Gettin’ goofy with Tommy Shaw and the posse backstage at a Damn Yankees gig

By Steve Newton Back in March of 1991 me and a couple members of my posse headed out to Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum to see a concert by Damn Yankees and a revamped version of Bad Company that didn't include Paul Rodgers, unfortunately. Or Mick Ralphs, for that matter. I think we went there mostly to … Continue reading Gettin’ goofy with Tommy Shaw and the posse backstage at a Damn Yankees gig

Hanging out with Paul Rodgers and Storman Norm Casler at the Skynyrd show was all right then

By Steve Newton I interviewed rock legend Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, the Firm) for the first time back in August of 1997, when he was heading to Vancouver for a show with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'm pretty sure that's where I got him to sign my vinyl copy of the first … Continue reading Hanging out with Paul Rodgers and Storman Norm Casler at the Skynyrd show was all right then

That time me ‘n’ Ferg went backstage to meet Warren Haynes but he was too tuckered to smile

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

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

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

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