By Steve Newton As a blues fan and guitar freak, I thank my lucky stars that I got to interview Stevie Ray Vaughan. Twice! This was the second time, in July of 1990, when he called me up from Montreal just six weeks before that goddamn helicopter crash took him away. I started the conversation … Continue reading That time Stevie Ray Vaughan called me up and explained what it was like touring with Joe Cocker
That time Rick Richards from the Georgia Satellites told me how much he loved the Faces
By Steve Newton The Georgia Satellites were one of my fave bands of the '80s. A lot of folks only know them from their big hit, "Keep Your Hands to Yourself", but I much preferred tunes like "Railroad Steel", "Red Light", and especially "Battleship Chains". The first time I interviewed lead guitarist and sometime vocalist … Continue reading That time Rick Richards from the Georgia Satellites told me how much he loved the Faces
That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”
By Steve Newton Back in February of 1984, 10 months before a drunk-driving Vince Neil killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle, I interviewed that band's lead guitarist/main songwriter Andy McCoy and bassist Sami Yaffa. They were both pretty wasted, and shouldn't have been doing interviews, but at one point in the conversation McCoy proved he was … Continue reading That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”
That time Steve Morse told me that he transforms into a different kind of person at night
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Steve Morse in May of 1991, just after he'd released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel, and just three years before he'd join his current band, Deep Purple. At one point in the conversation I brought up Steve's claim that he didn't "live, breathe, and … Continue reading That time Steve Morse told me that he transforms into a different kind of person at night
That time Slash told me how Guns N’ Roses chose the cover tunes for “The Spaghetti Incident”
By Steve Newton The first time I interviewed Slash was two months after the release of "The Spaghetti Incident?", Guns N' Roses' collection of punk and hard-rock cover tunes by bands like the New York Dolls, T-Rex, the Runaways, and Nazareth. At one point in the conversation I mentioned that I was happy they'd recorded … Continue reading That time Slash told me how Guns N’ Roses chose the cover tunes for “The Spaghetti Incident”
Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?
bob geldof photo By Steve Newton Rory Gallagher is quite likely the most underrated rock-guitar player of all time. Even though his instrumental prowess has been constantly raved about by such longtime fans as Slash, Brian May, and The Edge, a lot of music fans have never even heard him. Perhaps most shocking is the … Continue reading Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?
That time I asked Jake E. Lee if there was much pressure taking over Randy Rhoads’ spot with Ozzy
Way back in April of 1992 I interviewed guitar great Jake E. Lee in advance of a Vancouver show by his group Badlands.
That time Buddy Guy told me how badly he wanted Stevie Ray Vaughan’s photo on his album cover
By Steve Newton Buddy Guy is one of my favourite old-school blues guitarists, right up there with Albert King, B.B. King, and Albert Collins. I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed him five times, and seen him perform live many more times than that. I did my first interview with Buddy in August of '91, … Continue reading That time Buddy Guy told me how badly he wanted Stevie Ray Vaughan’s photo on his album cover
That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place
By Steve Newton Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of my fave bands in the seventies, but I never got to see them live with Ronnie, to my infinite regret. I did get to see them for the first time in Vancouver back in '97 on the Legends Tour, and that was cool because the lineup at … Continue reading That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place
That time 82-year-old badass bluesman T-Model Ford told me he didn’t want to murder no more
By Steve Newton As far as I know, I haven't interviewed many murderers. I've unknowingly interviewed some sick, twisted fucks--like child-raper Ian Watkins--but as far as chatting with people who've intentionally taken a life, I think the count is pretty low. It might be a grand total of one. Back in 2004 I interviewed bluesman … Continue reading That time 82-year-old badass bluesman T-Model Ford told me he didn’t want to murder no more
That time I asked Carlos Santana who his favourite guitar player was
By Steve Newton When I interview the world's greatest guitarists, I often like to ask them who they think is the world's greatest guitarist. Carlos Santana is definitely one of the best ever, so when I interviewed him back in 2001 I put the question to him. Have a listen: To hear my full interview … Continue reading That time I asked Carlos Santana who his favourite guitar player was
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Rainbow, BTO, Steve Earle, Judas Priest, Little Feat, Todd Rundgren, and Mahogany Rush
By Steve Newton As you may aware, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame crapped the bed again yesterday, inducting the likes of Whitney Houston and Depeche Mode over nominees like Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, and the MC5. So today Newt's Rock Hall is gonna match their six additions, and add a seventh to … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Rainbow, BTO, Steve Earle, Judas Priest, Little Feat, Todd Rundgren, and Mahogany Rush
Rock Hall hits rock bottom, inducts Whitney Houston instead of Thin Lizzy
By Steve Newton Just when you think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might not necessarily be a total waste of space, they go and screw up big-time again. And this time it's a real doozy. Today the Rock Hall announced the inductees for its class of 2020, and guess what? They had a … Continue reading Rock Hall hits rock bottom, inducts Whitney Houston instead of Thin Lizzy