ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 26, 1987 By Steve Newton For R.E.M. fans who can't wait for the follow-up to last year's Life's Rich Pageant LP, there is now a unique compilation of b-sides and studio out-takes to keep them going. And what's most surprising is that, on a whole, Dead Letter Office is … Continue reading Album review: R.E.M., Dead Letter Office (1987)
Album review: Mötley Crüe, Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 12, 1987 By Steve Newton When I first heard Mötley Crüe back in 1981, I was quite impressed. The group's debut album, Too Fast for Love, had a rough-edged punk feel, and songs like "Live Wire", "Public Enemy #1", and "Piece of Your Action" made repeated rounds on the old turntable. But … Continue reading Album review: Mötley Crüe, Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
Album review: David Bowie, Never Let Me Down (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 5, 1987 By Steve Newton David Bowie has not broken any stylistic barriers on his new album, as he's been wont to do in the past. Instead he's opted to go for the big '80s dance-rock sound that he has been favouring since 1983's hit Let's Dance LP. And … Continue reading Album review: David Bowie, Never Let Me Down (1987)
Album review: Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads, Tribute (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 5, 1987 By Steve Newton Everybody has their favourite rock guitarists. "Hendrix," scream some, "Jimi Hendrix rules!" "Page is king," others argue. "Clapton is God," says the next person. And then there are people who bow down before Jeff Beck. Me, I'm a Randy Rhoads kinda guy. I … Continue reading Album review: Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads, Tribute (1987)
Roy Buchanan talks jamming with Pink Floyd “bluesman” David Gilmour and boasts about his new Bluesmaster guitar
roger fritz photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 8, 1988 By Steve Newton Blues guitar giant Roy Buchanan makes his yearly visit to Vancouver this week, and fans of his searingly soulful, technically awesome style can get their 1988 dose of it. This time around, though, Roy will be shooting off those wild licks with the … Continue reading Roy Buchanan talks jamming with Pink Floyd “bluesman” David Gilmour and boasts about his new Bluesmaster guitar
Album review: Gary Moore, Wild Frontier (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 8, 1987 By Steve Newton "What are your favourite bands?" I get asked that a lot, and it's a tough question. For someone who listens to a lot of different records, favourite bands come and go. But for me, probably the most endearing rock group is Thin Lizzy. And it's not just because … Continue reading Album review: Gary Moore, Wild Frontier (1987)
Album review: Deep Purple, The House of Blue Light (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 27, 1987 By Steve Newton Deep Purple's new album was recorded at the same studio, with the same engineer, as their 1984 reunion LP Perfect Strangers. Like Perfect Strangers, the production credits on The House of Blue Light go to "Roger Glover and Deep Purple". The vast majority … Continue reading Album review: Deep Purple, The House of Blue Light (1987)
A Quiet Place delivers horror with heart
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 6, 2018 By Steve Newton In A Quiet Place, Lee Abbott—played by director, co-writer, and executive producer John Krasinski—has it rough. He lives in a post-apocalyptic world teeming with fierce alien monsters that hunt humans through sound. The slightest noise will have them racing towards you out of nowhere, and … Continue reading A Quiet Place delivers horror with heart
Album review: Tony MacAlpine, Edge of Insanity (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 20, 1987 By Steve Newton Tony MacAlpine is the recent discovery of talent promoter and Guitar Player magazine columnist Mike Varney, and what a find he is. On Edge of Insanity, MacAlpine performs 11 songs that feature him on guitar--with no vocals to get in the way--and he comes up … Continue reading Album review: Tony MacAlpine, Edge of Insanity (1987)
Album review: Bad Company, Fame and Fortune (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton Mott the Hoople and Free were two of the best rock bands Britain ever produced, so it was only fitting that when their members joined forces in 1974 as Bad Company, the band was quickly labeled a supergroup. And it was pretty super … Continue reading Album review: Bad Company, Fame and Fortune (1986)
Mick Ronson’s little sister Maggi liked my post on her legendary bro
By Steve Newton A lot of people are considering deleting their Facebook accounts these days, but I've got at least one good reason to keep mine intact. Just today I received a Facebook message from Maggi Ronson, the younger sister of one of my all-time guitar heroes, Mick Ronson. She was responding to my posting … Continue reading Mick Ronson’s little sister Maggi liked my post on her legendary bro
That time Mick Ronson told me he was a rocker, as if I didn’t know
By Steve Newton I watched that documentary on Mick Ronson, Beside Bowie, the other day, and it inspired me to digitize another snippet off my first interview with Ronno, from 1988. You're welcome, fellow Ronson freaks! The conversation happened on September 9, '88, in advance of a show by the Hunter-Ronson Band at Vancouver's 86 … Continue reading That time Mick Ronson told me he was a rocker, as if I didn’t know
Album review: Robert Cray, Strong Persuader (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton When Robert Cray joined blues giants Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland for last year's magnificent Showdown! album, it was as if the young guitarist had stepped out of nowhere to join the ranks of the blues' top veteran performers. With his new album, … Continue reading Album review: Robert Cray, Strong Persuader (1986)