By Steve Newton I was a teenager in the seventies, so yeah, I liked the Doobies. Toulouse Street, The Captain and Me, What Were Once Vices are Now Habits--it was all good. Back in 1991 it was cool to interview singer-guitarist and cofounder Tom Johnston, 'cause he wrote my fave Doobie Brothers tune, "Ukiah". That … Continue reading That time I asked the Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston if he thought “Listen to the Music” would be a hit as soon as he wrote it
That time Jason Bonham told me about taking Bonzo’s spot to jam with Led Zeppelin as a teen
By Steve Newton Led Zeppelin freaks may recall the first time John Bonham's son Jason performed with his dad's old band, back in 1988 as part of the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert. But that was only young Jason's first "official" performance with Zeppelin. When I did my first interview with 23-year-old Jason a year later he … Continue reading That time Jason Bonham told me about taking Bonzo’s spot to jam with Led Zeppelin as a teen
That time Warren Haynes told me that it felt strange being chosen best slide player over Johnny, Sonny, and Ry “the man”
By Steve Newton Warren Haynes is one helluva slide-guitar player, as anyone who's heard him will attest. There's a reason why Dickey Betts brought him along to handle Duane Allman's slide parts when he rejoined the Allman Brothers back in '89. When I interviewed Haynes in November of 1998 he'd won the latest Guitar Player … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me that it felt strange being chosen best slide player over Johnny, Sonny, and Ry “the man”
That time I told Edgar Winter that my fave tune on They Only Come Out at Night was “Round & Round”
By Steve Newton The Edgar Winter Group blew my 15-year-old ass away when it released They Only Come Out at Night in November of 1972. I mean, Rick Derringer and Ronnie Montrose together on the same album? Seventies guitar-rock heaven! "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein" were the big radio hits on that album, but I've always … Continue reading That time I told Edgar Winter that my fave tune on They Only Come Out at Night was “Round & Round”
That time Steve Kilbey told me that the Church “rocks like a bitch” on the Gold Afternoon Fix Tour
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1990 I interviewed Steve Kilbey of Aussie pop-rock band the Church. The quartet was touring behind its Gold Afternoon Fix, the followup to its hugely successful Starfish album, which you may remember for the catchy tune "Under the Milky Way". At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time Steve Kilbey told me that the Church “rocks like a bitch” on the Gold Afternoon Fix Tour
That time I asked Johnette Napolitano about Concrete Blonde covering Thin Lizzy
By Steve Newton Concrete Blonde were a pretty great L.A. rock band from the mid-'80s. I interviewed singer, bassist, and main songwriter Johnette Napolitano back in June of 1990, three weeks after the release of the group's most popular album, 1990's Bloodletting, which featured the hit "Joey". That album was produced with Chris Tsangarides, who'd … Continue reading That time I asked Johnette Napolitano about Concrete Blonde covering Thin Lizzy
That time Zakk Wylde and I agreed that Lynyrd Skynyrd were right to return with Johnny Van Zant
By Steve Newton The first time I interviewed Zakk Wylde, back in 1994, he was still a member of the southern-rock band Pride & Glory, which was previously known as Lynyrd Skynhead. So knowing he was a huge Skynyrd fan, I asked him how he felt about the surviving band members getting back together seven years … Continue reading That time Zakk Wylde and I agreed that Lynyrd Skynyrd were right to return with Johnny Van Zant
That time Randy Hansen told me that everything became clear to him when he first heard Jimi Hendrix
By Steve Newton If there ever were a guitarist who deserved being paid tribute to, it's Jimi Hendrix. Randy Hansen has been doing just that for decades now, and few Hendrix aficionados have complained. I interviewed Hansen back in August of 2001, and he told me about the first time he heard his idol. Have … Continue reading That time Randy Hansen told me that everything became clear to him when he first heard Jimi Hendrix
That time I asked Dan McCafferty if Nazareth would play “Vancouver Shakedown” in Vancouver
By Steve Newton I really loved Nazareth in the seventies. Razamanazz, Loud 'n' Proud, Rampant, Hair of the Dog--those were all wicked albums in my books. I didn't actually get to interview the band until 1984, though, when the original lineup of singer Dan McCafferty, guitarist Manny Charlton, bassist Pete Agnew, and drummer Darrell Sweet had … Continue reading That time I asked Dan McCafferty if Nazareth would play “Vancouver Shakedown” in Vancouver
That time 20-year-old Davy Knowles told me that Rory Gallagher was his absolute idol
By Steve Newton Rory Gallagher fanatics will know Davy Knowles as the astounding guitarist who joined Gallagher's former bassist Gerry McAvoy and late drummer Ted McKenna in Band of Friends, recreating the Irish guitar legend's music live in recent years. But Knowles was professing his love for everything Gallagher long before Band of Friends hit … Continue reading That time 20-year-old Davy Knowles told me that Rory Gallagher was his absolute idol
That time Alex Van Halen told me how Van Halen would “raise a stink” across L.A. until it paid off
By Steve Newton If you want to know the real story of how Van Halen went from being a backyard party band to America's hard-rock kings, check out author Gregg Renoff's 2015 book Van Halen Rising. And for the condensed version, check out this excerpt from my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen. Have a listen: … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me how Van Halen would “raise a stink” across L.A. until it paid off
That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel
By Steve Newton When I went to Australia for my little sister's wedding in 1986 I managed to see two wicked Aussie bands--Midnight Oil and the Angels (aka Angel City)--play killer shows in Melbourne-area clubs. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Cold Chisel play a killer show in a Melbourne-area pub because they'd already broken … Continue reading That time I asked Jimmy Barnes about his boozer reputation, and why he left Cold Chisel
That time Joan Jett told me about the sect in San Francisco that worships her as a god
By Steve Newton The words "rock god" get thrown around a lot, but when they land on somebody like Joan Jett, they fit pretty well. If you're gonna worship anybody in rock 'n' roll, it might as well be someone like her, someone who's been at it forever, who's never sold out, and who always … Continue reading That time Joan Jett told me about the sect in San Francisco that worships her as a god