On March 5, 1984, local glam-metal band Kradle played Burnaby's James Cowan Theatre with Black Knight. At the time I was the guy with the Judas Priest cap at the Georgia Straight who was covering the metal scene, and I was mightily impressed by these young lads from the suburbs of Vancouver. Looking back, they … Continue reading Kradle strives to put Vancouver on the melodic-metal map in 1984
Rush debut gets vinyl reissue; John Rutsey gets vindicated
By Steve Newton Universal Music Canada announced today that the mighty Rush will reissue its self-titled 1974 debut album on vinyl to mark its 40-year recording career. Here's the promotional bumph: As part of Universal’s reDISCovered vinyl series, the original 1974 analogue stereo masters were cut to copper plates using the Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) … Continue reading Rush debut gets vinyl reissue; John Rutsey gets vindicated
Feeling out The Crush with 16-year-old Alicia Silverstone in Vancouver
By Steve Newton Just before she started getting recognized for her appearances in a string of videos for Aerosmith power-ballads, Alicia Silverstone made her feature film debut in the low-budget 1993 thriller The Crush. The film was shot in Vancouver, so naturally I did the set visit for Fangoria magazine. I interviewed Silverstone, who had recently … Continue reading Feeling out The Crush with 16-year-old Alicia Silverstone in Vancouver
Horror review: Pet Sematary
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 5, 1989 By Steve Newton The long list of movies based on Stephen King's writings range from excellent (The Dead Zone, Carrie), to mediocre (Christine, Firestarter), to downright terrible (Maximum Overdrive). Unfortunately for fans of the horror genre, the latest King story to hit the screen, Pet Sematary, is a dead … Continue reading Horror review: Pet Sematary
Bob Dylan Blu-ray smokes with Johnny Winter, Neil Young & Tom Petty
By Steve Newton Back in October of '92 a mindblowing array of the world's top recording artists performed at New York's Madison Square Garden for Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert celebration, and this Tuesday (March 4) a deluxe edition of the concert is being released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray. I watched the Blu-ray this … Continue reading Bob Dylan Blu-ray smokes with Johnny Winter, Neil Young & Tom Petty
Tom Cochrane and Red Rider dangle a plastic shark over the Northern Pikes in Vancouver
On March 2, 1989, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider played Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre with guests the Northern Pikes, a band from Saskatoon that I liked almost as much as the headliner. Red Rider was touring behind its latest album, Victory Day, which featured the singles "Good Times", "Big League", and the title track. This was two … Continue reading Tom Cochrane and Red Rider dangle a plastic shark over the Northern Pikes in Vancouver
Helen Shaver gives demonic birth on the Vancouver set of Poltergeist: The Legacy
By Steve Newton When I was covering the Vancouver horror scene as a correspondent for Fangoria back in the '80s and '90s, I would normally make an effort to see the projects I'd previewed when they were finally released in theatres or on the tube. But it wasn't always fun. In fact it was often quite painful, … Continue reading Helen Shaver gives demonic birth on the Vancouver set of Poltergeist: The Legacy
23-year-old guitar star Jeff Healey says “I’ve got a lot of listening to do”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 24, 1989 By Steve Newton Now that a third show has been added to Jeff Healey’s Commodore stint (February 26 to 28), it’s pretty obvious that the Toronto guitar sensation has, as they say, “arrived”. Though not quite as impressive as the five-night stand that fellow blues-rocker Colin James pulled … Continue reading 23-year-old guitar star Jeff Healey says “I’ve got a lot of listening to do”
Anti-fragile Bachman Turner puts it into overdrive this spring
Less than two weeks ago, Universal Music Canada announced that it would be releasing a remastered 40th-anniversary edition of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's best-selling album, Not Fragile, on March 18. That was great news for anyone who was a teenager back in '74, when BTO was battling it out with the likes of Thin Lizzy, Foghat, and Blue Oyster Cult for time on … Continue reading Anti-fragile Bachman Turner puts it into overdrive this spring
Cheap Trick hooks up with Mötley Crüe members to play AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 2, 1989 By Steve Newton Back in the late '70s, one of this scribbler's favourite pastimes was throwing Cheap Trick's In Color album on the turntable and cranking 'er up. The band's thoroughly rockin' power-pop was just the right brain lube between heavy bouts of exam cramming. At … Continue reading Cheap Trick hooks up with Mötley Crüe members to play AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” in Vancouver
Horror review: Skyline
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 15, 2010 Two alien-invasion flicks were released in Metro Vancouver last Friday, but Monsters only opened at one theatre while Skyline made it into at least a dozen. Judging by how much the latter film sucks, it should have been the other way around. As Skyline begins, good guy Jarrod (Joe Perry look-alike Eric Balfour) and … Continue reading Horror review: Skyline
Horror review: Tales From the Darkside
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 1990 By Steve Newton In the wrap-around story that ties the three Tales From the Darkside together, former Blondie vocalist Deborah Harry plays a typical American housewife planning a dinner party. The film opens with her returning home from the supermarket with the fixin's--the main course is … Continue reading Horror review: Tales From the Darkside
The Pretenders learn to crawl in Vancouver in 1984
By Steve Newton On February 21, 1984, the Pretenders played a sold out show at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The band was touring behind one of its best albums ever, Learning to Crawl, which included such snazzy numbers as "Back on the Chain Gang", "My City Was Gone", and "Middle of the Road". The day … Continue reading The Pretenders learn to crawl in Vancouver in 1984