By Steve Newton Jennifer Batten is an astounding guitar player, as anyone who's seen her perform with Michael Jackson or, later on, Jeff Beck will attest. I interviewed Batten in 2002, a year after seeing her play with Beck at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on his You Had It Coming tour. Before that show … Continue reading That time Jennifer Batten told me that she thought Jeff Beck was the greatest guitarist who ever lived
That time I asked Dale Krantz-Rossington if it was rough being a mom and a rocker at the same time
By Steve Newton Anybody who's raised a coupla kids will tell ya: it's rough. I've raised a coupla kids and lemme tell ya: it's rough. But it's still the best thing in the world. Now raising a coupla kids while rockin' and rollin' with your guitar-legend hubby Gary Rossington, that's gotta be a challenge as … Continue reading That time I asked Dale Krantz-Rossington if it was rough being a mom and a rocker at the same time
That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young
By Steve Newton There were a lot of rumours circulating back in 2018--some started by yours truly--about AC/DC making a new album in Vancouver with Mike Fraser. And those rumours were proven true with the release in November 2020 of Power Up. The band's previous album, 2014's Rock or Bust, was the first one not … Continue reading That time Mike Fraser told me what it was like recording AC/DC without Malcolm Young
Album review: Joe Satriani, Flying in a Blue Dream (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 15, 1989 By Steve Newton Joe Satriani is the ultimate hero for air guitarists. When he burst on to the mainstream recording scene with the all-instrumental Surfing With the Alien last year, his high-voltage attack had people everywhere going, "What the hell is that?" Not since Eddie Van Halen's appearance had … Continue reading Album review: Joe Satriani, Flying in a Blue Dream (1989)
Album review: Georgia Satellites, In the Land of Salvation and Sin (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 1, 1989 By Steve Newton You've gotta like a band like the Georgia Satellites--they know what they do best, and the just keep doin' it. On their first two albums they made pulverizing boogie-blues their one-and-only forte, and on their excellent third album they've not only kept the faith--they've become better … Continue reading Album review: Georgia Satellites, In the Land of Salvation and Sin (1989)
Album review: Ten Years After, About Time (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 24, 1989 By Steve Newton After seeing Alvin Lee kicking royal (not to mention Steppenwolf's) butt at the Expo Theatre three years back, I was really hoping he'd get back on the recording scene and unleash some of his hurricane guitar licks for home consumption. I didn't expect … Continue reading Album review: Ten Years After, About Time (1989)
Album review: Webb Wilder, Hybrid Vigor (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 24, 1989 By Steve Newton I'd never heard of Webb Wilder before his Hybrid Vigor album showed up in the office, but lemme tell ya--one spin on the turntable and this scribbler was an immediate fan. Singer-guitarist Wilder fronts a band that churns out straightforward boogie in the … Continue reading Album review: Webb Wilder, Hybrid Vigor (1989)
That time I asked Leo Kottke if he switched from trombone to guitar to get the chicks
By Steve Newton Just digitized my 2002 interview with Leo Kottke for my Patreon page, and laughed out loud when I heard his response to one of my more routine questions. At one point in the conversation I was asking the American acoustic-guitar wizard about when he first started playing, and he explained that he … Continue reading That time I asked Leo Kottke if he switched from trombone to guitar to get the chicks
That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Jimi Hendrix was “the best you’ll ever have”
By Steve Newton I was just listening to an old interview I did with Lemmy Kilmister back in 2002 and came upon a bit where he talks about being a roadie for Jimi Hendrix back in the day. Having never seen Hendrix in concert myself, I had to ask Lemmy if he was really as … Continue reading That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Jimi Hendrix was “the best you’ll ever have”
That time Buddy Guy told me about Muddy Waters bringing him sandwiches when he was hungry
By Steve Newton Here's an interesting tidbit from the first interview I did with Buddy Guy, back in 1991. At one point in the conversation I asked Buddy about this story in his record-company bio about the time he was starving in Chicago and Muddy Waters "force-fed him salami sandwiches". Have a listen: To hear … Continue reading That time Buddy Guy told me about Muddy Waters bringing him sandwiches when he was hungry
Album review: Raging Slab, Raging Slab (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 20, 1989 By Steve Newton Guns N' Roses meets Lynyrd Skynyrd in a southern-fried riff-fest that bodes well for this thundering new act from Atlanta. Singer-songwriter Gregory Strzempka crafts catchy, good ol' boy tunes that are nicely lit up by the leads of Mark Middleton and bottleneck attack … Continue reading Album review: Raging Slab, Raging Slab (1989)
Album review: Aerosmith, Pump (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton Some bands grow old gracefully, mellowing with age, but not Aerosmith. On Pump, the follow-up to the band's 1987 comeback album Permanent Vacation, the bad boys from Boston are as rude 'n' rowdy as ever. And nobody does it better. Pump kicks off … Continue reading Album review: Aerosmith, Pump (1989)
That time I asked Mike Rutherford about the biggest highlights of Genesis’ career
By Steve Newton Way back in December of 1983 I did an interview with Mike Rutherford, who at the time was the guitarist-bassist in Genesis, joined by singer-drummer Phil Collins and keyboardist Tony Banks. Two months earlier the band had released a self-titled album that was a huge success, spawning the hits "Mama", "That's All", … Continue reading That time I asked Mike Rutherford about the biggest highlights of Genesis’ career