ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 23, 2012 By Steve Newton Rush and Deep Purple garnered plenty of headlines in the music press earlier this month when they were among the 15 acts nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Fans of both legendary rock bands felt the selection was … Continue reading Ritchie Blackmore “couldn’t care less” about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson calls the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “a popularity contest”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 20, 2012 By Steve Newton If you're a Rush fan, you've no doubt heard that the Canuck power trio has finally been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group has been eligible for induction since 1999--25 years after the release of its self-titled debut album (featuring … Continue reading Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson calls the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “a popularity contest”
Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 27, 2011 By Steve Newton Those dickwads down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have done it again. The list of nominees for induction in 2012 was released today and--much to the chagrin of anyone with the slightest notion of what the term "Rock and Roll" stands for--Canuck … Continue reading Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!
Alice Cooper finally gets nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 28, 2010 By Steve Newton Alice Cooper released a string of amazing albums in the early '70s—including Love It to the Death, School's Out, Killer, and Billion Dollar Babies—but the brainiacs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame waited until today to nominate the shock-rock king for inclusion in their fancy pants institution. … Continue reading Alice Cooper finally gets nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Pearl Jam releases Vs., and the Newt’s right into it
By Steve Newton Twenty years ago Seattle grunge masters Pearl Jam released their second album, Vs., and seeing as the band is playing Vancouver's Rogers Arena this Wednesday, I figured it was time to take a quick look back at the disc. Vs. sold 950,378 copies its first week of release, and outperformed all other entries … Continue reading Pearl Jam releases Vs., and the Newt’s right into it
Black Sabbath minus Bill Ward equals Bill Sabbath t-shirt
When word first went out in November of 2011 that Black Sabbath was getting back together for its first studio album since 1978--and a worldwide tour to boot--hard-rock fans far and wide rejoiced. I was among them. But the shine came off the project later on when it was revealed that, due to financial squabbles, … Continue reading Black Sabbath minus Bill Ward equals Bill Sabbath t-shirt
Remembering SRV
It was on August 27, 1990, that a helicopter crashed into a ski hill in heavy fog at Wisconsin's Alpine Valley Resort, killing the pilot, three members of Eric Clapton's entourage, and guitar hero Stevie Ray Vaughan. Vaughan had just finished performing in front of 30,000 fans, jamming with Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, and … Continue reading Remembering SRV
Spike Lee screws up big-time by nixing Oldboy’s octopus-eating scene
Spike Lee's remake of the horrific 2003 Korean revenge flick Oldboy opened yesterday, and--mainly due to comparisons to Chan-wood Park's masterful original--the reviews have not been great. On Rotten Tomatoes right now it's got a rating of 44%, with 50 "rotten" (negative) reviews and 40 "fresh" (positive) ones. I was one of the critics who … Continue reading Spike Lee screws up big-time by nixing Oldboy’s octopus-eating scene
Richie Sambora steals the show from Jon as Bon Jovi hits Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 3, 1993 By Steve Newton On the way home from the Coliseum after last Sunday's Bon Jovi show, I flicked on CFOX to hear Bruce Allen's talk show, Sound Off. Now, I don't know if Allen is currently trying to wangle the job of managing the New Jersey … Continue reading Richie Sambora steals the show from Jon as Bon Jovi hits Vancouver
My interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most hated man on earth
By Steve Newton It's a weird feeling, realizing that you've spent several minutes of your life casually chatting with a young man who, as it turns out, is one of the most vile human beings alive. You may have already heard the news about Ian Watkins, the former frontman of '90s rockers Lostprophets, who admitted … Continue reading My interview with Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins, the most hated man on earth
Eric Clapton box set features Slowhand trading licks with Freddie King
By Steve Newton Music lovers of a certain age—let's call them "old fogies" for want of a better term—know that 1973 was an incredible year for guitar-based rock. You can read all about it in music historian Michael Walker's great new book, What You Want Is in the Limo, which focuses on the albums and touring … Continue reading Eric Clapton box set features Slowhand trading licks with Freddie King
Rory Gallagher project shows the guitar legend’s passion for crime noir
PHOTO BY BOB GELDOF. YES, THAT BOB GELDOF Guess I shoulda known, from song titles like "Kickback City" and "Loanshark Blues"—not to mention "Continental Op"—that Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher had a passion for the crime-noir genre. For anyone else who might have missed out on that angle, Eagle Rock Entertainment--which also issued the amazing Gallagher documentary Ghost … Continue reading Rory Gallagher project shows the guitar legend’s passion for crime noir
Monster Magnet is just rock, Dave Wyndorf insists
WHEN MONSTER MAGNET main man Dave Wyndorf takes the call to chat about his band’s new album, Last Patrol—and its first North American tour in 10 years—he’s chilling at his home in “beautiful Red Bank, New Jersey”. It’s the same house he grew up in, although it doesn’t contain childhood memories of him popping out the front … Continue reading Monster Magnet is just rock, Dave Wyndorf insists