Iron Maiden’s Clive Burr on Martin Birch, Ruddles, and The Number of the Beast

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 9, 1982 By Steve Newton Iron Maiden is quickly becoming one of Britain's most popular metal bands. Last year the band sold well over a million albums with their second release, Killers, cracking the top ten in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Belgium. Their latest album, The Number of … Continue reading Iron Maiden’s Clive Burr on Martin Birch, Ruddles, and The Number of the Beast

The B-52’s make a triumphant return to Vancouver in the wake of Cosmic Thing

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 26, 1990 By Steve Newton Why, oh why, did the B-52's have to get booked into the Orpheum? As one of the prime providers of bouncy, shake-your-booty pop-rock, the band would have been so much better in a place where it's okay to move around, and where concert-goers have the option … Continue reading The B-52’s make a triumphant return to Vancouver in the wake of Cosmic Thing

Alice Cooper’s youthful band breathes fire into the shock-rock king’s classics in concert

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 26, 1990 By Steve Newton If Alice Cooper's concert at the Coliseum last Thursday (January 18) were a horror movie--and in a way it nearly was--it might have been called The Return of Alice, Part 10: The New Blood. On his latest tour, the king of nasty rock … Continue reading Alice Cooper’s youthful band breathes fire into the shock-rock king’s classics in concert

Imagine all of John Lennon’s studio albums in a vinyl box set

By Steve Newton Last weekend's enormously successful Record Store Day was proof that--all around the world--vinyl is the preferred format for serious music fans in 2015. Three days after that joyous celebration of the 12-inch platter, Universal Music Canada has announced that John Lennon, arguably the greatest pop songwriter of all time, will be lauded … Continue reading Imagine all of John Lennon’s studio albums in a vinyl box set

Art Bergmann plays Sexual Roulette on behalf of downtrodden rockers everywhere

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 20, 1990 By Steve Newton It's a sunny Friday afternoon on Granville Island. Art Bergmann and I are negotiating our way through armies of cars—parked and mobile—in search of a suitable spot to have a chat. "I don't have any money," confides Bergmann as we head over to the Island from … Continue reading Art Bergmann plays Sexual Roulette on behalf of downtrodden rockers everywhere

Roger Waters to rerelease Jeff Beck-bolstered album Amused to Death

By Steve Newton Roger Waters fans—and Jeff Beck freaks—have reason to rejoice today, as Legacy Recordings has announced the reissue, in various remastered forms, of Waters' solo album Amused to Death. That was the 1992 disc that concerned itself with society's obsession with entertainment, in particular its addiction to TV. Obviously, folks' current preoccupation with screens of all … Continue reading Roger Waters to rerelease Jeff Beck-bolstered album Amused to Death

Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock

By Steve Newton I wasn't the artsiest rock-music fan to grow up in Chilliwack in the seventies; there was way too much Molly Hatchet in my vinyl diet for that. But every now and then I'd venture beyond guitar-based boogie and try something a little more involved, like Roxy Music. I remember buying Stranded when it came … Continue reading Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock

Bob Rock on the Payola$ reunion and the influence of Mick Ronson as a producer

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 27, 2003 By Steve Newton At one point during the exceptional Blackie & the Rodeo Kings show at Sonar a couple of weeks back, guitarist-vocalist and former Junkhouse member Tom Wilson casually leaned into the mike and said: “Roll out red carpet, here come China boys.” His group didn’t follow up … Continue reading Bob Rock on the Payola$ reunion and the influence of Mick Ronson as a producer

Def Leppard’s “happy metal” makes Vancouver smile

By Steve Newton The first time Def Leppard played Vancouver was in July of 1983, on a coheadlining date at the Pacific Coliseum with '70s-rock holdouts Uriah Heep. This was six months after the release of its breakthrough Pyromania album, which spawned four singles--"Photograph", "Rock of Ages", "Foolin'", and "Too Late for Love"--and to date has sold … Continue reading Def Leppard’s “happy metal” makes Vancouver smile

Def Leppard’s Steve Clark on the long wait for Hysteria and the legacy of Pyromania

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 17, 1988 By Steve Newton Most successful recording bands like to put an album out every year. Sometimes they'll skip a year, to vacation in the Bahamas or release a live or best-of LP. After three years their fans start to get a bit worried, not to mention the band's record … Continue reading Def Leppard’s Steve Clark on the long wait for Hysteria and the legacy of Pyromania

Unfriended leaves viewers in pixelated purgatory

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 18, 2015 By Steve Newton You've gotta give Blumhouse Productions credit: they sure know how to make big bucks off cheaply made horror flicks. The company is noted for 2007's Paranormal Activity, which was mostly shot in one bedroom, cost 15 grand to make, and grossed over $190 mil. Now Blumhouse … Continue reading Unfriended leaves viewers in pixelated purgatory

Fastway’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke on his days with Motörhead and not wanting to be a guitar hero

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 8, 1983 By Steve Newton Fastway, the new band put together by former Motörhead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke and featuring original Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley, opened last Wednesday's Iron Maiden concert at the Pacific Coliseum. I spoke to "Fast" Eddie that afternoon and caught a few glimpses into life with … Continue reading Fastway’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke on his days with Motörhead and not wanting to be a guitar hero