By Steve Newton Steve Vai is one of those guitarists where you watch him play and you're like: "How the hell does he do that!?" This is the first interview I did with him, when he was only 29, touring with Whitesnake, and had just released his solo album Passion and Warfare. During the first … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990
Category: guitar heroes
10 minutes on the phone with Joe Satriani in 1990
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Joe Satriani eight times because, hey, he's Joe Satriani, and I freakin' love what he does with a guitar. Here's 10 minutes of my first interview with Satch, which took place just nine weeks after the release of his Flying in a Blue Dream album. He called me up from … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Joe Satriani in 1990
For only $50,000 (U.S.) you can pretend you’re Jimmy Page and really get the Led out
By Steve Newton If you're a hardcore Led Zeppelin fan and you've been wondering what to do with that extra 50 grand you've had lying around the house, here's an idea. Gibson Brands Inc. has just announced the release of the Collector’s Edition Jimmy Page 1969 EDS-1275. It's a custom-made copy of the red SG-style … Continue reading For only $50,000 (U.S.) you can pretend you’re Jimmy Page and really get the Led out
That time Roger Glover told me that Steve Morse was in Deep Purple because Glover was into the Dixie Dregs
By Steve Newton I interviewed Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover for the third time back in January of 2004, when the band was touring with another one of my fave groups from the '70s, Thin Lizzy. Purple was touring in support of its latest release, Bananas, the third album to feature American guitar wizard Steve … Continue reading That time Roger Glover told me that Steve Morse was in Deep Purple because Glover was into the Dixie Dregs
That time Zakk Wylde told me that he wrote “Throwin’ It All Away” through the eyes of Shannon Hoon’s daughter
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1996 Zakk Wylde called me up from a payphone in Toronto to promote his debut solo album, Book of Shadows. One of the more touching tunes on that release was "Throwin' It All Away", a song inspired by his friendship with Blind Melon vocalist Shannon Hoon, who had … Continue reading That time Zakk Wylde told me that he wrote “Throwin’ It All Away” through the eyes of Shannon Hoon’s daughter
Robin Trower to release 50th anniversary edition of Bridge of Sighs, the best rock album of 1974
By Steve Newton There were a ton of amazing albums released in 1974, and you can trust me on that, 'cause I was standing right there, wide-eyed, watching it happen. That was the year I turned 17, and as a music obsessed kid my world revolved around the latest rock releases to fill the stacks … Continue reading Robin Trower to release 50th anniversary edition of Bridge of Sighs, the best rock album of 1974
That time I asked Zakk Wylde if he thought his hard-rock fans would accept the less-raunchy sound of his new Book of Shadows CD
By Steve Newton I interviewed heavy-metal guitar hero Zakk Wylde for the second time back in August of 1996, when he was touring behind his debut solo album, Book of Shadows. That acoustic-based disc was a lot less raunchy than Wylde's previous work with Ozzy Osbourne and Pride & Glory, so when he called in … Continue reading That time I asked Zakk Wylde if he thought his hard-rock fans would accept the less-raunchy sound of his new Book of Shadows CD
That time Warren Haynes told me that the Marcus King Band was his favourite current band
haynes and king By Steve Newton I really admire Warren Haynes. I love everything about him: his singing, his songwriting, his guitar playing, his personality. I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed Warren six times, the last time being back in 2017 when Gov't Mule was touring behind its Revolution Come...Revolution Go album. At one … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me that the Marcus King Band was his favourite current band
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tragic death marked by ironies and premonitions
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 31, 1990 By Steve Newton It was only a few short weeks ago that Stevie Ray Vaughan was in Vancouver for a Pacific Coliseum concert with British blues belter Joe Cocker. In advance of the show I interviewed him, and the Texas blues and rock guitarist seemed reflective, even pensive. At … Continue reading Stevie Ray Vaughan’s tragic death marked by ironies and premonitions
When Jim Heath was young he imagined doing the world’s fastest version of “Hot Rod Lincoln”
By Steve Newton Back in 1995 I interviewed Jim Heath, singer-guitarist for the Texas psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat. At one point in the conversation I mentioned that one of my fave tunes on his band's new album, Liquor in the Front, was "Five-O Ford". That 2 1/2-minute rager reminded me of a sped-up version … Continue reading When Jim Heath was young he imagined doing the world’s fastest version of “Hot Rod Lincoln”
God bless Warner E. Hodges flipping his Telecaster with Jason & the Scorchers
By Steve Newton I really admire incredible guitar playing. Sometimes, when I hear a guitar solo that blows me away, I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless amazing lead breaks by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ … Continue reading God bless Warner E. Hodges flipping his Telecaster with Jason & the Scorchers
Two weeks before the launch of Joe Satriani’s original G3 Tour Steve Vai explained how it came to fruition
By Steve Newton I interviewed guitar virtuoso Steve Vai for the second time back in September of 1996, one week after the release of his Fire Garden album. Vai had also recently announced that he'd be part of the first G3 Tour, which saw him go on tour with fellow fretmasters Joe Satriani and Eric … Continue reading Two weeks before the launch of Joe Satriani’s original G3 Tour Steve Vai explained how it came to fruition
That time blues guitar great Bill Perry told me why it only took him six days to record and master his new debut album
By Steve Newton Back in October of 1996 I did my one and only interview with New York blues-rocker Bill Perry, who called me up from a roadside pay phone in Iowa. At the time Perry was touring in support of his debut release, Love Scars, which blew me away with its intense, Gary Moore-type … Continue reading That time blues guitar great Bill Perry told me why it only took him six days to record and master his new debut album