Mellencamp middle, Aronoff far right By Steve Newton For many years the resounding thwump of Kenny Aronoff's drumwork could be heard worldwide on the heartland-rock hits of John Mellencamp. People first came to notice Aronoff's skin-bashing abilities big time on the massive 1982 blockbuster "Hurts So Good", but his percussive powers would continue to meld perfectly … Continue reading John Mellencamp and Kenny Aronoff on the amicable demise of their singer-drummer dream team
That time I asked John Mellencamp what a heart attack feels like and he said “they don’t feel good!”
By Steve Newton The first time I interviewed John Mellencamp was way the funk back in the spring of 1983, after he'd released his multiplatinum breakthrough album American Fool (the one with "Hurts So Good" and "Jack and Diane" on it) and before he'd released his multiplatinum followup Uh-Huh (the one with "Pink Houses" and "Authority … Continue reading That time I asked John Mellencamp what a heart attack feels like and he said “they don’t feel good!”
That time Carlos Santana told me that he was open to anything and everything
By Steve Newton Carlos Santana has been known as a brilliant guitarist since the 1960s, but he didn't hit his commercial peak until the release of the Supernatural album in 1999. That disc featured collaborations with artists such as Eric Clapton, Rob Thomas, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Lauryn Hill, and Dave Matthews, and sold a staggering 30-million copies worldwide. … Continue reading That time Carlos Santana told me that he was open to anything and everything
That time Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell told me how he got into Tom Petty’s band
By Steve Newton Tom Petty is one of my favourite rockers, and I'm really bummed that I never got to interview him. But I did get to do the next best thing, which was chat with his forever guitarist, Mike Campbell. I interviewed Campbell in August of 1999, before Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played … Continue reading That time Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell told me how he got into Tom Petty’s band
That time Steve Vai told me what was so great about Ibanez guitars
By Steve Newton The first time I interviewed Steve Vai, back in May of 1990, he had just released his Passion and Warfare album and was on the covers of all the top guitar mags clutching an Ibanez guitar. So at one point in the conversation I asked him about the Ibanez seven-string and what made … Continue reading That time Steve Vai told me what was so great about Ibanez guitars
That time Ace Frehley told me that deep down inside Gene Simmons was a teddy bear
By Steve Newton When it comes to legendary rocker Gene Simmons, you either love him or hate him. Some say he's an arrogant, money-hungry, womanizing prick; others say that he's a legendary rocker, so who cares. When I got the opportunity to interview Simmons' former Kiss bandmate Ace Frehley back in 2008 I asked him … Continue reading That time Ace Frehley told me that deep down inside Gene Simmons was a teddy bear
That time I asked Kenny Aronoff who his favourite drummer was and who he’d most like to drum with
By Steve Newton On this day in 1986 I saw John Mellencamp, when he was still part Cougar, in concert on the Scarecrow tour. Kenny Aronoff was kicking ass on drums, so that made me think about digitizing that interview I did with the American drum great back in 1999 and posting it on my … Continue reading That time I asked Kenny Aronoff who his favourite drummer was and who he’d most like to drum with
That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave
By Steve Newton If you asked me which of Van Halen's David Lee Roth-era albums was my fave, I'd probably have to say the first one. I mean, that album is pretty freakin' hard to beat. I liked Van Halen II a lot as well, but there was nothing like hearing Eddie for the first … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave
That time Stevie Ray Vaughan told me how incredibly awesome John Hammond was
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Stevie Ray Vaughan for the second and last time, in July of 1990, he was still touring behind his fourth studio album, In Step. At one point in the conversation I mentioned that the album was dedicated to John Hammond--the famed American record producer, civil rights activist, and music … Continue reading That time Stevie Ray Vaughan told me how incredibly awesome John Hammond was
That time Doyle Bramhall II called from Chicago and told me how he came to work with Eric Clapton
todd v. wolfson photo By Steve Newton Unless you're a hardcore fan of bluesy music or a devoted follower of Eric Clapton you may not recognize the name Doyle Bramhall II, but he's been one of the most in-demand guitarists in the blues-rock world for many years. I did my first interview with him back … Continue reading That time Doyle Bramhall II called from Chicago and told me how he came to work with Eric Clapton
That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts
By Steve Newton I did my second interview with Jon Bon Jovi in July of 1986, when his band was heading to Vancouver for a date opening for Judas Priest. Little did anybody know that one month later, when Bon Jovi released its made-in-Vancouver album Slippery When Wet, it would rocket to worldwide fame and … Continue reading That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts
That time I asked Ace Frehley if he ever feared an onstage attack like the one that killed Dimebag
By Steve Newton We've all seen violence at rock concerts, but usually it only involves some guy in the crowd who's had too much to drink and decides to give another guy a punch in the head. Rarely does it involve the actual band members on stage, although there are exceptions. Like that time, as … Continue reading That time I asked Ace Frehley if he ever feared an onstage attack like the one that killed Dimebag
That time I told Randy Bachman that my fave Guess Who song was “Undun”
By Steve Newton Everybody has their favourite Guess Who tune, I reckon. Some go for the riff-driven rocker "American Woman". Others might appreciate the piano-based ballad "These Eyes". Me, I'm an "Undun" kinda guy. When I interviewed Guess Who guitarist Randy Bachman back in 2001 I told him that his jazz-tinged 1969 B-side was tops … Continue reading That time I told Randy Bachman that my fave Guess Who song was “Undun”