By Steve Newton I was just listening to an old interview I did with Lemmy Kilmister back in 2002 and came upon a bit where he talks about being a roadie for Jimi Hendrix back in the day. Having never seen Hendrix in concert myself, I had to ask Lemmy if he was really as … Continue reading That time Lemmy from Motörhead told me that Jimi Hendrix was “the best you’ll ever have”
By Steve Newton Back in September of 1989 I interviewed American guitar great Steve Stevens, who was touring behind his debut solo album, Atomic Playboys. That LP included a cover of the 1975 Sweet song “Action”, which Stevens said he thought was a Queen song at first. At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time I suggested to guitar great Steve Stevens that he might want to cover Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 15, 1985 By Steve Newton Canadian power trio Triumph will be headlining at the Pacific Coliseum tomorrow (Saturday) night with Australia’s Angel City, in what promises to be an evening of intense, thundering rock and roll. Mssrs. Rik Emmett (guitar), Mike Levine (bass), and Gil Moore (drums) are touring behind their … Continue reading Rik Emmett ponders the pros and cons of heavy metal while Triumph tours behind Thunder Seven
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 22, 2006 By Steve Newton How many big-league metal CDs can you name that have sold more than 3.5 million copies yet cost less than three grand to make? The only one I’m aware of is Godsmack, the 1998 debut by the Boston-based metal quartet of the same … Continue reading Tony Rombola says Godsmack has a lot of fans in the military: “Males 18 to 25 like the hard rock”
By Steve Newton Fans of Leslie West should send thoughts and prayers to the American rock-guitar legend. Yesterday West’s brother, Larry West Weinstein, posted on Facebook that Leslie was gravely ill and near death after his heart stopped, and that he was put on a ventilator. “I am asking for all your prayers,” wrote Weinstein. … Continue reading Leslie West, guitar legend of Mountain fame, gravely ill after his heart stopped
By Steve Newton When I interview the world’s greatest guitarists, I often like to ask them who they think is the world’s greatest guitarist. Carlos Santana is definitely one of the best ever, so when I interviewed him back in 2001 I put the question to him. Have a listen: To hear my full interview … Continue reading That time I asked Carlos Santana who his favourite guitar player was
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 27, 1985 By Steve Newton Hendrix. Page. Beck. Clapton. Blackmore. Van Halen. Rhoads. Malmsteen. Malmsteen? That’s right, Malmsteen. The name might not be as familiar, but rest assured that in years to come it will gain a place beside those of rock’s biggest guitar heroes. At only 22 years of age, … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen takes the guitar world by storm at age 22
By Steve Newton As a freelance music writer in Vancouver since 1982, I’ve seen a lotta concerts. Most of the arena shows I reviewed took place at the Pacific Coliseum, until the Vancouver Canucks found a new home downtown in 1995 at GM Place, which was renamed Rogers Arena in 2010. But I wasn’t just … Continue reading 10 memorable concerts at 10 lost but unforgotten Vancouver venues
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 14, 1994 By Steve Newton If there’s a rock ’n’ roll heaven, you know they’ve got a helluva band…and I like to think that there are at least three guitarists in the lineup: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads. And when I picture Vaughan, I see him doing his … Continue reading Guitar wizard David Gogo on his new debut LP and the undeniable influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan
jeff vinnick photo By Steve Newton When the Vancouver Canucks moved their home rink from East Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum to downtown’s GM Place in 1995, “the Garage” became the main place to see arena-rock shows in the city–at least until the name was changed to Rogers Arena in 2010. During that 15-year period I saw … Continue reading The 15 best rock concerts I ever saw at Vancouver’s GM Place
By Steve Newton Before GM Place became the home of the Vancouver Canucks in 1995–then changed its name to Rogers Arena in 2010–the Pacific Coliseum was the place to see arena-rock shows in Vancouver. As a music-obsessed teenager in the ’70s I made the 80-minute drive from Chilliwack to see my first big shows at … Continue reading The 10 best rock concerts I ever saw at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum in the ’80s
By Steve Newton When I did my first interview with Joe Satriani in January of 1990 his Flying in a Blue Dream album had been out for only two months, and word had gotten around about what an ambitious project it was, clocking in at nearly 65 minutes. (His previous full-length disc, Surfing With the … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me that he wanted Flying in a Blue Dream to be something heavy and deep
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Jimi Hendrix tribute artist Randy Hansen back in 2001 I learned that he had known Stevie Ray Vaughan quite well. I was cool to hear Hansen reminisce about Stevie Ray opening shows for him in Austin, Texas, and the two of them creating animal sounds on guitar. Have a … Continue reading That time Randy Hansen told me about exchanging ideas and creating animal sounds with Stevie Ray Vaughan
