Category: canuck rock

David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1985 By Steve Newton When David Wilcox was 12 years old he played his first gig at a club for recently released convicts. As he recalls, the ex-cons weren't particularly impressed. "It was a good introduction to what came later," says Wilcox with a laugh. "It was pretty funky. I … Continue reading David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman

Northern Pikes pack prairie punch on new Secrets of the Alibi

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 1988 By Steve Newton The percentage of rock 'n' roll bands that make it big--or even to the point of just being able to put records out and tour--has never been high enough to make a career in rock a likely one. And if you're from some place like Saskatoon, … Continue reading Northern Pikes pack prairie punch on new Secrets of the Alibi

Parachute Club took cues from Mayan ruins and feminists for At the Feet of the Moon

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 14, 1984 By Steve Newton I heard your laughter ringing out between the waves and the sun/A Mayan secret, one thousand voices carved in stone/We of the sun, we have desire to follow a poem for the future, whose name is tomorrow/I saw your shadow, you were standing at the feet … Continue reading Parachute Club took cues from Mayan ruins and feminists for At the Feet of the Moon

Holly Woods distances herself from Toronto but keeps the name alive (for now)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 10, 1984 By Steve Newton With four platinum-plus records to their credit, Toronto is easily one of the most popular bands in the history of Canadian rock. High-velocity LPs like Lookin' For Trouble and Get It on Credit combined with outstanding live shows, won the group plenty of fans across the … Continue reading Holly Woods distances herself from Toronto but keeps the name alive (for now)

Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 4, 1984 By Steve Newton Gazing out the 32nd-floor window of his Denman Inn suite onto an early West End evening, 22-year-old Corey Hart seems happy and at ease with himself. And well he should be. Eastern Canada's answer to Bryan Adams, Hart is a singer/songwriter with enough talent and time … Continue reading Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts

That time I asked Geddy Lee if Rush had considered breaking up in 1994

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Rush singer-bassist Geddy Lee back in April of 1997, when the trio was touring behind its Test for Echo album. At one point I brought up the topic of the almost two-year break the band members had taken from each other in 1994, following the release … Continue reading That time I asked Geddy Lee if Rush had considered breaking up in 1994

Blues-rocker David Gogo tweets photo of himself with Canadian comedy legend Blair MacLean

By Steve Newton I love following Nanaimo blues-rocker David "King of Boogie" Gogo on Twitter. About an hour or so ago Gogo tweeted a photo of himself playing acoustic guitar while bearded Blair MacLean--one-half of the legendary Canadian musical-comedy duo MacLean and MacLean--looks on. "Throwback Thursday!!", wrote Gogo in the tweet. "Hotel room hang with … Continue reading Blues-rocker David Gogo tweets photo of himself with Canadian comedy legend Blair MacLean

Murray McLauchlan wanted to go back to making albums like Johnny Cash did with Timberline

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton Like the down-to-earth artist that he is, Murray McLauchlan always finds inspiration for his best songs in the experience of life--whether it be the murder of John Lennon on last year's Windows album, or, as in his new single "Never Did Like That Train", a vague … Continue reading Murray McLauchlan wanted to go back to making albums like Johnny Cash did with Timberline

Steve Negus on the rise of drum technology, crazy shows in Puerto Rico, and Saga’s new Heads or Tails

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 2, 1983 By Steve Newton "Actually, I never really sat in a room and practiced," claims Saga's highly-touted drummer Steve Negus. "I always thought that the best way to learn how to play was to go out and play. So in my early days, all through high school, I used to … Continue reading Steve Negus on the rise of drum technology, crazy shows in Puerto Rico, and Saga’s new Heads or Tails

That time Voivod’s Denis “Snake” Bélanger told me he’d rather sing about extraterrestrials than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll

By Steve Newton Back in August of 1993 I interviewed Voivod vocalist Denis "Snake" Bélanger. At the time his quartet from Quebec was en route to a show at a Vancouver bar called the Town Pump, touring behind its new album, The Outer Limits. I wasn't that familiar with Voivod, but I quite enjoyed that … Continue reading That time Voivod’s Denis “Snake” Bélanger told me he’d rather sing about extraterrestrials than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll

That time Corby Lund of the smalls told me how things got hairy in the Balkans with the Bosnian police

By Steve Newton I interviewed Corby Lund of the smalls for the first time in 2000, the year before that Edmonton rock quartet broke up and he became Corb Lund, popular Canadian country artist. The band was touring behind its fourth and final album, My Dear Little Angle, and had recently returned from a rather … Continue reading That time Corby Lund of the smalls told me how things got hairy in the Balkans with the Bosnian police

Ian Tyson’s passing reminds me of how much my dear old dad loved “Four Strong Winds”

By Steve Newton It's been a rough Thursday in the worlds of sports, fashion, and music. Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, British fashion rebel Vivienne Westwood, and Canadian country-folk singer-songwriter Ian Tyson all left us today. And to make matters worse, yesterday brought the awful news that Vancouver journalist Tom Harrison, a cherished fixture on the … Continue reading Ian Tyson’s passing reminds me of how much my dear old dad loved “Four Strong Winds”