By Steve Newton FULL DISCLOSURE: I've worked at the Georgia Straight since '82 so, yeah, I could be a little biased. I didn't grow up in Vancouver. I hail from the small Fraser Valley community of Chilliwack, best known for ice storms in the winter, Cultus Lake in the summer, and the rock band Chilliwack … Continue reading You can tell a book by its covers: The Georgia Straight–A 50th Anniversary Celebration
That time Motörhead’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke told me he just wanted to be a member of a really hot band
By Steve Newton The heavy-metal world is still in mourning after yesterday's news that former Motörhead and Fastway guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke has passed away from pneumonia at the age of 67. Clarke was part of the "classic" Motörhead lineup, with also included singer-bassist Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor--both of whom died in … Continue reading That time Motörhead’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke told me he just wanted to be a member of a really hot band
Album review: Thin Lizzy, Life (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 13, 1984 By Steve Newton While not as well-produced as their first live LP Live and Dangerous, Thin Lizzy's new double album does hold some interesting surprises for fans of boisterous hard rock. Featuring guest appearances by legendary axemen Gary Moore, Eric Bell, and Brian Robertson, Life is culled from various … Continue reading Album review: Thin Lizzy, Life (1983)
Album review: Michael Bloomfield, Bloomfield (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 13, 1984 By Steve Newton "The music you listen to becomes the soundtrack of your life...it becomes the background track for your existence." So says the late Michael Bloomfield in an interview segment from the new retrospective of the bluesman's brilliant career. Bloomfield. There are four such segments interspersed … Continue reading Album review: Michael Bloomfield, Bloomfield (1983)
Rock producer Chris Tsangarides, known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and the Tragically Hip, dead at 61
By Steve Newton Sad news to report today. Chris Tsangarides--who produced such albums as Thin Lizzy's Thunder and Lightning, Gary Moore's Back on the Streets, and the Tragically Hip's Fully Completely--died of heart failure today after battling pneumonia. He was only 61. Tsangarides, who specialized in hard rock, had also worked on albums by Black … Continue reading Rock producer Chris Tsangarides, known for his work with Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, and the Tragically Hip, dead at 61
Album review: Rick Derringer, Good Dirty Fun (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton Party-time tunes of young lust ("Lesson Learned") and the rock and roll life ("Party at the Hotel") predominate on Rick Derringer's latest LP, Good Dirty Fun. But the subject matter of his songs is not really important. As usual, Derringer's flashy guitar histrionics are the … Continue reading Album review: Rick Derringer, Good Dirty Fun (1983)
Album review: Robin Trower, Back It Up (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton The best things in music, like the best things in life, often go unnoticed. And Robin Trower is one of them. The British blues-rocker has been putting out exceptional albums for ten years now--the most notable being Bridge of Sighs, Victims of the Fury, … Continue reading Album review: Robin Trower, Back It Up (1983)
Album review: Thin Lizzy, Thunder and Lightning (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 29, 1983 By Steve Newton One of the biggest disappointments in hard rock this year is the news that Thin Lizzy--after 14 years and many fine, albeit underrated albums--is calling it quits. Ever since 1974's magical Vagabonds of the Western World, Phil Lynott and Co. have been churning … Continue reading Album review: Thin Lizzy, Thunder and Lightning (1983)
Album review: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 1983 By Steve Newton Supposedly, David Bowie kicked Stevie Ray Vaughan out of his touring band because the guitarist insisted that the Thin White Duke let him play some of his own tunes in concert. If you ask me, it's a good thing Bowie objected, because Vaughan is such a fine … Continue reading Album review: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood (1983)
Album review: Larry Carlton, Friends (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 1, 1983 By Steve Newton One of the reigning monarchs of L.A. session guitarists, Larry Carlton has played with some of the best in the world. and now, on his third self-produced LP Friends, he's gathered some of the best in the world to play with him. Bassist … Continue reading Album review: Larry Carlton, Friends (1983)
Album review: Blackfoot, Siogo (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 24, 1983 By Steve Newton Former Uriah Heep keyboardist Ken Hensley has become the fifth Blackfoot member on their fourth studio album, Siogo. While I was a little worried that the overpowering organ sound he'd often wielded in his former band might drown out the gritty guitars of Rickey … Continue reading Album review: Blackfoot, Siogo (1983)
Album review: Santana, Havana Moon (1983)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 3, 1983 By Steve Newton The Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Tower of Power horns, Booker T. Jones, Willie Nelson. All fine artists, but what do they have in common? The new Carlos Santana album, that's what. Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, drummer Fran Christina, bassist Keith Ferguson, and harmonica man Kim Wilson--the Fabulous … Continue reading Album review: Santana, Havana Moon (1983)
Mötley Crüe’s debut album gets double duty on Music to Crash Your Car To, Volume 1
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Eighties L.A. glam-rockers Mötley Crüe borrowed well from their ’70s New York counterparts, KISS. The Crüe took a bit of KISS’s makeup and leather outfits, and a lot of its penchant for on-stage theatrics. Both groups had a habit of recording horrible ballads … Continue reading Mötley Crüe’s debut album gets double duty on Music to Crash Your Car To, Volume 1