That time Dick Dale told me what it was like playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan on “Pipeline”

By Steve Newton Back in the summer of 1993 I did my first interview with guitar legend Dick Dale. Thirty years earlier Dale had released an album titled King of the Surf Guitar, and ever since then that's what he'd been called. That's why he and Stevie Ray Vaughan connected in 1987 to record a … Continue reading That time Dick Dale told me what it was like playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan on “Pipeline”

That time Dickey Betts told me that an Allman Brothers reunion “could be a good idea”

By Steve Newton I did the first of my four interviews with guitar legend Dickey Betts back in March of 1989, when he was touring with the Dickey Betts Band, playing tunes from his first album in seven years, Pattern Disruptive. Betts' famous former group, the Allman Brothers Band, had broken up (for the second … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me that an Allman Brothers reunion “could be a good idea”

Dickey Betts just turned 80, so here’s five of the best quotes I ever got from the legendary Allman Brothers guitarist

By Steve Newton Happy birthday to southern-rock guitar hero Dickey Betts, who is celebrating his 80th trip around the sun today. Now I know why the Allman Brothers named that stellar 1975 compilation LP The Road Goes On Forever. During that legendary musical trek I got to interview Betts four times, in 1989 (just before … Continue reading Dickey Betts just turned 80, so here’s five of the best quotes I ever got from the legendary Allman Brothers guitarist

God bless Jaco Pastorius’s bass solo on Ian Hunter’s “All American Alien Boy”

By Steve Newton I really appreciate incredible guitar solos. Sometimes, when I hear one that totally blows me away, I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless exquisite guitar solos by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For … Continue reading God bless Jaco Pastorius’s bass solo on Ian Hunter’s “All American Alien Boy”

That time I asked Sonny Landreth what first got him into slide guitar

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Louisiana slide-guitar master Sonny Landreth four times between 1995 and 2016. This is the first time, when I called him up in Sacramento, California, where he was touring as the opening act for Chicago blues great Buddy Guy. Landreth was promoting his fourth studio album, South of I-10, which features a photo on … Continue reading That time I asked Sonny Landreth what first got him into slide guitar

Joe Satriani tackles the “impossible to play” intro to Van Halen’s “Mean Street” before rocking out on “5150”

By Steve Newton Yesterday I mentioned here that Sammy Hagar had just announced his Best of All Worlds Tour, wherein he'll hook up with guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Jason Bonham for a six-week tour next summer. Today that lineup appeared on the Howard Stern Show, where Satch attempted to perform Eddie … Continue reading Joe Satriani tackles the “impossible to play” intro to Van Halen’s “Mean Street” before rocking out on “5150”

Joe Satriani will channel Eddie Van Halen (and maybe Ronnie Montrose) on Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour

By Steve Newton Van Halen freaks looking to relive the legendary band's days with Sammy Hagar at the mike are in for a treat. Hagar announced today that he will be going on the road next summer with a band that includes guitar hero Joe Satriani, former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Jason … Continue reading Joe Satriani will channel Eddie Van Halen (and maybe Ronnie Montrose) on Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour

That time Sonny Landreth told me about Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins taking him to breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville

By Steve Newton I've interviewed Louisiana slide-guitar master Sonny Landreth four times, because he's just awesome. This is the first time, when I called him up in Sacramento, California, where he was touring as the opening act for Chicago blues great Buddy Guy. Landreth was promoting his fourth studio album, South of I-10, which featured … Continue reading That time Sonny Landreth told me about Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins taking him to breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Nashville

Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton I only chose songs from Clapton's official solo albums, nothing from collaborations or Cream or Blind Faith or Yardbirds or Derek and the Dominos. If I hadn't, "Layla" would have been #1, obviously, and "Crossroads" #2. 20. "It's in the Way That You Use It" (August, 1986) 19. "Cocaine" (Slowhand, 1977) 18. … Continue reading Eric Clapton’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Rolling Stone’s bullshit 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list ranks Johnny Winter at 166

charles campbell photo By Steve Newton Last week Rolling Stone published an article titled "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". And now that I've had some time to analyze that list, I can safely say that it stinks. For one thing, can you believe that the braindead editors and writers at Rolling Stone actually … Continue reading Rolling Stone’s bullshit 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list ranks Johnny Winter at 166

10 minutes on the phone with Steve Hackett from Genesis in 1993

I did my first interview with Steve Hackett in 1993, when he called me up while touring behind his tenth solo album, Guitar Noir.

Living Colour’s Vernon Reid incites his X followers to give Robin Trower some social-media love

Follow the Stratmaster at @robintrower By Steve Newton One of the things I like most about guitar players--besides hearing them play--is when they help out other guitarists. Especially when the picker being aided is as amazing, yet under-appreciated, as British rocker Robin Trower. It was very cool to find out that, last Saturday (September 23), … Continue reading Living Colour’s Vernon Reid incites his X followers to give Robin Trower some social-media love