ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 9, 1999 By Steve Newton I’ve been a Deep Purple fan for as long as I’ve loved rock. Fireball was among the first LPs I ever purchased and played on my parents’ crappy rec-room stereo from the ’50s. Even today, when “Highway Star” comes on the car … Continue reading Shades 1968-1998 box set delivers all the best colours of Deep Purple
Horror superstar Clive Barker on having the world by the balls at 35
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 13, 1987 By Steve Newton What scares you? Spiders? Sharp knives? The dentist? The threat of nuclear holocaust? Count me in on all the above, and add another: Clive Barker's writing. Like Count Floyd used to say: "It's scary stuff, kids!" At 35, Clive Barker is being touted as the next … Continue reading Horror superstar Clive Barker on having the world by the balls at 35
That time Dickey Betts told me that the Allman Brothers transcend generations
By Steve Newton Allman Brothers Band fans (and guitar freaks in general) seem to really enjoy the audio excerpts I've been posting from my four interviews with Dickey Betts over the years, so here's another one. Back in July of '92 I did my third interview with Dickey, after the band had released its live album … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me that the Allman Brothers transcend generations
Album review: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Legend (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 30, 1987 By Steve Newton If there was one band I would have killed (well, maimed anyway) to see in its original lineup, that band would have been Lynryd Skynryd, the pride of Jacksonville, Florida, and arguably the best southern rock band to come along. That wish was shattered forever with the death … Continue reading Album review: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Legend (1987)
Album review: Def Leppard, Hysteria (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 13, 1987 By Steve Newton You've probably heard some of the buzz words used to categorize various types of heavy metal. There's speed metal, thrash metal, death metal, and--in the case of bands like Venom--toilet metal. Well, here's a new one: happy metal. It pretty well sums up the sound of … Continue reading Album review: Def Leppard, Hysteria (1987)
Album review: The Black Crowes, By Your Side (1999)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 11, 1999 By Steve Newton It’s no wonder that, after two unfocused and relatively unpopular CDs, the Black Crowes would get back to the straightforward boogie that made them a sensation with their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker. But what is surprising is the vengeance with which … Continue reading Album review: The Black Crowes, By Your Side (1999)
Album review: The Tragically Hip, Phantom Power (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 20, 1998 By Steve Newton I took my wife, Dawn, to see the Tragically Hip at Thunderbird Stadium last summer when she was seven months pregnant with our first child, Tess Georgia. They say a body is susceptible to sonic vibrations in utero, and I’d have to agree, ’cause now, … Continue reading Album review: The Tragically Hip, Phantom Power (1998)
Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Heaven Forbid (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 9, 1998 By Steve Newton Don’t let the cheapjack horror-movie cover fool ya, ’cause Heaven Forbid—Blue Öyster Cult’s first new recording since 1988’s substandard Imaginos—is one classy slab of hard rock. It’s not a masterwork in the league of Tyranny and Mutation or Agents of Fortune, but … Continue reading Album review: Blue Öyster Cult, Heaven Forbid (1998)
The Beat Farmers’ Country Dick Montana offers tips for men and insight into The Pursuit of Happiness
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 6, 1987 By Steve Newton Devoted fans of serious music should make a point of being as far away as possible from the 86 Street Music Hall this Tuesday (November 10). However, those with less cultivated tastes--and a penchant for rowdy, party-time country rock with a twist--will find … Continue reading The Beat Farmers’ Country Dick Montana offers tips for men and insight into The Pursuit of Happiness
Album review: John Fogerty, Premonition (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 11, 1998 By Steve Newton The one concert that got me foaming at the mouth last year was John Fogerty’s Orpheum gig, and I did everything within my power as a Media Slut From Hell to make the most of it. I wangled front-row-centre seats to get … Continue reading Album review: John Fogerty, Premonition (1998)
Album review: Van Halen, Van Halen 3 (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 16, 1998 By Steve Newton Ever since Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s frontman on 1986’s 5150, the band’s legions of followers have been split into the Sam and Dave camps. Roth proponents feel his macho bravado and hog-in-heat performing style suited the group’s early music; Sammy … Continue reading Album review: Van Halen, Van Halen 3 (1998)
Album review: Bryan Adams, Unplugged (1998)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 19, 1998 By Steve Newton I don’t enjoy slagging hometown heroes, but Bryan Adams has gone too far with this desperate cash grab in the worn-out “unplugged” market. That incredibly sappy duet he recorded with Barbra Streisand a while back must have gone to his head, Michael … Continue reading Album review: Bryan Adams, Unplugged (1998)
Album review: The Tragically Hip, Live Between Us (1997)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 5, 1997 By Steve Newton It beats the hell outta me why the most Canadian rock band of all time had to go and record its historic live album in the all-powerful U.S. of A. Even if Detroit is Rock City, it doesn’t make sense for these proud Canucks to follow … Continue reading Album review: The Tragically Hip, Live Between Us (1997)