By Steve Newton Back in 1985 I did my only interview with Ronnie James Dio, who was headed to Vancouver on the Sacred Heart Tour, with Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force opening up. At one point in the conversation the legendary heavy-metal crooner compared the guitar-playing abilities of his former bandmate Ritchie Blackmore to those of … Continue reading That time Ronnie James Dio told me what he really thought of Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen as guitarists
The Void has tons of gore and not much more
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2017 By Steve Newton The Void is like a cosmic cross between the original Hellraiser, John Carpenter's The Thing, some freaky Lovecraft shit, and that skinless-human Body Worlds exhibition Science World had running a few years back. But I still didn't like it that much. The Sault Ste Marie-shot horror flick opens … Continue reading The Void has tons of gore and not much more
Rolling Stone can piss right off: here’s the 100 Greatest Guitarists (that I’ve interviewed) and 50 that I haven’t (yet)
By Steve Newton Google “100 greatest guitarists” these days and what shows up at the top is a total joke. It’s the high ‘n’ mighty Rolling Stone‘s list of the so-called finest, posted from 2015. And man does it suck. But what do you expect from the same bozos who oversee the Rock and Roll … Continue reading Rolling Stone can piss right off: here’s the 100 Greatest Guitarists (that I’ve interviewed) and 50 that I haven’t (yet)
Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray, age 30, says “it’s good to know we’ve got a few years to go yet”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 24, 1987 By Steve Newton England's Iron Maiden is different than most other heavy metal bands in a lot of ways. For one thing, they can all play their instruments, and very well. Their songs are quite complex, and the lyrics aren't simple-minded: there are no likes like … Continue reading Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray, age 30, says “it’s good to know we’ve got a few years to go yet”
That time I asked J.J. Cale what it was like growing up in Tulsa
By Steve Newton “Livin’ on Tulsa time Livin’ on Tulsa time Well, you know I’ve been through it When I set my watch back to it Livin’ on Tulsa time” Eric Clapton recorded the Don Williams song “Tulsa Time” on his 1978 Backless album, and liked it so much he recorded a live version for his Just … Continue reading That time I asked J.J. Cale what it was like growing up in Tulsa
New audio: Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, talks about “finding your clown face” on the 1990 set of Stephen King’s It
By Steve Newton The most popular story I ever posted on Ear of Newt was the interview I did with Tim Curry on the set of Stephen King’s It, when it was filming in my stomping grounds of Vancouver in the summer of 1990. On assignment for New York-based horror mag Fangoria, I got to … Continue reading New audio: Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, talks about “finding your clown face” on the 1990 set of Stephen King’s It
That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts what he’d been listening to in his spare time
By Steve Newton Regular readers of Ear of Newt may have noticed that I, the Newt, really like posting excerpts from my four interviews with Dickey Betts. It's not just because he's a guitar legend. Or because he was in the freakin' Allman Brothers. Though that's part of it. But I also just like listening … Continue reading That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts what he’d been listening to in his spare time
That time Link Wray told me about “Rumble” being banned in the States
By Steve Newton Back in '97 when I did my one-and-only interview with guitar legend Link Wray--who the bozos down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still refuse to induct--we got talking about his most famous tune, 1958's "Rumble". When I mentioned how the song had caused a lot of controversy, he got … Continue reading That time Link Wray told me about “Rumble” being banned in the States
The Age of Electric kicks off Canadian tour with killer Vancouver gig
jeff sutherland photos By Steve Newton Everybody's favourite Canadian guitar-rock band from the '90s--well, mine anyway--kicked off its 15-date Canadian tour with a show at the Commodore last night. Last April all four original members of the Age of Electric--singer-guitarists Todd Kerns and Ryan Dahle, bassist John Kerns, and drummer-vocalist Kurt Dahle--reunited for their first … Continue reading The Age of Electric kicks off Canadian tour with killer Vancouver gig
That time I asked Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark what he liked so much about Gibsons
By Steve Newton My nephew Jeff has been letting me borrow his Gibson Les Paul Standard for a while now, and, holy crap, is that one killer instrument! You wouldn't have gotten an argument about that from Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark, who used Gibson guitars to craft some of the band's finest riffs before … Continue reading That time I asked Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark what he liked so much about Gibsons
Rock and roll died today: Chuck Berry passes away at age 90
By Steve Newton The man often looked to as the originator of rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry, died today at the age of 90. The singer-songwriter and guitar legend--best known for deathless rock numbers like “Johnny B. Goode”, "Maybelline", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Memphis", and "Nadine"--died this afternoon, St. Charles County Police Department confirmed. The cause of … Continue reading Rock and roll died today: Chuck Berry passes away at age 90
That time I asked J.J. Cale if he’d bought anything nice with his Clapton money
Back in 1990 I did my first interview with J.J. Cale, one of the wickedest damn songwriters and guitar players the U.S. has ever produced.
Drummer Steve Smith gave up Journey’s arena rock to gain Vital Information
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 27, 1987 By Steve Newton It's a long way, in musical terms, from the commercial rock of Journey to the improvisational jazz of Vital Information. But for drummer Steve Smith, who appears at the Town Pump Friday (March 27) with Vital Information, it was a route that had to be taken. … Continue reading Drummer Steve Smith gave up Journey’s arena rock to gain Vital Information