ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2010 By Steve Newton John Hiatt is a songwriter's songwriter, which is why such esteemed artists as Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, and Bonnie Raitt have recorded his tunes. When Canuck blues-rocker Jeff Healey blasted onto the scene in 1988 he doubled up on the Hiatt material, using both “Confidence Man” … Continue reading John Hiatt recalls the “Old Days” at the Commodore when the weed smelled like cat pee
Brotherly animosity aside, Aerosmith keeps rocking
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 8, 2010 By Steve Newton It's amazing, when you think about it. The same five guys who played on Aerosmith's 1973 debut album—and the ensuing four discs that made them the best American rock act of the '70s—are still performing in the band today. Singer Steven Tyler, guitarists Joe Perry and Brad … Continue reading Brotherly animosity aside, Aerosmith keeps rocking
Aerosmith shows Vancouver it can still make it through anything
photo by the Newt ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 17, 2010 Thursday (September 16) was a big night in Vancouver for legendary guitar acts from the ’70s. Over on the North Shore you had Johnny Winter at the Centennial Theatre, while, downtown, Aerosmith was packing them in at Rogers Arena. I don’t know how the albino blues-rocker … Continue reading Aerosmith shows Vancouver it can still make it through anything
High school gym teacher who inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd’s name dies
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 21, 2010 I used to be a huge Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. Back in '77, just before the crash, when you could still buy the soon-to-be-banned version of Street Survivors with doomed guitarist Steve Gaines's head on fire, they ruled my turntable. I mean seriously ruled it. I don't care much for the current Skynyrd … Continue reading High school gym teacher who inspired Lynyrd Skynyrd’s name dies
Coheed and Cambria’s prog rock gets cosmic
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 13, 2010 By Steve Newton I'm a big fan of progressive rock, but I must admit that I don't always listen as closely to prog lyrics as I should. Heck, sometimes when I'm vegging out to Rush's “2112” I'll get all lost in Alex Lifeson's compelling chords and have no … Continue reading Coheed and Cambria’s prog rock gets cosmic
Passion for ear-busting metal still drives Halford
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 9, 2010 THAT ROB HALFORD guy really gets around. On October 12, when the first of the Chilean miners was being rescued after 69 days underground, the self-proclaimed “metal god” was in Japan, touring with his quintet Halford. “I had a couple of days off,” he recalls, on the line from … Continue reading Passion for ear-busting metal still drives Halford
Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 15, 2010 The most entertaining part of Sunday night’s (November 14) Ozzy Osbourne concert may well have occurred before the 61-year-old metal legend actually hit the stage. In the lead-up to his appearance a clip was shown in which Osbourne’s mischievous countenance was comically transposed onto the faces of various characters from … Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”
Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 16, 2010 That pesky new legislation that sets you up for a roadside suspension after just one lousy drink sure is having an effect on folks. When Murray Atkinson of local rock band Swan drops by the Straight for an interview and I ask if he’d rather go for a coffee or … Continue reading Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
Like a Martyr’s love of rock started early
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 23, 2010 JEREMY ALLINGHAM AND Ben Henthorne like to rock. One listen to As Long As You Don’t Get Caught, the new album by the 28-year-old cousins’ band Like a Martyr, makes that abundantly clear. It’s all raucous, straight-up guitar-bass-drums action, recorded live with fervent vocals and, when needed, a bit of … Continue reading Like a Martyr’s love of rock started early
Jason Bonham remembers Bonzo as “a regular dad”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 24, 2010 By Steve Newton John Bonham is often called the greatest rock drummer who ever lived. And whether you agree with that assessment or not—I’m a Keith Moon man, myself—you’ve gotta admit that “Bonzo” was a master of the groove. Thirty years after his alcohol-related death at the age … Continue reading Jason Bonham remembers Bonzo as “a regular dad”
Roger Waters delivers a prog-rock spectacle for the ages in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 11, 2010 By Steve Newton At one point during Roger Waters’s spectacular sold-out show at Rogers Arena last night (December 10) he pulled off what he called “an experiment in time travel”, playing in unison with a 1980 video of himself performing the ballad “Mother”. In actual fact, the entire … Continue reading Roger Waters delivers a prog-rock spectacle for the ages in Vancouver
Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 6, 2011 The guitar world is in mourning today as the news of Gary Moore's death travels around the globe. The Irish musician—best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and his solo career as a hard rocker-turned-bluesman—passed away early this morning in his room at the luxury Kempinski Resort … Continue reading Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
“We are Motörhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” declares Lemmy Kilmister in Vancouver
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 8, 2011 By Steve Newton I should have known that I’d run into Metal Ron—the long-time cohost of CiTR Radio’s popular heavy-metal show Powerchord—at Motörhead on Monday (February 7) at the Vogue. I should have also known that he’d still be reeling from the shocking news … Continue reading “We are Motörhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” declares Lemmy Kilmister in Vancouver