ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 2010 By Steve Newton Just got back from a family vacation to Powell River, and man, if you ever get the chance to go kayaking in Desolation Sound's Okeover Inlet, take it. The scenery is stunning and you can get up close and personal with bald eagles, seals, and huge … Continue reading Illuminating Mike Cooley’s songwriting brilliance through four Drive-By Truckers tunes
That time I asked Jon Bon Jovi if he was worried about overexposure while Slippery When Wet topped the charts
By Steve Newton I did the third of my three interviews with Jon Bon Jovi on June 18 of 1987, when his band was touring behind its hugely popular third LP, Slippery When Wet. Three days earlier the group had released the power ballad "Never Say Goodbye" as the fourth single from that LP, following … Continue reading That time I asked Jon Bon Jovi if he was worried about overexposure while Slippery When Wet topped the charts
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 22 to 24
On-Gaku: Our Sound screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Russian feminist protest and performance art/punk-rock group Pussy Riot performs at the Pearl, with guest Wait//Less. FRIDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of director Robert Morgan’s psychological horror film Stopmotion, about a stop-motion animator struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother. FRIDAY: Vancouver pianist/composer … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 22 to 24
10 minutes on the phone with John Cougar in 1983, before he was Mellencamp
By Steve Newton I interviewed John Mellencamp for the first time in May of 1983, when he was still known as John Cougar. He called me up from his home in Bloomington, Indiana to talk about his latest album, American Fool, which was tearing up the charts thanks to hits like "Hurts So Good", "Jack … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with John Cougar in 1983, before he was Mellencamp
Mötley Crüe are as sleazy as they come, but Mick Mars claims that he doesn’t think with his dick
Mötley’s on the road again, having reunited with Vince Neil, who left in the early ’90s to pursue a solo career that went nowhere.
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, March 18 to 22
Pussy Riot plays the Pearl By Steve Newton MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were selected to create 22 objects made from vintage mahogany for Reclaim + Repair: The Mahogany Project, running until August 7 at the Museum of Vancouver. MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, March 18 to 22
10 minutes on the phone with Joe Satriani in 1990
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Joe Satriani eight times because, hey, he's Joe Satriani, and I freakin' love what he does with a guitar. Here's 10 minutes of my first interview with Satch, which took place just nine weeks after the release of his Flying in a Blue Dream album. He called me up from … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Joe Satriani in 1990
That time Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes raved to me about all the hot gigs he was doing with Vancouver musicians
By Steve Newton I interviewed legendary Australian rock vocalist Jimmy Barnes in April of 1986, when he was opening for ZZ Top on the Texas blues-rock trio's Afterburner Tour. At the time the former Cold Chisel frontman was showcasing tunes from his third solo album, Freight Train Heart, which I remember for its wicked version … Continue reading That time Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes raved to me about all the hot gigs he was doing with Vancouver musicians
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 15 to 17
Brent Butt performs at ACT Arts Centre By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Canadian folk singer-songwriter Roy Forbes, formerly known as Bim, performs songs from latest album Edge of Blue at White Rock's Blue Frog Studios. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Punkstravaganza VIII at the Rickshaw Theatre features performances by the Dreadnoughts, Balkan Shmalkan, and You Big Idiot (Friday); … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 15 to 17
For only $50,000 (U.S.) you can pretend you’re Jimmy Page and really get the Led out
By Steve Newton If you're a hardcore Led Zeppelin fan and you've been wondering what to do with that extra 50 grand you've had lying around the house, here's an idea. Gibson Brands Inc. has just announced the release of the Collector’s Edition Jimmy Page 1969 EDS-1275. It's a custom-made copy of the red SG-style … Continue reading For only $50,000 (U.S.) you can pretend you’re Jimmy Page and really get the Led out
That time I asked Jim Heath of Reverend Horton Heat if rock ‘n’ roll paid the bills
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1995 I did the first of my four interviews with Jim Heath, singer-guitarist and main songwriter for the Texas psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat. When I called him up at his home in Dallas he told me that he was just hangin' around the house, dealing with some paperwork, … Continue reading That time I asked Jim Heath of Reverend Horton Heat if rock ‘n’ roll paid the bills
Newt’s top 20 Vancouver concert picks for 2024
tedeschi trucks photo by susan weiand By Steve Newton Melissa Etheridge: confessional folk-rock singer-songwriter from Kansas performs with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as part of her I’m Not Broken Tour. March 23 at the Orpheum Theatre. Reverend Horton Heat: psychobilly band from Dallas, Texas, featuring guitarist-vocalist Jim Heath, with guests Dale Watson and Jason D. Williams. March 26 at the Rickshaw Theatre. … Continue reading Newt’s top 20 Vancouver concert picks for 2024
That time Roger Glover told me that Steve Morse was in Deep Purple because Glover was into the Dixie Dregs
By Steve Newton I interviewed Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover for the third time back in January of 2004, when the band was touring with another one of my fave groups from the '70s, Thin Lizzy. Purple was touring in support of its latest release, Bananas, the third album to feature American guitar wizard Steve … Continue reading That time Roger Glover told me that Steve Morse was in Deep Purple because Glover was into the Dixie Dregs