By Steve Newton The infamous concert at Altamont Speedway in northern California, which took place December 6, 1969, is often viewed as "the anti-Woodstock", its violence signalling the end of the peace-and-love era. A YouTube video that blends footage of the event from the 1970 Rolling Stones documentary Gimme Shelter with the 1972 Blue Öyster Cult song … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s “Transmaniacon MC” an apt soundtrack for the mayhem of Altamont
Searching for The Surgeon’s gore at Riverview Hospital in Vancouver
By Steve Newton During my 13-year sojourn as Fangoria magazine's Vancouver correspondent I would often cover films that the producers didn't want classified as "horror"; they were much more comfortable with the term "suspense thriller" or "psychological thriller". One such film was called Exquisite Tenderness--at least until its marketing team decided to skip the charade … Continue reading Searching for The Surgeon’s gore at Riverview Hospital in Vancouver
Dave Alvin’s “dead” brother Phil returns for another rootsy splash in the river of life
By Steve Newton Three years ago, American roots-rock great Dave Alvin had the fright of his life. His older brother Phil—with whom he’d shared many a van, hotel room, and stage over the years in the Blasters—damn near passed away while on tour in Spain. In fact, he was technically toast. “He couldn’t breathe on-stage,” … Continue reading Dave Alvin’s “dead” brother Phil returns for another rootsy splash in the river of life
Frankie Goes to Hollywood shatters windows and preconceptions on the Welcome to the Pleasuredome Tour
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 28, 1985 By Steve Newton Frankie said BANG! three times last Saturday (June 22)—and with a trio of heart-stopping explosions blew out 61 windows of the War Memorial Gym. You couldn't really blame the boys from Liverpool for wanting to go out with a shatter though. It was … Continue reading Frankie Goes to Hollywood shatters windows and preconceptions on the Welcome to the Pleasuredome Tour
American roots-rock great Dave Alvin fights ageism in the media
By Steve Newton American roots-rock greats Dave and Phil Alvin are booked to play the Electric Owl on June 30, so a couple of days ago I called Dave up at his home in L.A. to get the scoop on what he's been up to lately and help promote the show a bit. During the course … Continue reading American roots-rock great Dave Alvin fights ageism in the media
WPA’s Mick Thomas recalls seeing AC/DC, Cold Chisel, and Midnight Oil play a pub in Geelong
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 21, 1990 By Steve Newton Halifax, Nova Scotia: Could those three words possibly conjure up images of a city full of alluring possibilities and untold enchantment? Well, when Mick Thomas of Australia’s Weddings Parties Anything first heard them, his imagination was piqued, and he couldn’t wait to see what the city … Continue reading WPA’s Mick Thomas recalls seeing AC/DC, Cold Chisel, and Midnight Oil play a pub in Geelong
“We’re here for a reason, not here for a season,” says blues survivor Buddy Guy
By Steve Newton “I know I’m a survivor,” 56-year-old Buddy Guy told me back in 1993. “I mean we’re all only here for a time, you know—we’re here for a reason, not here for a season, man. All our days are comin’, so I’m just hopin’ I can keep our music goin’ on till some other … Continue reading “We’re here for a reason, not here for a season,” says blues survivor Buddy Guy
Hal Lindes on joining Dire Straits, performing for royalty, and not writing like Mark Knopfler
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 6, 1984 By Steve Newton Stepping out of nowhere into one of the world's most popular and critically acclaimed bands would be a momentous move for any rock musician--and probably a scary one as well. Especially if the member you were hoping to replace was the band leader's … Continue reading Hal Lindes on joining Dire Straits, performing for royalty, and not writing like Mark Knopfler
UZEB may be “the Van Halen of jazz”, but they sure don’t get paid the same
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 7, 1985 By Steve Newton Last year's Vancouver appearance by Quebec jazz/fusion quartet UZEB was one of my picks for the Top Ten concerts of 1984--right up there with Scorpions and R.E.M. Now the group is returning to the Commodore Ballroom for two nights, next Friday and Saturday (June 14 and … Continue reading UZEB may be “the Van Halen of jazz”, but they sure don’t get paid the same
Analyzing psycho-killer Edgler Vess’s spider-eating ways on the B.C. set of Dean Koontz’s Intensity
By Steve Newton Back in '97 I got assigned by Fangoria magazine to cover the filming of a FOX-TV miniseries called Intensity. Normally I wouldn't give a rat's ass about a FOX-TV miniseries, but this one was based on a novel I really loved by Dean Koontz, so I was in. Here's a shortened version of the story … Continue reading Analyzing psycho-killer Edgler Vess’s spider-eating ways on the B.C. set of Dean Koontz’s Intensity
Robert Plant kicks off his 1985 World Tour with a ’50s-style sock hop in Vancouver
bev davies photo By Steve Newton On June 10, 1985, Robert Plant played the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. That was four days after NRBQ played the Town Pump, and for some reason I gave their club show slightly more coverage in my Night Shift column than Plant's arena show. I guess NRBQ was just better! Anyway, here's my … Continue reading Robert Plant kicks off his 1985 World Tour with a ’50s-style sock hop in Vancouver
Rolling Stones super-deluxe box set falls short without Keith Richards mini cut-out
By Steve Newton The Rolling Stones snubbed Vancouver when it came time to book their current Zip Code Tour, which could very well be the group's last major trek outside the nursing home. But hardcore fans who've been bawling about that omission for months now can take some comfort in the fact that the money … Continue reading Rolling Stones super-deluxe box set falls short without Keith Richards mini cut-out
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Iron Maiden, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton Okay, it has finally come to this. After years of slagging the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for its inconceivable ignorance of the best rock music from the past, I've gone ahead and established my own institution to pay tribute to the stellar artists the RRHOF deems unworthy. Based somewhere near … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Iron Maiden, and Link Wray