By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Steve Morse in May of 1991, just after he'd released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel, and just three years before he'd join his current band, Deep Purple. At one point in the conversation I brought up Steve's claim that he didn't "live, breathe, and … Continue reading That time Steve Morse told me that he transforms into a different kind of person at night
That time Slash told me how Guns N’ Roses chose the cover tunes for “The Spaghetti Incident”
By Steve Newton The first time I interviewed Slash was two months after the release of "The Spaghetti Incident?", Guns N' Roses' collection of punk and hard-rock cover tunes by bands like the New York Dolls, T-Rex, the Runaways, and Nazareth. At one point in the conversation I mentioned that I was happy they'd recorded … Continue reading That time Slash told me how Guns N’ Roses chose the cover tunes for “The Spaghetti Incident”
Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?
bob geldof photo By Steve Newton Rory Gallagher is quite likely the most underrated rock-guitar player of all time. Even though his instrumental prowess has been constantly raved about by such longtime fans as Slash, Brian May, and The Edge, a lot of music fans have never even heard him. Perhaps most shocking is the … Continue reading Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?
That time I asked Jake E. Lee if there was much pressure taking over Randy Rhoads’ spot with Ozzy
By Steve Newton Way back in April of 1992 I interviewed Jake E. Lee in advance of a Vancouver show by his group Badlands, which was touring behind its second album, Voodoo Highway. At one point in the interview I started asking Jake about his time with Ozzy Osbourne, which led to me wondering if … Continue reading That time I asked Jake E. Lee if there was much pressure taking over Randy Rhoads’ spot with Ozzy
That time Buddy Guy told me how badly he wanted Stevie Ray Vaughan’s photo on his album cover
By Steve Newton Buddy Guy is one of my favourite old-school blues guitarists, right up there with Albert King, B.B. King, and Albert Collins. I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed him five times, and seen him perform live many more times than that. I did my first interview with Buddy in August of '91, … Continue reading That time Buddy Guy told me how badly he wanted Stevie Ray Vaughan’s photo on his album cover
That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place
By Steve Newton Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of my fave bands in the seventies, but I never got to see them live with Ronnie, to my infinite regret. I did get to see them for the first time in Vancouver back in '97 on the Legends Tour, and that was cool because the lineup at … Continue reading That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place
That time 82-year-old badass bluesman T-Model Ford told me he didn’t want to murder no more
By Steve Newton As far as I know, I haven't interviewed many murderers. I've unknowingly interviewed some sick, twisted fucks--like child-raper Ian Watkins--but as far as chatting with people who've intentionally taken a life, I think the count is pretty low. It might be a grand total of one. Back in 2004 I interviewed bluesman … Continue reading That time 82-year-old badass bluesman T-Model Ford told me he didn’t want to murder no more
That time I asked Carlos Santana who his favourite guitar player was
By Steve Newton When I interview the world's greatest guitarists, I often like to ask them who they think is the world's greatest guitarist. Carlos Santana is definitely one of the best ever, so when I interviewed him back in 2001 I put the question to him. Have a listen: To hear my full interview … Continue reading That time I asked Carlos Santana who his favourite guitar player was
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Rainbow, BTO, Steve Earle, Judas Priest, Little Feat, Todd Rundgren, and Mahogany Rush
By Steve Newton As you may aware, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame crapped the bed again yesterday, inducting the likes of Whitney Houston and Depeche Mode over nominees like Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, and the MC5. So today Newt's Rock Hall is gonna match their six additions, and add a seventh to … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Rainbow, BTO, Steve Earle, Judas Priest, Little Feat, Todd Rundgren, and Mahogany Rush
Rock Hall hits rock bottom, inducts Whitney Houston instead of Thin Lizzy
By Steve Newton Just when you think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might not necessarily be a total waste of space, they go and screw up big-time again. And this time it's a real doozy. Today the Rock Hall announced the inductees for its class of 2020, and guess what? They had a … Continue reading Rock Hall hits rock bottom, inducts Whitney Houston instead of Thin Lizzy
That time I asked Billy Gibbons what the glue was that kept ZZ Top together for so long
By Steve Newton Being a teenaged devotee of guitar-driven boogie in the seventies put me directly in line with what was required to be a hardcore ZZ Top fan. I have vivid memories of the band, like that time I walked into the Chilliwack Second Hand Store and found a near-mint copy of the Tres … Continue reading That time I asked Billy Gibbons what the glue was that kept ZZ Top together for so long
That time I asked Alex Lifeson what he thought the attraction was to Rush for so many diehard fans
By Steve Newton By now you've no doubt heard the awful news: that Rush drummer-lyricist Neil Peart has died from brain cancer. The man who inspired a million drummers is now up there jammin' with Allan Holdsworth and Jaco Pastorius or equally brilliant and pioneering players like that. So Rush is no more. There will … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Lifeson what he thought the attraction was to Rush for so many diehard fans
That time I asked Rush’s Geddy Lee if he was in awe of how Neil Peart carried on after tragedy
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Geddy Lee a couple of times, in 1997 and 2002. This was the second time, when Rush was touring behind its Vapour Trails album, which I thought was awesome. It was their first album in six years, as the tragic events in drummer Neil Peart's life--the deaths of his daughter and … Continue reading That time I asked Rush’s Geddy Lee if he was in awe of how Neil Peart carried on after tragedy