By Steve Newton The Georgia Satellites have to be one of the most underrated guitar-rock bands of all time. They recorded more great tunes in four years than more famous bands have in 40. 20. “Open All Night” (Open All Night, 1988) 19, “Over and Over” (Georgia Satellites, 1986) 18. “That Woman’” (Never Stop Rockin’ … Continue reading The Georgia Satellites’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 14, 1987 By Steve Newton The last time the Georgia Satellites were in Vancouver they opened for Bob Seger at BC Place. That was an understandable pairing, since both acts are known to boogie till the cows come home. This time around the Satellites will be on the same bill as … Continue reading The Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on opening for Bowie, playing with Zevon, and lamenting Atlanta’s music scene
By Steve Newton I’m a little show on the uptake sometimes. For example, just yesterday I was typing up my old interview from 1987 with Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, giving the article new life on the internet after being trapped on yellowing newspaper and stashed in a banker’s box for decades. In the … Continue reading 36 years later I finally got turned on to the rockin’ glory of Warren Zevon’s “Even a Dog Can Shake Hands”
By Steve Newton Back in the late ’70s/early ’80s I spent way too much time working at a Canada Packers food-processing plant near Chilliwack called York Farms. It was not a great job–unless frantically stacking heavy boxes of juice on wooden pallets for eight hours is your idea of a good time. It was a … Continue reading Hearing Dan Baird sing “Van Halen wailin’ on a stereo eight-track” brings back ancient memories
By Steve Newton As I mentioned yesterday, since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has just announced its seven inductees for the Class of 2023, my own little institution located in the wilds of British Columbia–Newt’s Rock Hall–is gonna counter with seven different inductees of its own. And of course mine will be better. … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Dick Dale, Soundgarden, the Guess Who, the Replacements, Bad Company, Mahogany Rush, the Edgar Winter Group, and the Stray Cats
By Steve Newton Yesterday the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted 16 artists for its class of 2024, but none of them were named Johnny Winter or Rory Gallagher. Or even J.J. Cale, for that matter. The braindead twats at the Rock Hall seem to believe that acts like Cher, Kool & the Gang, … Continue reading Rock Hall inducts 16 artists, but none of them are named Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, or J.J. Cale
By Steve Newton It looks like Newt’s Rock Hall won’t be closing down any time soon. Three months ago I posted a blog in which I stated that, once the waaaaayyyy overdue inductions of Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher into the official Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced, I’d be shuttering the underground … Continue reading Braindead Rock Hall nominates Mariah Carey and Cher, snubs Johnny and Rory yet again!
By Steve Newton I really admire incredible guitar playing. Sometimes, when I hear a guitar solo that blows me away, I even ask God to bless it. In previous blogs I’ve asked Him to bless amazing lead breaks by Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser on Blue Öyster Cult’s “Burnin’ … Continue reading God bless Warner E. Hodges flipping his Telecaster with Jason & the Scorchers
photo by the newt By Steve Newton It’s good to have hobbies. Several years ago I found a new hobby in which I’d spend a fair amount of time lobbying for the inclusion of Link Wray, Johnny Winter, and Rory Gallagher in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was astonished and, frankly, disgusted … Continue reading One down, two to go: Newt’s Rock Hall will shutter once Johnny and Rory get inducted into the RRHOF
By Steve Newton After ten years of my complaining about Link Wray not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the boneheads who run the high-falutin’ joint in Cleveland finally caved and decided to induct him, in the “musical influence” division. It’s about freakin’ time. Wray, who pretty well invented the raunchy guitar … Continue reading Rock Hall finally inducts Link Wray, can Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher be far behind?
By Steve Newton Well, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has done it again. A few days ago the Cleveland-based institution nominated 17 bands and artists to its class of 2022, but once more just plumb forgot the three artists most deserving of immediate induction: Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and Link Wray. Instead they … Continue reading Oh my f***ing god! Rock Hall snubs Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, and Link Wray yet again!
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Childhood traumas come in all shapes and sizes–and occur when you least expect them. For Webb Wilder, leader of the crazed Mississippi rock band that sports his name, being kicked off a school bus–clarinet and all–was somewhat of a milestone in a career that brings him … Continue reading Webb Wilder’s twangy roots-rock is more like a shotgun than a sniper
By Steve Newton Steve Vai is one of those guitarists where you watch him play and you’re like: “How the hell does he do that!?” This is the first interview I did with him, when he was only 29, touring with Whitesnake, and had just released his solo album Passion and Warfare. During the first … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990
