That time I told “Gatemouth” Brown that he played pretty good boogie for a 73-year-old

By Steve Newton Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown was one of those old blues guys who didn’t talk much–especially during interviews. When I chatted with him back in 1997 he was 73, and touring behind an album called Long Way Home that featured guest spots by Leon Russell, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, and Sonny Landreth. At one … Continue reading That time I told “Gatemouth” Brown that he played pretty good boogie for a 73-year-old

That time original Heart guitarist Roger Fisher told me how he really felt about the Wilson sisters

By Steve Newton I interviewed former Heart lead-guitarist Roger Fisher in September of 1985, when he was promoting his new Seattle-based band 10 Bulls. As you may already know, Fisher was an original Heart member whose fiery guitarwork lit up tunes like “Barracuda” and “Magic Man”. He was also guitarist-vocalist Nancy Wilson‘s boyfriend before getting … Continue reading That time original Heart guitarist Roger Fisher told me how he really felt about the Wilson sisters

That time I asked Danny Gatton, the world’s greatest unknown guitarist, if he wished he were better known

By Steve Newton Danny Gatton has long been described as “the world’s greatest unknown guitarist.” Some have argued that that title is more suited to Roy Buchanan, but I think it’s safe to say that Gatton is the lesser known of the two relatively unheralded Telecaster masters. At least it seemed that way to me … Continue reading That time I asked Danny Gatton, the world’s greatest unknown guitarist, if he wished he were better known

That time I asked Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed if Metallica ever blew his band off the stage

By Steve Newton I interviewed Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed on August 5, 1992, while his band was in the midst of a coheadlining stadium tour with Metallica. The tour was scheduled to hit Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium on August 17–with openers Faith No More–but three days after this chat James Hetfield got badly … Continue reading That time I asked Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed if Metallica ever blew his band off the stage

That time Scott Ian told me that, if there’d been a Big Five Tour, Exodus could have joined Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth

By Steve Newton Back in September of 2012 I interviewed Scott Ian. He’s the fourth Anthrax member I’ve chatted with, having hooked up with Joey Belladonna in ’91, John Bush in ’93, and Frank Bello in 2005. That band likes to talk. Anyway, two years before my chat with Ian, Anthrax had hooked up with … Continue reading That time Scott Ian told me that, if there’d been a Big Five Tour, Exodus could have joined Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth

That time Dick Dale told me that the way he played guitar was “ticka-ticka-tucka-tucka ticka-ticka-tucka-tucka ticka-ticka-ta”

By Steve Newton I was fortunate enough to have interviewed Dick Dale–the “King of the Surf Guitar”–twice, in 1993 and 2000. Wow–what a totally unique and interesting guy. So outgoing and full of life and passion. At one point during the second conversation I brought up the topic of his highly percussive approach to guitar … Continue reading That time Dick Dale told me that the way he played guitar was “ticka-ticka-tucka-tucka ticka-ticka-tucka-tucka ticka-ticka-ta”

That time Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran told me that he wasn’t exactly a Pink Floyd fan

By Steve Newton I was never a big Duran Duran fan, let’s make that abundantly clear. Not enough wailin’ guitar solos for my liking. But back on December 12 of 1985 I interviewed the group’s keyboardist Nick Rhodes, who at the time was promoting a new LP by Duran Duran spin-off band Arcadia. That album, … Continue reading That time Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran told me that he wasn’t exactly a Pink Floyd fan

Guitar wizard David Gogo on his new debut LP and the undeniable influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 14, 1994 By Steve Newton If there’s a rock ’n’ roll heaven, you know they’ve got a helluva band…and I like to think that there are at least three guitarists in the lineup: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads. And when I picture Vaughan, I see him doing his … Continue reading Guitar wizard David Gogo on his new debut LP and the undeniable influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan

That time Tommy Shannon told me that the song he dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughan poured out like water

By Steve Newton Back in March of 1998 I did my first interview with Tommy Shannon, who is best known as the bassist from Stevie Ray Vaughan‘s old band, Double Trouble. At the time Shannon was touring with his group Storyville, promoting the album Dog Years, which featured a song of his called “There’s a … Continue reading That time Tommy Shannon told me that the song he dedicated to Stevie Ray Vaughan poured out like water

That time I asked “Honeyboy” Edwards if he thought that his friend Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads

Robert Johnson was tight with “Honeyboy” Edwards By Steve Newton I’m pretty sure that David “Honeyboy” Edwards was the oldest musician I’ve ever interviewed. He was 87 in March of 2003 when I called him up in Chicago to get the scoop on his early days with Mississippi Delta blues legends like Big Joe Williams, … Continue reading That time I asked “Honeyboy” Edwards if he thought that his friend Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads

That time Robert Randolph told me that he was inspired by the passion and soul of Stevie Ray Vaughan

By Steve Newton Back in April of 2003 I did my first interview with pedal-steel virtuoso Robert Randolph, who was just 24 at the time. At one point in the conversation I asked him about the time five years earlier when somebody gave him a tape of Stevie Ray Vaughan, which made a huge impression … Continue reading That time Robert Randolph told me that he was inspired by the passion and soul of Stevie Ray Vaughan

That time Rudolf Schenker told me about the Scorps playing at Roger Waters’ The Wall–Live in Berlin

@shotbykevin By Steve Newton I used to love the Scorpions–especially back in the early ’80s around the time of the Blackout album. The band was also a hoot to watch in concert, because Rudolf Schenker was a total maniac. That guy rocked! I interviewed him in February of 1991, when the band was touring behind … Continue reading That time Rudolf Schenker told me about the Scorps playing at Roger Waters’ The Wall–Live in Berlin

That time Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen told me that nobody under 21 gets to play his five-neck guitar

By Steve Newton I loved Cheap Trick in the seventies, especially the In Color and Heaven Tonight albums of ’77 and ’78. By the time of 1979’s Dream Police I’d kind of lost interest. But that didn’t stop me from interviewing guitarist Rick Nielsen when I got the chance back in July of 2001. At … Continue reading That time Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen told me that nobody under 21 gets to play his five-neck guitar