By Steve Newton Who knew that when I stepped onto the lush green grounds of Vancouver's Stanley Park in the summer of 1990 that I'd be writing about it three decades later. I sure the hell didn't. I'd been assigned to write two 3,000-word set-visit stories for then-thriving horror mag Fangoria on the filming of a two-part ABC-TV miniseries … Continue reading Fears of a Clown: talking horror with Tim Curry (Pennywise) on the set of Stephen King’s It
That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time
By Steve Newton By now most everyone has heard the awful news: that American rock legend Chris Cornell took his own life after a Soundgarden concert in Detroit Wednesday night. What a complete shocker. What a total downer. He was only 52. I wasn't the biggest Soundgarden fanatic in the world, but I loved a … Continue reading That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time
That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
By Steve Newton Here's a fun little 30-second audio snippet that never fails to make me smile. Back in 1985 I did an interview with bass-guitar legend Donald "Duck" Dunn, who at the time was playing in Eric Clapton's touring band. Dunn is famous for playing bass with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and for his session work … Continue reading That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford
By Steve Newton What do you get when you gather the lead singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free on stage at the same time? A pretty rockin' version of the '50s chestnut "Money (That's What I Want)", it appears. Robert Plant, Brian Johnson, and Paul Rodgers got together at one of Rodgers' shows in … Continue reading Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford
Billy Idol humps the stage and Steve Stevens’ guitars rage as the Whiplash Smile tour hits Vancouver
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 22, 1987 By Steve Newton When Billy Idol kept stalling and stalling the release of his latest LP, Whiplash Smile, there was some real danger that the man's popularity--which had reached great heights after the release of 1983's Rebel Yell--was beginning to run its course. When a star with so … Continue reading Billy Idol humps the stage and Steve Stevens’ guitars rage as the Whiplash Smile tour hits Vancouver
Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the neck
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 4, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands spend months—even years—recording albums, poring over technicalities and making sure every little nibbly bit is in the perfect place. Then there are bands like Florida’s Saigon Kick, which knocked off its debut in 11 days flat. That’s movin’. “Everybody says that,” … Continue reading Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the neck
Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 2, 1990 By Steve Newton When the Royal Court of China's debut album hit the record racks three years ago, it took a few people by surprise. By the daintiness of the band's name, possible buyers might be forgiven for taking it as yet another panty-waist British … Continue reading Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed
Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 25, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands just aren’t happy unless they’re recording in the fanciest, most expensive studios around. Then there are bands like Chicago’s Eleventh Dream Day, which laid down the tracks for its latest album in a Kentucky tobacco barn. The band members had to … Continue reading Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars
Sound thief Mike Edwards says perverted samples keep Jesus Jones from getting sued
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 16, 1991 By Steve Newton Mike Edwards is a very talented thief—a thief of sounds, that is. When the 26-year-old Brit hears something he likes, he takes it. And puts it on a Jesus Jones album. And sells a bunch. “When it comes to sampling, I just pick … Continue reading Sound thief Mike Edwards says perverted samples keep Jesus Jones from getting sued
David Gogo drinks “anything that’s liquid” and uses the empty glass for a slide in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 19, 1991 By Steve Newton Does 22-year-old David Gogo have what it takes to become Canada’s next blues-rock guitar hero? Can his name be mentioned along with the likes of Jeff Healey, Colin James, and Tony “Wild T” Springer? That question could be on a few minds these … Continue reading David Gogo drinks “anything that’s liquid” and uses the empty glass for a slide in Vancouver
Tony “Wild T” Springer isn’t worried about being pegged as a Hendrix clone any more
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 30, 1991 By Steve Newton The first thing you see when you scan Tony “Wild T” Springer & the Spirit’s Warner Music bio isn’t a background on the Trinidad-born, Toronto-based blues-rocker, or even some over-zealous copywriter’s frothings, but a quote from Jeff Healey, who claims that guitarist Wild … Continue reading Tony “Wild T” Springer isn’t worried about being pegged as a Hendrix clone any more
The Belko Experiment fails, though not for lack of dying
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 12, 2017 By Steve Newton The Belko Experiment looks great on paper if you're a devotee of scary movies. It's directed by Aussie Greg McLean, who blew horror fans away with his Outback-set psycho-killer debut Wolf Creek back in 2005. And it's written by James Gunn, who worked wonders helming the comically gory Slither in 2006 before hitting … Continue reading The Belko Experiment fails, though not for lack of dying
That time Gord Downie told me that he thought the Tragically Hip was a success from day one
By Steve Newton As I mentioned in a blog last month, the last time I interviewed Gord Downie he got a little "cunty" (his word) when I brought up the subject of how the Tragically Hip hadn't enjoyed nearly the same level of success in the States as it had in Canada. After that minor … Continue reading That time Gord Downie told me that he thought the Tragically Hip was a success from day one