By Steve Newton When I interviewed Alex Van Halen back in 1995 his band was touring behind Balance, its fourth and final studio album with Sammy Hagar at the mike. At one point in the conversation I asked Alex how he would say the band had evolved musically since Sammy joined for 5150. Have a … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen how he thought Van Halen had evolved musically since Sammy Hagar joined
Brit Floyd guitarist agrees with Roy Buchanan that Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is just a bluesman at heart
Brit Floyd's Damian Darlington ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 5, 2023 By Steve Newton Back in April of 1988 I did my second and final interview with American blues-guitar great Roy Buchanan, just four months before he was found dead in a jail cell in Fairfax County, Virginia. At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading Brit Floyd guitarist agrees with Roy Buchanan that Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is just a bluesman at heart
Newt’s top 10 (or 12) things to do in Vancouver this week, July 3 to 7
By Steve Newton TUESDAY: the Rickshaw presents Montreal-based Celtic-punk band the Peelers at LanaLou's Restaurant, with guest Johnny Trash. TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Arts Club Theatre Company presents the musical Million Dollar Quartet-- which depicts the famed 1956 jam session between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins--at the Granville Island Stage. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 12) things to do in Vancouver this week, July 3 to 7
A teenaged Jeff Healey rocks out with high-school buddies in lost film from 1983
By Steve Newton While searching YouTube for some videos to use with an old Yngwie Malmsteen interview of mine I came across an excerpt from an interview with Jeff Healey that took place in 1983, when he was still in high school. "You gotta keep trucking, I think, is the main thing," relates Healey before … Continue reading A teenaged Jeff Healey rocks out with high-school buddies in lost film from 1983
Yngwie Malmsteen takes the guitar world by storm at age 22
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 27, 1985 By Steve Newton Hendrix. Page. Beck. Clapton. Blackmore. Van Halen. Rhoads. Malmsteen. Malmsteen? That's right, Malmsteen. The name might not be as familiar, but rest assured that in years to come it will gain a place beside those of rock's biggest guitar heroes. At only 22 years of age, … Continue reading Yngwie Malmsteen takes the guitar world by storm at age 22
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 30 to July 2
Scott Smith plays the Shipyards By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Comedy Here Often?'s Summer Showcase at 604 Studios features headliner Sophia Johnson, with guests Rory Dunn, George Ridgen, and Rachel Schaefer. Get your laugh on. FRIDAY: the Blind Pig Festival presents performances by Jay Gavin, COL WILL, and the Steve Kozak Band at Granville Island's Waterfront … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 30 to July 2
King-sized crap: the five worst horror flicks based on Stephen King stories
By Steve Newton Don't get me wrong: I'm a big fan of Stephen King. I've read a ton of his books, and some of the movies based on his works--like The Dead Zone, Misery, and Carrie--were outstanding. But as the in-house horror reviewer for a Vancouver newspaper from 1988 to 2018, I've suffered through my … Continue reading King-sized crap: the five worst horror flicks based on Stephen King stories
That time Geddy Lee told me that he was proud of Alex Lifeson for making his solo album
By Steve Newton Back in April of 1997 I did my first interview with Geddy Lee of Rush, while the band was touring behind its Test for Echo album. The year before Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson had released his debut solo album, Victor, so at one point in the conversation I asked Geddy what he … Continue reading That time Geddy Lee told me that he was proud of Alex Lifeson for making his solo album
Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in July
Nita Strauss plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton Nita Strauss: heavy-metal guitar virtuoso, formerly of the Alice Cooper band, with guests Lions at the Gate. July 2 at the Rickshaw Theatre. That lady can play! Scott Smith & the Evil Ways: Vancouver guitarist is featured in a celebration of the music of Santana, accompanied by … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Metro Vancouver concerts in July
That time I got Jeff Beck to sign the world’s best photo of the world’s greatest rock guitarist
paul little photo By Steve Newton Way back in the spring of 1982, fresh out of UBC, I got hired part-time as a proofreader at the Georgia Straight, a weekly Vancouver newspaper. At the time the paper was a real shambles, barely hangin' on, but eventually I got hired full-time as a typesetter, listings editor, … Continue reading That time I got Jeff Beck to sign the world’s best photo of the world’s greatest rock guitarist
10 minutes on the phone with Alex Van Halen in 1995
By Steve Newton I haven't interviewed that many drummers over the years, mainly because when I cover a band I shoot for the guitarist, since that's the instrument I'm most drawn to. But after interviewing Alex Van Halen in advance of a Van Hagar show on the 1995 Balance Tour, I should probably chat with … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Alex Van Halen in 1995
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 26-30
Escape from New York screens at the VIFF Centre By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of the fifth entry in the Evil Dead film franchise, writer-director Lee Cronin's Evil Dead Rise. TUESDAY: American comedian and actress Maria Bamford performs two standup shows at the Rio Theatre. First show SOLD OUT. TUESDAY TO … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 26-30
That time I asked Supertramp’s Bob Siebenberg what the band was like without Roger Hodgson
By Steve Newton Back in May of 1985 I interviewed Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg. The conversation took place nine days before the official release of Brother Where You Bound, Supertramp's first album without Roger Hodgson. This was an unusual interview for me, because most of them are done over the phone with musicians while they're … Continue reading That time I asked Supertramp’s Bob Siebenberg what the band was like without Roger Hodgson