ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 31, 2002 By Steve Newton Trying to reach blues legend B.B. King at his Arkansas hotel takes some doing. Even when you have the phone number of the hotel, the room he’s in, and a predetermined time to call, you can’t argue with a busy signal. After 30 minutes of trying, … Continue reading B.B. King says that Eric Clapton was like his girlfriend on Riding With the King
Patriots vs. Seahawks = Aerosmith vs. Nirvana, Cars vs. Pearl Jam, J. Geils vs. Soundgarden
By Steve Newton Today I just realized that the New England Patriots--who play some big football game with fancy TV commercials tomorrow--are from the greater Boston area. I didn't know that. In my blissful ignorance of American geography--which may be unconscious payback for the Yanks' legendary cluelessness about all things Canada--I always thought New England was a … Continue reading Patriots vs. Seahawks = Aerosmith vs. Nirvana, Cars vs. Pearl Jam, J. Geils vs. Soundgarden
Attending Kits High in 1993 to study the wicked ways of The Substitute
By Steve Newton If somebody asked you what Mark Wahlberg's first film was, I bet you wouldn't know it's The Substitute. I doubt many folks have seen The Substitute. Heck, I haven't even seen it--and I spent hours on a Vancouver set doing interviews for a Fangoria story when it was shot here back in 1993. It was a … Continue reading Attending Kits High in 1993 to study the wicked ways of The Substitute
Tom Petty lightly weighs in on Sam Smith’s ripping off of “Won’t Back Down”
By Steve Newton I normally try to avoid songs like Sam Smith's Grammy-nominated hit, "Stay With Me". It's not that I'm a hard-hearted wretch who can't stand a bit of sappiness, but, really, would it have killed the guy to throw a wailing guitar solo in there somewhere? The song is infectious, I'll admit. I … Continue reading Tom Petty lightly weighs in on Sam Smith’s ripping off of “Won’t Back Down”
Old Geezer’s still got it: Sabbath bassist arrested after altercation in Death Valley
By Steve Newton Apart from the ominous tone of its name—and the fierceness of its music—Black Sabbath as a band hasn't been known as the rowdiest of legendary rock acts. When I interviewed guitarist Tony Iommi way back in 1984 he seemed like the perfect gentleman on the phone. And despite his "let's-go-fucking-crazy!" approach to life in general, singer Ozzy … Continue reading Old Geezer’s still got it: Sabbath bassist arrested after altercation in Death Valley
The Donnas love horror, wish Freddie Krueger would Spend the Night
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 24, 2002 By Steve Newton When yours truly hooks up via cell with Donnas vocalist Brett Anderson, she’s in the band’s bus as it winds through the Colorado mountains en route to Salt Lake City and the first of four shows with New York City hotshots the Strokes. It’s movie time, … Continue reading The Donnas love horror, wish Freddie Krueger would Spend the Night
Stephen King’s Pet Sematary recalled by “dead” cat’s return from the grave
sadly, this is not the work of Tom Savini By Steve Newton The film version of Stephen King's terrifying 1983 novel, Pet Sematary, sucked the biggie. I reviewed it way back in the spring of 1989, describing it as "a dead dog that deserves no last rites." But according to abc7.com, some cat named Bart from out Florida way just loved … Continue reading Stephen King’s Pet Sematary recalled by “dead” cat’s return from the grave
Will Blackburn continue the upward swing of Vancouver-shot horror?
By Steve Newton I've long complained about the lack of decent horror flicks being made in and around Vancouver, but in recent years Hollywood has upped its game considerably as far as the Great Fright North is concerned. Drew Goddard's The Cabin in the Woods was cause for celebration in 2012, and more recently Alexandre Aja's Horns helped the world … Continue reading Will Blackburn continue the upward swing of Vancouver-shot horror?
Major-label horror stories led the String Cheese Incident to go indie
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 10, 2002 By Steve Newton In the early 1990s, String Cheese Incident guitarist Bill Nershi, an avowed ski bum in Telluride, Colorado, decided he wanted to tackle a new mountain. He bought an old school bus, fixed it up, and moved to the ski town of Crested Butte, Colorado, where he … Continue reading Major-label horror stories led the String Cheese Incident to go indie
Buddy Guy brings me down when he forgets to just be Buddy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 3, 2002 By Steve Newton Buddy Guy spent a good portion of his concert at the Commodore last Friday (September 27) paying tribute to the legends of the blues, performing in the various styles of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was … Continue reading Buddy Guy brings me down when he forgets to just be Buddy
Drum great Terry Bozzio livens up Omar and the Howlers’ Big Delta
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 26, 2002 By Steve Newton If you’re a blues-rock guitarist-vocalist looking for a guy to play drums with you, you could do worse than have Terry Bozzio—renowned skinbasher for Jeff Beck—living three doors down. At least that’s what Kent Omar Dykes—the Omar in Omar and the Howlers—discovered recently. “He’s my neighbour, … Continue reading Drum great Terry Bozzio livens up Omar and the Howlers’ Big Delta
Robert Plant calls Shemekia Copeland, 23, “the next Tina Turner”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 26, 2002 By Steve Newton There are a number of things that can boost an up-and-coming recording artist’s career; one of the most effective might be having Robert Plant call you “the next Tina Turner”. Blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland, 23, had no complaints when the shaggy-maned former Zepman made that terse … Continue reading Robert Plant calls Shemekia Copeland, 23, “the next Tina Turner”
Jack De Keyzer grew to like Howlin’ Wolf more than the Stones
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 19, 2002 By Steve Newton Toronto blues-rocker Jack De Keyzer spent the first decade of his life in England, when the biggest thing in pop music was Cliff Richard and the Shadows. Just before he moved to Ontario, though, the Beatles came along, and it was through the impending British Invasion … Continue reading Jack De Keyzer grew to like Howlin’ Wolf more than the Stones