By Steve Newton Now here's a fun little soundbite I digitized off an old cassette I had lying around from 1993. It's an AudioMagnetics XHE 60, so good on them for making tapes that still work decades later. That particular tape also includes 1993 interviews with Devin Townsend, Steve Hackett of Genesis fame, and Stuart … Continue reading That time Robert Plant told me he was “very very pissed off” that Black Sabbath wasn’t going to reform
That time Gord Downie told me that the Tragically Hip made Up To Here to fit its own standards
By Steve Newton Back in September of 1989 I did my first interview with the Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie. At the time Downie was just 25, and the band was basking in the recent release of its incredible Up To Here album. At one point in the conversaiton I sorta played the devils' advocate … Continue reading That time Gord Downie told me that the Tragically Hip made Up To Here to fit its own standards
That time I was a total jerk and cheered for Sonny Liston to beat Cassius Clay
By Steve Newton So, one of the greatest men who ever lived dies and CTV News Channel, in its FOX-like rush to be first with the BREAKING NEWS, can’t even get his name right. Not even close. “Muhamed Ali”. That’s bloody embarrassing, I must say. I’ve got my own embarrassing Ali story to tell, mind … Continue reading That time I was a total jerk and cheered for Sonny Liston to beat Cassius Clay
Stevie Ray Vaughan six weeks before the crash: “I would hate to get caught playing my last gig not trying”
By Steve Newton I didn't go into journalism to get rich--and if you saw my bank balance you'd know that for a fact. But whenever I look back and go "Hell yeah, I got to interview Stevie Ray Vaughan twice!" it makes me realize that the career choice has spawned some golden moments. Like that time back … Continue reading Stevie Ray Vaughan six weeks before the crash: “I would hate to get caught playing my last gig not trying”
That time Gord Downie told me about the new Hip tunes “38 Years Old” and “New Orleans is Sinking”
By Steve Newton You've already heard the bad news, that Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer. You may have also heard the good news, that he and his band are dealing with the diagnosis the only way they know how: by rocking it out on a cross-Canada tour that kicks off in … Continue reading That time Gord Downie told me about the new Hip tunes “38 Years Old” and “New Orleans is Sinking”
Allman Brothers Band vinyl box boasts a ton of collectables in a kickass wooden crate
By Steve Newton It's a little early to start thinking about what you really want for Christmas, but I'm doin' it anyway. I'll take the 15-LP vinyl box set of Allman Brothers albums that comes in a Georgia-style solid-wood peach crate with a whole whack of collectable extras! The southern-rock legends announced the limited-edition package … Continue reading Allman Brothers Band vinyl box boasts a ton of collectables in a kickass wooden crate
That time I asked B.B. King who his “King of the Blues” would be
By Steve Newton Way back in 1984 I did my first interview with B.B. King when he was playing a string of shows at the Plazazz Showroom in North Vancouver. Man, was he ever a nice guy. Here he is talking about what it's like to carry the title of King of the Blues, and … Continue reading That time I asked B.B. King who his “King of the Blues” would be
Gord Downie’s “Inevitability of Death”
By Steve Newton If you're a fan of Canadian music you've already heard the devastating news. Yesterday the country's greatest-ever guitar-rock band, the Tragically Hip, announced on its Facebook page that singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer. Canucks from coast to coast were shocked and saddened to hear that one of their most beloved artists was … Continue reading Gord Downie’s “Inevitability of Death”
That time I tried telling Albert King that Elmore James was his biggest influence
By Steve Newton When I look back over my 39-year career in music journalism, there are some folks that I'm really, really glad I got to talk to. Like Albert King. Of the three big Kings--sorry B.B. and Freddie--I think I appreciate Albert the most. There was something about the way he could wring deep, … Continue reading That time I tried telling Albert King that Elmore James was his biggest influence
That time Ronnie James Dio got ticked off when I asked him about stepping into Ozzy Osbourne’s shoes in Black Sabbath
By Steve Newton There's no denying that Ronnie James Dio did an incredible job replacing Ozzy Osbourne as the singer in Black Sabbath. The moment I heard "Neon Nights", the opening track on Dio's first Sabbath album, Heaven and Hell, I knew the heavy-metal stars had aligned. The music had way more power and feel … Continue reading That time Ronnie James Dio got ticked off when I asked him about stepping into Ozzy Osbourne’s shoes in Black Sabbath
Roy Buchanan on being asked to join the Stones, his fave guitarists, and Jeff Beck’s dedication to him
By Steve Newton On January 26, 1986, I did my first interview with guitar legend Roy Buchanan. He was coming to Vancouver for a show at the Town Pump, so I called him up at his hotel in Salt Lake City and got the scoop. In this particular excerpt we talked about him being asked … Continue reading Roy Buchanan on being asked to join the Stones, his fave guitarists, and Jeff Beck’s dedication to him
That time Ronnie James Dio told me a fib about Priest and Maiden contributing songs to Hear ‘n Aid
By Steve Newton On May 20 and 21, 1985, the charity project spearheaded by Ronnie James Dio, Hear 'n Aid, recorded its video/single "Stars" at A&M Studios in L.A. "Stars" was a one-time collaboration featuring an array of the biggest hard rock/heavy metal artists of the '80s. Contributing lead vocals on the track were Dio, … Continue reading That time Ronnie James Dio told me a fib about Priest and Maiden contributing songs to Hear ‘n Aid
That time Ronnie James Dio told me about the entity that tried to kill his wife during the recording of Rainbow’s Long Live Rock and Roll
By Steve Newton Back in 2016, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Rainbow Rising--one of the greatest metal albums of all time--I posted blogs with soundbites from interviews I did with former Rainbow members Ronnie James Dio (in 1985) and Tony Carey (in '84). The first one I did on Carey did not go … Continue reading That time Ronnie James Dio told me about the entity that tried to kill his wife during the recording of Rainbow’s Long Live Rock and Roll