Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Vancouver concerts in September

Sue Foley plays the Rio By Steve Newton The Dead Daisies: hard-rock band featuring former members of Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, and Dio, with guests the Wild! and La Chinga. September 2 at the Hollywood Theatre. Bonnie Raitt: American blues-roots singer-songwriter and slide-guitar ace, with guest Roy Rodgers. September 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The Chicks: country … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) Vancouver concerts in September

Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview

By Steve Newton Here's a special treat for all you Van Halen freaks out there--even the ones who liked the Sammy years. For the first time ever the entire audio of my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen is being offered to the public for free, thanks to a partnership between Ear of Newt and … Continue reading Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview

Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Childhood traumas come in all shapes and sizes--and occur when you least expect them. For Webb Wilder, leader of the crazed Mississippi rock band that sports his name, being kicked off a school bus--clarinet and all--was somewhat of a milestone in a career that brings him … Continue reading Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1

Midnight Cowboy screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton MONDAY: Vancouver blues-rock band Terminal Station, composed of singer-guitarist Scott Smith, keyboardist Darryl Havers, bassist Jeremy Holmes, and drummer Liam MacDonald, plays  Guilt and Co. Check out their Allman Brothers vibe. MONDAY TO THURSDAY: screenings at the VIFF Centre of director Laura Moss's new psychological horror film Birth/Rebirth, which … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 14, 2011 By Steve Newton Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler called from L.A. to promote his upcoming gig at Vancouver's Venue on August 25, and once he started talking, he didn't want to stop. He chatted about everything from the tuna salad sandwich he'd just had for lunch in the … Continue reading Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler is a real chatterbox

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, August 25 to 27

Me n' Billy Idol, who plays the PNE By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Comedy Here Often?'s monthly showcase at 604 Studios features standup by Harris Anderson, Gina Harms, Kevin Saxby, and headliner Sharon Mahoney. Get yer yuk-yuk's out. FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) runs from August 19 to September 4, featuring carnival rides, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, August 25 to 27

Zappa fans prepare to freak out! 50th anniversary edition of Over-Nite Sensation to include 57 unreleased and rare tracks

By Steve Newton Dedicated followers of much-missed musical maestro Frank Zappa have just been given a reason to get a little jiggy. Universal Music announced today that an 88-track, five-disc "Super Deluxe Edition" of Zappa's 1973 Mothers of Invention album, Over-Nite Sensation, will be released on November 3. It will include four CDs and a … Continue reading Zappa fans prepare to freak out! 50th anniversary edition of Over-Nite Sensation to include 57 unreleased and rare tracks

Holy ’80s flashback Batman! 16 minutes on the phone with new-wave hitmaker Nik Kershaw in 1985

By Steve Newton Yesterday I went searching around in my cherished stash of interview cassettes for something really ancient to digitize before the tape itself got so old it turned to dust. I came across an interview dated April 10, 1985, with an artist named Nik Kershaw. It was recorded on a cheapo, no-name-brand cassette, … Continue reading Holy ’80s flashback Batman! 16 minutes on the phone with new-wave hitmaker Nik Kershaw in 1985

Ivan Doroschuk says that Men Without Hats are trying to prove that a synth band can kick ass

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton In support of their new LP, Folk of the '80s (Part III), Men Without Hats will be performing at the UBC War Memorial Gym tonight (Friday, August 24). Best known for encouraging people to dance ("The Safety Dance"), the group--composed of brothers Ivan, Colin, and Stefan … Continue reading Ivan Doroschuk says that Men Without Hats are trying to prove that a synth band can kick ass

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 21-25

Birth/Rebirth screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton MONDAY TO THURSDAY: the Arts Club Theatre Company presents The Radar, in which four plays by Canadian playwrights are read aloud by a company of actors, followed by a discussion with the playwright about the script and its creation process. TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Pacific National Exhibition … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 21-25

Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan celebrates 40 years at the mike with the star-studded Gillan’s Inn

By Steve Newton Deep Purple was one of my favourite bands in the seventies, so it was a real kick to finally interview Ian Gillan in 2006, when he called me up from a tour stop in Buffalo, en route to a gig in Vancouver. He was promoting his star-studded Gillan's Inn album, a celebration … Continue reading Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan celebrates 40 years at the mike with the star-studded Gillan’s Inn

Steven Adler still yearns to be part of a Guns N’ Roses reunion

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 17 2011 By Steve Newton In 1987, when he was 22 years old, Steven Adler had the world by the balls. He was the drummer in Guns N’ Roses, the most popular rock band at the time, whose album of that year, Appetite for Destruction, has sold more than 28 million … Continue reading Steven Adler still yearns to be part of a Guns N’ Roses reunion