ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 10, 1991 By Steve Newton It’s been pretty hard to skip through any Seattle TV news broadcasts lately without hearing all about the devastation that Washington’s largest city and its outlying areas are feeling from drug wars. Reports on crack houses and citizens under gang-related fire are nightly occurrences as the … Continue reading Alice in Chains matches drug-war desperation with Facelift’s angry riffs
Dave Brock says Hawkwind’s space-rock wasn’t influenced by anyone
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 13, 1990 By Steve Newton Hawkwind may just well be the ultimate cult band. The British progressive/space metal act has released more than 20 albums since its inception in 1969—and sold millions. Yet ask the person next to you if they’ve ever actually heard the band—least of all bought one of … Continue reading Dave Brock says Hawkwind’s space-rock wasn’t influenced by anyone
Chainsaws and stage-divers help D.O.A. take care of business at “final” show
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 6, 1990 By Steve Newton Homing in on the Commodore to witness what should have been a historic event in the annals of Vancouver rock—the last ever show by legendary local punkers D.O.A.—what do I see but a sign taped to the Granville venue’s door: “Sold out—second show … Continue reading Chainsaws and stage-divers help D.O.A. take care of business at “final” show
The Quireboys pride themselves on “proper” rock ‘n’ roll
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 19, 1990 By Steve Newton There are some bands out there that are just made to play in bars—they have that certain something that demands you sip a frosty cold one while wallowing in their raucous boogie noise. The Beat Farmers are one of those, the Georgia Satellites another. And a … Continue reading The Quireboys pride themselves on “proper” rock ‘n’ roll
Country Dick Montana gets a boner for Vancouver at the Beat Farmers’ beer-drenched Commodore gig
@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 29, 1990 By Steve Newton Before the Beat Farmers hit the stage last Friday (November 23) for the first of two weekend shows at the Commodore, a flock of young women—entrants in the La Hunt for La Goddess contest—was paraded before the assembled multitudes. But the crowd … Continue reading Country Dick Montana gets a boner for Vancouver at the Beat Farmers’ beer-drenched Commodore gig
The Beat Farmers’ Country Dick Montana expects “large crowds of roaming bozos” in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 15, 1990 By Steve Newton If aliens from another world ever happened to beam down into a nightclub where the Beat Farmers were playing, they’d witness an unusual rock ’n’ roll custom that might be mistaken for a strange religious rite. They’d see a rough-looking biker-type poised at … Continue reading The Beat Farmers’ Country Dick Montana expects “large crowds of roaming bozos” in Vancouver
Annihilator’s Jeff Waters is getting into the “old hard-rock stuff” again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 15, 1990 By Steve Newton Despite the fact that this city is home to Annihilator—one of the most promising young bands in metal—Vancouver has yet to prove itself as a world-class heavy metal town. Aside from Annihilator, there hasn’t been a successful metal recording act out of this city since Kick … Continue reading Annihilator’s Jeff Waters is getting into the “old hard-rock stuff” again
Rob Halford forced to defend Judas Priest’s name against suicide lawsuit
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 25, 1990 By Steve Newton You don’t have to be a riff-hungry young metal-head to know who Judas Priest is these days—all you’ve got to do is read the papers. The British band received world-wide publicity recently during its trial in Reno, Nevada, which questioned whether subliminal messages … Continue reading Rob Halford forced to defend Judas Priest’s name against suicide lawsuit
Steve Earle on cops, bikers, jail, Ted Bundy, and The Hard Way
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 11, 1990 By Steve Newton Steve Earle’s got a headache—a real doozie. The whirlwind promotional tour that brought him to Vancouver’s Georgian Court Hotel has taken its toll, and while this scribbler waits in the lobby, Earle’s up in his room, downing aspirins to ease the pain brought on by countless … Continue reading Steve Earle on cops, bikers, jail, Ted Bundy, and The Hard Way
Deafening Danzig puts earplugs to the test in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 11, 1990 By Steve Newton Over the years, yours truly has seen and heard a lot of things during his many sojourns to that famed Vancouver rock den known as the Commodore. But the recent Thanksgiving Day (October 8) show by L.A. metallists Danzig offered something new: the … Continue reading Deafening Danzig puts earplugs to the test in Vancouver
ZZ Top’s Vancouver fans wimp out while that little ol’ band from Texas delivers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 4, 1990 By Steve Newton ZZ Top has always been one of the coolest bands in the land. Those wacky beards, those nifty suits, those fuzzy guitars—not to mention those barnstormin’ boogie tunes that make you wanna rock ’n’ roll all night and party every day. But after … Continue reading ZZ Top’s Vancouver fans wimp out while that little ol’ band from Texas delivers
Rik Emmett embarks on solo career after unhappy breakup of Triumph
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 4, 1990 By Steve Newton Following Ted Nugent is not an enviable prospect for anybody, but Terrible Ted opened for yours truly—in the journalistic sense, anyway—just last week. As guest host for Detroit rock station WRIF’s morning show, the Nuge—who had once jammed on a Zeppelin tune with Rick Emmett and … Continue reading Rik Emmett embarks on solo career after unhappy breakup of Triumph
Robert Plant gets the Led out and holds his own with the Black Crowes in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 27, 1990 By Steve Newton Robert Plant threw me for a loop at the Coliseum last Friday (September 21). From the lacklustre sound of his latest album, Manic Nirvana, I had the impression that the 42-year-old rock legend had drifted off into boring-old-fartsville, never to return again. I even expected the … Continue reading Robert Plant gets the Led out and holds his own with the Black Crowes in Vancouver