By Steve Newton Back in May of 1984 I did my first (and so far, only) interview with legendary Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. Gilmour wasn't in Floyd at the time, though--he was doing press to promote his second solo album, About Face. But that didn't stop me from asking him if he missed Pink … Continue reading That time David Gilmour told me that he didn’t miss Pink Floyd and didn’t have a fave Floyd album
Category: guitar heroes
That time Danny Gatton told me that he thought Lenny Breau was the biggest “Humbler” of all time
By Steve Newton Back in April of 1993 I called Danny Gatton up at his home in Washington, D.C., to interview him in advance of a show in Vancouver as part of Music West. When he picked up the phone he'd been busy cleaning out his garage, and told me that he'd come across a huge … Continue reading That time Danny Gatton told me that he thought Lenny Breau was the biggest “Humbler” of all time
My one and only interview with guitar legend Tommy Tedesco
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 9, 1986 By Steve Newton When word gets around in the recording industry that so-and-so is a hot session player, the demand for his talent grows considerably. For Tommy Tedesco, who hosts a guitar clinic at the Hotel Georgia May 17, it's been growing for 30 years. Today he's the most … Continue reading My one and only interview with guitar legend Tommy Tedesco
Joe Satriani isn’t a Gibson man but he’s the ultimate melody maker
By Steve Newton Joe Satriani has long been known as one of the most technically proficient rock guitarists around, a speedy fretburner and masterful creator of—to use the title of his 2002 album—Strange Beautiful Music. The beauty in his tunes has a lot to do with his ability to craft gorgeous melodies. You may recall … Continue reading Joe Satriani isn’t a Gibson man but he’s the ultimate melody maker
Joe Satriani likes Uli Jon Roth’s “beautiful sounding” Sky guitar, but figures 24 frets are enough for him
By Steve Newton Back in 2016 I went and saw Uli Jon Roth's Ultimate Guitar Experience in Vancouver, and man--the things the German guitar wizard and ex-Scorp can do on his 32-fret Sky guitar are something to behold. So a few weeks later when I interviewed Joe Satriani for the sixth or seventh time I asked him what … Continue reading Joe Satriani likes Uli Jon Roth’s “beautiful sounding” Sky guitar, but figures 24 frets are enough for him
That time I asked Joe Satriani to pick five “desert islands discs” and he went 80 percent Hendrix
By Steve Newton Back in 2016 I interviewed one of my fave guitarists, Joe Satriani, for the seventh time. I'm always curious what the world's finest pickers would choose as their "desert island discs"--the albums they'd choose if they were ever stranded like Gilligan, but with some vinyl and a killer stereo. And electricity, of … Continue reading That time I asked Joe Satriani to pick five “desert islands discs” and he went 80 percent Hendrix
Outraged guitar freak defends Yngwie Malmsteen and rips the s*** out of my Generation Axe review
By Steve Newton Some guy named Fretfire did not totally agree with my review of the Generation Axe show in Vancouver the other night. Here’s his comment: Pathetic, Steve. I thought you were cooler than this, especially since you recently posted the interview: “Uli Jon Roth calls Yngwie Malmsteen “one of the alltime greats”, but says he’s … Continue reading Outraged guitar freak defends Yngwie Malmsteen and rips the s*** out of my Generation Axe review
Generation Axe in Vancouver: 2.5 million notes and no wanking (except for Yngwie)
By Steve Newton Went to see the Generation Axe show in Vancouver last night--featuring Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi--and, as expected, there were a lotta notes. But the term "wanking" didn't come to mind that often, surprisingly--and usually only when flashmaster Malmsteen was practicing his scales at breakneck speed. … Continue reading Generation Axe in Vancouver: 2.5 million notes and no wanking (except for Yngwie)
That time Stevie Ray Vaughan sang me a couple of lines from one of Jimi Hendrix’s fave tunes
By Steve Newton Since 1982 I've been chatting with famous rock stars and collecting the interviews on cheap cassette tapes. Even now I refuse to use a digital recording device, as most of my more intrepid colleagues do. Like Joe Walsh, I'm an analog man, I guess. Lucky for me, most of those ancient cassettes … Continue reading That time Stevie Ray Vaughan sang me a couple of lines from one of Jimi Hendrix’s fave tunes
Newt’s hopes of a second shot at Slash’s JD stash fade with Guns N’ Roses tour news
By Steve Newton "Rock and roll's a loser's game," Ian Hunter once sang, and today I get what he was talkin' about in that line from "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople". A few hours ago Guns N' Roses announced 21 cities on its forthcoming summer tour, but my town--Vancouver--wasn't on the list. So I … Continue reading Newt’s hopes of a second shot at Slash’s JD stash fade with Guns N’ Roses tour news
Uli Jon Roth is psyched about his first visit to Vancouver and the city’s “Jimi Hendrix connection”
By Steve Newton When I was wrapping up my interview with Uli Jon Roth last week--in advance of his Ultimate Guitar Experience show in Vancouver tomorrow--I asked him when he last played here. Turns out that, even though the 61-year-old guitar legend has spent a large part of his life traveling all over the world … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth is psyched about his first visit to Vancouver and the city’s “Jimi Hendrix connection”
Uli Jon Roth offers fret freaks the Ultimate Guitar Experience
By Steve Newton Uli Jon Roth is a visionary guitarist. That became abundantly clear when he conceived of a guitar with 30 frets, the Sky Guitar, because, hey--24 frets just weren’t doin’ it for him. Roth takes it to the next level when it comes to touring as well. As if his legendary six-string (and … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth offers fret freaks the Ultimate Guitar Experience
Uli Jon Roth talks guitars and amps, why he’s forsaken his idol’s Strat/Marshall plan
By Steve Newton When Uli Jon Roth first came to prominence as a member of the Scorpions, he was strictly a Strats and Marshalls kinda guy. It was no wonder, since his main influence and greatest inspiration has always been Jimi Hendrix. But nowadays you won't find Strats and Marshalls in Roth's onstage arsenal, because … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth talks guitars and amps, why he’s forsaken his idol’s Strat/Marshall plan