"It's funny, 'cause I heard somewhere that [Rory Gallagher] sold 40 million records, but still he doesn't get the recognition. He's like a player's player, I suppose."
Category: guitar heroes
Al Pitrelli says that Megadeth is back to making aggressive, snotty, purist heavy metal again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 6, 2001 By Steve Newton Two Christmases ago, guitarist Al Pitrelli received a wicked gift he wasn't expecting. It started with a seasonal dingle from a long-time friend, Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. "It was our basic 'Merry Christmas' phone call," Pitrelli relates from his New York City home, "followed by, 'So, … Continue reading Al Pitrelli says that Megadeth is back to making aggressive, snotty, purist heavy metal again
Irish guitar great Joe Hodgson recalls seeing Gary Moore at Donnington 40 years ago today
By Steve Newton Just got a message from Irish guitarist Joe Hodgson--who's amazing fretboard skills I've written about before--noting that it was 40 years ago today that he first witnessed his idol Gary Moore in concert. On August 18, 1984, Hodgson attended the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donnington in England. The concert was … Continue reading Irish guitar great Joe Hodgson recalls seeing Gary Moore at Donnington 40 years ago today
That time Nicolette Larson told me that her mystery lead-guitar player was Eddie Van Halen
By Steve Newton Today (July 17, 2024) would have been American pop vocalist Nicolette Larson's 72nd birthday. She was best known for "Lotta Love", the catchy, Neil Young-penned #1 single she recorded on her 1978 debut album, Nicolette. Sadly, the beautifully gap-toothed singer with the astonishingly long hair passed away on December 16, 1997, as … Continue reading That time Nicolette Larson told me that her mystery lead-guitar player was Eddie Van Halen
Guitar legend Michael Schenker to release My Years With UFO on green vinyl this fall
By Steve Newton I still remember buying the new UFO album, Phenomenon, as a high-schooler back in 1974. Man, I couldn't believe the array of great songs on that LP, and especially the mindboggling guitarwork by a teenager named Michael Schenker. His extended solo on "Rock Bottom" was the wildest guitar freakout I'd heard since … Continue reading Guitar legend Michael Schenker to release My Years With UFO on green vinyl this fall
10 minutes on the phone with Steve Morse in 1991
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Steve Morse in May of 1991, just after he'd released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel. That was just three years before he'd join Deep Purple, the band he'd remain with for 28 years. Steve Morse is an astounding guitarist, obviously, but also came off … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Steve Morse in 1991
That time Steve Morse told me about his recent gig with Eddie Van Halen and Albert Lee at NAMM
By Steve Newton Back in May of 1991 I did my first interview with Steve Morse, who called me up from his home in the hills of Northern California. That was just after he’d released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel, and three years before he joined Deep Purple. Near the start of the interview … Continue reading That time Steve Morse told me about his recent gig with Eddie Van Halen and Albert Lee at NAMM
As Canada’s team takes on Dallas, Johnny Winter’s foreboding 1969 blues tune comes to mind
By Steve Newton Now that the Edmonton Oilers have sent the Vancouvers Canucks golfing--and quashed any possibility of yet another Vancouver hockey riot--it's time to see how Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and the boys do against the formidable Dallas Stars. It's not gonna be an easy battle for Canada's team, I'm sure of that, … Continue reading As Canada’s team takes on Dallas, Johnny Winter’s foreboding 1969 blues tune comes to mind
Blues legend B.B. King made a huge impression on Nanaimo’s David Gogo
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 7, 2013 By Steve Newton Blues-rocker David Gogo opened for the legendary B.B. King in his hometown of Nanaimo last Tuesday (March 5). Since we're tweetin' buddies (follow him at @DavidGogoBlues) I asked Dave-O if he wanted to shoot me a little write-up about himself and the master. Here's what he … Continue reading Blues legend B.B. King made a huge impression on Nanaimo’s David Gogo
R.I.P. Dickey Betts: the 10 best quotes I ever got from the legendary Allman Brothers guitarist
You may have already heard the sad news: legendary Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts passed away today at the age of 80.
Jeff Golub follows in the footsteps of Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood playing guitar with Rod Stewart
"I don't sing--I've got the kind of voice where, as soon as I start singing in the shower, people bang on the walls."
10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990
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
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