ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 20, 2001 By Steve Newton Sometimes I feel like I’m the only guy around who still goes nuts for southern-fried guitar boogie, the kind the Georgia Satellites churned out so mightily in the late ’80s. But after talking to GS guitarist-vocalist Rick Richards from his home in the … Continue reading The Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards prefers three chords and a clouda dust
Sonny Rhodes went hell-bent for leather on the lap-steel guitar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 20, 2001 The first musician I interviewed after terrorists committed those atrocious acts in the U.S. last week was American blues veteran Sonny Rhodes. And the impression I got—after passing on my condolences regarding his country’s anguish—was that the 60-year-old Florida resident is a straight-up kinda guy. “I … Continue reading Sonny Rhodes went hell-bent for leather on the lap-steel guitar
Robert Cray isn’t gonna hold his breath until the blues gets back in vogue
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 13, 2001 By Steve Newton We’ve all heard contemporary blues-rock artists covering the works of Elmore James, whether it’s ZZ Top getting lowdown on “Dust My Broom”, or Stevie Ray Vaughan tearing it up on “The Sky is Crying”. Heck, the Black Crowes even named their first album … Continue reading Robert Cray isn’t gonna hold his breath until the blues gets back in vogue
Bonham tours behind The Disregard of Timekeeping and Jason reflects on his dear old dad
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 22, 1989 By Steve Newton In September of 1980, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died of a heart attack attributed to massive quantities of alcohol. A year before that tragedy--which stopped the much-loved band in its tracks--Led Zeppelin performed a major outdoor concert at Knebworth, England, and Bonham's 13-year-old son Jason … Continue reading Bonham tours behind The Disregard of Timekeeping and Jason reflects on his dear old dad
Johnny Winter showed blues traveler Ellen McIlwaine how to go in her own direction
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 13, 2001 By Steve Newton Singer-songwriter and slide-guitar specialist Ellen McIlwaine is best known as a blues artist, but she’s always been willing to let her muse drift away from the Mississippi Delta or the south side of Chicago. For her latest CD, Spontaneous Combustion, McIlwaine wrote a … Continue reading Johnny Winter showed blues traveler Ellen McIlwaine how to go in her own direction
Dickey Betts says “a dirty little business deal” got him kicked out of the Allmans
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 30, 2001 By Steve Newton On the cover of his latest CD, former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts is pictured standing in the entranceway of his Florida home, surrounded by his six bandmates, a small dog leaning against his denim-clad leg. The 57-year-old southern-rock hero looks contented in his snakeskin boots … Continue reading Dickey Betts says “a dirty little business deal” got him kicked out of the Allmans
Black Crowes influenced by where music came from and where it could go
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 30, 2001 By Steve Newton The Black Crowes are one of the most popular retro-minded bands around, so when they hooked up with guitar legend Jimmy Page last year to tour the U.S. and record a live album, it was like a dream come true for many classic-rock … Continue reading Black Crowes influenced by where music came from and where it could go
The Faces-loving London Quireboys still like to have a tipple
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 30, 2001 By Steve Newton When the London Quireboys blasted onto the music scene in 1990 with the swaggering boogie-blues hit “7 O’Clock”, originality wasn’t their stock-in-trade. They took their musical cues directly from Rod Stewart and the Faces, and even looked the part with their scarecrow hairdos … Continue reading The Faces-loving London Quireboys still like to have a tipple
Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson tour behind YUI Orta, so the Newt talks to Ronno
By Steve Newton On December 19, 1989, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson played the 86 Street Music Hall in Vancouver. For me, it didn't get any better than that. I'd been a huge fan of Hunter ever since I first heard his old band, Mott the Hoople, and Ronson...well, if you liked David Bowie in … Continue reading Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson tour behind YUI Orta, so the Newt talks to Ronno
Lynyrd Skynyrd heads to Vancouver for a “Friday Night Special”
Southern-rock heroes Lynyrd Skynyrd have just announced a show at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. And it's on a Friday, which is pretty close to a "Saturday Night Special." As anyone who's followed the band from its early-'70s beginnings knows, Skynyrd's story is composed of the highest highs and lowest lows. The lowest was the … Continue reading Lynyrd Skynyrd heads to Vancouver for a “Friday Night Special”
Rock Hall finally inducts Stevie Ray Vaughan, could Rory Gallagher be next?
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has made some silly-ass moves over the years, nominating lame-o acts like Chic and inducting Cat Stevens while leaving more deserving nominees such as Link Wray and Deep Purple--artists who actually rock--out in the cold. Well, just yesterday the Rock Hall took a sizeable step away … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Stevie Ray Vaughan, could Rory Gallagher be next?
Shit-hot picker Greg Koch shows off the Robin Trower signature Strat
If you were big fan of guitar-based rock in the '70s and your head wasn't too far up your ass you probably listened to Robin Trower, the bluesy British picker who released a string of soulful albums heavy on the Hendrix that went gold on the charts and in my rock-lovin' heart as well. Now Fender guitars … Continue reading Shit-hot picker Greg Koch shows off the Robin Trower signature Strat
David Gilmour performs “Wish You Were Here” at Pink Floyd’s old concert haunt
Thanks to a tweet from the fine folks at JamBase I just caught wind of a video of David Gilmour performing the Pink Floyd classic "Wish You Were Here" with some indie-rock band called Bombay Bicycle Club. Hey, wasn't that the name of a Vancouver nightclub back in the day? Sounds familiar. Anyway, Gilmour performed with BBC … Continue reading David Gilmour performs “Wish You Were Here” at Pink Floyd’s old concert haunt