By Steve Newton I interviewed Dave Martone last week for a story in the Georgia Straight's annual Best of Vancouver issue, because when I think about who might be the best guitarist in Vancouver, he always comes to mind. At one point in the conversation I asked Martone about his relationship with Joe Satriani, because … Continue reading Guitar wizard Dave Martone calls his mentor Joe Satriani a member of “the Good Guy Club”
If Joe Bonamassa had his way, Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossoff, and Danny Gatton would all be in the Rock Hall
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for its class of 2020 was broadcast on HBO last weekend. I didn't watch it. Nothing against inductees like T-Rex and the Doobie Brothers, but when somebody like Whitney Houston gets the nod over 2020 nominees like Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest, I … Continue reading If Joe Bonamassa had his way, Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossoff, and Danny Gatton would all be in the Rock Hall
That time I asked Gary Moore why he’d been in and out of Thin Lizzy so many times
By Steve Newton One of the biggest concert thrills of my life was seeing an on-fire Gary Moore playing guitar with Thin Lizzy when they warmed up for Styx in Vancouver on October 12, 1978. After Lizzy's astounding set I encountered Scott Gorham hanging out in front of a concession, having a smoke, listening to … Continue reading That time I asked Gary Moore why he’d been in and out of Thin Lizzy so many times
That time Joan Jett told me that her songs come from real life, and that misery loves company
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Joan Jett back in 1992 I told her that one of her new songs, "The Only Good Thing (You Ever Said Was Goodbye)", reminded me, message-wise, of her hit tune from 1988, "I Hate Myself For Loving You". Then I asked her if those kind of tunes were inspired … Continue reading That time Joan Jett told me that her songs come from real life, and that misery loves company
That time I asked Ian Gillan if he ever wished Joe Satriani had become a permanent member of Deep Purple
By Steve Newton As most dedicated Deep Purple fans know, Joe Satriani was once a member of that legendary band. The Bay Area guitar wizard joined in December of 1993 after the volatile Ritchie Blackmore quit and left the group high-and-dry in the middle of a tour. Satch only stayed in the lineup for a … Continue reading That time I asked Ian Gillan if he ever wished Joe Satriani had become a permanent member of Deep Purple
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
That time Joe Satriani told me that he wanted Flying in a Blue Dream to be something heavy and deep
By Steve Newton When I did my first interview with Joe Satriani in January of 1990 his Flying in a Blue Dream album had been out for only two months, and word had gotten around about what an ambitious project it was, clocking in at nearly 65 minutes. (His previous full-length disc, Surfing With the … Continue reading That time Joe Satriani told me that he wanted Flying in a Blue Dream to be something heavy and deep
That time Joss Stone told me that the music kinda just falls out of Ernie Isley’s fingers
By Steve Newton I wasn't a close follower of soul crooner Joss Stone when I hooked up with her by phone in Brussels, Belgium, in September of 2012. But I knew that she had a great voice, and that she'd sung lead on two tracks on Jeff Beck's latest album, Emotion & Commotion. Speaking of … Continue reading That time Joss Stone told me that the music kinda just falls out of Ernie Isley’s fingers
That time Men Without Hats’ Ivan Doroschuk told me about making the video for “Safety Dance”
By Steve Newton I interviewed Men Without Hats singer and main songwriter Ivan Doroschuk in 1984, the year after the band's second single, "The Safety Dance", became a worldwide hit. I was just about to write that the band was a one-hit wonder, but then I remembered they had another hit called "Pop Goes the … Continue reading That time Men Without Hats’ Ivan Doroschuk told me about making the video for “Safety Dance”
That time Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton told me that Rory Gallagher was the guy who made him pick up a guitar
By Steve Newton Back in 2005 I did my first interview with Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, who I'd been a fan of ever since I heard him wailin' away with KK on the Screaming for Vengeance album of '82. After asking him what his fave Priest albums were, and which of his solos he … Continue reading That time Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton told me that Rory Gallagher was the guy who made him pick up a guitar
That time Roger Glover told me that he was “disgusted” when he saw Deep Purple with Tommy Bolin
By Steve Newton I was 18 years old when Deep Purple released the album Come Taste the Band, so being a huge fan of the band since Fireball, I bought it. It took me a while to get into it--it didn't have the immediacy of a Machine Head or Burn--but eventually I grew very fond … Continue reading That time Roger Glover told me that he was “disgusted” when he saw Deep Purple with Tommy Bolin
Devin Townsend on hating guitar, loving Noisescapes, and doing the Steve Vai project “because it was there”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1993 By Steve Newton Things have a comical way of working out for some folks in the wacky world of rock ’n’ roll. In the case of 21-year-old Devin Townsend—who came out of nowhere (well, Vancouver, actually) to claim the prestigious lead vocalist spot in Yankee guitar god Steve Vai’s … Continue reading Devin Townsend on hating guitar, loving Noisescapes, and doing the Steve Vai project “because it was there”
That time Jack Blades told me about the different playing styles of Night Ranger guitarists Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson
By Steve Newton Back in January of 1984 I interviewed Night Ranger vocalist-bassist Jack Blades while his band was accompanying ZZ Top on its Eliminator Tour. I wasn't the biggest Night Ranger fan in the world back then. In the midst of the hard rock/metal craze I was more into Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and … Continue reading That time Jack Blades told me about the different playing styles of Night Ranger guitarists Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson