ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Childhood traumas come in all shapes and sizes--and occur when you least expect them. For Webb Wilder, leader of the crazed Mississippi rock band that sports his name, being kicked off a school bus--clarinet and all--was somewhat of a milestone in a career that brings him … Continue reading Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper
Category: american made
Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 14, 2011 By Steve Newton Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler called from L.A. to promote his upcoming gig at Vancouver's Venue on August 25, and once he started talking, he didn't want to stop. He chatted about everything from the tuna salad sandwich he'd just had for lunch in the … Continue reading Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox
That time drum great Steve Smith told me about getting kicked out of Journey by Steve Perry
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
That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1988 Tesla frontman Jeff Keith called me up from his home in Sacramento in advance of his band's Canadian tour with Def Leppard. Early in the interview I asked Keith what the group had been up to since releasing its debut album, Mechanical Resonance, a year and a … Continue reading That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album
Animotion looks past current “Obsession” in hopes of avoiding one-hit wonder status
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 5, 1985 By Steve Newton "The first time I heard it I knew it would be a hit," says Animotion drummer Frenchy O'Brien, speaking of the group's smash debut single, "Obsession". The tune was originally recorded by its writers, Michael Des Barres and Holly Knight, for the movie A Night in … Continue reading Animotion looks past current “Obsession” in hopes of avoiding one-hit wonder status
That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell
By Steve Newton Night Ranger bassist-vocalist and main songwriter Jack Blades called me up from a truck stop in New Mexico back on January 13, 1984. At the time--two months before the band released its big hit "Sister Christian"--Night Ranger was opening for ZZ Top on the hugely successful Eliminator Tour, with sold-out shows all … Continue reading That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’s Kevn Kinney took the “i” out of his name when he was a punk rocker
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 9, 1989 By Steve Newton Kevn Kinney is the lead vocalist, chief songwriter, and coguitarist for Atlanta, Georgia's Drivin' n' Cryin', but he's as surprised as anyone that he's even ended up in a band. As he explained to me from Oklahoma City last week, Kinney was the odd man out … Continue reading Drivin’ n’ Cryin’s Kevn Kinney took the “i” out of his name when he was a punk rocker
That time I asked House of Lords singer James Christian if there was a lot of pressure living up to Gene “Moneybags” Simmons’ hype
By Steve Newton I interviewed House of Lords frontman James Christian back in November of 1988, when the band was enthusiastically hyping its new, self-titled debut LP. The quintet--which also featured keyboardist Gregg Giuffria from Angel--was signed to Gene Simmons' own label, Simmons Records, so there was a big promotional push on the album. At … Continue reading That time I asked House of Lords singer James Christian if there was a lot of pressure living up to Gene “Moneybags” Simmons’ hype
Laura Branigan says the real essence of her music is the emotion
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 19, 1983 By Steve Newton Laura Branigan's appearance at the recent Superfest '83 concert in Empire Stadium was one of the brightest spots of that ill-fated event. I spoke to the New York singer--whose hit single "Gloria' became a #1 chartbuster in the U.S. last year--just before her visit to Vancouver. … Continue reading Laura Branigan says the real essence of her music is the emotion
John Oates plugs new Hall & Oates book, says things could be worse for pop music’s most successful duo
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 7, 1984 By Steve Newton With some 40 million records sold worldwide, Daryl Hall and John Oates are probably the most popular duo in contemporary music. In 13 years the two have garnered nine gold and five platinum albums, with their songs topping not only pop, but adult contemporary, R&B, and … Continue reading John Oates plugs new Hall & Oates book, says things could be worse for pop music’s most successful duo
James Ingram on backing up Ray Charles, working with Quincy Jones, and his new hit single “Yah Mo B There”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 23, 1983 By Steve Newton In 1981 Quincy Jones' album The Dude received a record 12 Grammy nominations and became one of the most consistently impressive LPs ever made. The singer on three of The Dude's tunes--the funky title track and romantic ballads "Just Once" and "One Hundred Years"--was a fellow … Continue reading James Ingram on backing up Ray Charles, working with Quincy Jones, and his new hit single “Yah Mo B There”
Tim Dillon’s raunchy comedy cracks ’em up in Vancouver
I scored my son tickets to see his fave comedian, Tim Dillon, at Just For Laughs Vancouver. So he decided to write about it. - Newt By Danny Newton In tattered sneakers, sweat shorts, and a neon-yellow hoodie, Tim Dillon made his return to Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre last Friday (February 24), his … Continue reading Tim Dillon’s raunchy comedy cracks ’em up in Vancouver
Tanya Tucker isn’t ashamed to tell anybody that she’s a country singer
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 4, 1983 By Steve Newton Although only 24, singer/actress Tanya Tucker has already spent half her life in the fast lane of the entertainment business. And the title of her latest album, Changes, is a testimony to what she has gone through since stepping into the spotlight at … Continue reading Tanya Tucker isn’t ashamed to tell anybody that she’s a country singer