ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 9, 1989 By Steve Newton The Pacific Coliseum may as well have been a Roman coliseum last Wednesday (May 31), because things got about as uncivilized as they've ever been in the home of the Canucks. Not since the Broad Street Bullies took their orange jerseys into the crowd to bust … Continue reading Metallica’s young guns of sonic mayhem slay Vancouver on the …And Justice for All Tour
Collective Soul channels Peter Gabriel-era Genesis at the Commodore in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 21, 1995 By Steve Newton It’s a good thing that the folks who own the Underground—that slightly twisted clothes and accessories shop located underneath the Commodore Ballroom—had the foresight to install loosely secured windows that give with vibration, because those big panes were given a serious shaking by … Continue reading Collective Soul channels Peter Gabriel-era Genesis at the Commodore in Vancouver
Alex Van Halen on Hagar and Roth, the magic of Eddie, and finding Balance with Bruce Fairbairn
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1995 By Steve Newton Sometimes it seems as if there are two kinds of people in the world: David Lee Roth folks and Sammy Hagar folks. Dave folks are kind of a wild bunch—they prefer their music with a raw edge, full of primitive, howling vocals and finger-numbing guitar solos. … Continue reading Alex Van Halen on Hagar and Roth, the magic of Eddie, and finding Balance with Bruce Fairbairn
Moe Berg sings “Gretzy Rocks” but actually he likes the ‘Hawks
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 7, 1995 When The Pursuit of Happiness made a splash on the Canadian music scene with its 1988 Love Junk album, it was signed to Chrysalis Records. When 1993’s The Downward Road came out, the band had hooked up with the Mercury label. Now that the group’s new … Continue reading Moe Berg sings “Gretzy Rocks” but actually he likes the ‘Hawks
Collective Soul’s Ed Roland wants to start over at the Commodore
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1995 By Steve Newton You might wonder why a band as popular as Collective Soul is playing the Commodore, when it’s obvious the group could pack in at least a few thousand more folks somewhere else. The gig next Thursday (September 14) sold out instantly, and scalped tickets will no … Continue reading Collective Soul’s Ed Roland wants to start over at the Commodore
Cult guitarist Billy Duffy says it all boils down to the Les Paul
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1989 By Steve Newton In the last few years, little old Vancouver has become a real attraction for top-name recording acts, rivaling some of the more established music centres in the world. Bon Jovi started the ball rolling by recording the zillion-selling Slippery When Wet album here in 1986, followed … Continue reading Cult guitarist Billy Duffy says it all boils down to the Les Paul
Lars Ulrich denies that Grammy “loser” Metallica is mellowing out with …And Justice For All
By Steve Newton On May 31, 1989, Metallica played Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on a bill with the Cult. This was just three months after the band had its expected Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance stolen away by Jethro Tull--whose Crest of a Knave album somehow beat out Metallica's mighty ...And Justice for All--and metal … Continue reading Lars Ulrich denies that Grammy “loser” Metallica is mellowing out with …And Justice For All
Colin James took some funky pills for his new Bad Habits
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 31, 1995 By Steve Newton Some guys have it tough, and then there’s Colin James. When it came time to record his fourth album, the local blues-rocker didn’t hole up in any ice-encased northern studio. James ended up down in the Bahamas, poor guy. But it wasn’t like he went there … Continue reading Colin James took some funky pills for his new Bad Habits
Barstool Prophets rile the censors at the nation’s music station
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 31, 1995 One of my favourite Canadian indie releases of 1993 was Deflowered, the debut disc by the Barstool Prophets. Quickly made but brimming with conviction, it ended with the particularly memorable “Robin’s Song”, a sweetly swaying, acoustic guitar–driven ode to the ravages of emotional abuse sung with … Continue reading Barstool Prophets rile the censors at the nation’s music station
Jim Heath can finally pay his bills as the Reverend Horton Heat
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 24, 1995 By Steve Newton Sometimes it’s tough coming up with decent opening questions when you’re interviewing rockers; other times it’s way too easy. When Jim Heath—aka Reverend Horton Heat—answers the phone at his Texas homestead, he’s in the middle of paying some bills. There’s a shuffling of … Continue reading Jim Heath can finally pay his bills as the Reverend Horton Heat
Huevos Rancheros aren’t concerned about being the next Sloan
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 24, 1995 Sometimes I wish I’d been more than a toddler in 1960 so I could have appreciated tunes such as the Ventures’ “Walk Don’t Run”, the Shadows’ “Man of Mystery”, and Duane Eddy’s “Shazam!” as soon as they were released. Nowadays I love nothing more than surrendering … Continue reading Huevos Rancheros aren’t concerned about being the next Sloan
Producer Dave Jerden heard a lot of Mott in Seattle’s Sweet Water
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 17, 1995 Sweet Water singer Adam Czeisler and guitarist Rich Credo go way back—and I don’t mean just to high school or anything. When they were seven years old, the future rock mates met on a bus coming back from a YMCA summer camp in the San Juan … Continue reading Producer Dave Jerden heard a lot of Mott in Seattle’s Sweet Water
Gordon Downie sees Bruce Allen in a Subway ad at Another Roadside Attraction
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 20, 1995 By Steve Newton The Another Roadside Attraction show at Seabird Island two years ago was one of Gordon Downie’s all-time favourite gigs. The Tragically Hip vocalist told the Georgia Straight recently that it was the natural beauty of the Agassiz location—surrounded by nearby mountains and dense … Continue reading Gordon Downie sees Bruce Allen in a Subway ad at Another Roadside Attraction