By Steve Newton I've interviewed Rob Halford five times over the years, the first being way the funk back in 1984, when Judas Priest was headed to Vancouver on the Defenders of the Faith tour. At one point in the conversation I asked Rob which tune on the new album was his personal favourite, and … Continue reading That time I told Rob Halford that “Freewheel Burning” was my fave tune on Judas Priest’s new album
Category: heavy metal
Annihilator’s Jeff Waters wants to see Van Halen, Kiss, Slayer, and Ozzy (with Randy Rhoads) in a club tonight
By Steve Newton Had a nice chat with Annihilator's Jeff Waters a couple days ago, in advance of his show at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver on June 15. It had been a while. The last time I interviewed him was back in 1990, when his then-Vancouver-based band had just released its second (and most … Continue reading Annihilator’s Jeff Waters wants to see Van Halen, Kiss, Slayer, and Ozzy (with Randy Rhoads) in a club tonight
Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 11, 1991 By Steve Newton In the rock journalism biz, it’s sometimes fun to get your interviewee a little riled. Like when Blitzspeer vocalist Phil Caivano calls from New York and has to respond to the sly query about whether the metal scene in the Big Apple is any more potent … Continue reading Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass
Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 14, 1991 By Steve Newton Sugar and spice and everything nice—that’s definitely not what a concert by Gwar is made of. Simulated decapitation and dismemberment, phony entrails all over the place, fake blood dousing the crowd, and a numbing type of thrash metal that incorporates lyrics even more … Continue reading Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called
Riff Kills Man proves that Martin Popoff knows his shit when it comes to metal
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 17, 1994 By Steve Newton Heavy-metal and hard-rock fans are a fanatical bunch. They thrive on raunchy guitar solos, thundering drums, and howling vocals. They live for feedback. They despise earplugs. And when it comes to their favourite kind of music, they always know who rules. So does Toronto-based writer Martin … Continue reading Riff Kills Man proves that Martin Popoff knows his shit when it comes to metal
Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray, age 30, says “it’s good to know we’ve got a few years to go yet”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 24, 1987 By Steve Newton England's Iron Maiden is different than most other heavy metal bands in a lot of ways. For one thing, they can all play their instruments, and very well. Their songs are quite complex, and the lyrics aren't simple-minded: there are no likes like … Continue reading Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray, age 30, says “it’s good to know we’ve got a few years to go yet”
That time Ozzy Osbourne told me that he wasn’t “a f***ing warlock” trying to turn people into Satanists
Back in the eighties Ozzy was at the peak of his "heavy-metal madman" stage, infamously biting the head off a bat and pissing on the Alamo.
Three months after Cliff Burton’s death Metallica’s James Hetfield told me “You can’t give up”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton "Beware the Merciless Onslaught" were the words that came to me when Metallica vocalist James Hetfield opened the door of his Hyatt Regency hotel room. That message was emblazoned in orange across Hetfield's black t-shirt. Straggly blonde hair hung across his rough face and thick sideburns, … Continue reading Three months after Cliff Burton’s death Metallica’s James Hetfield told me “You can’t give up”
That time 23-year-old James Hetfield told me that Metallica’s new bassist was “fairly goofy”
By Steve Newton Back in 1986 I interviewed Metallica's James Hetfield in his messy Vancouver hotel room. The band had just hired Jason Newsted, who had beaten out a barrage of hopefuls for the prized role of bassist, taking over from the deceased Cliff Burton. At one point Hetfield explained how Metallica had found Newsted, how … Continue reading That time 23-year-old James Hetfield told me that Metallica’s new bassist was “fairly goofy”
That time I asked Metallica’s 23-year-old James Hetfield who his fave metal bands were
By Steve Newton Back in 1986 I met James Hetfield in his hotel room in Vancouver, and we talked for a bit about heavy metal, the death of Cliff Burton, new bassist Jason Newsted, and Metallica's latest album, Master of Puppets. I'm not sure which day in '86 the interview happened, but it was sometime … Continue reading That time I asked Metallica’s 23-year-old James Hetfield who his fave metal bands were
Opeth founder Mikael Åkerfeldt loves ’70s rock, says he was born in the wrong decade
randall vasquez photo By Steve Newton One run-through of its new album, Sorceress, is evidence enough that Swedish quintet Opeth was heavily influenced by ’70s prog rock. The disc was also recorded at the famed Rockfield Studios in Wales, where bands like Rush, Budgie, Hawkwind, and Queen laid down prog-heavy tracks back in the day. As … Continue reading Opeth founder Mikael Åkerfeldt loves ’70s rock, says he was born in the wrong decade
Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt claims that Sweden discriminates against its metal bands
By Steve Newton I called Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt up in Houston last week, and we had a nice little chat about his band’s new Nuclear Blast album, Sorceress, and how the group has evolved from its death-metal origins to become much more prog-based. At one point I asked Åkerfeldt what the music scene was currently … Continue reading Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt claims that Sweden discriminates against its metal bands
That time Tony Iommi told me about the “loon” who wanted to stab him onstage at a Black Sabbath show
By Steve Newton This is probly the last audio excerpt I'll post from my 2007 interview with legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. Maybe one day I'll just post the whole damn conversation--and the one from 1984 as well. You'll have to keep checking back to find out, I suppose. Anyway, this excerpt I thought was … Continue reading That time Tony Iommi told me about the “loon” who wanted to stab him onstage at a Black Sabbath show