That time Warren Haynes told me that Albert King might be the biggest influence on rock guitar ever

By Steve Newton When it comes to blues guitar, everybody’s got their favourite King. Lots love B.B. Some prefer Freddie. And then there’s others who think Albert is tops. Warren Haynes is one of those. When I interviewed Haynes in October of 1994, he was touring with the Allman Brothers, who were out promoting their … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me that Albert King might be the biggest influence on rock guitar ever

That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes about working with legendary producer Tom Dowd

By Steve Newton that’s Dowd on the far left, hangin’ with Warren and the Brothers By Steve Newton Legendary producer Tom Dowd has worked with some of the biggest names in the music biz, including–as Warren Haynes points out in this audio excerpt from 1994–Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and John Coltrane. But it was Dowd’s … Continue reading That time I asked Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes about working with legendary producer Tom Dowd

The Drive-By Truckers’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton So far I’ve posted these wacky “20 best songs” lists for some of my fave bands from the ’70s, including Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Robin Trower, Van Halen, AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, and Thin Lizzy. When I decided to compile one for the Drive-By Truckers, who are … Continue reading The Drive-By Truckers’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time I asked Warren Haynes if the spirit of southern rock was alive and well in 1994

kirk west photo By Steve Newton The spirit of southern rock was alive and well when I was a music-crazed teenager in the seventies. Skynyrd, Hatchet, Blackfoot, Outlaws, Allmans: I ate it up. Then the eighties came along and the sound of the south took a nosedive, popularity-wise. But back in the early ’90s the … Continue reading That time I asked Warren Haynes if the spirit of southern rock was alive and well in 1994

That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi what she hoped to accomplish in her career

By Steve Newton Hey all you diehard Susan Tedeschi fans: here’s another audio excerpt from my 1998 interview with her, when she had just released her second album, Just Won’t Burn, and was on the verge of stardom. As the “phoner” wound down, I asked her what she hoped to accomplish in her career, and … Continue reading That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi what she hoped to accomplish in her career

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

Aerosmith’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Clearly, the ’70s stuff was best. 20. “Make It” (Aerosmith, 1973) 19. “Let the Music Do the Talking” (Done With Mirrors, 1985) 18. “Mama Kin” (Aerosmith, 1973) 17. “S.O.S. (Too Bad)” (Get Your Wings, 1974) 16. “Sick as a Dog” (Rocks, 1976) 15. “My Fist Your Face” (Done With Mirrors, 1985) 14. … Continue reading Aerosmith’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Album review: Deep Purple, Nobody’s Perfect (1988)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were a teenager in the ’70s, you probably remember Deep Purple’s Made in Japan, the double live album that was–at least in Chilliwack anyway–the top soundtrack to house parties and cruising. Kids in the late ’80s now have a live, two-disc … Continue reading Album review: Deep Purple, Nobody’s Perfect (1988)

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 Warren Haynes told me that his Allman Brothers song “Soulshine” was inspired by his dad

By Steve Newton There some tunes that just grab you by the heart with their simple beauty and honesty and, if you’re lucky, maybe a wailing Les Paul guitar. “Soulshine” is one of ’em. When I interviewed Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes for the first time, a quarter-century ago, the band was touring behind its … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me that his Allman Brothers song “Soulshine” was inspired by his dad

Robin Trower’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Yep, it’s all about Bridge of Sighs. 20. “Back It Up” (Back It Up, 1983) 19. “A Tale Untold” (For Earth Below, 1975) 18. “Man of the World” (Twice Removed from Yesterday, 1973) 17. “Too Rolling Stoned” (Bridge of Sighs, 1974) 16. “Twice Removed from Yesterday” (Twice Removed from Yesterday, 1973) 15. “Victims of the … Continue reading Robin Trower’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time I asked Brian May of Queen about that scene in Wayne’s World with “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the car

By Steve Newton I loved Queen in the seventies. When that first album came out in 1973 it was in a steady battle for time on my turntable with other ’73 debuts by Aerosmith, Skynyrd, Montrose, and Trower. I clearly remember playing it on my parents’ living-room stereo (before I got my own) and being … Continue reading That time I asked Brian May of Queen about that scene in Wayne’s World with “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the car