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
That time Geddy Lee told me how Rush views the mixing process
By Steve Newton Back in April of '97 I did my first interview with Rush bassist-vocalist Geddy Lee, while the band was touring behind its Test for Echo album. For that disc the band had brought in studio ace Andy Wallace to mix, a process that Lee had referred to in the latest Rush bio … Continue reading That time Geddy Lee told me how Rush views the mixing process
That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1988 Tesla frontman Jeff Keith called me up from his home in Sacramento in advance of his band's Canadian tour with Def Leppard. Early in the interview I asked Keith what the group had been up to since releasing its debut album, Mechanical Resonance, a year and a … Continue reading That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 5 to 9
Sisu screens at the Rio By Steve Newton TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: Renegade Arts Co. presents Spring Awakening, the Tony-winning pop-rock musical about German teens discovering sexuality and navigating adolescence, running until June 10 at the Shop Theatre. WEDNESDAY: Elvis Costello & the Imposters, play the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, with guest guitarist Charlie Sexton and opening act … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, June 5 to 9
Tommy Chong goes Cheech-less, reunites with Bobby Taylor to form the Far Out Man Band
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton Whether you're a new-age hemp addict, old-fashioned hippie, or charter member of the John Birch Society, you've probably heard of Cheech & Chong, counter-culture heroes to millions of adolescents. In the '70s, Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong turned out comedy albums like Big Bambu and … Continue reading Tommy Chong goes Cheech-less, reunites with Bobby Taylor to form the Far Out Man Band
Jim McGillveray says that the Wildroot Orchestra is like Guy Lombardo on speed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 11, 1983 By Steve Newton Before I'd even crossed the threshold into Jim McGillveray's harmonious Collingwood Street residence, something told me I was entering heavily musical territory. It could have been the two big ivory-coloured congas standing like sentinels on his front porch, their skins removed and evidently under repair. But … Continue reading Jim McGillveray says that the Wildroot Orchestra is like Guy Lombardo on speed
Cult metal band Blue Cheer returns, brings The Beast is Back to the Town Pump
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 9, 1987 By Steve Newton Way back in May of 1968, three heavy power trios occupied the number nine, 10, and 11 spots on the Billboard album chart. The frontrunner of those was Cream's Disraeli Gears, followed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience's Are You Experienced? And hot on Hendrix' heels was … Continue reading Cult metal band Blue Cheer returns, brings The Beast is Back to the Town Pump
Newt’s top 10 (or 12) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 2-4
Playland opens this weekend By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Rodney DeCroo and his band the Metaphors celebrate the publication of his new poetry collection Fishing for Leviathan with a performance of his songs and poems at Backspace, with guests CR Avery and Fraser Mackenzie. FRIDAY: Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden tribute bands Calm Like a Bomb and … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 12) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, June 2-4
Canadian guitar hero Pat Travers brings his classy fretwork to Vancouver’s Town Pump
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 12, 1986 By Steve Newton The last time Pat Travers visited Vancouver he was sharing the Pacific C0liseum stage with Aerosmith playing to a crowd of several thousand hard-rock fans. This time around the fiery Canadian guitarist will be playing in a much more intimate venue--he's at the Town Pump this … Continue reading Canadian guitar hero Pat Travers brings his classy fretwork to Vancouver’s Town Pump
That time heavy-metal god Tony Iommi told me that he wasn’t into new-wave, but he liked the music from Flashdance
By Steve Newton Way back in January of 1984 I did my first interview with heavy-metal master Tony Iommi, famous for creating the most powerful hard-rock riffs known to man. At the time Iommi was touring behind Black Sabbath's much-maligned Born Again, which is quite possibly the raunchiest Sabbath album ever recorded. At one point … Continue reading That time heavy-metal god Tony Iommi told me that he wasn’t into new-wave, but he liked the music from Flashdance
Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in June
Bif Naked plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton British pop-rock band the Cure, featuring singer-guitarist Robert Smith, plays Rogers Arena on June 2, with guests the Twilight Sad. Cure guitarist Reeves Gabrels used to play with David Bowie in Tin Machine! Elvis Costello & the Imposters, with guest guitarist Charlie Sexton, play the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on June 7, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in June