver Vinyl Record Show is at Heritage Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver rockers the Graham Brown Band perform tunes from latest album Spirit and Soul at Seymour’s Pub & Grill in North Vancouver. FRIDAY: A Family Curse, a family band created by 54•40 singer-songwriter Neil Osborne and his daughter Kandle, performs at Bez … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Nov 25-27
By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Todd Kerns a few times, because he’s one of my favourite Canadian rockers. A few years ago I actually dubbed him “The Rockingest Canadian Bass Player of the 21st Century,” partly because of his unwavering enthusiasm on stage. The title didn’t really catch on in the media, but I stand … Continue reading That time Todd Kerns told me that AC/DC replacing Brian Johnson with Axl Rose was the most surreal thing he’d heard in a long time
By Steve Newton I’ve just been watching the TV news, and apparently there’s quite an uproar among Celine Dion fans because she wasn’t included in Rolling Stone‘s new list of “The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Well, here’s another uproar for ya: why the hell isn’t Phil Lynott’s name on the list? You know, … Continue reading Rolling Stone shockingly omits Phil Lynott from its Top 200 singers list. And Paul Rodgers too!
