ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 21, 2011 By Steve Newton A couple of weeks ago former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler called from L.A. to promote his gig at Venue this Thursday (August 25), and ended up chatting up a storm. Since then former Vancouverite Todd Kerns--who plays here the same night at the Media Club--checked … Continue reading Todd Kerns speaks on playing bass with Slash and living the rock ‘n’ roll fantasy
Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 2011 By Steve Newton There's a quote on Carlos Santana’s official website that reads: “When you love what you do, you don’t have to work a day in your life.” If that’s true, then anyone who’s heard Santana effortlessly channel the sound of pure joy through his instrument knows that he hasn’t … Continue reading Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking
The Sheepdogs cook up a retro-rock musical stew
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 21, 2011 By Steve Newton When you look at the cover of the Sheepdogs album Learn & Burn, it’s pretty easy to imagine what the music inside might be like. The photo depicts three shaggy guitarists rocking out, and the guy in the middle—with his dirty-blond hair hanging down over his … Continue reading The Sheepdogs cook up a retro-rock musical stew
Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON OCT. 12, 2011 By Steve Newton When it comes to politically motivated rockers, you won’t find many more motivated than Tom Morello. Whether blasting out the intense guitar work that propels Rage Against the Machine’s anticorporate rap-metal agenda or taking on the Woody Guthrie–inspired folk-balladeer persona of his solo project, the Nightwatchman, … Continue reading Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to
“Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 18, 2011 Chuck Ruff--the guy with the coolest name ever who also played drums with the Edgar Winter Group during its mid-'70s heyday--passed away in San Francisco last Friday (October 14) after a long illness. He was 60 years old. Ruff is best known for his shit-hot drumming on the … Continue reading “Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies
Glenn Tipton says Judas Priest was shocked by K.K. Downing’s departure
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 2011 By Steve Newton When Judas Priest announced its final world tour last month headbangers far and wide, young and ancient, stained their black-leather pants with a torrent of tears. The British metal icons had been bringing the noise to its followers—off and (mostly) on—since 1969, traversing the globe and … Continue reading Glenn Tipton says Judas Priest was shocked by K.K. Downing’s departure
Judas Priest goes out loud ‘n’ proud in Vancouver on final world tour
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 31, 2011 By Steve Newton There were a lot of empty seats at Rogers Arena last night (October 30)--including the entire top level--but that didn't stop British heavy-metal legends Judas Priest from playing like it was their last gig ever in Vancouver. And it just might be. As guitarist Glenn Tipton … Continue reading Judas Priest goes out loud ‘n’ proud in Vancouver on final world tour
Texas blues great and Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborator Doyle Bramhall dies
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 13, 2011 I just learned via a tweet from guitar great Joe Bonamassa that one of the true heroes of the Texas blues scene, Doyle Bramhall, passed away today at his home in Alpine, Texas. Initial reports say that Bramhall--the father of Eric Clapton guitarist Doyle Bramhall II--died as a result of … Continue reading Texas blues great and Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborator Doyle Bramhall dies
Blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passes away at age 80
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 4, 2011 By Steve Newton I just learned via a tweet from Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen that blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passed away this morning, succumbing to heart failure at a New Jersey hospital at the age of 80. It's a huge loss for the music world, as … Continue reading Blues guitar great Hubert Sumlin passes away at age 80
The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages
photo by Rebecca Blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 25, 2012 By Steve Newton I've seen a lot of great rock concerts at the Commodore over the years, but the one that's always stood out for me as "best ever" was Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers back in '78, just after the release of the You're … Continue reading The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages
Guitar idol Don Alder finds one fan at a time
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 14, 2012 By Steve Newton Not long after turning 16, Don Alder went flying out of the back of a rolling pickup truck in Williams Lake, but managed to survive the incident unscathed. Not so his teenage buddy Rick Hansen: paralyzed in the crash, he’d go on to become the … Continue reading Guitar idol Don Alder finds one fan at a time
Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 8, 2012 Some rock bands from the '70s can still bring the dynamite in both hands. The last time I saw Aerosmith—at Rogers Arena in 2010—they overcame rumours of a pending breakup by delivering a flawless, electrifying set. And two years before that, AC/DC roared through … Continue reading Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast
George Thorogood cracks funnies before rocking out in Coquitlam
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 20, 2012 George Thorogood is a born entertainer. Even before he hits the stage to blast out his patented array of boogiefied blues classics he'll try to get a reaction from folks anyway he can. That's what happened backstage before his gig at Coquitlam's Red Robinson Show Theatre last night … Continue reading George Thorogood cracks funnies before rocking out in Coquitlam