By Steve Newton I've interviewed a lot of legendary blues guitarists over the years. B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan--they don't get much more famous than that. But I've also managed to score time with lesser-known blues artists who--though not as familiar to the average music fan--have been very influential … Continue reading That time blues legend Otis Rush told me that he was always tryin’
Terror titan Wes Craven on the horrors of family and being cast in the role of the scary guy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 7, 1991 By Steve Newton “Where do you get your ideas from?” Horror director Wes Craven must have heard that question a thousand times. It seems that everybody wants to know how he came up with the character of Freddy Kreuger, or how he was able to withstand … Continue reading Terror titan Wes Craven on the horrors of family and being cast in the role of the scary guy
Former Metal Queen Lee Aaron says you can’t build a career on a pretty face
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 24, 1991 By Steve Newton Although Toronto’s Lee Aaron has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene since the early ’80s, her first taste of substantial commercial success didn’t come until her 1990 album, Bodyrock. It’s been a long road, but the 29-year-old singer—who plays 86 Street … Continue reading Former Metal Queen Lee Aaron says you can’t build a career on a pretty face
The rootsy gut-bucket boogie of the Paladins gets a boost from Dave Alvin in Vancouver
@shotbykevin ORIGINAL PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUGUST 15, 1991 By Steve Newton Men Without Hats immortalized the idea “You can dance if you want to.” I dunno—sometimes I just can’t dance. But I was a regular dancin’ fool at the Commodore last Friday (August 9), and the decision to get up there and make … Continue reading The rootsy gut-bucket boogie of the Paladins gets a boost from Dave Alvin in Vancouver
Disgruntled Cult fans pelt Commodore door with donations at surprise Food Bank benefit
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 27, 1994 By Steve Newton For a while it looked like a minor riot might break out on the Granville Mall last Sunday night, even with our cup-fumbling Canuckleheads out of action. But only a few disgruntled Cult fans among the estimated 2,000 to 3,000 turned away from … Continue reading Disgruntled Cult fans pelt Commodore door with donations at surprise Food Bank benefit
Fears of a Clown: talking horror with Tim Curry (Pennywise) on the set of Stephen King’s It
By Steve Newton Who knew that when I stepped onto the lush green grounds of Vancouver's Stanley Park in the summer of 1990 that I'd be writing about it three decades later. I sure the hell didn't. I'd been assigned to write two 3,000-word set-visit stories for then-thriving horror mag Fangoria on the filming of a two-part ABC-TV miniseries … Continue reading Fears of a Clown: talking horror with Tim Curry (Pennywise) on the set of Stephen King’s It
That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time
By Steve Newton By now most everyone has heard the awful news: that American rock legend Chris Cornell took his own life after a Soundgarden concert in Detroit Wednesday night. What a complete shocker. What a total downer. He was only 52. I wasn't the biggest Soundgarden fanatic in the world, but I loved a … Continue reading That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time
That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
By Steve Newton Here's a fun little 30-second audio snippet that never fails to make me smile. Back in 1985 I did an interview with bass-guitar legend Donald "Duck" Dunn, who at the time was playing in Eric Clapton's touring band. Dunn is famous for playing bass with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and for his session work … Continue reading That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford
By Steve Newton What do you get when you gather the lead singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free on stage at the same time? A pretty rockin' version of the '50s chestnut "Money (That's What I Want)", it appears. Robert Plant, Brian Johnson, and Paul Rodgers got together at one of Rodgers' shows in … Continue reading Singers from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Free connect for a rock-god vocal summit in Oxford
Billy Idol humps the stage and Steve Stevens’ guitars rage as the Whiplash Smile tour hits Vancouver
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 22, 1987 By Steve Newton When Billy Idol kept stalling and stalling the release of his latest LP, Whiplash Smile, there was some real danger that the man's popularity--which had reached great heights after the release of 1983's Rebel Yell--was beginning to run its course. When a star with so … Continue reading Billy Idol humps the stage and Steve Stevens’ guitars rage as the Whiplash Smile tour hits Vancouver
Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the throat
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 4, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands spend months—even years—recording albums, poring over technicalities and making sure every little nibbly bit is in the perfect place. Then there are bands like Florida’s Saigon Kick, which knocked off its debut in 11 days flat. That’s movin’. “Everybody says that,” notes guitarist/main songwriter … Continue reading Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the throat
Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1990 By Steve Newton When the Royal Court of China's debut album hit the record racks three years ago, it took a few people by surprise. By the daintiness of the band's name, possible buyers might be forgiven for taking it as yet another panty-waist British synth duo churning … Continue reading Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed
Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 25, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands just aren’t happy unless they’re recording in the fanciest, most expensive studios around. Then there are bands like Chicago’s Eleventh Dream Day, which laid down the tracks for its latest album in a Kentucky tobacco barn. The band members had to … Continue reading Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars