ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 22, 1989 By Steve Newton Australian-raised singer/guitarist Johnny Diesel has covered a lot of ground for a young man of 22. From Fall River, Massachusetts to Perth, Australia, from London to New York, and from Sydney to Memphis, the road to rock has been a long one mileage-wise for Diesel, whose … Continue reading Johnny Diesel & the Injectors got boosts Down Under from Angel City and Jimmy Barnes
Category: Aussies
Aussie rockers V. Spy V. Spy aren’t trying to change the world or anything
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 4, 1988 By Steve Newton If you've been seeing ads about an Australian band that's coming to town called V. Spy V. Spy, but you've been hearing about a band called "Spy Versus Spy"--don't worry. You've not crazy. It's just that these top-notch rockers from Sydney have had a tricky time … Continue reading Aussie rockers V. Spy V. Spy aren’t trying to change the world or anything
That time I asked Neil Finn what inspired him to write one of my all-time favourite tunes, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Crowded House frontman Neil Finn back in August of 1998, when he was touring behind his debut solo album, Try Whistling This. I'd been a fan of Crowded House since the 1986 release of its first album, which featured one of the most beautiful pop songs … Continue reading That time I asked Neil Finn what inspired him to write one of my all-time favourite tunes, Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
Graham Goble knows it’s a long way there, so Little River Band recruits John Farnham for the trip
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 14, 1983 By Steve Newton When, after releasing six albums, a group loses both its original lead singer and lead guitarist, there's a good chance a large number of longtime fans will be next to go. But that shouldn't be the case with the Little River Band, for as Vancouver audiences … Continue reading Graham Goble knows it’s a long way there, so Little River Band recruits John Farnham for the trip
That time Colin Hay told me that he thought Men at Work were a success story when they were playing Melbourne pubs
By Steve Newton I interviewed Men at Work frontman Colin Hay back in October of 1983, when the Aussie group was touring behind its second album, Cargo, the followup to its hugely successful debut, Business as Usual (the one with "Down Under" and "Who Can It Be Now?"). (Strangely enough, when the band got to … Continue reading That time Colin Hay told me that he thought Men at Work were a success story when they were playing Melbourne pubs
Screaming Jets interview, unpublished for 30 years, shows the Aussie guitar-rockers highly skilled at pissing people off
INTERVIEW CONDUCTED SEPT. 22, 1991; STORY FIRST PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2021 By Steve Newton With a jarring, guitar-heavy sound influenced by such gritty Aussie bands as Angel City, AC/DC, and early Midnight Oil, Newcastle, Australia's Screaming Jets are capable of causing quite a ruckus. They did so on their debut album, All For One, and … Continue reading Screaming Jets interview, unpublished for 30 years, shows the Aussie guitar-rockers highly skilled at pissing people off
That time Steve Kilbey told me that the Church “rocks like a bitch” on the Gold Afternoon Fix Tour
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1990 I interviewed Steve Kilbey of Aussie pop-rock band the Church. The quartet was touring behind its Gold Afternoon Fix, the followup to its hugely successful Starfish album, which you may remember for the catchy tune "Under the Milky Way". At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time Steve Kilbey told me that the Church “rocks like a bitch” on the Gold Afternoon Fix Tour
That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel
By Steve Newton When I went to Australia for my little sister's wedding in 1986 I managed to see two wicked Aussie bands--Midnight Oil and the Angels (aka Angel City)--play killer shows in Melbourne-area clubs. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Cold Chisel play a killer show in a Melbourne-area pub because they'd already broken … Continue reading That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel
That time I asked Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst if, six weeks after 9/11, “U.S. Forces” was off the setlist
By Steve Newton Sometimes it's fun when you're searching through your stacks of cassettes packed with interviews you've done since 1982 and you find one that captures a crucial moment in history. I just came across an interview I did with Midnight Oil drummer and cosongwriter Rob Hirst that was dated October 26, 2001, which … Continue reading That time I asked Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst if, six weeks after 9/11, “U.S. Forces” was off the setlist
James Reyne soars as a solo artist after doing the Australian Crawl
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 1988 By Steve Newton Have you ever heard of a fellow named James Reyne? Unless you're from Australia--or were a big fan of the now-defunct Australian Crawl--you probably don't recognize the name. But you will in the future, if Reyne's solo career follows the same pattern that has brought such Aussie bands … Continue reading James Reyne soars as a solo artist after doing the Australian Crawl
Pseudo Echo rises from Down Under to turn North America into “Funkytown”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 11, 1987 By Steve Newton They say that rock 'n' roll is a young man's game, although the number of aging rock stars raking in big bucks today makes you wonder. Still, there are always some fine young whipper-snappers whose youthfulness comes through in the freshness and vitality of their … Continue reading Pseudo Echo rises from Down Under to turn North America into “Funkytown”
Jimmy Barnes goes solo with Canadian connection after Cold Chisel hits its peak
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 6, 1986 By Steve Newton What do you get when you combine the guitarist from Streetheart, the bassist from Headpins, the keyboardist from Sharp Edges, the drummer from the Bryan Adams band, and the lead singer from Cold Chisel? Well, with a little time, you get a pretty … Continue reading Jimmy Barnes goes solo with Canadian connection after Cold Chisel hits its peak
The Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner on junk culture, Aussie rockers, and Mars Needs Guitars!
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 29, 1985 By Steve Newton One of the wildest rock and roll sounds to come up from Down Under recently is that of the Hoodoo Gurus. Just last year the Aussie foursome released their debut album, Stoneage Romeos, a thoroughly rocking blend of pop/punk, Merseybeat, and psychedelia--all slapped on a two-guitar … Continue reading The Hoodoo Gurus’ Dave Faulkner on junk culture, Aussie rockers, and Mars Needs Guitars!