By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Susan Tedeschi in November of 1998, just eight months before she met husband-to-be Derek Trucks while opening for the Allman Brothers and they started the relationship that would result in two beautiful kids and the formation of the equally stunning Tedeschi Trucks Band. At the time … Continue reading That time I called Susan Tedeschi to talk about Just Won’t Burn and her mom said she was in the tub
Remembering Gord Downie through the Hip’s last gig
By Steve Newton The following is an excerpt from my beer-table book, Gord Downie, published February 2018 by Sterling Books, New York. The tour's final show at Kingston's Rogers K-Rock Centre was the one everyone was talking about. It was broadcast live on the tube by the CBC, with no commercial breaks, and watched by … Continue reading Remembering Gord Downie through the Hip’s last gig
Colin Linden connects with “unjaded” hero Rick Danko on stellar When the Spirit Comes
Colin Linden's rock dream was realized when Rick Danko and Garth Hudson of the Band chose to play with him on his latest album.
Idiots at the Rock Hall think Janet Jackson is more deserving of nomination than Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory Gallagher
By Steve Newton The nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2019 were announced recently and, as expected, Jann Wenner and the other dimwits in charge of the place proved themselves jackasses of the highest order. For the past eight years I've been keeping tabs on the RRHOF's shameful derelictions of … Continue reading Idiots at the Rock Hall think Janet Jackson is more deserving of nomination than Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory Gallagher
Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton I guess you could say I like the first album the best. Let the Newt-bashing begin! 20. "O.D.'d on Life Itself" (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 19. "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" (Fire of Unknown Origin, 1981) 18. "Teen Archer" (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 17. "Before the Kiss, a Redcap" (Blue Öyster Cult, 1972) … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Two nights after Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler sailed through town, on September 30, a couple more British rock greats visited. While not as widely known, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson have a following that is just as devoted, and they gave a … Continue reading Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver
Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler shiver spines in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Of the three big guitar names in seminal British blues-rock--Page, Beck, and Clapton--only the latter has chosen to take a player of his own calibre on tour with him. The match-up of Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton is one made in guitarist's heaven, … Continue reading Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler shiver spines in Vancouver
Scotty Hall: 22 minutes with Vancouver’s greatest unknown rock guitarist (R.I.P.)
Scotty Hall (left) and Phil Robertson By Steve Newton I've been lucky enough to have interviewed some amazing guitar players in the last 35 years, pickers like Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani, and Scotty Hall. Scotty Hall? Who the funk is he, you're probably thinking. Well, unless you're a music insider based … Continue reading Scotty Hall: 22 minutes with Vancouver’s greatest unknown rock guitarist (R.I.P.)
That time Dickey Betts told me to quit being so “reclusive” and come meet him after the show
kirk west photo By Steve Newton I did my fourth interview with Dickey Betts back in 2001, after he'd been kicked out of the Allman Brothers and was touring with his own band, promoting the Let's Get Together album. As our "phoner" wound down, he invited me to come back and meet him after the … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me to quit being so “reclusive” and come meet him after the show
Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton Fans of Guns N' Roses should seriously consider checking out this double-disc debut because it sports the same brand of raggedy, Aerosmith/Dolls-influenced '70s rock that has made GN'R such a big deal these days. There's plenty of excellent boogie on the fast-paced tunes … Continue reading Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
That time Dickey Betts told me why he got kicked out of the Allman Brothers Band
By Steve Newton I did my fourth interview with guitar legend Dickey Betts in August of 2001, when he was touring with the Dickey Betts Band in support of their new album Let's Get Together. A little over a year earlier he'd been fired by fax by the Allman Brothers, who he'd cofounded back in … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me why he got kicked out of the Allman Brothers Band
Thin Lizzy’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton I'm sure to get some flak for not including the big hit, "The Boys Are Back in Town", but I honestly don't believe it's one of Lizzy's best tunes. 20. "Slow Blues" (Vagabonds of the Western World, 1973) 19. "Little Girl in Bloom" (Vagabonds of the Western World, 1973) 18. "With Love" … Continue reading Thin Lizzy’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Burt Reynolds’ death two weeks after Ed King’s gets me raving about “Saturday Night Special”
By Steve Newton I never thought Lynyrd Skynyrd's third album, 1975's Nuthin' Fancy, was anywhere near as fine as its first two albums, but holy fvck did I love the opening track, "Saturday Night Special". It boasted a killer main riff by guitarist Ed King, and some seriously kick-ass, southern-fried solos by Gary Rossington. … Continue reading Burt Reynolds’ death two weeks after Ed King’s gets me raving about “Saturday Night Special”