By Steve Newton Here's five horror flicks I really enjoyed in 2016: Don't Breathe "Alvarez–who also cowrote the script–guides the ensuing mayhem with a sure hand, ratcheting up the suspense and keeping the thrills coming long after other directors would have packed it in. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with for feature number … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s top 5 horror flicks of 2016 (and five more that sucked the biggie)
That time Ronnie Montrose told me why he didn’t want to make a fourth Gamma album
By Steve Newton Dedicated fans of guitar great Ronnie Montrose know that, after he made his mark on the hard-rock scene with Montrose, he formed a more prog-oriented band called Gamma with singer Davey Pattison that continued making great music. I snapped up the group's debut album, Gamma 1, as soon as it came out in … Continue reading That time Ronnie Montrose told me why he didn’t want to make a fourth Gamma album
Thinking nice thoughts of Rick Parfitt while listening to “Big Fat Mama” from Status Quo’s Piledriver
By Steve Newton Just heard the sad news that Rick Parfitt, guitarist-vocalist for Status Quo, died today from a severe infection at a hospital in Spain. He was 68. I first discovered Status Quo as a teenager when I came upon their 1972 album Piledriver at a record store. I'd never heard Status Quo before, … Continue reading Thinking nice thoughts of Rick Parfitt while listening to “Big Fat Mama” from Status Quo’s Piledriver
That time I asked Buddy Miles if Jimi Hendrix was as great as they say
By Steve Newton Back in the summer of 2001 I did my one and only interview with legendary rock drummer Buddy Miles, who you may recall from such bands as the Electric Flag (with Mike Bloomfield) and Band of Gypsys (with Jimi Hendrix). At one point in our chat I mentioned to Buddy that he'd … Continue reading That time I asked Buddy Miles if Jimi Hendrix was as great as they say
That time I asked Dickey Betts if the Allman Brothers were the originators of “southern rock”
By Steve Newton I've been a big fan of "southern rock" since I first heard the Allman Brothers Band's version of "One Way Out" on the Eat a Peach album back in high school. Some of my other fave bands in the seventies were Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, and Blackfoot. So when I … Continue reading That time I asked Dickey Betts if the Allman Brothers were the originators of “southern rock”
Three months after Cliff Burton’s death Metallica’s James Hetfield told me “You can’t give up”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton "Beware the Merciless Onslaught" were the words that came to me when Metallica vocalist James Hetfield opened the door of his Hyatt Regency hotel room. That message was emblazoned in orange across Hetfield's black t-shirt. Straggly blonde hair hung across his rough face and thick sideburns, … Continue reading Three months after Cliff Burton’s death Metallica’s James Hetfield told me “You can’t give up”
Huey Lewis & the News can’t cut it as arena rockers in Vancouver
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton Huey Lewis has a great rock and roll voice, he writes fairly catchy tunes, and his band--though nothing fancy--plays those songs well enough to get by. But when Huey Lewis & the News try to make it as a big arena-rock … Continue reading Huey Lewis & the News can’t cut it as arena rockers in Vancouver
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Warren Zevon, Rick Derringer, Albert Collins, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, and Jethro Tull
By Steve Newton So the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did it again. Today the poorly-named musical dumping ground in Cleveland inducted six acts into its fold, including folkie Joan Baez and rapper Tupac Shakur. Sure, they're both great at what they do, but are they rock 'n' roll? Kinda doubt it. The other … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Warren Zevon, Rick Derringer, Albert Collins, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, and Jethro Tull
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 1986 By Steve Newton Steve Earle Guitar Town Catchy country-rock with a down home feel that sounds fresh even after repeated listenings. Eurythmics Revenge Irresistible little rock gems that make you hum whether you want to or not. Brian Setzer The Knife Feels Like Justice Stray Cat … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986
That time I called Johnny Ramone up in Rio and he said the Ramones were huge down there
By Steve Newton Back in September of 1992 I did my second interview with punk-rock guitar legend Johnny Ramone. (Here's my first one, from 1983.) At the time the Ramones were touring South America, promoting their brand new album Mondo Bizarro. Johnny took my call at his hotel in Rio, just as he was about … Continue reading That time I called Johnny Ramone up in Rio and he said the Ramones were huge down there
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2016
By Steve Newton Please, God, don’t let any more of my rock heroes die this year. Jeff Beck Loud Hailer The world’s greatest living rock guitarist isn’t resting on his laurels at the age of 72. With Loud Hailer—another term for “megaphone”—Beck delivers a fresh-sounding blast of intense, politically minded rock. His fretwork has never … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2016
That time Ronnie Montrose told me that Sammy Hagar had always wanted to be a, quote, “rock star”
By Steve Newton Back in '94 when I did my one-and-only interview with guitar legend Ronnie Montrose, I told him that, as a teenager in the '70s, I'd really gone nuts for the debut Montrose album. After he told me that those were "kindergarten days" as far as his knowledge of guitar went, I asked Ronnie … Continue reading That time Ronnie Montrose told me that Sammy Hagar had always wanted to be a, quote, “rock star”
Funked-up Newt gets down with Lionel Richie, gets back up again
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 1986 By Steve Newton There are two kinds of songs that Lionel Richie can perform as well, if not better, than anyone else in the music world. One is the poignant, yearning love ballad, the type that can choke up even hardened ex-cons with … Continue reading Funked-up Newt gets down with Lionel Richie, gets back up again