By Steve Newton Being a teenaged devotee of guitar-driven boogie in the seventies put me directly in line with what was required to be a hardcore ZZ Top fan. I have vivid memories of the band, like that time I walked into the Chilliwack Second Hand Store and found a near-mint copy of the Tres … Continue reading That time I asked Billy Gibbons what the glue was that kept ZZ Top together for so long
That time I asked Alex Lifeson what he thought the attraction was to Rush for so many diehard fans
By Steve Newton By now you've no doubt heard the awful news: that Rush drummer-lyricist Neil Peart has died from brain cancer. The man who inspired a million drummers is now up there jammin' with Allan Holdsworth and Jaco Pastorius or equally brilliant and pioneering players like that. So Rush is no more. There will … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Lifeson what he thought the attraction was to Rush for so many diehard fans
That time I asked Rush’s Geddy Lee if he was in awe of how Neil Peart carried on after tragedy
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Geddy Lee a couple of times, in 1997 and 2002. This was the second time, when Rush was touring behind its Vapour Trails album, which I thought was awesome. It was their first album in six years, as the tragic events in drummer Neil Peart's life--the deaths of his daughter and … Continue reading That time I asked Rush’s Geddy Lee if he was in awe of how Neil Peart carried on after tragedy
Neil Peart, rock drummer extraordinaire, dead at 67
By Steve Newton Neil Peart, arguably the world's greatest rock drummer, has died at age 67. According to a statement issued today by family spokesperson Elliot Mintz, Peart died Tuesday in Santa Monica, California, after having been diagnosed with brain cancer. Born in Hamilton and raised in St. Catherines, the Ontario rocker joined Rush guitarist Alex … Continue reading Neil Peart, rock drummer extraordinaire, dead at 67
That time I asked Buck Dharma how he came up with the classic riff for Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”
By Steve Newton "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" might be my favourite song of all time. Or maybe it's tied with John Lennon's "Imagine". Either way, I freakin' love that song. Several times over the years I've felt a tweak of pleasure along the top of my skull when I hear that song, coinciding with the … Continue reading That time I asked Buck Dharma how he came up with the classic riff for Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”
That time I asked Michael Schenker which UFO album he was most impressed with himself
By Steve Newton In March of 1992 I did an interview with Michael Schenker, one of my favourite hard-rock guitarists of all time, whose work with Scorpions, UFO, and MSG totally blew me away. Especially the UFO stuff. When the Phenomenon album came out in 1974 I had just turned 17, and tunes like "Doctor … Continue reading That time I asked Michael Schenker which UFO album he was most impressed with himself
Newt’s 30 best rock albums of the decade, 2010-2019
By Steve Newton 30. Soundgarden King Animal (2012) The classic Soundgarden lineup of singer Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron releases its first album in 16 years, and it sounds like it’s never been gone. The raging, three-minute “Attrition” might be the best damn rock tune of the year. 29. … Continue reading Newt’s 30 best rock albums of the decade, 2010-2019
That time Vinnie Paul told me that the guy on the cover of Pantera’s new album got paid $300 for getting punched in the face
By Steve Newton I interviewed Pantera cofounder and drummer Vinnie Paul on February 20, 1992, five days before the release of the band's sixth album, Vulgar Display of Power. The followup to its breakthrough Cowboys from Hell LP, VDOP featured a cover photo of some guy getting punched in the head, so when Vinnie called me … Continue reading That time Vinnie Paul told me that the guy on the cover of Pantera’s new album got paid $300 for getting punched in the face
That time Joan Jett told me she couldn’t picture herself slinging a guitar at 60
By Steve Newton Back in January of 1992 I interviewed Joan Jett, who was heading to Vancouver on a tour promoting her eighth album with the Blackhearts, Notorious. You may recall how that disc opened with a pretty cool tune she cowrote with the Replacements' Paul Westerberg called "Backlash". At one point in the conversation … Continue reading That time Joan Jett told me she couldn’t picture herself slinging a guitar at 60
That time I asked Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris if he had to practice a lot to keep his bass licks up
By Steve Newton I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed Iron Maiden members six times between 1982 and 2012, but the only time I chatted with bass god Steve Harris was in May of 1988, when the band was touring behind its Seventh Son of a Seventh Son LP. That disc featured the wicked singles "Can … Continue reading That time I asked Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris if he had to practice a lot to keep his bass licks up
That time Mick Mars told me that Yngwie Malmsteen could be the world’s best guitarist if he’d just change his attitude
By Steve Newton Back in November of 1985 I interviewed Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars the same day his band played Vancouver on its Theatre of Pain tour. At one point in the conversation we were talking fave guitar players--his (and mine) being Jeff Beck--and I asked him how he felt about the new superstars … Continue reading That time Mick Mars told me that Yngwie Malmsteen could be the world’s best guitarist if he’d just change his attitude
That time 20-year-old Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach sang me a line from his Schooner beer commercial
By Steve Newton Way the hell back in 1989 I did an interview with Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach. That was less than a month after the release of the band's self-titled debut album, which would go on to sell five-million copies and spawn the hits "Youth Gone Wild", "18 and Life", and "I Remember You". … Continue reading That time 20-year-old Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach sang me a line from his Schooner beer commercial
That time Tommy Aldridge told me that he “wasn’t a fan” of Brian Downey’s drum parts with Thin Lizzy
By Steve Newton As far as seeing concerts goes, I've been very lucky to have been situated in Vancouver since the early '80s. It's a major stopping point for bands touring North America--just a quick scoot across the border from Seattle--and being a music writer meant most of the shows were free. Only a few … Continue reading That time Tommy Aldridge told me that he “wasn’t a fan” of Brian Downey’s drum parts with Thin Lizzy