That time I asked Jon Bon Jovi if he was worried about following up his latest album, Slippery When Wet

By Steve Newton I did the third of my three interviews with Jon Bon Jovi in June of 1987, when his band was touring behind its third LP, Slippery When Wet. That album was recorded at Vancouver’s Little Mountain Sound with producer Bruce Fairbairn and was a huge hit, spawning such #1 singles as "You Give Love a … Continue reading That time I asked Jon Bon Jovi if he was worried about following up his latest album, Slippery When Wet

Folk-roots artist Kim Churchill skips the didjeridu, shuns comparisons to fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 16, 2011 By Steve Newton Transcontinental phone connections being what they are, it’s not always easy hooking up with someone halfway around the world, but when the person you’re trying to get a hold of still has his butt in bed, it’s particularly tricky. After numerous attempts to reach Kim Churchill … Continue reading Folk-roots artist Kim Churchill skips the didjeridu, shuns comparisons to fellow Aussie Xavier Rudd

Newt’s top 10 (or 20) Vancouver concerts in May

Tribute to Link Wray at the Heatley By Steve Newton The Harpoonist: Vancouver swamp-blues vocalist and harmonica player Shawn Hall performs tunes from his new album Did We Come Here To Dance. May 1 at the WISE Hall. Kim Churchill: MRG Live presents Australian blues-roots singer-songwriter and guitarist. May 2 at the Biltmore Cabaret. The … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 20) Vancouver concerts in May

That time AC/DC producer Bruce Fairbairn requested some Chip & Pepper swag for the band, adding “these guys are small”

By Steve Newton Big things come in small packages, so they say, and in the world of hard rock there isn't anything bigger than AC/DC. But man are those guys tiny--or some of them are, at least. I mean, check out this backstage photo from an AC/DC concert in 2001. That's me on the right … Continue reading That time AC/DC producer Bruce Fairbairn requested some Chip & Pepper swag for the band, adding “these guys are small”

That time Live’s Chad Taylor told me that the beauty of music is that it’s not held back by anything

By Steve Newton Back on February 24, 1997, I interviewed guitarist Chad Taylor before his band, Live, played a sold-out show at a Vancouver nightclub called the Rage. That was nine days after the release of the band's fourth album, Secret Samadhi, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over … Continue reading That time Live’s Chad Taylor told me that the beauty of music is that it’s not held back by anything

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 26 to 28

Paul Pigat plays Mel Lehan Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: American filmmaker and pop-culture icon John Waters performs his latest spoken-word show, Devil’s Advocate, at the Rio Theatre. FRIDAY: the Rogue Folk Club presents Hornby Blues, a blues show featuring performances by Rick Fines, Samantha Martin, Paul Pigat, and Tim Willliams at Mel Lehan Hall … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 26 to 28

Paul McCartney to release live-in-the-studio Wings album from 1974 for the first time ever

By Steve Newton Universal Music Canada has just announced that One Hand Clapping, a live-in-the-studio recording of Paul McCartney & Wings from 1974, will have its first official release on June 14. The album captures McCartney and his band--which included guitarists Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch, drummer Geoff Britton, and McCartney's wife Linda on keyboards … Continue reading Paul McCartney to release live-in-the-studio Wings album from 1974 for the first time ever

Rock Hall inducts 16 artists, but none of them are named Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, or J.J. Cale

By Steve Newton Yesterday the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted 16 artists for its class of 2024, but none of them were named Johnny Winter or Rory Gallagher. Or even J.J. Cale, for that matter. The braindead twats at the Rock Hall seem to believe that acts like Cher, Kool & the Gang, … Continue reading Rock Hall inducts 16 artists, but none of them are named Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, or J.J. Cale

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, April 22 to 26

Witnessing Genocide in Palestine at Massey Arts Society By Steve Newton MONDAY TO FRIDAY: True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices explores 30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing from around the world and showcases the artists who are reconnecting with traditional skin-marking practices, at the Museum of Vancouver. TUESDAY: UBC Public Humanities presents a roundtable … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, April 22 to 26

Sammy Hagar rips into Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth in upcoming autobiography

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 27, 2011 By Steve Newton On March 15 Sammy Hagar's autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, will hit bookshelves, but you can bet his old bandmate Eddie Van Halen won't be racing out to score a copy. According to excerpts published recently in the Marin Independent Journal, the 63-year-old "Red Rocker" … Continue reading Sammy Hagar rips into Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth in upcoming autobiography

Storman Norm Casler gets the ocean-going party started with his CFOX Sunday Blues Cruise

not the '98 blues cruise, but a similar vibe ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 30, 1998 By Steve Newton There’s something about drinking cold beer in the hot sun on a big boat with a smokin’ band that just makes me a happy human. Local blues musician and impresario Norm Casler—aka Storman Norman, the host of … Continue reading Storman Norm Casler gets the ocean-going party started with his CFOX Sunday Blues Cruise

Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 19 to 21

Big Sugar plays the Pearl By Steve Newton FRIDAY: roots band Steve Dawson & the Hooded Mergansers--led by Canadian guitarist, songwriter, pedal steel player, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer Dawson--plays Mel Lehan Hall at St. James. FRIDAY: American punk-rock bands Strung Out and the Casualties coheadline the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests the Venomous Pinks. FRIDAY: Brewhalla … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 19 to 21