John Waters is at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the St. Louis Blues in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena. FRIDAY: the Burnaby Halloween Festival presents In Praise of Nightmares, featuring screenings at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts of the seminal 1920s silent films Un Chien Andalou … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 20) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 27 to 29
The Beatles will release their “last song” next week, but what if it sucks?
collage by the newts By Steve Newton I've been a hardcore Beatles fan since the age of six. That's how old I was when they made their North American TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, but I remember it like it was yesterday. And right around that time I purchased my very first record. … Continue reading The Beatles will release their “last song” next week, but what if it sucks?
10 minutes on the phone with 21-year-old Devin Townsend in 1993
I interviewed Townsend for the second time in September of 1993, shortly after he'd hooked up with Steve Vai for the Sex & Religion album.
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 23-27
Demons screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: Los Angeles alt-metal band Tool, featuring vocalist Maynard James Keenan, plays Rogers Arena. MONDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of the new documentary Joan Baez: I Am a Noise, about the legendary American folk singer and political activist. MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of director Lamberto Bava's … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this week, October 23-27
God bless Ian Paice’s drumming on Deep Purple’s “Burn”
By Steve Newton I really appreciate rock music, and I'm very thankful to the musicians whose talent has given me such joy over the years. Sometimes, when I hear something that really turns my crank--like a particularly awesome guitar solo--I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless exquisite … Continue reading God bless Ian Paice’s drumming on Deep Purple’s “Burn”
Rolling Stone’s bullshit 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list ranks Johnny Winter at 166
charles campbell photo By Steve Newton Last week Rolling Stone published an article titled "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". And now that I've had some time to analyze that list, I can safely say that it stinks. For one thing, can you believe that the braindead editors and writers at Rolling Stone actually … Continue reading Rolling Stone’s bullshit 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list ranks Johnny Winter at 166
Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 20 to 22
Colin James performs at F**k Cancer 2 By Steve Newton FRIDAY: the BC Lions take on the Calgary Stampeders in Canadian Football League action at BC Place. FRIDAY: the Rogue Folk Club presents Vancouver acoustic folk-roots quartet the Fugitives performing tunes from its new album No Help Coming at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 20 to 22
The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
5 guys from Chilliwack High's Class of '75 rob hall photo By Steve Newton The title track wasn't always the best song on an album in the '70s. But when you were standing in the record store, rabidly poring over the brand new LP by your favourite band, that title could get deeply imbedded in … Continue reading The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Kiss’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton I always felt that Kiss released the vast majority of its best material in the mid-'70s. Maybe that's 'cause I turned 17--the prime age for enlistment into the Kiss Army--back in '74. But don't get me started on "Beth". Never could stand that song. 20. "Psycho Circus" (Psycho Circus, 1998) 19. "Comin' … Continue reading Kiss’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, October 16 to 20
Guns N' Roses play BC Place By Steve Newton MONDAY: American East Coast hip-hop acts Wu-Tang Clan and Nas perform at Rogers Arena as part of the N.Y. State of Mind Tour 2023, with guests De La Soul. There will be weed. MONDAY: New York experimental jazz-funk trio Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog--featuring guitarist Ribot, bassist-keyboardist … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, October 16 to 20
That time AC/DC’s Bon Scott couldn’t remember the name of the bass player from Kiss
By Steve Newton I've met Gene Simmons from Kiss a couple of times, but he didn't come off as particularly charming. Both times--once in person and once on the phone--he seemed pretty full of himself, which I suppose is kind of his trademark. He is the "God of Thunder", after all. But today I came … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Bon Scott couldn’t remember the name of the bass player from Kiss
10 minutes on the phone with Steve Hackett from Genesis in 1993
I did my first interview with Steve Hackett in 1993, when he called me up while touring behind his tenth solo album, Guitar Noir.
Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 13 to 15
Monsters of Schlock are at the Rio By Steve Newton FRIDAY: local musicians JP Maurice, Parker Bosley, Dicky Neptune, Daniel James, and Adam Wazonek perform the Let It Be album in its entirety at Beatles Tribute LIVE at Blue Light Studio. FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of director Sean S. Cunningham's 1980 slasher … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, October 13 to 15