That time the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb told me that he thought the Saturday Night Fever movie was “awful”

By Steve Newton I was never a huge fan of the Bee Gees. But that didn’t stop me from interviewing one of its members, Robin Gibb, back in August of 1984. At the time he was promoting a solo album called Secret Agent, which featured nine songs cowritten with his twin brother Maurice Gibb. Their … Continue reading That time the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb told me that he thought the Saturday Night Fever movie was “awful”

Remembering Uriah Heep as a teenager in the seventies

By Steve Newton Having a bunch of vinyl albums from the seventies is cool, because the seventies were a while ago, and sometimes you forget which ones you actually own. Then when you go searching in the alphabetized stacks for a particular rock band from half a century ago you might find something that surprises … Continue reading Remembering Uriah Heep as a teenager in the seventies

Bon Jovi tours behind debut album, frontman Jon Bon Jovi claims it’s “not your typical opening act”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 27, 1984 By Steve Newton “Before the album came out we’d play anywhere with anyone at any time,” says Jon Bon Jovi. “We were just happy to be playing. But now that we’re out in support of a hit record it’s a lot nicer–and a lot more luxurious than six guys … Continue reading Bon Jovi tours behind debut album, frontman Jon Bon Jovi claims it’s “not your typical opening act”

That time Alejandro Escovedo told me that the Modernettes’ “Rebel Kind” was a great song

By Steve Newton A couple days ago Alejandro Escovedo posted a fun little blog I’d written in 2015 on his Facebook page. It was about “the greatest guitar solo of all time”, which I attributed to Mick Ronson for his solo on Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy”. Alejandro must be a big Ronson fan … Continue reading That time Alejandro Escovedo told me that the Modernettes’ “Rebel Kind” was a great song

It’s My Life, and it’s my unpublished 1984 interview with Mark Hollis of Talk Talk

By Steve Newton Back in early 1984 I did an interview with Mark Hollis of British synth-pop band Talk Talk. I wasn’t really into synth-pop–I was more into Iron Maiden, Scorpions, and Van Halen–but I took the assignment because Talk Talk was promoting its new album, It’s My Life, and was planning to visit my … Continue reading It’s My Life, and it’s my unpublished 1984 interview with Mark Hollis of Talk Talk

King-sized crap: the five worst horror flicks based on Stephen King stories

By Steve Newton Don’t get me wrong: I’m a big fan of Stephen King. I’ve read a ton of his books, and some of the movies based on his works–like The Dead Zone, Misery, and Carrie–were outstanding. But as the in-house horror reviewer for a Vancouver newspaper from 1988 to 2018, I’ve suffered through my … Continue reading King-sized crap: the five worst horror flicks based on Stephen King stories

Screaming Jets interview, unpublished for 30 years, shows the Aussie guitar-rockers highly skilled at pissing people off

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED SEPT. 22, 1991; STORY FIRST PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2021 By Steve Newton With a jarring, guitar-heavy sound influenced by such gritty Aussie bands as Angel City, AC/DC, and early Midnight Oil, Newcastle, Australia’s Screaming Jets are capable of causing quite a ruckus. They did so on their debut album, All For One, and … Continue reading Screaming Jets interview, unpublished for 30 years, shows the Aussie guitar-rockers highly skilled at pissing people off

Huey Lewis plugs new LP Sports, says he learned to play harp by imagining he was Paul Butterfield

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 25, 1983 By Steve Newton “We just stopped at a bus stop on tour last year and got Hank Williams’ Greatest Hits,” explains Huey Lewis over the phone from San Francisco. Two days prior to the start of his North American tour, Lewis is commenting on the inclusion of Williams’ “Hony … Continue reading Huey Lewis plugs new LP Sports, says he learned to play harp by imagining he was Paul Butterfield

That time Steve Clark told me why it took Def Leppard so long to follow up Pyromania with Hysteria

By Steve Newton Back in the ’80s, most successful recording bands liked to put an album out every year. Sometimes they’d skip a year, to vacation in the Bahamas or release a live or best-of LP. After three years their fans would start to get a bit worried, and so would their record label–especially if … Continue reading That time Steve Clark told me why it took Def Leppard so long to follow up Pyromania with Hysteria

Graham Goble knows it’s a long way there, so Little River Band recruits John Farnham for the trip

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 14, 1983 By Steve Newton When, after releasing six albums, a group loses both its original lead singer and lead guitarist, there’s a good chance a large number of longtime fans will be next to go. But that shouldn’t be the case with the Little River Band, for as Vancouver audiences … Continue reading Graham Goble knows it’s a long way there, so Little River Band recruits John Farnham for the trip

That time 21-year-old Exodus guitarist Gary Holt told me that he couldn’t say enough bad things about Mötley Crüe

By Steve Newton Way back on July 24 of 1985 I interviewed the guitarists from three fast-rising (but still kinda underground) thrash metal bands: Gary Holt of Exodus, Kurdt Vanderhoof of Metal Church, and John Ricci of Exciter. All three groups were headed to Vancouver for a three-night “Metal Massacre” at the New York Theatre, … Continue reading That time 21-year-old Exodus guitarist Gary Holt told me that he couldn’t say enough bad things about Mötley Crüe

That time Steve Howe told me that it was “inappropriate” to ask if he’d had a falling out with original Yes singer Jon Anderson

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Steve Howe three times over the years because, hey, he’s Steve Howe, and I’ve been a fan of his ever since high school, when I used to proudly display the triple-disc Yessongs album–with its awesome Roger Dean artwork–on my bedroom dresser. The last time we chatted, though, in 2017, I … Continue reading That time Steve Howe told me that it was “inappropriate” to ask if he’d had a falling out with original Yes singer Jon Anderson

That time Eric Carr told me that new Kiss guitarist Mark St. John was “absolutely astounding”

By Steve Newton I interviewed Kiss drummer Eric Carr in August of 1984, shortly before the band released its Animalize LP. You may recall that album for the hit single “Heaven’s on Fire”. I doubt you’ll recall it for much more. Anyway, at one point in the conversation I asked Carr about the band’s new guitarist, … Continue reading That time Eric Carr told me that new Kiss guitarist Mark St. John was “absolutely astounding”