By Steve Newton I'm a huge fan of Warren Haynes. I love everything he's done, whether with Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers, or as a solo artist. Hey, I wouldn't have interviewed him six times if I didn't think he was the shit. So one time when he brought Gov't Mule to Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom--I … Continue reading That time me ‘n’ Ferg went backstage to meet Warren Haynes but he was too tuckered to smile
Category: every picture tells a story
That time I took my nephew backstage for autographs on Mötley Crüe’s Theatre of Pain tour and naughty Nikki scribbled “do drugs”
bev davies photo By Steve Newton Way back in November of 1985 I took my nephew Jeff to see Mötley Crüe at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. It was the second big concert of his 15-year life, the first being Iron Maiden the previous year. I took him to that one too, thinking the more … Continue reading That time I took my nephew backstage for autographs on Mötley Crüe’s Theatre of Pain tour and naughty Nikki scribbled “do drugs”
People see my photo with Slash and think I’m Kerry King of Slayer, “Ogre” from Revenge of the Nerds, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
By Steve Newton Here's a funny thing that happened. A week or so ago This Day in Metal tweeted a photo of me with Slash taken backstage in 1988, when Guns N' Roses were opening for Iron Maiden in Vancouver. The tweet read: "Anybody know who's with @slash in this picture?" Well, a few of … Continue reading People see my photo with Slash and think I’m Kerry King of Slayer, “Ogre” from Revenge of the Nerds, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
When you go backstage to meet your idol John Fogerty and your buddy Ferg hogs the photo
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1997 I went to see John Fogerty at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver. One of my favourite all-time rockers--wicked vocalist, brilliant songwriter, and killer guitarist--Fogerty was touring behind his Grammy-winning Blue Moon Swamp album, and I'd scored free front-row seats because I'd interviewed the man in advance of … Continue reading When you go backstage to meet your idol John Fogerty and your buddy Ferg hogs the photo
Chillin’ with blues legend Buddy Guy backstage at the Commodore
By Steve Newton Here's me hangin' with one of my fave all-time bluesmen, Mr. Buddy Guy. It was backstage at the Commodore Ballroom, one of the top concert venues in Vancouver. I remember this meeting well, because the former proprietor of the Commodore, local legend Drew Burns, also showed up to say hi to Buddy. … Continue reading Chillin’ with blues legend Buddy Guy backstage at the Commodore
Meeting with the Alien: hangin’ with Joe Satriani backstage in Vancouver
By Steve Newton Went and saw Joe Satriani at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver last night, and holy crap was he smokin'! I must have seen Satch live around 10 times over the years--including on various G3 tours--and I don't think he's ever played better. Having such a wicked backing band--guitarist-keyboardist Mike Kenneally, bassist Bryan … Continue reading Meeting with the Alien: hangin’ with Joe Satriani backstage in Vancouver
For my first-ever caricature I became a rocker with a Flying V
By Steve Newton The night before last I went to the Georgia Straight's 50th anniversary bash. For those out of the loop, the Georgia Straight is the weekly Vancouver newspaper that I've worked at for 35 years. The Straight was founded as a counter-culture publication in 1967, the Summer of Love, and has managed to … Continue reading For my first-ever caricature I became a rocker with a Flying V
That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
By Steve Newton I don't go nuts buying t-shirts and hats at concerts because they're usually pricey as hell, but when the band puts on a smokin' show I sometimes break down and score myself a souvenir. If I recall correctly, Jethro Tull was pretty smokin' at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver on December 10, 1991, … Continue reading That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
Backstage at an Arc Angels show with Charlie Sexton, David Gogo, and the blind date I never saw again
By Steve Newton Here's a photo that was taken backstage at the 86 Street Music Hall in Vancouver on July 22, 1992. It was after a show by the Arc Angels, a bluesy band from Austin that featured guitarist-vocalists Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's old rhythm section, bassist Tommy … Continue reading Backstage at an Arc Angels show with Charlie Sexton, David Gogo, and the blind date I never saw again
Shocking photo: Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys offered joint by Snoop Dogg!
BREAKING: through sources that will remain nameless, the Newt has managed to aquire a photo of evil L.A. gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg trying to corrupt innocent Canadian TV character "Bubbles" with what looks like a marijuana cigarette, or "joint" as the Yankee drug fiends like to call it. The shocking incident apparently occured at … Continue reading Shocking photo: Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys offered joint by Snoop Dogg!
Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
By Steve Newton It's nice when you can pay somebody back for turning you on to great music when you were a kid. Back in the '70s, my older sister got me into everybody from Steely Dan to Robin Trower to Lynyrd Skynyrd. But I'll always be especially thankful for her getting me into Bob … Continue reading Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
By Steve Newton Guns N' Roses were probably the biggest rock band in the world--or was fighting it out with U2 for that title--when this telling photo was snapped backstage in the early '90s sometime. The thing I remember most about meeting Slash was when he offered me a guzzle from the bottle of Jack … Continue reading That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
Good times with Great White, before the fire
By Steve Newton I was never a big Great White fan--especially after they went platinum with their 1989 mockery of Ian Hunter's '70s classic, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy". But for some reason--no doubt work-related--I wound up going to a show at Club Soda and saying howdy to lead singer Jack Russell behind the bar while … Continue reading Good times with Great White, before the fire