By Steve Newton Ha! Here's a good one. It's from an old interview I did with Vince Neil back in October of 1991 when Mötley Crüe was promoting its Decade of Decadence greatest hits album. This was around the time Neil was making headlines in the music press for his feud with Axl Rose of … Continue reading That time Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil cursed me out and called Axl Rose a pussy, a wimp, and a poser
Judas Priest mixes it up on tour, Rob Halford says Richie Faulkner “saved” the band
By Steve Newton Judas Priest has been headlining arena concerts in Vancouver since the Screaming for Vengeance Tour back in 1982, but this time around things are different. Local headbangers will be able to see the British metal legends in the comparatively cozy confines of the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver for two shows next week. “We’ve been … Continue reading Judas Priest mixes it up on tour, Rob Halford says Richie Faulkner “saved” the band
The Ghost Dimension ends the once-great Paranormal Activity franchise on a bogus note
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCTOBER 23, 2015 By Steve Newton The makers of the latest (and allegedly last) Paranormal Activity film just don't get it. The secret to the found-footage series' success comes from not showing too much, and in some cases hardly anything at all. The scariest entries in the franchise--the first three films--reeled you in … Continue reading The Ghost Dimension ends the once-great Paranormal Activity franchise on a bogus note
Blind Willie Johnson’s blues genius lauded in upcoming tribute album
By Steve Newton Blues legends don't get much more legendary than Blind Willie Johnson, whose recordings in the 1920s of songs like "John the Revelator", "It's Nobody's Fault But Mine", and "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" have inspired versions by everyone from Hot Tuna to Warren Haynes to Led Zeppelin. So it's more than … Continue reading Blind Willie Johnson’s blues genius lauded in upcoming tribute album
Jaco Pastorius, the wickedest bass player of all time, is everywhere next month
By Steve Newton Fans of Jaco Pastorius, the wickedest bass player of all time, are in for some real treats next month. Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announced today that it will release a collection of music titled JACO: Original Soundtrack on November 27, aka Record Store Day Black Friday 2015. Produced by … Continue reading Jaco Pastorius, the wickedest bass player of all time, is everywhere next month
Rob Halford says that Priest, Maiden, AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, and Slayer have all stood the test of time
By Steve Newton Back in 2015 I interviewed Rob Halford in advance of Judas Priest's doubleheader at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. When I asked him if there were any newer metal bands that had blown him away lately the 64-year-old "metal god" went off on a bit of a tangent. "They're all over the place, … Continue reading Rob Halford says that Priest, Maiden, AC/DC, KISS, Metallica, and Slayer have all stood the test of time
Nick Gilder on his new LP and his “ironic” replacement in Sweeney Todd, Bryan Adams
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, ON OCT. 25, 1985 By Steve Newton You remember Nick Gilder, don't you? He goes way back. So far back, actually, that Bob Geldof once interviewed him for this publication. Gilder was the lead singer for Sweeney Todd, one of Vancouver's more popular glam/glitter rock bands. Named after the … Continue reading Nick Gilder on his new LP and his “ironic” replacement in Sweeney Todd, Bryan Adams
Crimson Peak may be the most ravishing horror movie ever made
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 16, 2015 By Steve Newton "Ghosts are real," proclaims Edith (Mia Wasikowska) at the start of Crimson Peak, and for the next two hours Guillermo Del Toro strives to bring that notion to life with a Gothic horror-romance that is so visually stunning you pretty well forgive its major lack of … Continue reading Crimson Peak may be the most ravishing horror movie ever made
Texas blues-rock guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek dies from a heart attack at 58
By Steve Newton Blues fans are learning some sad news today. Smokin' Joe Kubek, the Texas blues-rock guitarist best known for his work alongside guitarist-vocalist Bnois King, died of a heart attack yesterday (October 11). Kubek, 58, passed away minutes before he was to appear on stage at the Pleasure Island Seafood & Blues Festival … Continue reading Texas blues-rock guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek dies from a heart attack at 58
That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
By Steve Newton I don't go nuts buying t-shirts and hats at concerts because they're usually pricey as hell, but when the band puts on a smokin' show I sometimes break down and score myself a souvenir. If I recall correctly, Jethro Tull was pretty smokin' at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver on December 10, 1991, … Continue reading That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
Dan Hawkins ponders the brilliance of Iron Maiden and whether the Darkness is the last of its kind
By Steve Newton A couple of the famous rockers I've interviewed lately have been raving about the new Iron Maiden album, The Book of Souls. Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, for example, called it "a fantastic achievement" a couple of weeks ago. And the Darkness guitarist Dan Hawkins is mightily impressed as well--especially for a … Continue reading Dan Hawkins ponders the brilliance of Iron Maiden and whether the Darkness is the last of its kind
Rob Halford loves what Iron Maiden does with three guitars, but he’s “content” with what Priest does with two
By Steve Newton I interviewed Rob Halford a couple of weeks ago in advance of Judas Priest's upcoming shows at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, and we had a pretty nice chat. We go way back, to that time he called me up to promote the Defenders of the Faith tour in '84. At one point we … Continue reading Rob Halford loves what Iron Maiden does with three guitars, but he’s “content” with what Priest does with two
My first Judas Priest interview: Screaming for Vengeance Tour, 1982
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 5, 1982 By Steve Newton If there ever was a music devised to torture grandmothers, it would probably sound a lot like Judas Priest, a band that fuses the meanest of lyrics and nastiest of guitar sounds to create what can only be described as raunch. Though more recently the band … Continue reading My first Judas Priest interview: Screaming for Vengeance Tour, 1982