Shaun Verreault plays Guilt and Co. By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver country-rock band Pistol Whip the Devil plays the Roxy Cabaret, with guests the Railtown Prophets. FRIDAY: early Van Halen (David Lee Roth-era) tribute band Fair Warning, featuring former Soulbender guitarist Dave Groves as Eddie Van Halen, plays White Rock's Blue Frog Studios. Pray they … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 23 to 25
Cook da Books join Icicle Works and Frankie Goes to Hollywood in putting Liverpool back on the musical map
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 14, 1985 By Steve Newton Liverpool, England has been producing some rather electrifying bands of late. The city that grew famous for giving the world the Beatles is back in vogue with groups like Frankies Goes to Hollywood, Icicle Works, and Cook da Books--who opened Joan Armatrading's sellout show at the … Continue reading Cook da Books join Icicle Works and Frankie Goes to Hollywood in putting Liverpool back on the musical map
Burton Cummings sips his “medicine” and shows Vancouver that he’s got his own way to rock
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 27, 1982 By Steve Newton Evidently trying to shed his slick, Las Vegas-style approach to performing to get back to the more personal club and small-venues scene, Burton Cummings played two shows at the Commodore Ballroom last week, Wednesday and Friday night. Kicking off with his best-known honky-tonk tunes, "My Own … Continue reading Burton Cummings sips his “medicine” and shows Vancouver that he’s got his own way to rock
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, June 19 to 23
Planet Terror screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of director Anton Corbijn‘s documentary Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipnosis), which tells the story of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell, the creative forces behind the iconic album-art design studio, Hipgnosis. MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of Alien (The Director’s Cut), Ridley Scott’s modern … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, June 19 to 23
That time I asked 22-year-old Jeff Healey what Patrick Swayze was like to work with on Road House
By Steve Newton I was fortunate enough to have interviewed Canadian guitar wizard Jeff Healey three times. The first time was on June 25, 1988, when he was just 22, and still three months away from releasing his incredible debut album, See the Light. Healey--who, sadly, died from cancer in 2008 at age 41--had just … Continue reading That time I asked 22-year-old Jeff Healey what Patrick Swayze was like to work with on Road House
Looks like my old buddy Ferg got to see Van Halen with David Lee Roth
Lord knows I've seen a lot of concerts. But one of the bands I really regret not seeing live was Van Halen with David Lee Roth.
That time back in ’84 when I asked Virgin Steele singer David DeFeis what the metal scene was like in New York
By Steve Newton I was playing some of my old interview cassettes from the '80s a while back and came across a short conversation I had in 1984 with David DeFeis, the singer and main songwriter for New York metal band Virgin Steele. At the time he was promoting the band's second album, 1983's Guardians … Continue reading That time back in ’84 when I asked Virgin Steele singer David DeFeis what the metal scene was like in New York
Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 16 to 18
The Allmost Brothers play the Anza Club By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Canadian rock legends April Wine play the Commodore Ballroom. Note: original singer-songwriter-guitarist and founder Myles Goodwyn will not appear; he retired from touring last year. Still, who else wants to hear “Sign of the Gypsy Queen”? FRIDAY: Allman Brothers tribute band the Allmost Brothers, featuring guitarists Todd Taylor and Johannes Grammes, plays two … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 16 to 18
That time the Cult’s Ian Astbury told me that he thought session drummer Mickey Curry was “totally wasted” with Bryan Adams
By Steve Newton Back in January of 1992 I interviewed the Cult vocalist Ian Astbury while his band was touring behind its fifth studio album, Ceremony. That LP--and the one before it, the Bob Rock-produced Sonic Temple--had featured American session drummer Mickey Curry, who is best known for his work recording and touring with Bryan … Continue reading That time the Cult’s Ian Astbury told me that he thought session drummer Mickey Curry was “totally wasted” with Bryan Adams
That time I made Albert King laugh by saying that I thought “King of the Blues” was B.B.’s title
By Steve Newton Yesterday I came across a tweet from the awesome bluesharp Twitter feed that included a couple of minutes of guitar legend Albert King tearing up it up on his Flying V in the company of Stevie Ray Vaughan. After I retweeted it, I got to thinking that maybe I should post another … Continue reading That time I made Albert King laugh by saying that I thought “King of the Blues” was B.B.’s title
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 12-16
Dazed and Confused screens at the Rio By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of director Anton Corbijn‘s documentary Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipnosis), which tells the story of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey “Po” Powell, the creative forces behind the iconic album-art design studio, Hipgnosis. MONDAY: Timbre Concerts presents American alt-rocker Louise Post, formerly of Veruca Salt, at … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 12-16
Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend
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 on August 6, 1995, in advance of a Van Hagar show on the Balance tour, I should … Continue reading Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend
Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 9-11
Bob Log III plays the Biltmore By Steve Newton FRIDAY: blues-punk slide guitar one-man band Bob Log III plays the Biltmore Cabaret, with guests Spank Williams. Mr. Log wears a full-body human cannonball suit and a helmet wired to a telephone receiver. FRIDAY: mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb is featured in a program with the Vancouver Symphony that includes … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 13) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 9-11