ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 21, 2013 First we got the sad news yesterday that former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek had died from cancer at the age of 74. Now comes word that bassist Trevor Bolder, former member of David Bowie's amazing backup band the Spiders from Mars, has succumbed to the Big C at … Continue reading Former David Bowie bassist Trevor Bolder dies of cancer at 62
Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
By Steve Newton It's nice when you can pay somebody back for turning you on to great music when you were a kid. Back in the '70s, my older sister got me into everybody from Steely Dan to Robin Trower to Lynyrd Skynyrd. But I'll always be especially thankful for her getting me into Bob … Continue reading Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
By Steve Newton Guns N' Roses were probably the biggest rock band in the world--or was fighting it out with U2 for that title--when this telling photo was snapped backstage in the early '90s sometime. The thing I remember most about meeting Slash was when he offered me a guzzle from the bottle of Jack … Continue reading That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
Good times with Great White, before the fire
By Steve Newton I was never a big Great White fan--especially after they went platinum with their 1989 mockery of Ian Hunter's '70s classic, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy". But for some reason--no doubt work-related--I wound up going to a show at Club Soda and saying howdy to lead singer Jack Russell behind the bar while … Continue reading Good times with Great White, before the fire
I was there to see Tom Cochrane, not Glass Tiger
By Steve Newton One of the few worthwhile legacies of the 1986 Vancouver Expo was the Expo Theatre, where I saw a few good shows around that time, including Kim Mitchell, Joe Jackson, and Alvin Lee from Ten Years After. One summer day in '87 I visited the outdoor venue to see Tom Cochrane, who I've … Continue reading I was there to see Tom Cochrane, not Glass Tiger
That time Billy Idol told me “I don’t sign autographs! I’m no fucking star!”
By Steve Newton There's a bit of an interesting story behind this picture, another one taken by the awesome Bev Davies. I'd interviewed Billy Idol on the phone then gone to see him play UBC's War Memorial Gym on the Rebel Yell Tour. I was hanging out backstage with a gaggle of fans way more … Continue reading That time Billy Idol told me “I don’t sign autographs! I’m no fucking star!”
Backstage with the King of Nasty Rock, Alice Cooper
By Steve Newton After his Vancouver performance on the Hey Stoopid Tour, I think it was, I got to say howdy to one of my biggest rock idols of all time. I still think Alice Cooper's string of early '70s albums--Love It to Death, School's Out, Killer, Billion Dollar Babies, and Muscle of Love--is unmatchable … Continue reading Backstage with the King of Nasty Rock, Alice Cooper
B.B. King: The nicest bluesman I ever met
By Steve Newton I've interviewed a lot of incredible bluesmen over the years, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Roy Buchanan. But far and away the nicest was B.B. King. Famed Vancouver punk-rock photographer Bev Davies snapped this shot of me 'n' B.B. in his hotel room at the Plazazz Showroom in … Continue reading B.B. King: The nicest bluesman I ever met
Meeting the world’s greatest living rock guitarist
Oh man was I stoked when I headed backstage at the Queen Eiizabeth Theatre on Saturday, September 19, 1999. I was getting to meet the legendary Jeff Beck, who I believe is the world's greatest living rock guitarist. The guy on the right is Ferg, who was the best man at my wedding. Never mind … Continue reading Meeting the world’s greatest living rock guitarist
Chattin’ with Roy Buchanan at the Town Pump
By Steve Newton Not sure exactly when this was taken. Mid-'80s, maybe? I'd interviewed The Master of the Telecaster on the phone and then gone to see him play the Town Pump. Former Georgia Straight accountant/photographer/man-about-town Mila Geran took this shot. I like how that old Town Pump piano shows up behind us. It was … Continue reading Chattin’ with Roy Buchanan at the Town Pump
“Would you buy a used car from one of these guys?”
By Steve Newton I've been fortunate enough to interview Steve Earle a number of times over the years. On a pretty well regular basis since his second album, Exit O, actually. During one phoner I made the mistake of pronouncing the title "Exit Oh", and he kindly corrected me. "It's Exit Zero." He's always been very … Continue reading “Would you buy a used car from one of these guys?”
Giving the Nuge rabbit ears while eating an apple
By Steve Newton This is one of my fave alltime backstage snapshots, courtesy longtime Georgia Straight concert photographer Kevin Statham. I was backstage at a 1991 Damn Yankees show at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, with a couple of my buddies, including "Honest" Todd Salive (in the Mad Duck shirt) and Terry "Terr Bear" Cave, the former … Continue reading Giving the Nuge rabbit ears while eating an apple
The Falcons give diehard instro-rock fans a reason to rejoice
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 20, 2012 IN CELEBRATION OF their 20th anniversary, Vancouver instro-rockers the Falcons recently released EP Collection, a batch of tracks recorded between 1991 and ’97, newly remixed and remastered in analogue. The 12 originals—plus a version of the deathless instro classic “Apache”—were recorded “live off the floor” at a no-frills Kitsilano location … Continue reading The Falcons give diehard instro-rock fans a reason to rejoice