By Steve Newton If you're a hardcore John Mellencamp fan and you just lost your entire Mellencamp CD collection because your house burned down, and now you've gotta go live in a small apartment without a lot of space for discs, have I got the thing for you. This Tuesday (July 22), Universal Music Canada is … Continue reading New John Mellencamp box set crams 19 discs into one tidy package
The Purge: Anarchy isn’t worth the numbing ride
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 18, 2014 Last year The Purge introduced viewers to the absurd concept of an annual, government-sanctioned bloodbath in which Americans are encouraged--for the economic good of the country--to either go out and commit whatever heinous crimes they want for a 12-hour period, or hunker down in their barricaded homes with their weapons handy … Continue reading The Purge: Anarchy isn’t worth the numbing ride
Metallica are mighty masters of metal wherever they may roam, including Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 22, 1994 By Steve Newton What better way to get primed for a Metallica gig than to take a four-hour cruise around the harbour with a smokin' blues-rock band and 75 beer-crazed party animals? None, thought I, so I hopped on board the Boomtown at noon on Sunday (July 17) and we motored off … Continue reading Metallica are mighty masters of metal wherever they may roam, including Vancouver
Johnny Winter’s lightning-fast licks prove that he’s still alive and well in Vancouver
charles campbell photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 25, 1987 By Steve Newton Texas is famous for a few things. Lonestar beer. Redneck sheriffs. The Dallas Cowboys. It's also famous for an albino guitarist named Johnny Winter, who grew up in Beaumont, Texas, with a keyboard whiz brother named Edgar. When Johnny was just 15, the two … Continue reading Johnny Winter’s lightning-fast licks prove that he’s still alive and well in Vancouver
R.I.P. Johnny Winter, one of the world’s all-time greatest guitarists, dead at 70
Just heard in a tweet from Nanaimo blues-rocker David Gogo that blues legend Johnny Winter has died. The awful news was first broken a few hours ago by Jenda Derringer, the wife of former Winter bandmate Rick Derringer, on her Facebook page. It's a very sad day for fans of blues and rock guitar. Winter's never … Continue reading R.I.P. Johnny Winter, one of the world’s all-time greatest guitarists, dead at 70
Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 21, 1989 By Steve Newton All the acts at last Sunday's (July 16) rock 'n' roll bash at B.C. Place had played Vancouver last year—Rod Stewart at the Coliseum, Tom Cochrane at the Orpheum, and Jeff Healey at the Commodore. But that didn't stop 21,000 rock fans from shelling out big bucks to … Continue reading Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed
Steve Lukather’s smoking guitar rules at Ringo’s All-Starr hitfest in Vancouver
By Steve Newton Not all of the folks attending last night's Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band show at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver might have known who Steve Lukather was. I suspect a lot of them just went to see the ex-Beatle, hoping to hear him revive Fab Four memories with tunes like "Yellow … Continue reading Steve Lukather’s smoking guitar rules at Ringo’s All-Starr hitfest in Vancouver
“If you want Priest music,” says Two’s Rob Halford, “go and see Judas Priest.”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 30, 1998 By Steve Newton The last time I interviewed Rob Halford was in 1984, at the peak of Judas Priest’s arena-packing popularity. At the time, he was screaming his lungs out about how “Love Bites”, swaddling himself in black leather and chains, and riding a Harley onstage … Continue reading “If you want Priest music,” says Two’s Rob Halford, “go and see Judas Priest.”
Dave Mustaine calls out today’s trendy jackasses on Megadeth’s Cryptic Writings
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 26, 1998 By Steve Newton When the conference-call operator connects me with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, I’m expecting to be hooked up with the guy in America’s centre of loud music, Los Angeles. But it turns out the snarling metal man has settled down with his family—which includes a three-week-old daughter … Continue reading Dave Mustaine calls out today’s trendy jackasses on Megadeth’s Cryptic Writings
Vancouver blues-rocker James Grant is doing what he loves to do
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 2, 1998 When veteran Vancouver guitar-slinger James Grant drops by the Georgia Straight office for a chat, he’s got a local gig set up that isn’t your typical Yale or Fairview blues happening. That night, Grant and his band are booked to play a private gig at Panama … Continue reading Vancouver blues-rocker James Grant is doing what he loves to do
Steve Earle says his midlife crisis took place when he was about 24
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 5, 1998 By Steve Newton It’s pretty common for a recording artist to tout his latest work as his best ever. I’ve yet to hear one say, “Well, this new record’s okay, but it’s nothing like the one I did five years ago.” Sometimes you can tell whether … Continue reading Steve Earle says his midlife crisis took place when he was about 24
Teen tunesmiths unplug for dark but down-home Days of the New
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 26, 1998 Days of the New is different from most international recording acts in a couple of ways. First off, the average age of the Louisville, Kentucky–based quartet is 19. Then there’s the fact that it’s a full-on guitar band that doesn’t have much use for Les Pauls … Continue reading Teen tunesmiths unplug for dark but down-home Days of the New
At 50, southern-rock legend Gregg Allman is Searching for Simplicity
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 12, 1998 By Steve Newton Gregg Allman has released six solo albums over the years, but he never wanders too far away from the southern-rock sound he helped popularize as a founding member of the Allman Brothers. On his latest CD, Searching for Simplicity, Allman doesn’t even try to shake his … Continue reading At 50, southern-rock legend Gregg Allman is Searching for Simplicity