ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 26, 1998 Singer-songwriter-guitarist Robbie Fulks is an up-front kind of guy. He lets people know how he feels, and when he’s feeling pissed off, look out. The object of his wrath was Nashville a couple of years back, when Fulks—unimpressed by his treatment there at the hands of … Continue reading Robbie Fulks tears a strip off the Nashville scene on Let’s Kill Saturday Night
Monster Magnet’s Dave Wyndorf says “clever Weezer-type music” caused him to rock out on Powertrip
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton Dave Wyndorf likes the company of Zombies. As the songwriter-vocalist-guitarist for New Jersey hard-rockers Monster Magnet, he spent many nights on tour with White Zombie; now that that group has split up, he’s spending many nights on tour with Rob Zombie. But a Zombie’s a Zombie, … Continue reading Monster Magnet’s Dave Wyndorf says “clever Weezer-type music” caused him to rock out on Powertrip
Rob Zombie says the breakup of White Zombie was “a long, slow, gradual decay”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton Two months ago a press release from Universal Music hummed in on the Georgia Straight fax machine, bearing the news that White Zombie had “collectively decided to disband”. It seemed like quite a surprise at the time that the New York band’s 13-year … Continue reading Rob Zombie says the breakup of White Zombie was “a long, slow, gradual decay”
Santana’s guitar magic outshines Rod Stewart’s showmanship in Vancouver
photos by Jet Sutherland By Steve Newton In a perfect rock 'n' roll world, Rod Stewart would quit releasing those snoozy Great American Songbook golden-oldie albums, hook back up with Ronnie Wood and whatever other old Faces members are still kickin', start drinking again, and go out in a blaze of glory on a Faces club tour … Continue reading Santana’s guitar magic outshines Rod Stewart’s showmanship in Vancouver
Dick Wagner, one of the wickedest rock guitarists of the ’70s, dies at 71
Dick Wagner--who played stunning lead-guitar in the seventies for the likes of Aerosmith, Lou Reed, and Alice Cooper--died today in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 71. He had been hospitalized after contracting a lung infection following heart surgery in early July. I was crazy about Wagner's guitar playing before I even knew who he was. … Continue reading Dick Wagner, one of the wickedest rock guitarists of the ’70s, dies at 71
New Zep reissues will do until the Physical Graffiti box comes around
By Steve Newton Four months ago I did a blog about Led Zeppelin releasing deluxe reissues of its first three albums, under the headline "Led Zeppelin super-deluxe boxed sets destroy all other boxed sets." Well, I take it back. Today the legendary hard-rockers announced that they are releasing two more deluxe editions, and these are the ones that really destroy … Continue reading New Zep reissues will do until the Physical Graffiti box comes around
Will Mad Max: Fury Road’s Tom Hardy be a better Max than Mel?
My favourite action movie of all time has got to be Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, or—as it was known in Canada when it first hit theatres in 1982—The Road Warrior. I remember walking out of the Granville strip moviehouse I saw it in—I think it was the Vogue—and feeling like everything I saw and … Continue reading Will Mad Max: Fury Road’s Tom Hardy be a better Max than Mel?
Talking Ry Cooder, Ronnie Montrose, and the Allmans with Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton Bluesman Luther Allison, folk-pop troubadour Jeff Buckley, fingerstyle-guitar innovator Michael Hedges, and jazz drummer Tony Williams might seem unlikely heroes for a southern-rock band, but they’re who Gov’t Mule’s new CD, Dose, is dedicated to. Between the time the band started recording Dose … Continue reading Talking Ry Cooder, Ronnie Montrose, and the Allmans with Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes
Gordie Johnson draws inspiration from Eddie Kramer and kudos from Bruce Fairbairn for Big Sugar’s Heated
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton During a recent interview with famed local rock producer Bruce Fairbairn, I asked him if he’d heard any current albums that had blown him away, production-wise. It only took him a couple of seconds to come up with Heated, the latest CD from Toronto blues-rockers Big … Continue reading Gordie Johnson draws inspiration from Eddie Kramer and kudos from Bruce Fairbairn for Big Sugar’s Heated
Colin Linden inspired by Howlin’ Wolf and George Chuvalo on Raised by Wolves
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 1, 1998 By Steve Newton When you write for a weekly like the Straight, most of your interviews with touring musicians happen over the phone, because the story has to be out before your subject hits town. But once in a while you get to actually meet a … Continue reading Colin Linden inspired by Howlin’ Wolf and George Chuvalo on Raised by Wolves
BREAKING HORROR NEWS: Sam Raimi is developing an Evil Dead TV series
Here's some interesting news for horror fans. Apparently Sam Raimi--director of the original Evil Dead films and other genre gems like Darkman and Drag Me to Hell--is developing a TV series based on his Evil Dead franchise. According to the website bloodydisgusting.com, Raimi let slip earlier today at the San Diego Comic-Con that he is currently writing the series along with his … Continue reading BREAKING HORROR NEWS: Sam Raimi is developing an Evil Dead TV series
Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 24, 1998 By Steve Newton That big old vinyl collection of mine sure comes in handy sometimes. Up until last week I had no idea that it included anything by the Church, but in preparation for a chat with singer-bassist Steven Kilbey, I took a hopeful meander through … Continue reading Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
David Lowery says Cracker’s songs remain the same on Gentleman’s Blues
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 3, 1998 A lot of today’s rockers love to go on at length about how their latest album is a huge departure from previous ones, how their current music signifies arrival at a whole new level of artistry, and other such bunk. David Lowery is not your typical … Continue reading David Lowery says Cracker’s songs remain the same on Gentleman’s Blues