That time Link Wray told me why he became a rocker
By Steve Newton A little over 20 years ago I did my one and only interview with guitar legend Link Wray, and man was that cool. He’s always been one […]
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That time I asked Link Wray if he’d sign the Ear of Newt guitar
By Steve Newton It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon and I’m not quite up to mowing the lawn yet, so I figure I’ll just post another audio excerpt from my one-and-only […]
That time Link Wray told me about “Rumble” being banned in the States
By Steve Newton Back in ’97 when I did my one-and-only interview with guitar legend Link Wray–who the bozos down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still refuse […]
That time I called Link Wray up in Texas and he raved about his “fantastic gig” the night before
By Steve Newton Few guitar players in history are more deserving of recognition than Link Wray, the inventor of the raunchy riff, but you wouldn’t know it from the actions […]
Rock Hall boneheads once again choose Chic over Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame apparently believes that Depeche Mode outrocks Johnny Winter, that Chic blows Rory Gallagher away, and that Joan Baez is more rock […]
Rock Hall proves worthless yet again, overlooks Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominated 15 artists for induction today, but neither Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, nor Link Wray were among them. Instead, Jan […]
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Iron Maiden, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton Okay, it has finally come to this. After years of slagging the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its inconceivable ignorance of the best rock music […]
Link Wray licks led to Los Straitjackets’ Supersonic Guitars in 3-D
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Guitarist Eddie Angel was playing at a Nashville club in 1986, opening up for underrated roots-twang merchants Webb […]
Rock Hall proves itself slag-worthy again snubbing Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory
charles campbell photo By Steve Newton I finally got around to checking out the nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s class of 2015 and, lemme tell ya, that […]
Southern Culture on the Skids’ Rick Miller loves Link Wray and Danelectros
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 8, 2001 By Steve Newton True to its name, Southern Culture on the Skids has always endeavoured to promote the stereotypical lifestyles of […]
Freaky ponytail action and ’60s rave-ups at Link Wray’s Vancouver riff-o-rama
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 10, 1997 By Steve Newton When I heard that legendary instro-rock guitarist Link Wray was performing a few tunes and signing autographs at […]
Link Wray: my one and only interview with the inventor of the raunchy riff
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 3, 1997 By Steve Newton There’s been a missing Link on the North American music scene for a long time, but now he’s […]
Rock Hall snubs Link Wray, inducts Cat Stevens. Let the slagging begin
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has done it again, proving once more that it has its head so far up its ass that it isn’t […]
Rock Hall finally inducts Deep Purple; could Rory, Link, Johnny, and Maiden be far behind?
By Steve Newton Well, those bozos down at the highly slaggable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally came to their senses. Twenty-two years after it first became eligible for induction, […]
Rock Hall ignores Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher yet again, proves its head is still lodged firmly up its ass
charles campbell photo By Steve Newton It’s been 10 days since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its nominees for induction in 2018, choosing a whopping 19 bands and […]
My 50 fave Vancouver concerts of all time (so far)
By Steve Newton In celebration of the Georgia Straight turning 50 this year, I figured I’d offer a roundup of the 50 top Vancouver concerts I’ve reviewed while writing for the paper […]
That time I called Roy Buchanan up at his house and he raved about his new Bluesmaster guitar
By Steve Newton Man, I sure have been lucky as far as interviewing great guitarists go. Sometimes–in the case of guys like Joe Satriani, Buddy Guy, Dickey Betts, and […]
The incredible story behind the Ear of Newt autographed guitar
By Steve Newton Back in January of 2013 when I started planning the Ear of Newt website–which I launched on Halloween night that year–I knew I had to get my […]
Rolling Stone can piss right off: here’s the 100 Greatest Guitarists (that I’ve interviewed)
By Steve Newton Google “100 greatest guitarists” these days and what shows up at the top is a total joke. It’s the high ‘n’ mighty Rolling Stone‘s list of the […]
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Warren Zevon, Rick Derringer, Albert Collins, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, and Jethro Tull
By Steve Newton So the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did it again. Today the poorly-named musical dumping ground in Cleveland inducted six acts into its fold, including folkie […]
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts UFO, Robin Trower, Blue Oyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, and Ten Years After
By Steve Newton Tonight the much-maligned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially inducts Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, Steve Miller, Chicago, and, unbelievably, legendary rock ‘n’ rollers N.W.A. Now, this is […]
Sonny Landreth says he’s sure Johnny Winter will make it into the Rock Hall
By Steve Newton In a few hours I’m heading out to see Louisiana slide-guitar ace Sonny Landreth play a gig in Vancouver. If you’re a fan of Sonny, you may […]
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1995
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 1995 By Steve Newton I must have gotten tired of listening to rock vocalists in 1995, because the majority of my top picks […]
Deep Purple’s overdue induction into Rock Hall means snubbing of Tommy Bolin and Steve Morse
By Steve Newton Now that the millions of Deep Purple fans around the world have finished celebrating the hard-rock legends’ shockingly overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of […]
Marty Friedman doesn’t get why the Bee Gees are in the Rock Hall and Rory Gallagher isn’t
By Steve Newton If you’ve been visiting Ear of Newt for the last year or two you’ve no doubt figured out that I’m not a big fan of the Rock […]
Rolling Stone screwed up with its 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
By Steve Newton Google “100 greatest guitarists” these days and what shows up at the top is a total joke. It’s the high ‘n’ mighty Rolling Stone‘s list of the […]
Joe Bonamassa wanted Deep Purple and Free in the Rock Hall “before fucking Green Day”
By Steve Newton American guitar hero Joe Bonamassa called me up today, in advance of his Vancouver double-header, and we mostly talked about his new live album, Muddy Wolf at […]
The Cramps’ Poison Ivy says that what passes for rock ‘n’ roll isn’t
By Steve Newton Twenty-five years ago this Sunday–on April 12, 1990–the Cramps played the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. Oh man, what a show that was. R.I.P. Lux Interior. In advance […]
Nikki Sixx says he’d turn down Rock Hall: awesome, more room for Rory
By Steve Newton Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx declared on his Facebook page yesterday that he’d “probably” turn down induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fvckin-AAA! That […]
Rock Hall finally inducts Stevie Ray Vaughan, could Rory Gallagher be next?
