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’”
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
Sykes (right) and Coverdale in happier times By Steve Newton Back in May of 1989 I interviewed English guitar hero John Sykes, who you may know for his fiery fretwork on the final Thin Lizzy album, Thunder and Lightning. Two years before we did that interview Whitesnake had released its self-titled album, the one that … Continue reading That time ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes told me about being fired from Whitesnake by David Coverdale
By Steve Newton In April of 1990 hard-rock drum legend Tommy Aldridge called me up from the road in Minneapolis, where he was playing that night with his latest band, Whitesnake. The group was touring behind its eighth studio album, Slip of the Tongue, the one with “Fool For Your Loving 89”. I actually preferred … Continue reading That time Tommy Aldridge called me up from the Whitesnake tour and explained how it was different working for David Coverdale than Ozzy Osbourne
By Steve Newton I interviewed hard-rock drum legend Tommy Aldridge for the first time back in April of 1990, when he was touring with Whitesnake in support of their latest album, Slip of the Tongue. I’d been a fan of his ever since I first heard him in the ’70s, slamming the skins for southern-rockers … Continue reading That time Tommy Aldridge told me that they threatened to break his arms if he left Black Oak Arkansas
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 14, 2005 By Steve Newton Unless you’re the type of rabid music fan who scours the Straight‘s out-of-town concert listings, itching for stateside road trips, you probably didn’t notice that Whitesnake played the Paramount Theatre in Seattle a couple of weeks back. Strangely enough, I wouldn’t be surprised … Continue reading Album review: Audioslave, Out of Exile (2005)
Bonnie Raitt plays the Queen E. By Steve Newton FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: TheatreSports features two teams of improvisers creating comedy sketches inspired by audience suggestions at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) runs from August 19 to September 4, featuring carnival rides, games, the SuperDogs competition, jousting and high-dive … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, September 1 to 3
Sue Foley plays the Rio By Steve Newton The Dead Daisies: hard-rock band featuring former members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, and Dio, with guests the Wild! and La Chinga. September 2 at the Hollywood Theatre. Bonnie Raitt: American blues-roots singer-songwriter and slide-guitar ace, with guest Roy Rodgers. September 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The Chicks: country … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Vancouver concerts in September
By Steve Newton I interviewed Irish guitar hero Vivian Campbell in September of 1992, three weeks after his 30th birthday. Five months earlier he’d joined Def Leppard, one of the world’s most popular rock bands, apparently being chosen over the likes of John Sykes, Gary Hoey, and Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden. So no wonder … Continue reading That time Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell told me that he got paid less than the road crew in Dio
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton David Coverdale sure knows how to make good use of his previously recorded tunes. First he had a huge hit with a revamped version of “Here I Go Again”, and now he’s resurrected a nine-year-old British hit called “Fool for Your Loving” and … Continue reading Album review: Whitesnake, Slip of the Tongue (1989)
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!
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 21, 2005 By Steve Newton Seventies-rock fans who just can’t wait for the May 3 reissue on Rhino Records of Deep Purple‘s 1974 Burn album can get a similar taste of the eight-track era with the new release from Glenn Hughes. As most dino-rock fanatics know, Hughes was … Continue reading Album review: Glenn Hughes, Soul Mover (2005)
Gillstrom with Kick Axe, second from right ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1988 By Steve Newton Heavy metal. The words strike fear into the hearts of Julio lovers everywhere. Luckily Larry Gillstrom isn’t an Iglesias fan. The guitarist for local metal merchants Kick Axe prefers his music fast and hard, so, along with Club Soda … Continue reading Kick Axe guitarist Gillstrom helps Vancouver metalheads kick ass
