ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 1990 By Steve Newton As long as you keep the channel-changer handy for the first frightening sign of Michael Williams, Kim Clarke Champniss, or Rap City, flicking on MuchMusic is sometimes worth the trouble. Once in a while you come across a heavily rotated video that catches … Continue reading Michael Penn talks lyrical inspiration, four-track recording, and his debut album March
The Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts sees his baritone voice as an avenue, not a barrier
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 15, 1991 By Steve Newton A while back, the chances of hearing a booming baritone voice on pop radio would have been about as good as finding a cache of lipstick in Metallica’s dressing-room. But these days you can hardly flick through the airwaves without hearing the hit tune “Superman’s Song” … Continue reading The Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts sees his baritone voice as an avenue, not a barrier
Dave Gonzalez says the Paladins are at their best when pared down
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 17, 1991 By Steve Newton When Paladins guitarist Dave Gonzales called snowbound Vancouver last week, yours truly wasn’t in a cheery mood—and it had nothing to do with the frosty mounds of white stuff entombing his car. The TV news was broadcasting live press conferences with Iraq’s foreign … Continue reading Dave Gonzalez says the Paladins are at their best when pared down
Happy Man’s Jay Homenchuk and Graham Brown were Born to Entertain
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 5, 1992 By Steve Newton Happy Man singer/guitarist Jay Homenchuk has been involved with Vancouver’s independent rock scene for a number of years—either as a guitar roadie for Brilliant Orange or as a member of Green House and his current group. Born and raised in Lotusland, he’s seen the local scene … Continue reading Happy Man’s Jay Homenchuk and Graham Brown were Born to Entertain
The Church and Blue Aeroplanes bring a night of jangly guitars to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 12, 1990 By Steve Newton It was a real toss-up to decide which band—Australia's Church or Britain's Blue Aeroplanes—was the more entertaining at the Commodore last Thursday (July 5). The B.A.'s set was short and sweet; the Church took quite a while to get going. One thing's for … Continue reading The Church and Blue Aeroplanes bring a night of jangly guitars to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom
Kenny Neal recalls getting a harmonica from swamp-blues legend Slim Harpo
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 28, 2002 By Steve Newton A lot of today’s practicing blues artists have stories to tell about influential run-ins with pioneering bluesmen, and Kenny Neal is no exception. When he was a little kid he was handed a harmonica by swamp-blues legend Slim (“I’m a King Bee”) Harpo, who was a … Continue reading Kenny Neal recalls getting a harmonica from swamp-blues legend Slim Harpo
The Phantoms’ Jerome Godboo says the world is a playground
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 25, 1990 By Steve Newton The way today’s product-oriented music industry functions, it’s hard for most bands to have their cake and eat it too. But Toronto’s Phantoms are one band that’s licking the icing from its fingers these days. They managed to ink a deal with A&M Records that let … Continue reading The Phantoms’ Jerome Godboo says the world is a playground
That time I asked Alain Caron how he felt about UZEB being called “the Van Halen of jazz”
By Steve Newton Way back in May of 1985 I interviewed Alain Caron, the phenomenal bassist for Quebec jazz-fusion band UZEB. His group was touring behind its second studio album, You, Be Easy, and headed to Vancouver for a two-night stand at the Commodore Ballroom. At one point in the conversation I asked Caron about … Continue reading That time I asked Alain Caron how he felt about UZEB being called “the Van Halen of jazz”
That time I asked Bruce Dickinson what his favourite tune was on Iron Maiden’s new album Piece of Mind
By Steve Newton Over the last 40 years I've been fortunate enough to have done one-on-one interviews with four members of Iron Maiden: Clive Burr, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, and Bruce Dickinson. I interviewed Dickinson back in June of 1983, when Maiden was touring behind its fourth studio album, Piece of Mind, which had been … Continue reading That time I asked Bruce Dickinson what his favourite tune was on Iron Maiden’s new album Piece of Mind
Nazareth’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton The sad news about Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton passing away on July 5 inspired me to compile my list of the band's best songs. Not surprisingly, they're almost all from the '70s. 20. "Just to Get Into It" (No Mean City, 1979) 19. "Silver Dollar Forger (Parts 1 & 2)" (Rampant, 1974) … Continue reading Nazareth’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
That time I asked ex-David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan if he would jump at the chance to join Van Halen
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1989 I interviewed American bass god Billy Sheehan, who was promoting the new, self-titled debut album by his latest band, Mr. Big. The previous year Sheehan had been playing with Steve Vai in David Lee Roth's band, so as the conversation was winding down I asked him whether--if … Continue reading That time I asked ex-David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan if he would jump at the chance to join Van Halen
Manny Charlton, original Nazareth guitarist, dies at the age of 80
By Steve Newton Just heard the sad news, that Manny Charlton passed away yesterday (July 5) in Dallas. Charlton was the guitarist for Nazareth from its inception in 1968 until 1990. Like millions of others, I was a huge fan of Nazareth in the '70s. So much so that--realizing they'd been snubbed by the Rock … Continue reading Manny Charlton, original Nazareth guitarist, dies at the age of 80
That time King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor told me that he wasn’t into chops for chops’ sake
By Steve Newton I interviewed King's X guitarist Ty Tabor back in June of 2001, when his funky prog-rock trio was touring behind its ninth studio album, Manic Moonlight, and headed to Vancouver for a club gig. Tabor's solo career had recently seen him putting on several guitar clinics in Southeast Asia, where he was … Continue reading That time King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor told me that he wasn’t into chops for chops’ sake