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

Former Muddy Waters guitarist Jimmy Rogers brings real blues to the Yale

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 17, 1985 By Steve Newton "People who can't dig the blues, they must have a hole in the soul." That's how veteran bluesman Jimmy Rogers puts it--and he oughta know. For many years Rogers played guitar behind one of the most admired and influential figures in the genre, Muddy Waters. Muddy … Continue reading Former Muddy Waters guitarist Jimmy Rogers brings real blues to the Yale

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, June 23 to 25

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

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