ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Many guitarists can pinpoint a moment in their youth when they knew they were destined for a life in music. For blues-rocker Coco Montoya it happened in 1969, at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. He’d gone there to see Creedence Clearwater Revival and … Continue reading Coco Montoya was transformed by the sheer soul of Alberts Collins and King
“Our hair was no bigger than Zeppelin or Sabbath,” declares Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton A lot of bands that were big in the ’80s are now having trouble getting booked into bowling alleys, but Def Leppard’s not one of them. The British melodic-rock quintet—which hit its commercial peak in 1987 with Hysteria, which has sold 16 million units worldwide—is still … Continue reading “Our hair was no bigger than Zeppelin or Sabbath,” declares Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott
Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation Tour in 1978
By Steve Newton See that Thin Lizzy mirror pin I'm holding? That's not just any old Thin Lizzy mirror pin. That's the one Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham gave me backstage at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on October 12, 1978. That was an unforgettable moment for me. Lemme tell ya about it. At the time I … Continue reading Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation Tour in 1978
Laid-back legend J.J. Cale tells me “there’s no hurry”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN MARCH 1990 By Steve Newton Eric Clapton has a lot of admirers, most of them appreciative of the fine music the British guitarist has delivered over the years. But J.J. Cale has another reason for feeling indebted to Clapton, and you spell it with a dollar sign. If Clapton is indeed God, … Continue reading Laid-back legend J.J. Cale tells me “there’s no hurry”
It Follows is the finest horror flick in years
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 25, 2015 By Steve Newton Every once in a while a low-budget indie fright flick comes along that makes everything on the major studios’ horror plate look like a pile of steaming crap. It Follows is that film, right now. Maika Monroe is note-perfect as Jay, a pretty 19-year-old college student getting … Continue reading It Follows is the finest horror flick in years
Link Wray licks led to Los Straitjackets’ Supersonic Guitars in 3-D
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Guitarist Eddie Angel was playing at a Nashville club in 1986, opening up for underrated roots-twang merchants Webb Wilder, when his future bandmate, Danny Amis, showed up. During the set, Angel caught the attention of the instrumentally minded Amis with a Link Wray … Continue reading Link Wray licks led to Los Straitjackets’ Supersonic Guitars in 3-D
Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle developed his skill set out of survival
photo by Rebecca Blissett By Steve Newton You know that stereotype of the lazy rock musician who sleeps till noon, then sits around the rest of the day waiting to play a gig at night? Well, it sure as hell doesn’t fit Ryan Dahle. For most of his 44 years, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and … Continue reading Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle developed his skill set out of survival
The Hangmen’s Bryan Small is done pawning guitars for drugs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 4, 2003 Here’s a happy little comeback story for ya. Back in 1989, singer-guitarist Bryan Small led a rowdy, punk-inspired L.A. rock act called the Hangmen that was hoping to establish itself beyond all the hair bands of the day. The group scored a deal with Capitol Records … Continue reading The Hangmen’s Bryan Small is done pawning guitars for drugs
Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” chosen as the top heavy-metal song of all time
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 4, 2003 By Steve Newton Toronto-based music writer Martin Popoff is Canada’s top expert on heavy metal. Senior editor of metal mag Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles and author of The Collector’s Guide to Heavy Metal, the Trail, B.C.–raised Popoff certainly knows his stuff when it comes to … Continue reading Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” chosen as the top heavy-metal song of all time
Entering the lair of Pennywise the Clown on the set of Stephen King’s It
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FANGORIA #98, Nov. 1990 By Steve Newton As anyone who's tackled Stephen King's It can tell you, the 1986 novel of a shape-shifting, child-chomping monster is not a quick read--that is, unless you happen to be Evelyn Wood's speadreading coach. Because it's such an enormous tome, it seems apt that the location where … Continue reading Entering the lair of Pennywise the Clown on the set of Stephen King’s It
Lynyrd Skynyrd blows the motherf***ing roof off the Hard Rock with a southern-fried riff-fest for the ages
photo by Kevin Statham. All other less-impressive photos by the Newt By Steve Newton Four of the seven Lynyrd Skynyrd members pictured on the cover of the band's phenomenal first album are dead. That's unfortunate, obviously; tragic, even. But if you saw the band play last night you might be tempted to say "So what?" … Continue reading Lynyrd Skynyrd blows the motherf***ing roof off the Hard Rock with a southern-fried riff-fest for the ages
Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown tear it up old-school in Vancouver
photos by the Newt ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 20, 2015 By Steve Newton When I interviewed blues-rock legend Kim Simmonds last week from his home outside Syracuse, New York, he revealed that there had been a time when, during his thirties, personal problems had cost him his ability to really play guitar. Lucky for him--and … Continue reading Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown tear it up old-school in Vancouver
The Intruders is about as scary as iCarly
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 18, 2015 By Steve Newton Horror movies featuring actors who are also pop stars are often nothing to scream about. J.Lo in Anaconda and the mostly naked Aaliyah in Queen of the Damned come to mind as good examples. And it looks like that trend will not change with the new Miranda Cosgrove vehicle, The … Continue reading The Intruders is about as scary as iCarly