By Steve Newton Over the years I've asked various famous guitarists who they'd most like to play with, if they could choose anyone in the world, and more often than not the answer is Eric Clapton. Doyle Bramhall II is one of the lucky ones who've swapped solos with Slowhand. When I interviewed him back … Continue reading That time Doyle Bramhall II told me what it was like touring with the “brilliant” Eric Clapton
That time John Sykes told me how he got Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice to commit to Blue Murder
By Steve Newton If you've been reading my blogs for any length of time you must know that Thin Lizzy is one of my all-time favourite bands. I just love anything to do with them. John Sykes had something to do with Thin Lizzy--like playing on their final studio album, and their last live one … Continue reading That time John Sykes told me how he got Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice to commit to Blue Murder
That time Rickey Medlocke told me that he was hired to play Allen Collins’ guitar parts in Skynyrd
By Steve Newton Back in 1997 Lynyrd Skynyrd was headed to Vancouver for a show with Paul Rodgers and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, so you bet your ass I was gonna go. I was also gonna interview Rickey Medlocke, who had rejoined the band to play guitar alongside founding member Gary Rossington and former Outlaws picker … Continue reading That time Rickey Medlocke told me that he was hired to play Allen Collins’ guitar parts in Skynyrd
That time David Lee Roth blasted the media, ten days after O.J. Simpson’s dirty deed in Brentwood
By Steve Newton Ten days before David Lee Roth called me up from L.A. on June 22, 1994--to promote his latest album Your Dirty Little Mouth--football legend and sometime actor O.J. Simpson had taken a knife and carved himself up a big chunk of infamy. The media circus was in full P.T. Barnum-style swing by … Continue reading That time David Lee Roth blasted the media, ten days after O.J. Simpson’s dirty deed in Brentwood
That time I asked J.J. Cale which covers of his songs he liked best and Clapton’s didn’t even come up
By Steve Newton When you think about the J.J. Cale songs that other artists have covered and made famous, Eric Clapton's versions of "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" usually make the cut. (Lynyrd Skynyrd's take on "Call Me the Breeze" and Santana's rendition of "The Sensitive Kind" also come to mind.) But when I did my … Continue reading That time I asked J.J. Cale which covers of his songs he liked best and Clapton’s didn’t even come up
That time Dave Mustaine called out trendy jackasses while Megadeth toured behind Cyptic Writings
By Steve Newton When it comes to the so-called "Big Four" of American heavy-metal acts--Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax--I tend to pick Metallica as my fave. But I do like a few Megadeth tunes as well, "Symphony of Destruction" being particularly hard to beat. I've interviewed band leader Dave Mustaine three times, the first being … Continue reading That time Dave Mustaine called out trendy jackasses while Megadeth toured behind Cyptic Writings
That time Alice Cooper told me that he would blow “clone bands” like Ratt and Mötley Crüe off the stage
me 'n the coop. @shotbykevin By Steve Newton When I was a teenager in the early '70s, Alice Cooper was god. I couldn't get enough of his nasty image and the killer guitar-rock on albums Love It to Death, Killer, School's Out, Billion Dollar Babies, and Muscle of Love. I lost interest somewhat after he … Continue reading That time Alice Cooper told me that he would blow “clone bands” like Ratt and Mötley Crüe off the stage
That time 21-year-old Lars Ulrich woke up early to call and tell me how Metallica’s new Ride the Lightning album was doin’
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich four times because, hey, I like Metallica. This is the first time, way the funk back in March of 1985, when the band was still touring behind its second album, Ride the Lightning. Lars called me up from L.A. and filled me in on how the … Continue reading That time 21-year-old Lars Ulrich woke up early to call and tell me how Metallica’s new Ride the Lightning album was doin’
That time Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell told me that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s success gave him hope
mudcrutch photo by red slater By Steve Newton When I interviewed Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell back in the summer of 1999 we got to talking about his early days playing with Petty in the Gainesville, Florida band Mudcrutch. At one point Campbell told me about how that band would sometimes … Continue reading That time Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell told me that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s success gave him hope
That time John Doe from X couldn’t believe that I’d seen the Viggo Mortensen horror flick Prison
By Steve Newton Just heard recently that L.A. punk-rockers X were back together, so to celebrate I figured I'd digitize my old interview with X vocalist-bassist John Doe from 1990. At the time Doe had just released his debut solo album, the alt-country/roots offering Meet John Doe. At one point in the conversation, for … Continue reading That time John Doe from X couldn’t believe that I’d seen the Viggo Mortensen horror flick Prison
That time Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon told me about his love/hate relationship with John Lydon
By Steve Newton I only got to interview Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon once before his tragic drug-overdose death at the age of 28. It was December of 1992, and earlier in the year Hoon's band had been part of the MTV 120 Minutes Tour, opening for Public Image Ltd., Big Audio Dynamite II, and … Continue reading That time Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon told me about his love/hate relationship with John Lydon
Vancouver guitar ace Scott Smith sends out a Lifeboat for pedal-steel fans in these trying times
By Steve Newton I first became aware of the six-string talents of Vancouver's Scott Smith when he sent me a copy of his blues-rock trio Terminal Station's Rolling All Night album back in 2009. I also knew of his fine work with Bottleneck, the country-roots quartet he fronted with Robyn Carrigan, and his guest appearances … Continue reading Vancouver guitar ace Scott Smith sends out a Lifeboat for pedal-steel fans in these trying times
That time Myles Goodwyn told me how April Wine’s “Roller” got on the Joe Dirt soundtrack
By Steve Newton The 2001 David Spade white-trash comedy Joe Dirt isn't the best movie ever made, but it sure featured a rockin' soundtrack. Some of my all-time fave bands are on there, including Thin Lizzy, Blue Oyster Cult, Van Halen, Foghat, BTO, the James Gang, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Canada's own April Wine also shows … Continue reading That time Myles Goodwyn told me how April Wine’s “Roller” got on the Joe Dirt soundtrack