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

That time I told Rob Halford that “Freewheel Burning” was my fave tune on Judas Priest’s new album

By Steve Newton I've interviewed Rob Halford five times over the years, the first being way the funk back in 1984, when Judas Priest was headed to Vancouver on the Defenders of the Faith tour. At one point in the conversation I asked Rob which tune on the new album was his personal favourite, and … Continue reading That time I told Rob Halford that “Freewheel Burning” was my fave tune on Judas Priest’s new album

That time I asked Carlos Santana how he gets his guitar tone

By Steve Newton One of the biggest thrills of my life as a rock journalist came when I interviewed Carlos Santana in August of 2011. His guitar sound has just entranced me ever since I first heard "Black Magic Woman" as a kid. So of course I had to ask him where he gets his … Continue reading That time I asked Carlos Santana how he gets his guitar tone

That time I asked Mick Mars if Mötley Crüe were softening on Theatre of Pain, then told him that I liked their debut album best

By Steve Newton Way the hell back in November of 1985 I interviewed Mick Mars at his Vancouver hotel before a show on Mötley Crüe's Theatre of Pain tour. I was quite the little metalhead back then, and I liked my tunes with a bit of bite, so at one point in the conversation I … Continue reading That time I asked Mick Mars if Mötley Crüe were softening on Theatre of Pain, then told him that I liked their debut album best

That time Walter Trout told me that his spirit was in his Stratocaster

By Steve Newton I interviewed blues-rock guitar wizard Walter Trout back in 2003, before he played a gig at Vancouver's much-missed blues mecca, the Yale Hotel. At one point in the conversation he told me about his fierce, undying love for his 1973 "Strat-o-caster". Have a listen: To hear my full, 24-minute interview with Walter … Continue reading That time Walter Trout told me that his spirit was in his Stratocaster

That time I asked Poison Ivy what inspired the Cramps’ “Bikini Girls with Machine Guns”

By Steve Newton Back in April of 1990 I did my first interview with Cramps guitarist Poison Ivy Rorschach, in advance of a show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. At the time the band was touring behind its new Stay Sick album, which she produced herself, and which included the song "Bikini Girls with Machine Guns", … Continue reading That time I asked Poison Ivy what inspired the Cramps’ “Bikini Girls with Machine Guns”

That time I asked Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst if, six weeks after 9/11, “U.S. Forces” was off the setlist

By Steve Newton Sometimes it's fun when you're searching through your stacks of cassettes packed with interviews you've done since 1982 and you find one that captures a crucial moment in history. I just came across an interview I did with Midnight Oil drummer and cosongwriter Rob Hirst that was dated October 26, 2001, which … Continue reading That time I asked Midnight Oil’s Rob Hirst if, six weeks after 9/11, “U.S. Forces” was off the setlist

That time Tommy Aldridge told me why Black Oak Arkansas wasn’t mentioned in his bio

By Steve Newton When it came to hard rock drummers in the '70s, there were a couple who particularly turned my crank. One was Cozy Powell, mainly for his work with Rainbow, and the other was Tommy Aldridge, mainly for his work with Black Oak Arkansas and the Pat Travers Band. (In the '80s he'd … Continue reading That time Tommy Aldridge told me why Black Oak Arkansas wasn’t mentioned in his bio

Eric Clapton stopped the car when he heard Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar solo on “Let’s Dance”

By Steve Newton Where were you when you first heard Stevie Ray Vaughan's killer guitar playing on David Bowie's 1983 hit single, "Let's Dance"? It was definitely the type of thing that caught your ear, because you sure as shit didn't hear much Albert King-style soloing on commercial radio up until that point. According to … Continue reading Eric Clapton stopped the car when he heard Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar solo on “Let’s Dance”

Album review: Whitesnake, Slip of the Tongue (1989)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton David Coverdale sure knows how to make good use of his previously recorded tunes. First he had a huge hit with a revamped version of "Here I Go Again", and now he's resurrected a nine-year-old British hit called "Fool for Your Loving" and … Continue reading Album review: Whitesnake, Slip of the Tongue (1989)

That time the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson told me that he wasn’t here to make Bruce Fairbairn or Bob Rock famous

By Steve Newton There's been a lot of buzz in the music world lately about the Black Crowes--in particular formerly feuding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson--getting back together for a 30th anniversary tour. So I figured I'd celebrate the good news by digging up the old Swing C-90 cassette I used to record my interview … Continue reading That time the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson told me that he wasn’t here to make Bruce Fairbairn or Bob Rock famous