Aerosmith is reborn as a killer live act on the Permanent Vacation tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 29, 1988 By Steve Newton Prior to Aerosmith's local appearance last week, I'd seen the Boston band in concert three times, including a show on the massive Rocks tour that saw them headlining over Jeff Beck at the Kingdome in Seattle. Each time before, they had performed more raggedly than singer Steven … Continue reading Aerosmith is reborn as a killer live act on the Permanent Vacation tour

Album review: Golden Earring, Something Heavy Going Down (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 16, 1984 By Steve Newton Local rock fans who liked what they heard when Golden Earring played here in April should have no trouble getting into this latest release from the Dutch quartet. With the exception of the title track, a new recording, all the material was culled from live shows on … Continue reading Album review: Golden Earring, Something Heavy Going Down (1984)

Hey, I wrote a book about Gord Downie, and it looks freakin’ awesome!

By Steve Newton After more than 35 years as a journalist, I'm finally moving up in the world. I'm gonna be an author! Yeah, that's right. Shove over Stephen King, there's an unstoppable new force in the publishing world. Just kidding. But I do have a damn nice-looking book comin' out. On February 6 Indigo … Continue reading Hey, I wrote a book about Gord Downie, and it looks freakin’ awesome!

Joe Perry says that Aerosmith is playing “wicked tight” after its Permanent Vacation

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 15, 1988 By Steve Newton "If you grew up in the '70s you liked Aerosmith." That's what R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck wrote in the liner notes to his group's version of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" on the Dead Letter Office album. And he knew what he was talking about. Along with … Continue reading Joe Perry says that Aerosmith is playing “wicked tight” after its Permanent Vacation

That time Dickey Betts told me why there were eight guys on the cover of the Allman Brothers’ new live album

By Steve Newton Gather 'round all you Dickey Betts fans. It's time for the Newt to post another one of those audio excerpts you Allman Brothers freaks seem to love so much. This one's from my third interview with Dickey, back in '92 when the band was touring behind An Evening With the Allman Brothers Band: … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me why there were eight guys on the cover of the Allman Brothers’ new live album

Album review: Earl Klugh, Nightsongs (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 16, 1984 By Steve Newton "Night Song" is the only cut on Earl Klugh's new album that was written by the man himself, but his interpretive acoustic guitarwork on such well-known romantic gems as "The Look of Love", "The Shadow of Your Smile", and "Nature Boy" shows that he can … Continue reading Album review: Earl Klugh, Nightsongs (1984)

Album review: Steve Morse, The Introduction (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 2, 1984 By Steve Newton My choice for best instrumental rock album of the year--so far--has got to be this new release by former Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse. With accompaniment from bassist Jerry Peek and drummer Rod Morgenstein, Morse unleashes some of the tastiest riffs imaginable, melding … Continue reading Album review: Steve Morse, The Introduction (1984)

Album review: Crusaders, Ghetto Blaster (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 20, 1984 By Steve Newton Joe Sample plays keyboards, Wilton Felder plays saxophone and bass, Leon Ndugo Chancler plays drums. And when the three get together to record an album as the Crusaders, the result is some of the most joyous, funky music around. My favourite tracks on Ghetto Blaster are … Continue reading Album review: Crusaders, Ghetto Blaster (1984)

Album review: Johnny Winter, Guitar Slinger (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 1984 By Steve Newton The albino boss of bad-ass blues really hits the mark on this new album, which promises to be the blues-rock record of 1984. It should do for Johnny Winter what Texas Flood did for Stevie Ray Vaughan last year. Backed up by some of Chicago's leading blues … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Winter, Guitar Slinger (1984)

Album review: John Hammond, John Hammond Live (1984)

If you happened to see John Hammond's recent Vancouver appearance, this new live LP should prove a worthy remembrance of that night.

Album review: Peter Green, Kolors (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1984 By Steve Newton Blues giant Peter Green has come up with a worthy successor to 1982's sinfully overlooked White Sky in his new release Kolors. Featuring ex-Robin Trower drummer Reg Isidore, primo session bassist Mo Foster and guitarist Ronnie Johnson, Kolors includes eight original tunes from the pen of Mike and … Continue reading Album review: Peter Green, Kolors (1984)

Album review: Santers, Guitar Alley (1984)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 30, 1984 By Steve Newton Rock-guitar whiz kid Rick Santers shines brightly on this latest release by his self-named power trio. With brother Mark on drums and Rick Lazaroff on bass, Santers comes up with a riff-riddled collection of high-energy tunes that are just as impressive as those on the much-overlooked … Continue reading Album review: Santers, Guitar Alley (1984)