By Steve Newton When it comes to unheralded guitar geniuses, Danny Gatton is right up there. He's never achieved the fame of a Clapton, Beck, or Page, but in-the-know guitar freaks realize that he's worthy of comparison, talent-wise. I only got to interview Gatton once, back in April of 1993, before he came to Vancouver … Continue reading That time I called up Danny Gatton while he was sorting through his Roy Buchanan tapes
Album review: Johnny Winter, Serious Business (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 18, 1985 By Steve Newton Thank heaven for another Johnny Winter album. Those of who can't get enough of the albino bluesman's white-hot riffs and done-your-daddy-dirty vocals can rejoice over Serious Business, a fitting followup to last year's excellent Guitar Slinger. Unlike the latter LP, Johnny has written two of his … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Winter, Serious Business (1985)
Album review: Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 4, 1985 By Steve Newton On the back cover of the debut album by 25-year-old guitar genius Stanley Jordan is a "WARNING: do not be deceived. Despite what your ears might tell you, there is only one guitarist on this album. And there are no guitar overdubs whatsoever." After hearing … Continue reading Album review: Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch (1985)
Album review: Heart, Heart (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 2, 1985 By Steve Newton For their ninth album--and their first on Capitol Records--Heart have utilized the talents of celebrated producer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, the Who), and come up with a catchy collection of heavy-duty rock tunes and soaring ballads. The rockers take up the bulk of this … Continue reading Album review: Heart, Heart (1985)
That time Warren Zevon told me about his cool-looking mascot, Old Velvet Nose
By Steve Newton I've said it before, and I'll probly say it again: I wish I could have interviewed Warren Zevon more than once. But as the pesky fates would have it, I only got to the chat with the masterful songwriter and awesome human one time, back in January of 1992, when he was … Continue reading That time Warren Zevon told me about his cool-looking mascot, Old Velvet Nose
That time I called up Mick Ronson and asked what he’d been doin’ the last few years
By Steve Newton I've got a lotta guitar heroes, and as a rock journalist for 35 years now, I've managed to interview quite a few. One of my all-time faves has to be Mick Ronson. I've been crazy about him since I heard my first David Bowie album, Aladdin Sane, back in April of '73. … Continue reading That time I called up Mick Ronson and asked what he’d been doin’ the last few years
Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 19, 1985 By Steve Newton Now this is more like it--heavy metal with class. But then any album that features the playing of metal martyr Randy Rhoads can't lose. Rhoads is included via Ozzy Osbourne's first solo hit "Crazy Train". And he's in good company. "Axe masters" K.K Downing … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Axe Masters–Legends of Rock Guitar
Atlanta guitar hero Tinsley Ellis on covering Leon Russell, adoring Eric Clapton, and listening to Tom Dowd
By Steve Newton The last time yours truly interviewed American blues-rocker Tinsley Ellis was 10 years ago, when he called the Georgia Straight in advance of a gig at the Yale Hotel, Vancouver’s top blues venue for decades. Sadly, the Granville Street joint hasn’t been a real home of the blues for years now, a fact not … Continue reading Atlanta guitar hero Tinsley Ellis on covering Leon Russell, adoring Eric Clapton, and listening to Tom Dowd
Exclusive excerpt from my new book, Gord Downie, about the late frontman of the Tragically Hip
By Steve Newton The following is the Preface from my new coffeetable book, Gord Downie, published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. of New York City and currently available at Indigo, Coles, and Chapters outlets across Canada. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The first time I spoke to Gord Downie he was a longhaired 25-year-old rocker touring behind his band's first full-length … Continue reading Exclusive excerpt from my new book, Gord Downie, about the late frontman of the Tragically Hip
Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 1985 By Steve Newton Uli Jon Roth used to be known as Ulrich Roth, and he used to play lead guitar on Scorpions albums like Virgin Killer and Taken By Force before the Scorps replaced him with current axeman Matthias Jabs and struck it rich with Blackout … Continue reading Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)
Album review: Lonnie Mack, Strike Like Lightning (1985)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 24, 1985 By Steve Newton Strike Like Lightning--the newest release from blues innovator Lonnie Mack--packs a sizzling guitar-drenched punch. Produced by Mack and six-string hero Stevie Ray Vaughan, the album features Vaughan's nifty fretwork on five tracks, including the go-for-broke instrumental "Double Whammy" and the acoustic, back-porch jam of … Continue reading Album review: Lonnie Mack, Strike Like Lightning (1985)
That time Dickey Betts told me about the music business and the Allman Brothers’ “official” albums
photo by kirk west By Steve Newton I still have fond memories of seeing guitar legend Dickey Betts with the Allman Brothers back in the early '90s, when he was trading killer licks with another of my fave pickers, Warren Haynes. When I did my third interview with Dickey, back in July of '92, the band was … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me about the music business and the Allman Brothers’ “official” albums
Tinsley Ellis recalls “child phenomenon” Derek Trucks playing with “so much soul” at age 14
photo by Susan B. Stanton By Steve Newton A few days ago I had a nice little chat with Atlanta blues-rock guitar great Tinsley Ellis, in advance of his show at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver here on February 18. I'd previously interviewed Ellis three times, in 1992, 1994, and 2008, and have long been … Continue reading Tinsley Ellis recalls “child phenomenon” Derek Trucks playing with “so much soul” at age 14