Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls heavy metal “a young musical force” in 1984

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1984 By Steve Newton With their last two albums reaching platinum status (over one million copies sold), Judas Priest is one of the world’s most popular heavy metal acts. The band’s steel-throated singer, Rob Halford, phoned me recently and elaborated on their new management, new album, and the state of … Continue reading Judas Priest’s Rob Halford calls heavy metal “a young musical force” in 1984

Ian Anderson says that the good bits of a Jethro Tull concert make it all worthwhile

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 22, 1992 By Steve Newton “So how’d it go last night?” That’s a question I’ll often start an interview with, to loosen things up when I know a musician has played a gig the night before. Usually, I get a response along the lines of, “Really good, actually,” or—if I’m talking … Continue reading Ian Anderson says that the good bits of a Jethro Tull concert make it all worthwhile

The Pursuit of Happiness leaves Todd Rundgren for The Downward Road

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 1, 1993 By Steve Newton Recalling the televised carnage of last year’s L.A. riots, it’s hard to believe that a happy-go-lucky Canadian band was simultaneously recording its breezy, good-time pop music within shooting distance of the scary stuff. A grungy thrash or hardcore rap band laying down a soundtrack for anarchy, … Continue reading The Pursuit of Happiness leaves Todd Rundgren for The Downward Road

Steve Morse transforms into a different kind of person at night

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 6, 1991 By Steve Newton Guitarist Steve Morse might not be one of the best-known instrumental recording artists around; he’s certainly not as familiar to the general record-buying public as someone like Jeff Beck or Joe Satriani—or even the new-found phenomenon Eric Johnson. But the folks that do know him know … Continue reading Steve Morse transforms into a different kind of person at night

The Kentucky Headhunters are a hillbilly version of the Beach Boys

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 2, 1991 By Steve Newton Anybody out there remember the old Davy Crockett TV show, starring Fess Parker as the coonskin-capped Tennessee woodsman who’d go in the bushes with a grizzly bear and a Bowie knife and come out with just the knife? Anybody ever own one of those coonskin caps, … Continue reading The Kentucky Headhunters are a hillbilly version of the Beach Boys

Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton says some drugs “just go damn well with music”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 20, 1994 By Steve Newton When Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton calls from Newport Beach during an afternoon stop on the band’s whirlwind Get a Grip tour, I presume he’ll be playing somewhere in California that night. Wrong-o, Steve-o. He’s doing a gig in Vegas instead. You can do that when you’ve … Continue reading Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton says some drugs “just go damn well with music”

Doyle Bramhall II’s dad wants his Lightnin’ Hopkins guitar back

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 16, 1992 By Steve Newton Anyone fortunate enough to have seen the late Stevie Ray Vaughan play knows the gifted Texas blues-rocker had that special something of which guitar legends are made. But good as he was, Vaughan would never have been able to soar to the heights he did on … Continue reading Doyle Bramhall II’s dad wants his Lightnin’ Hopkins guitar back

Canadian blues-roots great Colin Linden is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 15, 1993 By Steve Newton When major-label recording artists do interviews to promote a new release, they usually go on about how it’s the best one they’ve ever made, how making it sapped all the artistic energy their souls could muster—that sort of thing. Then there’s Colin Linden, who plays the … Continue reading Canadian blues-roots great Colin Linden is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet

Dickey Betts rambles into Vancouver with a “wicked” Warren Haynes on slide

By Steve Newton On April 2, 1989, southern-rock legend Dickey Betts brought his new band to Vancouver for a show at the 86 Street Music Hall. One of the coolest things about that gig was that it was the Vancouver debut of 28-year-old guitarist Warren Haynes, who would go on to huge acclaim as the driving … Continue reading Dickey Betts rambles into Vancouver with a “wicked” Warren Haynes on slide

Stone Gossard says Pearl Jam’s hard work is all paying off

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 19, 1991 By Steve Newton When a rock writer does a lot of “phoners”—media slang for telephone interviews—with bands that are coming to town, once in a while wires get crossed. This scribbler was planning to speak to Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder last week, but guitarist Stone Gossard rang up … Continue reading Stone Gossard says Pearl Jam’s hard work is all paying off

Alex Van Halen on Hagar and Roth, the magic of Eddie, and finding Balance with Bruce Fairbairn

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1995 By Steve Newton Sometimes it seems as if there are two kinds of people in the world: David Lee Roth folks and Sammy Hagar folks. Dave folks are kind of a wild bunch—they prefer their music with a raw edge, full of primitive, howling vocals and finger-numbing guitar solos. … Continue reading Alex Van Halen on Hagar and Roth, the magic of Eddie, and finding Balance with Bruce Fairbairn

Mark Farner’s current “God rock” set doesn’t include Grand Funk’s “We’re an American Band”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 12, 1991 By Steve Newton Usually when this scribbler prepares for an interview, he starts by listening to the artist’s tape or CD, perusing its liner notes, scanning a record company bio, and maybe reading some press clippings. But for a chat with former Grand Funk Railroad singer/guitarist Mark Farner, getting … Continue reading Mark Farner’s current “God rock” set doesn’t include Grand Funk’s “We’re an American Band”

With the Big 3-0 looming, Slash figures that “it’s happy hour somewhere”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 27, 1995 By Steve Newton When you’re guitar god Slash from Guns N’ Roses and you’re looking for a singer, you get to take your pick. Many hopefuls tried out for the lead-vocalist position in Slash’s Snakepit, including King’s X crooner Doug Pinnick, Spike from the London Quireboys, and former Little … Continue reading With the Big 3-0 looming, Slash figures that “it’s happy hour somewhere”