Search Results for: Cult

That time Joe Jackson told me that Duke Ellington was wrong: there’s actually three kinds of music

By Steve Newton I interviewed Joe Jackson in August of 2003, when he had reunited with his original band for its 25th anniversary, and to record the album Volume 4. That’s the same band–guitarist Gary Sanford, bassist Graham Maby, drummer David Houghton, and Jackson on vocals and piano–that played on his awesome 1979 albums, Look … Continue reading That time Joe Jackson told me that Duke Ellington was wrong: there’s actually three kinds of music

That time Joe Perry called and I let my friend answer it ’cause she was a big Aerosmith fan with a crush

By Steve Newton Sometimes you forget things you did back in the nineties. When I was digitizing my 1993 interview with Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry so I could post it on my Patreon page today, I realized I’d done something I’d never done before (or since) when talking to rockers. I let somebody else answer the … Continue reading That time Joe Perry called and I let my friend answer it ’cause she was a big Aerosmith fan with a crush

That time slide-guitar ace Ellen McIlwaine told me that Johnny Winter showed her how to go in her own direction

By Steve Newton Back in 2001 I interviewed Alberta-based blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Ellen McIlwaine before a club gig in Vancouver. Realizing she’s best known for her slide-guitar expertise, I asked her who her biggest influences were on slide, and wasn’t surprised to hear that Johnny Winter was one of her heroes. Have a listen: … Continue reading That time slide-guitar ace Ellen McIlwaine told me that Johnny Winter showed her how to go in her own direction

People see my photo with Slash and think I’m Kerry King of Slayer, “Ogre” from Revenge of the Nerds, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan

By Steve Newton Here’s a funny thing that happened. A week or so ago This Day in Metal tweeted a photo of me with Slash taken backstage in 1988, when Guns N’ Roses were opening for Iron Maiden in Vancouver. The tweet read: “Anybody know who’s with @slash in this picture?” Well, a few of … Continue reading People see my photo with Slash and think I’m Kerry King of Slayer, “Ogre” from Revenge of the Nerds, and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan

Album review: Saga, Heads or Tales (1983)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 1983 By Steve Newton The heavily keyboarded and strongly percussive sound of Saga is thoroughly impressive on their latest release, Heads or Tales. Whether it’s the rocking opener “The Flyer” or the more sedate “Intermission”, the musicians are in top form. Guitarist Ian Crichton, bassist Jim Crichton, drummer Steve Negus, … Continue reading Album review: Saga, Heads or Tales (1983)

That time I asked David Ellefson if there was any competition between Megadeth and Metallica

By Steve Newton I interviewed Megadeth bassist David Ellefson back in November of 1992. when he was 27. That was four months after the band released its most popular album, Countdown to Extinction, the one with “Symphony of Destruction” on it. Man I love that tune. (As you may have heard, founding member Ellefson recently … Continue reading That time I asked David Ellefson if there was any competition between Megadeth and Metallica

Blue Rodeo gets grungier and more country on new disc Lost Together

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 23, 1992 By Steve Newton HEDLEY, B.C.—Backstage at the Hedley Blast, Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor slumps in his chair and casually scribbles out a song list, pausing now and again to ask roaming band-mates which tunes they want added or dropped from their upcoming set. New drummer Glenn … Continue reading Blue Rodeo gets grungier and more country on new disc Lost Together

Album review: Jeff Healey, Songs from the Road (2009)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 30, 2009 By Steve Newton I saw the original Jeff Healey Band play numerous times in the ’80s at Vancouver venues like the Yale and the 86 Street Music Hall. While always blown away by the searing talent of the young blind dude with the Strat on his … Continue reading Album review: Jeff Healey, Songs from the Road (2009)

Yngwie Malmsteen shreds on what he once called “a piece of furniture”: the Gibson Les Paul

By Steve Newton One of my most popular posts on Ear of Newt is the one where Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”. Well, if you ever wondered what the Swedish Fender freak would sound like shredding on a piece of furniture, here ya … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen shreds on what he once called “a piece of furniture”: the Gibson Les Paul

That time Derek Trucks told me about watching a hip Barack Obama mouth Howlin’ Wolf lyrics

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed slide-guitar master Derek Trucks three times so far, including back in 1999 when he was only 20 years old. We had our second conversation 13 years later, when he was touring with his wife Susan and their 11-piece band, Tedeschi Trucks. Four months earlier Trucks had performed for Barack Obama … Continue reading That time Derek Trucks told me about watching a hip Barack Obama mouth Howlin’ Wolf lyrics

Album review: Audioslave, Out of Exile (2005)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 14, 2005 By Steve Newton Unless you’re the type of rabid music fan who scours the Straight‘s out-of-town concert listings, itching for stateside road trips, you probably didn’t notice that Whitesnake played the Paramount Theatre in Seattle a couple of weeks back. Strangely enough, I wouldn’t be surprised … Continue reading Album review: Audioslave, Out of Exile (2005)

Album review: Joe Perry, Joe Perry (2005)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 2, 2005 By Steve Newton Judging by the cover photo on the new Joe Perry solo CD, you might think that Aerosmith‘s guitar god has gone rockabilly or somethin’. He’s pictured shaking his hips in a slick black retro-’50s suit, posing with a big, Brian Setzer-type hollow-body slung … Continue reading Album review: Joe Perry, Joe Perry (2005)

Roy Forbes looks back on half a century in the music biz

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 16, 2021 By Steve Newton Roy Forbes is celebrating 50 years in the music business right now, because back in 1971–18 years old and fresh out of Dawson Creek–he showed up in Vancouver to launch his career as a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Back then, though, he was better known as … Continue reading Roy Forbes looks back on half a century in the music biz