ZZ Top’s reliance on bodacious babes overshadows its musical talents on the Antenna World Tour

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 9, 1994 By Steve Newton “Those babes gotta go,” said my pal Lindy as our gang of ZZ Top fans strolled from the Coliseum to the PNE beer garden last Saturday (September 3), the sonic blast of Billy Gibbons’s down ‘n’ dirty guitar still ricocheting … Continue reading ZZ Top’s reliance on bodacious babes overshadows its musical talents on the Antenna World Tour

David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1985 By Steve Newton When David Wilcox was 12 years old he played his first gig at a club for recently released convicts. As he recalls, the ex-cons weren’t particularly impressed. “It was a good introduction to what came later,” says Wilcox with a laugh. “It was pretty funky. I … Continue reading David Wilcox would rather be known as a rocker than a bluesman

That time Ricky Medlocke told me that he was almost on the plane with Skynyrd when it went down

By Steve Newton Back in August of 1997 I interviewed Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke in advance of a Skynyrd show in Vancouver with openers Paul Rodgers and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. At one point in the conversation I asked Medlocke, who’d also been a band member in the early days, if he’d been following Lynyrd … Continue reading That time Ricky Medlocke told me that he was almost on the plane with Skynyrd when it went down

Jimmie Vaughan’s supertasty live licks tell the story of brother Stevie’s final flight

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 12, 1994 By Steve Newton I count myself among the lucky few who got to see Jimmie Vaughan‘s little brother, Stevie Ray, play the Commodore in the mid-’80s. Back then, when you went to an SRV show you knew what to expect: bass, drums, and the wildest blues-rock guitar this side … Continue reading Jimmie Vaughan’s supertasty live licks tell the story of brother Stevie’s final flight

That time I asked Gary Moore why he thought Def Leppard got so huge so fast, unlike Thin Lizzy

By Steve Newton Back in May of 1984 I did my one and only interview with Gary Moore, who’s one of my all-time favourite guitarists. Man that guy could play. I called him up in Reno, where he was touring with Rush. The previous summer he’d toured with Def Leppard after they released their breakthrough … Continue reading That time I asked Gary Moore why he thought Def Leppard got so huge so fast, unlike Thin Lizzy

John Oates plugs new Hall & Oates book, says things could be worse for pop music’s most successful duo

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 7, 1984 By Steve Newton With some 40 million records sold worldwide, Daryl Hall and John Oates are probably the most popular duo in contemporary music. In 13 years the two have garnered nine gold and five platinum albums, with their songs topping not only pop, but adult contemporary, R&B, and … Continue reading John Oates plugs new Hall & Oates book, says things could be worse for pop music’s most successful duo

Holly Woods distances herself from Toronto but keeps the name alive (for now)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 10, 1984 By Steve Newton With four platinum-plus records to their credit, Toronto is easily one of the most popular bands in the history of Canadian rock. High-velocity LPs like Lookin’ For Trouble and Get It on Credit combined with outstanding live shows, won the group plenty of fans across the … Continue reading Holly Woods distances herself from Toronto but keeps the name alive (for now)

That time I asked Slash if he was having more fun with Slash’s Snakepit than he was with GN’R

By Steve Newton When I interviewed American guitar hero Slash in April of 1995 he was playing with his own band, Slash’s Snakepit, which originally included two of his Guns N’ Roses bandmates—drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Gilby Clarke—as well as Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez and former Jellyfish member Eric Dover on lead … Continue reading That time I asked Slash if he was having more fun with Slash’s Snakepit than he was with GN’R

That time Chris Whitley told me that he thought Johnny Winter’s debut album was the best blues-rock record ever made

By Steve Newton I interviewed Chris Whitley for the first time back in October of 1991, three months after the release of his debut album, Living With the Law. He called me up from Nashville, where he was opening for Tom Petty on Petty’s Into the Great Wide Open Tour. At one point in the … Continue reading That time Chris Whitley told me that he thought Johnny Winter’s debut album was the best blues-rock record ever made

Ultravox’s Billy Currie says you get in a rock band to get yours rocks off, basically

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton Ultravox was scheduled to play Vancouver, their drummer Warren Cann’s hometown last month, but they never actually made it to this fair city. In fact, they never even made it to North America. It seems that when manager Chris Morrison visited the New York office of … Continue reading Ultravox’s Billy Currie says you get in a rock band to get yours rocks off, basically

Ian Hunter’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Man, this was hard, trying to keep a list of Ian Hunter’s best songs down to just 20 tunes. By Steve Newton 20. “I Get So Excited” (Ian Hunter, 1975) 19. “All American Alien Boy” (All American Alien Boy, 1976) 18. “Cleveland Rocks” (You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, 1979) 17. “Boy” (Ian Hunter, 1975) … Continue reading Ian Hunter’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 4, 1984 By Steve Newton Gazing out the 32nd-floor window of his Denman Inn suite onto an early West End evening, 22-year-old Corey Hart seems happy and at ease with himself. And well he should be. Eastern Canada’s answer to Bryan Adams, Hart is a singer/songwriter with enough talent and time … Continue reading Corey Hart garners compliments from Billy Joel and Eric Clapton as new single “Sunglasses at Night” hits the charts

Mott the Hoople’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Mott the Hoople are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Neither is Ian Hunter, or either of the Micks (Ralphs and Ronson). Screw the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. By Steve Newton 20. “Death May Be Your Santa Claus” (Brain Capers, 1971) 19. “Walkin’ with a Mountain” (Mad Shadows, 1970) 18. … Continue reading Mott the Hoople’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome