ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 31, 2007 By Steve Newton When the Dixie Chicks asked Pete Yorn if he wanted to collaborate with them, they didn’t have to ask twice. After he met the ultratalented Texas trio at an after-Grammy party in New York City, they invited him out to Austin to write songs for what … Continue reading Pete Yorn enjoys his time as a Chicks magnet
Dave Mustaine recalls how Black Sabbath was too heavy for him as a kid
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 7, 2007 By Steve Newton Heavy metal has seen a lot of changes since Megadeth delivered its thrashy debut album, Killing Is My Business.. And Business Is Good!, back in 1985. Nowadays it includes death metal, black metal, speed metal, thrash metal, power metal, pop metal, alternative metal, nu metal, … Continue reading Dave Mustaine recalls how Black Sabbath was too heavy for him as a kid
Tony Iommi on Heaven and Hell and how Frank Zappa always loved his “Supernaut” riff
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 7, 2007 By Steve Newton It's somewhat ironic that Black Sabbath's 1978 album was titled Never Say Die, because that disc actually signaled the end of the group's original lineup. After eight albums with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, the metal pioneers gave him the boot, replacing him with Ronnie James Dio. … Continue reading Tony Iommi on Heaven and Hell and how Frank Zappa always loved his “Supernaut” riff
Lee Rocker goes solo after Stray Cats and Phantom, Rocker and Slick
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 14, 2007 By Steve Newton As a kid growing up in Long Island, New York, standup bassist Lee Rocker would marvel at Earl Slick's razor-edged guitar work on the 1974 David Bowie concert album, David Live. He never expected that 10 years later he'd be playing with Slick in a band … Continue reading Lee Rocker goes solo after Stray Cats and Phantom, Rocker and Slick
Megadeth blows Black Sabbath (“Heaven and Hell”) off the stage with its unbridled energy
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 14, 2007 By Steve Newton When Black Sabbath came to town last Sunday (March 11)—calling itself Heaven and Hell, I guess, to make sure no one expected Ozzy Osbourne to dodder onto the stage—it was the quartet's first public performance in 14 years. More importantly, it was the group's first … Continue reading Megadeth blows Black Sabbath (“Heaven and Hell”) off the stage with its unbridled energy
Eric Clapton gets shown up by Doyle Bramhall II in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 28, 2007 By Steve Newton A few days before attending last Friday's (March 23) Eric Clapton/Robert Cray show, I came across a timely TV broadcast of Taylor Hackford's 1986 concert documentary, Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll. Both Clapton and Cray are featured in it, the former performing the … Continue reading Eric Clapton gets shown up by Doyle Bramhall II in Vancouver
Kenny Wayne Shepherd gets swamp cred with Days
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 30, 2007 By Steve Newton The last few times I’ve pitched Straight music editor Mike Usinger stories on white blues artists, he’s flippantly responded with the bewildering phrase “Blues Hammer!” I had no clue what the guy was on about until he forwarded me a clip from Terry Zwigoff’s quirky … Continue reading Kenny Wayne Shepherd gets swamp cred with Days
The Police reunite in Vancouver, but is it all about the money?
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 30, 2007 By Steve Newton The Police may be remembered as musical revolutionaries who dragged punk-tinted new wave into the '80s mainstream, but that doesn't mean they didn't commit their share of crimes. Sure, "Message in a Bottle" deserves a spot on the proverbial desert-island jukebox, but hands up everyone … Continue reading The Police reunite in Vancouver, but is it all about the money?
Pride Tiger wears its Thin Lizzy influence proudly
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 14, 2007 By Steve Newton ROADIES DON'T NORMALLY earn applause for slipping and landing flat on their backs while lugging gear down ramps, but when it happens to one poor sap at the Virgin Festival's second stage, a small cheer goes up among the onlookers. Witnesses to the wipeout … Continue reading Pride Tiger wears its Thin Lizzy influence proudly
Roger Waters brings the Dark Side to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 27, 2007 By Steve Newton British rock had a banner year in 1973. The Who released its Mods-versus-rockers masterwork, Quadrophenia, Elton John's career peaked with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and David Bowie took glam to new heights on Aladdin Sane. But the album many feel ruled in '73 … Continue reading Roger Waters brings the Dark Side to Vancouver
Pro-peace Fogerty’s rebel fire still burns on Revival
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 25, 2007 By Steve Newton I have a theory, and the theory that I have, which is mine, is that John Fogerty is the greatest rock ’n’ roller of all time. When it comes to incredible singing, brilliant songwriting, and killer guitar, nobody can touch him. At the age of … Continue reading Pro-peace Fogerty’s rebel fire still burns on Revival
Jason Isbell splits from Drive-By Truckers and hits the road in a Ford Econoline E-350
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 25, 2007 By Steve Newton When I hook up with former Drive-By Truckers guitarist-vocalist Jason Isbell on his cellphone, he and his backing band are trying to escape from Manhattan, searching for the Holland Tunnel en route to a gig at Pennsylvania State College. A casual query about the type of … Continue reading Jason Isbell splits from Drive-By Truckers and hits the road in a Ford Econoline E-350
Los Lonely Boys paid their red-state dues
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 8, 2007 By Steve Newton Things are going pretty darn well for Los Lonely Boys frontman Henry Garza. His band’s self-titled debut CD sold two million copies and earned four Grammy nominations, taking home the hardware for the hit single “Heaven”. More importantly, the singer-guitarist just taught his four-year-old son, … Continue reading Los Lonely Boys paid their red-state dues