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has made some silly-ass moves over the years, nominating lame-o acts like Chic and inducting Cat Stevens while leaving more deserving […]
David Gogo gets tongue-tied around Jeff Beck, “the best guitarist in the world”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 26, 2001 One of the best perks of being a Media Slut From Hell—I mean, music journalist—is getting backstage to pose for photos […]
The Cramps’ Ivy Rorschach could be happy just sittin’ on a porch, playing guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 2, 2000 By Steve Newton Psychosexual. Psychosomatic. Psychobabble. Psychobilly? You’ll find all but the last word in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, because California […]
Huevos Rancheros believe commerce is occasionally a good thing
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 17, 2000 A few years back Calgary instro-rockers Huevos Rancheros made my Top 10 with their CD Dig In!, a veritable smorgasbord of […]
Gary Moore freaks rejoice: the Irish guitar hero’s fiery talent will burn on live CD
The rock-guitar world lost one of its most amazing artists in February of 2011 when Gary Moore passed away while on holiday in Spain, but now comes word that a […]
Johnny Winter’s absence from the Rock Hall is a bloody outrage
By Steve Newton Devoted Johnny Winter fans are still mourning the passing of the Texas guitar legend, who died last Wednesday (July 16) at the age of 70. They’ve no […]
NRBQ’s Terry Adams says music is always best when it’s surprising
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 4, 1997 By Steve Newton In decades past, strict-minded parents would try to keep impressionable youngsters away from rock ’n’ roll, believing it […]
S.C.O.T.S.: the finest in high-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock since 1985
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 16, 1995 By Steve Newton “High-cholesterol, toe-sucking geek rock.” That’s how singer-guitarist Rick Miller describes the œuvre of his band, Southern Culture on […]
Huevos Rancheros aren’t concerned about being the next Sloan
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 24, 1995 Sometimes I wish I’d been more than a toddler in 1960 so I could have appreciated tunes such as the Ventures’ […]
Robert Gordon saves his Vancouver show after Chris Spedding nearly wrecks it
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 1992 It’s a good thing Robert Gordon has plenty of charisma—enough, in fact, to make up for Chris Spedding’s total lack of charm. […]
Deep Purple’s monumental Made in Japan gets box-set treatment
By Steve Newton Yesterday on its official YouTube channel, legendary rock band Deep Purple posted a video announcing the upcoming rerelease of its Made in Japan album in various formats, which include previously […]
Rock Hall fucks up royally again, nominates Chic instead of Rory Gallagher
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 16, 2013 By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has done it again. It’s made a complete ass of itself by nominating, […]
Rush is in, Deep Purple’s out: the Rock Hall’s worth is still in doubt
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 12, 2012 By Steve Newton If you’re a Rush freak who’s been holding a grudge against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not […]
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson calls the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “a popularity contest”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 20, 2012 By Steve Newton If you’re a Rush fan, you’ve no doubt heard that the Canuck power trio has finally been nominated for the […]
This is where we slag the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
OCT. 2017: Rock Hall ignores JOHNNY WINTER and RORY GALLAGHER yet again, proves its head is still lodged firmly up its ass DEC. 2016: Newt’s Rock Hall inducts WARREN ZEVON, […]
Concert Reviews
So, yeah, I’ve reviewed a few shows over the years. GUNS N’ ROSES at BC Place Stadium, Sept. 1, 2017 THE AGE OF ELECTRIC at the Commodore Ballroom, April 30, 2016 […]
Interviews
Some of my interviews, arranged alphabetically, from AC/DC to ZZ Top AC/DC Malcolm Young & Brian Johnson, 1983 AEROSMITH Joe Perry, Sept. 2010 AEROSMITH Steven Tyler, 1997 AEROSMITH Joe Perry, 1997 […]
About
EarOfNewt.com is a website that old-school Vancouver rock journalist and scary movie reviewer Steve Newton–the guy on the left, who isn’t Buddy–will use to showcase his work from the last 35+ […]
How the hell did Judas Priest get nominated to the Rock Hall before Iron Maiden?
By Steve Newton Earlier today I posted a blog about how incredibly lame the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is for not yet inducting Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher. […]
