Aldo Nova on touring with Blue Öyster Cult, covering Coney Hatch, and the new Subject…Aldo Nova

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 23, 1983 By Steve Newton “It was supposed to be a post-nuclear holocaust type thing,” says Aldo Nova, referring to the initial concept idea for his latest album, Subject…Aldo Nova. Over the phone from Shreveport, Louisiana last week, Nova (his real name’s Caporuscio) outlined the proposed plan for his mini-epic. “It … Continue reading Aldo Nova on touring with Blue Öyster Cult, covering Coney Hatch, and the new Subject…Aldo Nova

That time Aldo Nova told me that the guys in Blue Öyster Cult were not as wild as you’d think they are

By Steve Newton I interviewed Aldo Nova back in December of 1983, when he was touring with one of my favourite all-time bands, Blue Öyster Cult. This was a month after BOC released the Bruce Fairbairn-produced The Revolution By Night, which isn’t one of my fave Cult albums. But it does include a pretty cool … Continue reading That time Aldo Nova told me that the guys in Blue Öyster Cult were not as wild as you’d think they are

Shaun Verreault plays Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” Tri-Slide style just ’cause I asked

By Steve Newton When I interviewed Shaun Verreault back in January of 2021 my article wound up focusing on how the Vancouver guitar great had developed his “Tri-Slide” style of playing, where he uses three slides at once on a lap steel guitar. I was blown away by his short, Tri-Slide reimaginings of bits of … Continue reading Shaun Verreault plays Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” Tri-Slide style just ’cause I asked

Blue Öyster Cult don’t need no stinkin’ strobes to light up a stage in 2000

steven c. pesant photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN EXPERIENCE HENDRIX MAGAZINE, SUMMER 2000 By Steve Newton On the way in to see Blue Öyster Cult at the Rage on February 17 I thought I was having a ’70s flashback: a sign on the door read, “Health warning: strobe lights will be used throughout tonight’s performance!!!” Strangely … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult don’t need no stinkin’ strobes to light up a stage in 2000

Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

By Steve Newton As I mentioned yesterday, since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has just announced its seven inductees for the Class of 2023, my own little institution located in the wilds of British Columbia–Newt’s Rock Hall–is gonna counter with seven different inductees of its own. And of course mine will be better. … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats

The Dead Daisies–featuring ex-members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Dio, and Pride & Glory–play Vancouver tonight

The DDs in Montreal last Wednesday By Steve Newton Any Vancouverites up for a rowdy evening of ’80-style hard-rock tonight? The Dead Daisies, a guitar-rock collective originally formed in 2012 by Australian businessman-turned-rocker David Lowy, plays the Hollywood Theatre in Kits tonight (Saturday, September 2). In previous incarnations the group has included such old-school rock … Continue reading The Dead Daisies–featuring ex-members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Dio, and Pride & Glory–play Vancouver tonight

God bless Jaco Pastorius’s bass solo on Ian Hunter’s “All American Alien Boy”

By Steve Newton I really appreciate incredible guitar solos. Sometimes, when I hear one that totally blows me away, I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless exquisite guitar solos by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For … Continue reading God bless Jaco Pastorius’s bass solo on Ian Hunter’s “All American Alien Boy”

Martin Birch’s finest moments with Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Blue Öyster Cult

By Steve Newton If you’re fan of hard rock and metal you’ve no doubt already heard that Martin Birch, the preeminent producer of loud rock, passed away recently at the age of 71. I’ve interviewed my fair share of hard-rock producers, including the formerly Vancouver-based triumvirate of Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Rock, and Mike Fraser, but … Continue reading Martin Birch’s finest moments with Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Blue Öyster Cult

Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?

By Steve Newton After ten years of my complaining about Link Wray not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the boneheads who run the high-falutin’ joint in Cleveland finally caved and decided to induct him, in the “musical influence” division. It’s about freakin’ time. Wray, who pretty well invented the raunchy guitar … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?

One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF

photo by the newt By Steve Newton It’s good to have hobbies. Several years ago I found a new hobby in which I’d spend a fair amount of time lobbying for the inclusion of Link Wray, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was astonished and, frankly, disgusted … Continue reading One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF

God bless Bernie Marsden’s guitar solo on Whitesnake’s “Fool For Your Lovin'”

By Steve Newton British guitar hero Bernie Marsden turned 72 today, so I figured now was as good a time as any to ask God to bless his solo on Whitesnake’s “Fool For Your Lovin’”. In previous blogs I’ve asked God to bless exquisite guitar solos by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald … Continue reading God bless Bernie Marsden’s guitar solo on Whitesnake’s “Fool For Your Lovin’”

God bless Ian Paice’s drumming on Deep Purple’s “Burn”

By Steve Newton I really appreciate rock music, and I’m very thankful to the musicians whose talent has given me such joy over the years. Sometimes, when I hear something that really turns my crank–like a particularly awesome guitar solo–I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless exquisite … Continue reading God bless Ian Paice’s drumming on Deep Purple’s “Burn”

Vancouver’s mid-’80s metal scene thrives with bands like Kradle, Nitevigil, and Harlots Webb

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 15, 1986 By Steve Newton Vancouver hard-rock fans who’ve been thirsting for a taste of homegrown metal should consider visiting the New York Theatre this Saturday (August 16). That’s when Burnaby’s Kradle will be doing their best to prove that raunchy and original sounds are still alive and well in Expo … Continue reading Vancouver’s mid-’80s metal scene thrives with bands like Kradle, Nitevigil, and Harlots Webb