Interviewing Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon just before they took the throne

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 25, 2003 By Steve Newton There’s a real buzz happening right now about Kings of Leon, a scruffy Tennessee quartet consisting of three brothers and a cousin who are winning praise for their garage-y brand of Southern-flavoured guitar rock. England’s prestigious NME put the band on the cover of its July … Continue reading Interviewing Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon just before they took the throne

Koko Taylor, Queen of the Blues, says Willie Dixon was her right arm

When Koko Taylor was a poverty-stricken youngster she used to find joy in her meagre existence through the music B. B. King liked to play.

Jonny Lang has always wanted to be a singer, and his dream came true a long time ago

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 23, 2003 By Steve Newton In the bio that came with Jonny Lang’s new CD, Long Time Coming, the singer-guitarist describes the album as “a journal of my life for the past two years”. Since one of the song titles is “Happiness and Misery”, you might assume that most of his … Continue reading Jonny Lang has always wanted to be a singer, and his dream came true a long time ago

Coco Montoya was transformed by the sheer soul of Alberts Collins and King

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Many guitarists can pinpoint a moment in their youth when they knew they were destined for a life in music. For blues-rocker Coco Montoya it happened in 1969, at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. He’d gone there to see Creedence Clearwater Revival and Iron Butterfly, but … Continue reading Coco Montoya was transformed by the sheer soul of Alberts Collins and King

Joe Elliott says that Def Leppard were never a “big-hair” band, just longhairs like Sabbath and Zeppelin

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton A lot of bands that were big in the ’80s are now having trouble getting booked into bowling alleys, but Def Leppard’s not one of them. The British melodic-rock quintet—which hit its commercial peak in 1987 with Hysteria, which has sold 16 million units worldwide—is still … Continue reading Joe Elliott says that Def Leppard were never a “big-hair” band, just longhairs like Sabbath and Zeppelin

Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous Tour in 1978

By Steve Newton See that Thin Lizzy mirror pin I'm holding? That's not just any old Thin Lizzy mirror pin. That's the one Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham gave me backstage at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on October 12, 1978. That was an unforgettable moment for me. Lemme tell ya about it. At the time I … Continue reading Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous Tour in 1978

It Follows is the finest horror flick in years

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 25, 2015 By Steve Newton Every once in a while a low-budget indie fright flick comes along that makes everything on the major studios’ horror plate look like a pile of steaming crap. It Follows is that film, right now. Maika Monroe is note-perfect as Jay, a pretty 19-year-old college student getting … Continue reading It Follows is the finest horror flick in years

Link Wray licks led to Los Straitjackets’ Supersonic Guitars in 3-D

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 18, 2003 By Steve Newton Guitarist Eddie Angel was playing at a Nashville club in 1986, opening up for underrated roots-twang merchants Webb Wilder, when his future bandmate, Danny Amis, showed up. During the set, Angel caught the attention of the instrumentally minded Amis with a Link Wray cover, which led … Continue reading Link Wray licks led to Los Straitjackets’ Supersonic Guitars in 3-D

Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle developed his skill set out of survival

rebecca blissett photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 18, 2015 By Steve Newton You know that stereotype of the lazy rock musician who sleeps till noon, then sits around the rest of the day waiting to play a gig at night? Well, it sure as hell doesn’t fit Ryan Dahle. For most of his 44 years, … Continue reading Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle developed his skill set out of survival

The Hangmen’s Bryan Small is done pawning guitars for drugs

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 4, 2003 By Steve Newton Here’s a happy little comeback story for ya. Back in 1989, singer-guitarist Bryan Small led a rowdy, punk-inspired L.A. rock act called the Hangmen that was hoping to establish itself beyond all the hair bands of the day. The group scored a deal with Capitol Records … Continue reading The Hangmen’s Bryan Small is done pawning guitars for drugs

Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” chosen as the top heavy-metal song of all time

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 4, 2003 By Steve Newton Toronto-based music writer Martin Popoff is Canada’s top expert on heavy metal. Senior editor of metal mag Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles and author of The Collector’s Guide to Heavy Metal, the Trail, B.C.–raised Popoff certainly knows his stuff when it comes to … Continue reading Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” chosen as the top heavy-metal song of all time

Entering the lair of Pennywise the Clown on the set of Stephen King’s It

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN FANGORIA #98, Nov. 1990 By Steve Newton As anyone who's tackled Stephen King's It can tell you, the 1986 novel of a shape-shifting, child-chomping monster is not a quick read--that is, unless you happen to be Evelyn Wood's speadreading coach. Because it's such an enormous tome, it seems apt that the location where … Continue reading Entering the lair of Pennywise the Clown on the set of Stephen King’s It