By Steve Newton The unconfirmed reports circulating earlier today have now been confirmed: Dick Dale, the legendary guitarist whose finger-bleeding fretting style inspired countless guitarists, has died at 81. Dale's passing was confirmed by his bass player, Sam Bolle, and first reported by the California Rocker website. No cause of death was given, but Dale … Continue reading Dick Dale–the Strat-shredding, pick-melting King of the Surf Guitar–is dead at 81
That time Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes told me who his biggest influences were on slide
By Steve Newton Oh man, I freakin' love the sound of slide guitar. And I especially love it when it's being created by somebody like Warren Haynes. In case you didn't know, Haynes is the player who took over the slide duties when the Allman Brothers reunited back in 1989. I did my first interview … Continue reading That time Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes told me who his biggest influences were on slide
Steve Cropper recalls almost working with the Beatles in Memphis, before Brian Epstein pulled the plug
By Steve Newton Steve Cropper was recently added to the Dave Mason Band tour, which is totally awesome, and not just because he'll now be appearing with Mason at Vancouver's Vogue Theatre next Thursday (March 21). It's also totally awesome because three days ago I got to interview the guitar legend for the first time … Continue reading Steve Cropper recalls almost working with the Beatles in Memphis, before Brian Epstein pulled the plug
Alice Cooper’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
By Steve Newton The Coop ruled in the early seventies. 20. "Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)" (Muscle of Love, 1973) 19. "Unfinished Sweet" (Billion Dollar Babies, 1973) 18. "My Stars" (School's Out, 1972) 17. "Elected" (Billion Dollar Babies, 1973) 16. "You Drive Me Nervous" (Killer, 1971) 15. "Hard Hearted Alice" (Muscle of Love, 1973) 14. "Alma … Continue reading Alice Cooper’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
God bless Steve Cropper’s guitar solo on Rod Stewart’s “Stone Cold Sober”
By Steve Newton Aw crap! I interviewed guitar legend Steve Cropper today and forgot to thank him for the guitar solo he did back in '75 on "Stone Cold Sober", a killer tune he cowrote with Rod Stewart for the Atlantic Crossing album. As the weird kids say on social media these days, that solo is … Continue reading God bless Steve Cropper’s guitar solo on Rod Stewart’s “Stone Cold Sober”
That time I asked Warren Haynes if he was daunted by the prospect of taking over Duane Allman’s spot opposite Dickey Betts
By Steve Newton The first time I ever saw Warren Haynes perform live was back in 1989, when he was a member of the Dickey Betts Band. The group played Vancouver's 86 Street Music Hall, touring behind its debut album Pattern Disruptive, and holy crap was Haynes a killer on the slide guitar. Five years … Continue reading That time I asked Warren Haynes if he was daunted by the prospect of taking over Duane Allman’s spot opposite Dickey Betts
Covering Xtro II for Fangoria offshoot Gorezone and interviewing a director who’d rather be playing piano
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN GOREZONE #16, WINTER 1990 By Steve Newton Four years ago, Vancouver’s Expo '86 opened its doors to visitors from far and wide, who came to take in the World’s Fair and revel in its fancy displays on the theme of transportation. But lately the old Expo site has seen visitations of a … Continue reading Covering Xtro II for Fangoria offshoot Gorezone and interviewing a director who’d rather be playing piano
Be-Bop Deluxe box set puts a Sunburst Finish on Bill Nelson’s brilliant career
By Steve Newton Be-Bop Deluxe: now that's what I call a true seventies-rock band. Led by singer Bill Nelson--who also wrote every single song and handled a mean guitar--Be-Bop Deluxe combined the finest elements of '70s-era hard-rock, glam-pop, art-rock, and prog. I bought every one of their five studio albums, and loved them all. 1974's … Continue reading Be-Bop Deluxe box set puts a Sunburst Finish on Bill Nelson’s brilliant career
That time Mark Hollis of Talk Talk told me all about the video-within-a-video called It’s My Life
By Steve Newton You may have heard the sad news making the rounds in the music press today regarding Mark Hollis. The singer-songwriter of Talk Talk, one of the most adventurous and under-rated of '80s pop acts, has died at the age of 64. Now, those who've read my stuff over the last 37 years … Continue reading That time Mark Hollis of Talk Talk told me all about the video-within-a-video called It’s My Life
That time Warren Haynes told me about playing with Dickey Betts and becoming an Allman Brother
By Steve Newton One of my favourite things about being a rock writer is getting to chat with musicians like Warren Haynes. He's one helluva singer and songwriter, in my book, and of course his guitar playing just freakin' rules. I've been lucky enough to have interviewed Haynes six times so far, the first being … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me about playing with Dickey Betts and becoming an Allman Brother
That time I asked Jeff Healey about his 1989 Grammy nomination and he told me that Jimmy Page would probably win
By Steve Newton On February 16, 1989, I did the second of my three interviews with Canadian guitar hero Jeff Healey. He was only 22 at the time, but holy crap could that guy play! Anyway, this was about five months after the release of his wicked debut album, See the Light, which you may … Continue reading That time I asked Jeff Healey about his 1989 Grammy nomination and he told me that Jimmy Page would probably win
That time Lemmy Kilmister told me that Motörhead always had more in common with punk than metal
By Steve Newton Way back in the previous century I did the first of my two interviews with Motörhead mainman Lemmy Kilmister. The year was 1999, the month was April, and the date was the 29th. That was just seven weeks after the band had released its double-live album, Everything Louder Than Everything Else, which … Continue reading That time Lemmy Kilmister told me that Motörhead always had more in common with punk than metal
That time Adam Levine of Maroon 5 told me that he needed more spicy plum sauce–and didn’t love the White Stripes
By Steve Newton Maroon 5 are pretty huge these days. Huge enough that they're playing the Super Bowl halftime show today, for what that's worth. I interviewed the band's 24-year-old frontman, Adam Levine, when they weren't nearly as huge. It was back in May of 2003, when they were touring North America with Matchbox Twenty, … Continue reading That time Adam Levine of Maroon 5 told me that he needed more spicy plum sauce–and didn’t love the White Stripes