ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 2011 By Steve Newton When Judas Priest announced its final world tour last month headbangers far and wide, young and ancient, stained their black-leather pants with a torrent of tears. The British metal icons had been bringing the noise to its followers—off and (mostly) on—since 1969, traversing the globe and … Continue reading Glenn Tipton says Judas Priest was shocked by K.K. Downing’s departure
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 25, 2004 By Steve Newton Reno, Nevada, isn’t the ideal place for a man battling addictions to be, but Metallica main man James Hetfield seems up to the challenge. When he calls from a tour stop in the renowned party town, the newly rehabilitated rocker makes it clear that he wasn’t … Continue reading James Hetfield on addiction, rehab, and channelling the anger with Metallica
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 21, 1983 By Steve Newton “Yeah, we’re loud alright,” says Tom Hamilton, bassist for American supergroup Aerosmith. “We’re definitely not any quieter than we used to be–we’re just better sounding.” Aerosmith has never been known for quietness or subtlety. Theirs is not the kind of music for … Continue reading Tom Hamilton talks Aerosmith without Joe Perry and the new Rock in a Hard Place
By Steve Newton One of the first interviews I ever did with a rock band I was totally nuts about happened way back in August of 1982. The mighty Blue Öyster Cult was playing Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum–with Aldo Nova opening up!–and the weekly paper I was still new at, the Georgia Straight, wanted me to … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult: “The world’s biggest underground band” (in 1982)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 11, 1982 By Steve Newton Over the years, few heavy metal frontmen have proven their stamina and staying power like Ozzy Osbourne. After eight years and eight albums with the legendary Black Sabbath, Osbourne left the group in 1979 and it looked as though he was hanging up his microphone and … Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne in ’82: fallen guitar heroes and bitten bats
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 4, 1983 By Steve Newton When Nicolette Larson released her first album, Nicolette, in 1978, she proved right from the start that her talents as an interpretive singer were vast and capable of taking her through many musical styles. On that album alone she wove a dreamy tapestry of songs by … Continue reading Nicolette Larson talks good friend Neil Young, current roommate Linda Ronstadt, and favourite songwriter Lowell George
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 1, 1983 By Steve Newton Three of Britain’s heaviest heavy-metal bands–Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Fastway–played the Pacific Coliseum last Wednesday in a full night’s worth of brutal, gnashing raunch and roll. I spoke to Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson over the phone from Los Angeles prior to the show and asked … Continue reading Bruce Dickinson on Martin Birch, the exit of Clive Burr, and the lobotomization of Eddie on Iron Maiden’s new album Piece of Mind
So, yeah, I’ve reviewed a few shows over the years. IRON MAIDEN at Rogers Arena, Sept. 3, 2019 SONNY LANDRETH at the Rio Theatre, Aug. 24, 2019 BAND OF FRIENDS at the Fox Cabaret, Dec. 18, 2018 DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS at the Imperial, Feb. 2, 2018 ROGER WATERS at Rogers Arena, Oct. 28, 2017 GUNS N’ ROSES … Continue reading concert reviews
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 5, 2008 By Steve Newton When Buddy Guy calls from Las Vegas at 7 on a Saturday morning, the sleep-deprived interviewer on the receiving end is still waiting for the coffee to kick in. But the 72-year-old Guy has already been up for hours. “Oh man, I was born and raised … Continue reading Buddy Guy lets Eric Clapton and Derek Trucks get their licks in on stellar Skin Deep
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 19, 1985 By Steve Newton When legendary guitarist Eric Clapton steps before the Coliseum audience Saturday (July 27) he will be fronting a stellar group of musicians. Bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn is something of a legend himself among musicians, having played with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Booker T and the … Continue reading My one and only interview with bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 3, 2010 By Steve Newton After suffering through his witless 2007 gore fest, Hatchet, I didn’t have high hopes for writer-director Adam Green’s Frozen. I knew it was a skiing-related horror flick, so I pictured an axe-wielding maniac lunging from behind trees and turning the slopes bright red with blood. Man, was I … Continue reading Human suffering abounds in ski-hill horror of Frozen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 13, 2011 By Steve Newton It was exactly one week ago today that the awful news started to get around: Irish guitar legend Gary Moore had been found dead in a Spanish hotel room. A post-mortem the next day revealed that the 58-year-old rocker had passed away in his sleep, due … Continue reading My first and last interview with fallen guitar hero Gary Moore
