By Steve Newton Back in August of 1997 I did my first interview with John Fogerty, and boy was I psyched about talking to that guy. He's the ultimate triple-threat musician, if you ask me, because I don't think there's anyone who can sing, play guitar, and write songs quite as well as John Fogerty … Continue reading That time John Fogerty told me that dobro player Jerry Douglas was his favourite musician in all the world
Trio’s Stephan Remmler on Trio and Error and the creation of the weird worldwide hit “Da Da Da”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 16, 1983 By Steve Newton About this same time last year, creeping up a heat duct from the basement suite below me, would come a tune so queer and bouncy--and sung with such downright foolishness--that I started to wonder if some madman hadn't holed himself up down there and decided to … Continue reading Trio’s Stephan Remmler on Trio and Error and the creation of the weird worldwide hit “Da Da Da”
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, February 27 to March 3
The Real McKenzies play the WISE Hall By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of the new concert documentary Carole King: Home Again–Live in Central Park, which depicts her homecoming concert at New York City’s Central Park in May of 1973. Hope she does "I Feel the Earth Move". TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY: Oklahoma … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, February 27 to March 3
Tim Dillon’s raunchy comedy cracks ’em up in Vancouver
In tattered sneakers, sweat shorts, and a neon-yellow hoodie, Tim Dillon made his return to Vancouver at the Queen E. Theatre last Friday.
That time Blue Murder’s John Sykes told me that Phil Lynott took him under his wing in Thin Lizzy
By Steve Newton I interviewed John Sykes back in May of 1989, one month after the release of the self-titled debut album by Blue Murder, the power trio he put together with bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice. At one point in the conversation I asked the former Tygers of Pan Tang and Whitesnake … Continue reading That time Blue Murder’s John Sykes told me that Phil Lynott took him under his wing in Thin Lizzy
Tanya Tucker isn’t ashamed to tell anybody that she’s a country singer
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 4, 1983 By Steve Newton Although only 24, singer/actress Tanya Tucker has already spent half her life in the fast lane of the entertainment business. And the title of her latest album, Changes, is a testimony to what she has gone through since stepping into the spotlight at … Continue reading Tanya Tucker isn’t ashamed to tell anybody that she’s a country singer
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Feb. 24-26
White Reaper plays the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: eight-piece Vancouver band Zappostrophe’ performs favourites and lesser-known works from Frank Zappa’s eclectic recordings at Frankie's Jazz. Remember: don't eat the yellow snow. FRIDAY: comedian, writer, and actor Tim Dillon performs standup at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre as part of Just For Laughs Vancouver. Just try … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Feb. 24-26
KnuckleBonz unveils 3-D vinyl statue depicting the cover of AC/DC’s best album
By Steve Newton San Francisco Bay Area-based collectibles company KnuckleBonz recently unveiled its latest product, which is aimed at hardcore AC/DC freaks. It's a 3-D vinyl statue depicting Angus Young as he appears on the cover of the Aussie earbusters' best album, Powerage. So it shows Angus in his schoolboy outfit, standing and screaming at … Continue reading KnuckleBonz unveils 3-D vinyl statue depicting the cover of AC/DC’s best album
Before he morphed into Reignwolf I asked teenaged guitarist Jordan Cook how he got into the blues
By Steve Newton Back in November of 2001 I interviewed an 18-year-old guitarist from Saskatoon named Jordan Cook. Nowadays Cook is making sizeable waves in the blues-rock world as rowdy, sweat-soaked performer Reignwolf, but back in '01 he was just touring around Canada with two teenage bandmates trying to make a name for himself. Near … Continue reading Before he morphed into Reignwolf I asked teenaged guitarist Jordan Cook how he got into the blues
That time I asked Steve Earle if he thought the United States would ever live down the invasion of Iraq
By Steve Newton I've interviewed Steve Earle six times between 1987 and 2012, because I think he's one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. The last time I chatted with him he was touring behind his 14th studio album, I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive, which included the song "Little Emperor", a … Continue reading That time I asked Steve Earle if he thought the United States would ever live down the invasion of Iraq
Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Feb. 20 to 24
Sarah Silverman performs at the Queen E. By Steve Newton MONDAY: final day of Fan Expo Vancouver, which features comics, anime, cosplay, gaming, sci-fi, horror, and celebrity guests at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The guy who played Robocop is there! MONDAY AND TUESDAY: screenings at the Cinematheque and VIFF Centre of Alfred Hitchcock‘s 1958 masterpiece Vertigo, … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this week, Feb. 20 to 24
That time Rick Wartell told me that Trouble was going over really well with the thrash-loving Pantera fans
By Steve Newton Back in October of 1992 I interviewed Trouble founder and guitarist Rick Wartell when the Chicago hard-rock quintet was touring with Pantera and heading to Vancouver for a show at the Commodore Ballroom. At the start of the conversation I mentioned how much I liked his band's current album, Manic Frustration, and … Continue reading That time Rick Wartell told me that Trouble was going over really well with the thrash-loving Pantera fans
That time I called up 18-year-old Derek Trucks just before he headed out on tour with Joe Satriani
By Steve Newton I did my first interview with slide-guitar legend Derek Trucks in March of 1998, when he was still just 18 years old. I called him up at his home in Jacksonville, Florida, the day before he was due in Texas to kick off a tour with Joe Satriani. He mentioned the possibility … Continue reading That time I called up 18-year-old Derek Trucks just before he headed out on tour with Joe Satriani