“We are Motörhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” declares Lemmy Kilmister in Vancouver

photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 8, 2011 By Steve Newton I should have known that I’d run into Metal Ron—the long-time cohost of CiTR Radio’s popular heavy-metal show Powerchord—at Motörhead on Monday (February 7) at the Vogue. I should have also known that he’d still be reeling from the shocking news … Continue reading “We are Motörhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” declares Lemmy Kilmister in Vancouver

Joe Bonamassa has 200 guitars, says he’s “okay for guitars”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 27, 2008 By Steve Newton In their recent autobiographies, famed British rockers Ronnie Wood and Eric Clapton hazily recall how one of their main pastimes while on tour—apart from getting wasted and rattling groupies—was cruising pawnshops and secondhand stores for cool guitars. When blues-rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa calls from a tour … Continue reading Joe Bonamassa has 200 guitars, says he’s “okay for guitars”

B-52s guitarist Keith Strickland recalls the Cramps’ Lux Interior loving “Rock Lobster”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 26, 2008 By Steve Newton That Lux Interior sure knows a hit when he hears one. Back in the late ’70s, when the B-52s first journeyed from their native Athens, Georgia, to make the scene at underground Manhattan clubs like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB, the outrageous Cramps frontman heard them … Continue reading B-52s guitarist Keith Strickland recalls the Cramps’ Lux Interior loving “Rock Lobster”

Buddy Guy dedicated his Blues Singer album to John Lee Hooker

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 19, 2004 By Steve Newton Chicago blues great Buddy Guy has played the Commodore Ballroom many times during his 45-year career, but the next time he visits the historic venue he won’t be sporting his trademark black Strat with the big white polka dots. For the first time here, the guitar … Continue reading Buddy Guy dedicated his Blues Singer album to John Lee Hooker

The New York Dolls’ David Johansen says that the Harlots of 42nd Street were his favourite band

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2005 By Steve Newton Looking back, 1973 was a wicked fuckin’ year for American guitar-rock albums. It saw the release of Alice Cooper‘s Billion Dollar Babies, Blue Oyster Cult‘s Tyranny and Mutation, Johnny Winter‘s Still Alive and Well, and the debuts by Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montrose, and the New York Dolls. … Continue reading The New York Dolls’ David Johansen says that the Harlots of 42nd Street were his favourite band

Interviewing Jeff Goldblum and Alicia Silverstone on the set of Dean Koontz’s Hideaway

By Steve Newton Vancouver has not been kind to Dean Koontz. First you had his awesome 1987 suspense novel, Watchers, being turned into a godawful Corey Haim vehicle up here in 1988. Then seven years later you had his fine 1982 supernatural thriller, Hideaway, becoming the type of B.C.-shot trainwreck he tried to sue to … Continue reading Interviewing Jeff Goldblum and Alicia Silverstone on the set of Dean Koontz’s Hideaway

Alabama’s joys and troubles inspire Jason Isbell’s songs

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 8, 2011 By Steve Newton Being from Alabama certainly has its benefits, one being the fact that you can really put your heart into it when you sing the chorus of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s biggest hit. But for Jason Isbell, one of the joys of growing up in northern Alabama was being … Continue reading Alabama’s joys and troubles inspire Jason Isbell’s songs

Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON OCT. 12, 2011 By Steve Newton When it comes to politically motivated rockers, you won’t find many more motivated than Tom Morello. Whether blasting out the intense guitar work that propels Rage Against the Machine’s anticorporate rap-metal agenda or taking on the Woody Guthrie–inspired folk-balladeer persona of his solo project, the Nightwatchman, … Continue reading Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to

Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 2011 By Steve Newton There’s a quote on Carlos Santana’s official website that reads: “When you love what you do, you don’t have to work a day in your life.” If that’s true, then anyone who’s heard Santana effortlessly channel the sound of pure joy through his instrument knows that he hasn’t … Continue reading Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking

John Hiatt recalls the “Old Days” at the Commodore when the weed smelled like cat pee

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2010 By Steve Newton John Hiatt is a songwriter’s songwriter, which is why such esteemed artists as Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, and Bonnie Raitt have recorded his tunes. When Canuck blues-rocker Jeff Healey blasted onto the scene in 1988 he doubled up on the Hiatt material, using both “Confidence Man” … Continue reading John Hiatt recalls the “Old Days” at the Commodore when the weed smelled like cat pee

Where were you in ’82? Rockin’ with Blue Öyster Cult & Aldo Nova too?

By Steve Newton On August 22, 1982, I was at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum watching my hard-rock heroes from the States, Blue Öyster Cult, kick butt on a bill with Canadian one-hit-wonder Aldo Nova. How do I remember the precise date of that ancient gig, you ask? Well, it’s not like I still have the ticket … Continue reading Where were you in ’82? Rockin’ with Blue Öyster Cult & Aldo Nova too?

Taj Mahal wasn’t so much shocked as pissed off by Jesse Ed Davis’s death

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 24, 2013 By Steve Newton When music legend Taj Mahal calls from a tour stop in Phoenix, it’s been just a few days since he played Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden in New York. He’d been asked to play the event before, and never had the … Continue reading Taj Mahal wasn’t so much shocked as pissed off by Jesse Ed Davis’s death

Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 6, 2006 By Steve Newton Chilliwack was the perfect place for a rock-crazed teenager to grow up during the ’70s. Not only could you crank “Free Bird” at full blast without fear of recrimination, but the big-city destination of Vancouver’s Hastings & Renfrew was only an hour away. Whether it was … Continue reading Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident