By Steve Newton Yesterday Aerosmith announced its farewell tour, a five-month jaunt beginning September 2 in Philadelphia and winding up January 26 in Montreal. Unfortunately, they didn’t bother to pencil in a date for Vancouver–the city that was instrumental to their huge comeback success in the late ’80s and early ’90s. The band recorded three … Continue reading Aerosmith snubs Vancouver with farewell tour announcement
By Steve Newton There’s been a lot of buzz in the music world lately about the Black Crowes–in particular formerly feuding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson–getting back together for a 30th anniversary tour. So I figured I’d celebrate the good news by digging up the old Swing C-90 cassette I used to record my interview … Continue reading That time Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes told me he wasn’t here to make Bruce Fairbairn or Bob Rock famous
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 26, 1998 By Steve Newton I wasn’t expecting to uncover any local angles as I scanned the liner notes to Georgia singer-songwriter Michelle Malone’s latest CD, Beneath the Devil Moon, so I was surprised to find that it was mixed here at Armoury Studios on Pine Street. The … Continue reading Versatile Michelle Malone just as comfortable touring with ZZ Top as with Indigo Girls
By Steve Newton I interviewed Rhode Island blues guitarist and vocalist Duke Robillard back in February of 1995, when he was touring behind his eighth album, Temptation, and about to play a show at the famed Antone’s in Austin, Texas. A few years earlier he’d been playing with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, having taken over the … Continue reading That time I asked Duke Robillard if there were big shoes to fill replacing Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds
By Steve Newton I interviewed Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert back in March of 1992, when the band was in Detroit, touring behind its second album, Lean Into It. That’s the one that spawned the #1 hit single “To Be With You”, and went platinum in the States. Mr. Big was gonna be playing Vancouver … Continue reading That time 25-year-old Paul Gilbert told me how he wangled a ride from a Mr. Big fan to see Pat Travers near Vancouver
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
By Steve Newton Back in March of 1987 I interviewed American drummer Steve Smith, who was bringing his jazz-fusion group Vital Information to Vancouver for a club gig at the Town Pump. Before that Smith had spent seven years with Journey, and was part of that band when it hit it big with singles like … Continue reading That time drum great Steve Smith told me about getting kicked out of Journey by Steve Perry
By Steve Newton I called up Brit Floyd guitarist, vocalist, and musical director Damian Darlington at his home in the county of Cheshire, England, a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to get the scoop on his group, which is regarded as the world’s best Pink Floyd tribute band, in advance of its Vancouver show … Continue reading 22 minutes on the phone with Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington, talking Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, prog rock, and lasers
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
By Steve Newton Back in April of 1997 I did my first interview with Geddy Lee of Rush, while the band was touring behind its Test for Echo album. The year before Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson had released his debut solo album, Victor, so at one point in the conversation I asked Geddy what he … Continue reading That time Geddy Lee told me that he was proud of Alex Lifeson for making his solo album
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 in advance of a Van Hagar show on the 1995 Balance Tour, I should probably chat with … Continue reading Ten minutes on the phone with Alex Van Halen
By Steve Newton Back in May of 1985 I interviewed Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg. The conversation took place nine days before the official release of Brother Where You Bound, Supertramp’s first album without Roger Hodgson. This was an unusual interview for me, because most of them are done over the phone with musicians while they’re … Continue reading That time I asked Supertramp’s Bob Siebenberg what the band was like without Roger Hodgson
By Steve Newton I was fortunate enough to have interviewed Canadian guitar wizard Jeff Healey three times. The first time was on June 25, 1988, when he was just 22, and still three months away from releasing his incredible debut album, See the Light. Healey–who, sadly, died from cancer in 2008 at age 41–had just … Continue reading That time I asked 22-year-old Jeff Healey what Patrick Swayze was like to work with on Road House
