ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 15, 2010 By Steve Newton Johnny Knoxville and his merry band of twisted prankster freaks are back in the third feature-length spinoff of their now-defunct MTV series, with the wonders of 3-D adding to the shit-splattered fun. And I do mean shit-splattered. The stunt that caused the loudest groans of disbelief … Continue reading Steve-O steals the show from the other fearless idiots in the poo-heavy Jackass 3D
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Metro Vancouver concerts in March
La Famille LeBlanc plays Festival du Bois By Steve Newton Chilliwack: Canadian rock greats from the '70s ("Fly at Night", "Lonesome Mary"), featuring singer-guitarist Bill Henderson. March 1 at Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. A Tribute to Shane McGowan: local acts the Pat Chessell Band and Sinéad X Sanders pay tribute to the late Pogues frontman. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Metro Vancouver concerts in March
That time Jon Bon Jovi told me about New Jersey teens picking songs for his band’s 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, which went on to sell more than 12 million copies in the U.S. alone. At one point in the conversation I asked him if it was true … Continue reading That time Jon Bon Jovi told me about New Jersey teens picking songs for his band’s latest album, Slippery When Wet
Coast to Coast rocks Surrey like a hurricane while paying tribute to guitar great Michael Schenker
By Steve Newton I don't get out to too many tribute concerts. I've been reviewing nothing but the real thing for over 40 years now, so why settle for imitations? But I made the quick trip across the Scott Road border from North Delta to the Surrey Arts Centre last night because I believe Coast … Continue reading Coast to Coast rocks Surrey like a hurricane while paying tribute to guitar great Michael Schenker
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, February 26 to March 1
Chelsea Hotel runs at the Firehall 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 … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, February 26 to March 1
Ray Manzarek claims that Riders on the Storm singer Ian Astbury is “cut from the same cloth” as Jim Morrison
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 15, 2005 By Steve Newton When keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger decided they wanted to tour and re-create the music of their old band, the Doors, they had to find a frontman who could take the place of Jim Morrison, both vocally and visually. Since the guy from the … Continue reading Ray Manzarek claims that Riders on the Storm singer Ian Astbury is “cut from the same cloth” as Jim Morrison
That time Lars Ulrich called me up from Cincinnati and told me that Metallica wasn’t doing bad for a buncha drunks
By Steve Newton I did my third interview with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich in April of 1997, when the band was touring behind its sixth studio album, the five-times-platinum Load. He called me up from backstage at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum, where the band was playing the second night of a double-header, with openers Corrosion of … Continue reading That time Lars Ulrich called me up from Cincinnati and told me that Metallica wasn’t doing bad for a buncha drunks
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, February 23 to 25
Colin Linden plays Bez Arts Hub By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Comedy Here Often? presents standup comedy by Amy Walsh, Sean McDonnell, Danielle Florence, Randy Jernidier, and headliner Kwasi Thomas at 604 Studios. FRIDAY: American comedian, actor, and podcaster Bill Burr performs standup at Rogers Arena as part of Just For Laughs Vancouver. Please note: cell phones, smart … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, February 23 to 25
Festival du Bois brings world-class Acadian, Celtic, Métis, and world music to Coquitlam March 8 to 10
By Steve Newton Metro Vancouver folk-music fans should set their sights on Coquitlam next month, as Festival du Bois--the annual celebration of francophone music--returns to Maillardville's Mackin Park for its 35th anniversary run. The three-day festival kicks off on Friday (March 8) with a free, all-ages evening event that includes Podorythmie’s French Canadian music and … Continue reading Festival du Bois brings world-class Acadian, Celtic, Métis, and world music to Coquitlam March 8 to 10
Wish I would have interviewed the guy with the best nickname in rock, Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod
By Steve Newton I've interviewed a helluva lot of rock musicians over the last 40 years or so--literally hundreds and hundreds--but there are still a few that got away. Like Brian "Too Loud" MacLeod, best known for being a member of Vancouver-based rock groups Headpins and Chilliwack. It doesn't make sense that I wouldn't have … Continue reading Wish I would have interviewed the guy with the best nickname in rock, Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, February 19 to 23
La Chinga plays the WISE Hall 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 … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, February 19 to 23
That time I asked Deep Purple’s Roger Glover if he still gets a buzz when the bass kicks in on “Smoke on the Water”
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover three times--in 1984, 1985, and 2004--because, hey, Deep Purple rules. Or they did when I was a teenager, anyway, especially on that Machine Head album. You know, the one with "Highway Star" and "Space Truckin'" and "Smoke On the Water" and all that good stuff. … Continue reading That time I asked Deep Purple’s Roger Glover if he still gets a buzz when the bass kicks in on “Smoke on the Water”
Ear of Newt has two free tickets to Coast to Coast’s February 24 gig in Surrey: who wants ’em?
Coast to Coast By Steve Newton If you're a big fan of classic hard-rock bands like UFO, Scorpions, and the Michael Schenker Group, here's a contest for ya. Local tribute band Coast to Coast--known for cranking out fab versions of UFO's "Lights Out", the Scorps' "No One Like You", and MSG's "Armed and Ready"--is playing … Continue reading Ear of Newt has two free tickets to Coast to Coast’s February 24 gig in Surrey: who wants ’em?