ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 20, 1994 By Steve Newton Ya gotta like that Bob Rock guy. When he gets tired of producing platinum-plus CDs for bands like Metallica and Mötley Crüe, he forms his own group, Rockhead, and gets back to his ’70s-rock roots with melodic, radio-friendly sing-along tunes such as “Bed of Roses” and … Continue reading Bob Rock gets the Payola$ back together for a Mick Ronson-inspired raveup in Vancouver
Kim Mitchell and Pye Dubois have come a long way from the Sarnia high-school smoking section
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 29, 1994 By Steve Newton When the time comes to sit down with Kim Mitchell and his lyricist, Pye Dubois, at the Bulldog Cafe, I have a bone to pick with them—and it isn’t one of the Nelson Street eatery’s tasty chicken wings. I want to know why … Continue reading Kim Mitchell and Pye Dubois have come a long way from the Sarnia high-school smoking section
Tinsley Ellis’s new disc features Chuck Leavell and 14-year-old Derek Trucks
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 29, 1994 By Steve Newton Tinsley Ellis really gets around. According to the Atlanta bluesman’s Alligator Records bio, he plays upward of 250 nights a year—and that ain’t no house gig, either. When I reached the seasoned road warrior by phone last week, he was at a place … Continue reading Tinsley Ellis’s new disc features Chuck Leavell and 14-year-old Derek Trucks
Nena of “99 Luftballoons” fame says she tries her best
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 1, 1984 By Steve Newton "When the Rolling Stones were in Berlin for their concert they let balloons flow at the end of the show. And Carlo thought, 'What might happen if the balloons go over the border to East Berlin?' There could be a misunderstanding." Over the phone from her … Continue reading Nena of “99 Luftballoons” fame says she tries her best
Tony Carey rips into Rainbow after “A Fine, Fine Day”, just before “The First Day of Summer”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 1, 1984 By Steve Newton The memories of his days in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow are not joyous ones for Tony Carey. The singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist was a member of the band for three years, and played keyboards on the Rainbow Rising and Live on Stage albums before leaving in disgust … Continue reading Tony Carey rips into Rainbow after “A Fine, Fine Day”, just before “The First Day of Summer”
Pete Yorn recalls scoring Me, Myself & Irene for the Farrelly Brothers
The Farrelly Brothers have garnered a lot of laughs from moviegoers since bursting onto the film scene with 1994's Dumb and Dumber. I always thought that their second Jim Carrey vehicle, 2000's Me, Myself & Irene, was one of their funnier efforts. It also had a wicked soundtrack, composed mainly of Steely Dan tunes performed by … Continue reading Pete Yorn recalls scoring Me, Myself & Irene for the Farrelly Brothers
Horror review: Godzilla
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 16, 2014 The kid in me—the one that's loved monster movies ever since being deliciously terrified by It! The Terror From Beyond Space's guy in a 1958 rubber suit—was really looking forward to the new Godzilla movie. But the kid in me was hugely disappointed by the latest take on the legendary Lizard … Continue reading Horror review: Godzilla
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd tells me “we don’t do drug songs”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 22, 1984 By Steve Newton "Well that's artistic licence," remarked guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour. Over the phone from Toronto, Gilmour expanded on the motive behind "Murder", a song from his new LP About Face which contains the line, "By your own admission, you raised up the knife." "If I'd left a gun … Continue reading David Gilmour from Pink Floyd tells me “we don’t do drug songs”
John Fogerty, the greatest “triple threat” in rock, is Fraser Valley bound
I've always thought that John Fogerty was the ultimate "triple threat". When he was the leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival—and after that, on much of his solo work—he was an incredibly gifted songwriter and a kick-ass swamp-rock guitar player. And then there's that voice: just so raspy and raw and full of fire. Add 'em up … Continue reading John Fogerty, the greatest “triple threat” in rock, is Fraser Valley bound
Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls heavy metal “a young musical force” in 1984
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1984 By Steve Newton With their last two albums reaching platinum status (over one million copies sold), Judas Priest is one of the world's most popular heavy metal acts. The band's steel-throated singer, Rob Halford, phoned me recently and elaborated on their new management, new album, and the state of … Continue reading Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls heavy metal “a young musical force” in 1984
H.R. Giger rocked my world with the Alien monster and the Brain Salad Surgery cover
I was shocked and saddened to hear that revered Swiss artist H.R. Giger passed away yesterday at the age of 74, apparently after a fall. I got my first look at his work in 1973 when, as a teenager perusing new albums at a record store, I came across Brain Salad Surgery, the latest release by British prog-rockers Emerson, Lake … Continue reading H.R. Giger rocked my world with the Alien monster and the Brain Salad Surgery cover
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets keep the spirit of Lovecraft alive
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 28, 1994 By Steve Newton Whatever you do, don’t say “Iä! Iä! Cthulhu Fhtang” three times. Careless use of that sacred chant—made famous by legendary horror author H.P. Lovecraft in his stories of the Cthulhu mythos—just might incite the evil wrath of the Elder Gods, the unspeakably horrifying … Continue reading The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets keep the spirit of Lovecraft alive
Taj Mahal and Robert Cray deliver soulfully smokin’ blues to a sold-out Commodore crowd
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 27, 1994 By Steve Newton If there’s one thing that’s a sure cure for the sad-eyed, rain-soaked January blahs, it’s a blues show at the Commodore. And when that show’s on a Friday night (January 21), the headliner is Robert Cray, and the opener is Taj Mahal, then cryin’ time is … Continue reading Taj Mahal and Robert Cray deliver soulfully smokin’ blues to a sold-out Commodore crowd