By Steve Newton When I did my first interview with Joe Satriani in January of 1990 his Flying in a Blue Dream album had been out for only two months, and word had gotten around about what an ambitious project it was, clocking in at nearly 65 minutes. (His previous full-length disc, Surfing With the … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me that he wanted Flying in a Blue Dream to be something heavy and deep
That time Joss Stone told me that the music kinda just falls out of Ernie Isley’s fingers
By Steve Newton I wasn't a close follower of soul crooner Joss Stone when I hooked up with her by phone in Brussels, Belgium, in September of 2012. But I knew that she had a great voice, and that she'd sung lead on two tracks on Jeff Beck's latest album, Emotion & Commotion. Speaking of … Continue reading That time Joss Stone told me that the music kinda just falls out of Ernie Isley’s fingers
That time Men Without Hats’ Ivan Doroschuk told me about making the video for “Safety Dance”
By Steve Newton I interviewed Men Without Hats singer and main songwriter Ivan Doroschuk in 1984, the year after the band's second single, "The Safety Dance", became a worldwide hit. I was just about to write that the band was a one-hit wonder, but then I remembered they had another hit called "Pop Goes the … Continue reading That time Men Without Hats’ Ivan Doroschuk told me about making the video for “Safety Dance”
That time Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton told me that Rory Gallagher was the guy who made him pick up a guitar
By Steve Newton Back in 2005 I did my first interview with Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, who I'd been a fan of ever since I heard him wailin' away with KK on the Screaming for Vengeance album of '82. After asking him what his fave Priest albums were, and which of his solos he … Continue reading That time Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton told me that Rory Gallagher was the guy who made him pick up a guitar
That time Roger Glover told me that he was “disgusted” when he saw Deep Purple with Tommy Bolin
By Steve Newton I was 18 years old when Deep Purple released the album Come Taste the Band, so being a huge fan of the band since Fireball, I bought it. It took me a while to get into it--it didn't have the immediacy of a Machine Head or Burn--but eventually I grew very fond … Continue reading That time Roger Glover told me that he was “disgusted” when he saw Deep Purple with Tommy Bolin
Devin Townsend on hating guitar, loving Noisescapes, and doing the Steve Vai project “because it was there”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1993 By Steve Newton Things have a comical way of working out for some folks in the wacky world of rock ’n’ roll. In the case of 21-year-old Devin Townsend—who came out of nowhere (well, Vancouver, actually) to claim the prestigious lead vocalist spot in Yankee guitar god Steve Vai’s … Continue reading Devin Townsend on hating guitar, loving Noisescapes, and doing the Steve Vai project “because it was there”
That time Jack Blades told me about the different playing styles of Night Ranger guitarists Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson
By Steve Newton Back in January of 1984 I interviewed Night Ranger vocalist-bassist Jack Blades while his band was accompanying ZZ Top on its Eliminator Tour. I wasn't the biggest Night Ranger fan in the world back then. In the midst of the hard rock/metal craze I was more into Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and … Continue reading That time Jack Blades told me about the different playing styles of Night Ranger guitarists Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson
Eddie Van Halen: what Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth, Jake E. Lee, Leslie West, and brother Alex told me about “the king”
By Steve Newton One of the biggest regrets of my career in rock journalism--and there aren't that many, believe it or not--was never getting the opportunity to interview Eddie Van Halen. I did get to chat with his big brother Alex once, and he gave me a really great interview, but it just wasn't the … Continue reading Eddie Van Halen: what Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth, Jake E. Lee, Leslie West, and brother Alex told me about “the king”
That time Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell told me that he got paid less than the road crew in Dio
By Steve Newton I interviewed Irish guitar hero Vivian Campbell in September of 1992, three weeks after his 30th birthday. Five months earlier he'd joined Def Leppard, one of the world's most popular rock bands, apparently being chosen over the likes of John Sykes, Gary Hoey, and Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden. So no wonder … Continue reading That time Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell told me that he got paid less than the road crew in Dio
That time Colin James told me that playing electric slide-guitar was a challenge for him
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1995 I interviewed Canadian blues-rocker Colin James, who I'd been a fan of since his self-titled 1988 debut album. At the time he was touring behind his fourth album, Bad Habits, which saw him playing quite a bit of slide guitar on tunes like "Real Stuff" and "Walkin' … Continue reading That time Colin James told me that playing electric slide-guitar was a challenge for him
Devin Townsend, 19, scores opening gig for Michael Schenker with his first band, Gray Skies
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 19, 1992 By Steve Newton Decisions, decisions. Tearing open the shrink-wrap from a tape by a local band called Gray Skies, I see that one side of the six-song demo is labelled the Juvenile Side, while the other promises the Dyslexic Side. Just as I’m ready to go with the Juvenile … Continue reading Devin Townsend, 19, scores opening gig for Michael Schenker with his first band, Gray Skies
That time Kim Simmonds told me that Eric Clapton was the greatest white blues guitar player he’d ever seen
By Steve Newton I was a huge Foghat fan in the seventies. I couldn't get enough of their hard-driving boogie-blues on albums like Energized and Rock and Roll Outlaws. When I learned that most of their original members had come from a band called Savoy Brown I went and checked them out as well, and … Continue reading That time Kim Simmonds told me that Eric Clapton was the greatest white blues guitar player he’d ever seen
That time Joe Satriani told me how an unsolicited Mastercard application got Not of This Earth off the ground
By Steve Newton You know how you're always getting those unsolicited credit-card applications in the mail? The ones that say "Dear [insert your name here]. You've been approved for a shitload of money, so just sign up here." Well, Joe Satriani got one of those once, and it turned out to be exactly what he … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me how an unsolicited Mastercard application got Not of This Earth off the ground