By Steve Newton The last time I talked to Corb Lund about the smalls, back in 2000, he was known as Corby and had just returned from a tour of Bosnia-Herzegovina with the Edmonton-based guitar rockers. Nearly a decade and a half later you can still call him Corby (“Either one, take your pick”), and … Continue reading The smalls get fast and furious again
No more “Dirty Deeds” quips please, Phil Rudd’s murder-for-hire charge has been dropped
Just a day after AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was charged with "procuring a murder" by New Zealand police, the shocking charges have been dropped. It's a good thing, too, because media all around the world were running out of ways to work the title of AC/DC's vengeance-for-hire ditty "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" into the story. According to … Continue reading No more “Dirty Deeds” quips please, Phil Rudd’s murder-for-hire charge has been dropped
Phil Rudd’s dirty deed? He wasn’t even in the “Guns for Hire” video
Things have not been rosey in the AC/DC camp of late. First off was the news six weeks ago that rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young had been confined to a nursing home, suffering from dementia. Now comes word that drummer Phil Rudd allegedly tried to have two men killed. Rudd, 60, appeared in New Zealand's Tauranga District Court … Continue reading Phil Rudd’s dirty deed? He wasn’t even in the “Guns for Hire” video
Paul McCartney & Wings deluxe-edition box sets are pretty sweet
By Steve Newton Nineteen-seventy-five was one hell of an awesome year for rock. That was when Floyd released Wish You Were Here, Zep dropped Physical Graffiti, and Lizzy unleashed Fighting.And a band named Wings, featuring ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, joined the fray with a 13-track monster titled Venus and Mars. Man, I played the crap out of that album. From the … Continue reading Paul McCartney & Wings deluxe-edition box sets are pretty sweet
The Hoodoo Gurus’ Brad Shepherd talks Aussie rock and Magnum Cum Louder
By Steve Newton Twenty-five years ago today--on November 5, 1989--the Hoodoo Gurus played the first of two shows at Vancouver's 86 Street Music Hall. I'd been a fan of the Aussie guitar-rockers since their Stoneage Romeos debut album of '84. They wrote catchy, jangley tunes; didn't take themselves too seriously. They were a lotta fun, and apparently … Continue reading The Hoodoo Gurus’ Brad Shepherd talks Aussie rock and Magnum Cum Louder
Badass Warren Haynes nails it for C.O.C. on America’s Volume Dealer
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 1, 2001 By Steve Newton One of the coolest things about being a rock writer is getting turned on to new bands—even if they’re old. Corrosion of Conformity has been making a serious racket since 1982, but it’s still new to me; for some strange reason its latest … Continue reading Badass Warren Haynes nails it for C.O.C. on America’s Volume Dealer
Eric Johnson strives for pure tone, not Fats Waller perfection
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 25, 2001 By Steve Newton Out of the many rock and blues guitarists that I’ve chatted with over the years, the most revered ones have invariably turned out to be the most self-effacing and down-to-earth. Whether it be Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Danny Gatton, or … Continue reading Eric Johnson strives for pure tone, not Fats Waller perfection
Former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford helps turn Pink Floyd blue
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 25, 2001 By Steve Newton Most aging rock fans have a little Pink Floyd story to tell. Mine revolves around the last time I saw the British prog-rock kings—sans Roger Waters, sadly—playing at B.C. Place in 1994. We were sitting in one of the media booths, and an inebriated Ryan O’Neal … Continue reading Former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford helps turn Pink Floyd blue
If you thought Stephen King’s Pennywise was creepy, get a loada this Clown!
Some people are really creeped out by clowns. The one that Tim Curry portrayed in the Stephen King mini-series IT freaked a few folks out, no doubt. Now here to give Pennywise a run for his kid-menacing money is the bozo in Clown, a new horror flick produced by Eli Roth, the frightmeister behind such gruesome efforts as Hostel and Cabin Fever. Here's … Continue reading If you thought Stephen King’s Pennywise was creepy, get a loada this Clown!
“It’s rough all over the world,” says R.L. Burnside, “even down in Mississippi some.”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 18, 2001 BY STEVE NEWTON R.L. Burnside is one of the most popular blues artists around today, but up until five years ago he was barely known outside of his native northern Mississippi hill country. After being featured in the 1991 documentary film Deep Blues, and releasing the … Continue reading “It’s rough all over the world,” says R.L. Burnside, “even down in Mississippi some.”
Matthew Good and the great Radiohead controversy of 2000
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 28, 2000 Matthew Good is a loud rocker. That’s easily discernible from a quick spin of his band’s latest CD, Beautiful Midnight. Matthew Good is also a loud talker, as I discover for myself when he calls the Straight from his West End apartment prior to his five … Continue reading Matthew Good and the great Radiohead controversy of 2000
The Tragically Hip rises above poor sound in Vancouver to peak with “Nautical Disaster”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 23, 2000 By Steve Newton Are the Tragically Hip, long thought of as Canada’s best rock band, finally losing their grip on that title? The fact that it just played two shows at the 12,000-seat Pacific Coliseum might make you think the Kingston quintet is as popular as ever, but don’t … Continue reading The Tragically Hip rises above poor sound in Vancouver to peak with “Nautical Disaster”
Bob Rock brings his golden ears and guitars to Paul Hyde’s Living Off the Radar
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 16, 2000 Former Vancouverite Bob Rock is one of the most in-demand rock producers in the world today. The man who helped platinum acts like Metallica, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and the Cult move mountains of CDs now lives and works on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where … Continue reading Bob Rock brings his golden ears and guitars to Paul Hyde’s Living Off the Radar