By Steve Newton I loved Country Dick Montana. He was a true rock god as far as I was concerned. I got to interview the wildman drummer and sometime singer for San Diego's Beat Farmers three times before his heart-attack death on stage in 1995. I chatted with him in 1987, 1990, and--when he was … Continue reading That time Country Dick Montana sang me a couple of lines from the Beat Farmers’ version of “Angel of the Morning”
Steve Cropper’s musical career has been touched by tragedy but his killer guitar licks endure
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 27, 2019 By Steve Newton On the phone from his home in Nashville, Steve Cropper sounds happy and full of life. He talks a lot and ends most of his sentences with a chuckle, as you might expect from a guy who's spent the last 60-or-so years of his life doing … Continue reading Steve Cropper’s musical career has been touched by tragedy but his killer guitar licks endure
That time I asked famed producer Bruce Fairbairn what he thought of famed producer Bob Rock
By Steve Newton Back in December of 1991 I wrote a Georgia Straight cover story on Vancouver producer Bob Rock, best known for his work with Metallica, and one of the Big Three of Vancouver hard-rock producers (along with fellow Little Mountain Sound-men Bruce Fairbairn and Mike Fraser). While putting the story together I gave … Continue reading That time I asked famed producer Bruce Fairbairn what he thought of famed producer Bob Rock
That time Eddie Money said he liked my work then called me Dave
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 13, 2019 (the day Eddie died) By Steve Newton You may have heard the sad news making the rounds today: rocker Eddie Money has died of esophageal cancer at the age of 70. I wasn't the biggest Eddie Money fan in the world--I don't own any of his albums or anything--but … Continue reading That time Eddie Money said he liked my work then called me Dave
When you go backstage to meet your idol John Fogerty and your buddy Ferg hogs the photo
By Steve Newton Back in August of 1997 I went to see John Fogerty at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver. One of my favourite all-time rockers--wicked vocalist, brilliant songwriter, and killer guitarist--Fogerty was touring behind his Grammy-winning Blue Moon Swamp album, and I'd scored free front-row seats because I'd interviewed the man in advance of … Continue reading When you go backstage to meet your idol John Fogerty and your buddy Ferg hogs the photo
Iron Maiden was the world’s best metal band in Vancouver last night
all photos by Jeff Sutherland By Steve Newton Your first concert is a big deal--or that's what my nephew Jeff says, anyway. Thirty-five years ago I took him to his very first rock show, at the Pacific Coliseum. It was Iron Maiden on the Powerslave tour. He was 14. It ruled. Last night (Sept. 3) … Continue reading Iron Maiden was the world’s best metal band in Vancouver last night
That time I asked Doc Neeson if the Angels/Angel City were inspired by their longtime friends AC/DC
By Steve Newton Way the funk back in 1985 I did my one and only interview with Doc Neeson, frontman for Angel City, who were known as the Angels in their native Australia. I thought Angel City were an awesome band. They put out an album called Face to Face that--with killer tracks like "Take … Continue reading That time I asked Doc Neeson if the Angels/Angel City were inspired by their longtime friends AC/DC
Sonny Landreth pays tribute to old friend Johnny Winter in Vancouver
photo by the Newt By Steve Newton Louisiana slide-guitar ace Sonny Landreth played Vancouver last night, and if you're a fan of bluesy, southern-style bottleneck, I hope you didn't miss it. The player Eric Clapton calls first when he needs world-class slide did not disappoint--especially when he dedicated a tune to his old friend Johnny … Continue reading Sonny Landreth pays tribute to old friend Johnny Winter in Vancouver
Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton "If you grew up in the '70s you liked Aerosmith." That's what Peter Buck of R.E.M. wrote in the liner notes to his band's version of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic," and Buck knows of which he speaks. With albums like Get Your … Continue reading Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
God bless Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser’s guitar solo on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For You”
By Steve Newton Back in June of 1981 Blue Öyster Cult released it's eight studio album, Fire of Unknown Origin, and I immediately snapped it up, just like I'd done with their previous nine discs (including the two live albums). I'd been absolutely crazy about B.O.C. ever since I'd bought Tyranny and Mutation because of … Continue reading God bless Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser’s guitar solo on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ For You”
That time Peter Frampton told me that he and David Bowie used to jam at school as kids
By Steve Newton Back in August of '87 I interviewed Peter Frampton in a Vancouver hotel room. At the time he was playing guitar with David Bowie on the Glass Spider tour, in support of Bowie's Never Let Me Down album, which he also played on. So of course I started the conversation off by … Continue reading That time Peter Frampton told me that he and David Bowie used to jam at school as kids
That time Poison Ivy of the Cramps told me that she liked violent-sounding guitar
By Steve Newton If you look up "badass female guitarist" in the dictionary, you might see a picture of Poison Ivy from the Cramps. Way before the "Me Too" movement was a thing, Poison Ivy was bringing female empowerment to rock 'n' roll big-time, churning out fierce rockabilly licks on a big orange Gretsch while … Continue reading That time Poison Ivy of the Cramps told me that she liked violent-sounding guitar
Ear of Newt takes the Patreon route
By Steve Newton Since launching Ear of Newt on Halloween night of 2013, it's been a labour of love bringing my lifelong passion for rock music to you, Gentle Reader (as Stephen King might say). The main thing my website always had going for it, I reckon, was the hundreds of interviews that I've done … Continue reading Ear of Newt takes the Patreon route