That time I asked legendary producer Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge

By Steve Newton Back in December of 1991 I wrote an article on local producer-to-the-stars Bob Rock, who’d made a name for himself in recent years with bands like Blue Murder, Motley Crue, and especially Metallica (he’d helmed their breakthrough Black Album, which was released four months earlier.) In doing research for the story I contacted … Continue reading That time I asked legendary producer Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge

Black Sabbath’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Sabbath Bloody Sabbath rules. 20. “Junior’s Eyes” (Never Say Die, 1978) 19. “A National Acrobat” (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973) 18. “Into the Void” (Master of Reality, 1971) 17. “Wishing Well” (Heaven and Hell, 1980) 16. “War Pigs” (Paranoid, 1970) 15. “Sabbra Cadabra” (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973) 14. “Dirty Women” (Technical Ecstasy, 1976) 13. … Continue reading Black Sabbath’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

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

Van Halen’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Guess I’m just more of a Dave guy. 20. “Runaround” (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991) 19. “Drop Dead Legs” (1984, 1984) 18. “You Really Got Me” (Van Halen, 1978) 17. “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Diver Down, 1982) 16. “Running With the Devil” (Van Halen, 1978) 15. “Dreams” (5150, 1986) 14. “Everybody Wants Some!!” … Continue reading Van Halen’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

The Strangers: Prey at Night is routine masked-killer fare

By Steve Newton According to the on-screen message in its opening scene, The Strangers: Prey at Night was “based on true events”. It kinda makes you wonder if anyone was ever actually stalked by an axe-wielding psycho at a trailer-park swimming pool while Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” blasted over the outdoor PA. In this … Continue reading The Strangers: Prey at Night is routine masked-killer fare

That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi if she had a favourite tune on Just Won’t Burn

By Steve Newton I love listening to Susan Tedeschi sing and play guitar. I mean, who doesn’t? I love interviewing her too, because she’s not just a wicked musician, but a total sweetie as well. The first time I chatted with her was back in 1998, when she was just 28, and touring behind her … Continue reading That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi if she had a favourite tune on Just Won’t Burn

That time I called Susan Tedeschi to talk about Just Won’t Burn and her mom said she was in the tub

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Susan Tedeschi in November of 1998, just eight months before she met husband-to-be Derek Trucks while opening for the Allman Brothers and they started the relationship that would result in two beautiful kids and the formation of the equally stunning Tedeschi Trucks Band. At the time … Continue reading That time I called Susan Tedeschi to talk about Just Won’t Burn and her mom said she was in the tub

Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton I guess you could say I like the first album the best. Let the Newt-bashing begin! 20. “O.D.’d on Life Itself” (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 19. “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” (Fire of Unknown Origin, 1981) 18. “Teen Archer” (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 17. “Before the Kiss, a Redcap” (Blue Öyster Cult, 1972) … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time I asked Malcolm Young if AC/DC were from Australia and he politely set me straight

By Steve Newton Here’s one of my favourite audio excerpts from my interview with Malcolm Young, Brian Johnson, and new AC/DC drummer Simon Wright back in 1983. At one point in the conversation–which took place on a Vancouver hotel-room floor where the lads were sipping tea and smokin’ ciggies–I asked about the Australian music scene, … Continue reading That time I asked Malcolm Young if AC/DC were from Australia and he politely set me straight

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

AC/DC’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Guess I’m just more of a Bon guy. 20. “T.N.T.” (High Voltage, 1976) 19. “Problem Child” (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1976) 18. “Hells Bells” (Back in Black, 1980) 17. “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be” (Let There Be Rock, 1977) 16. “Whole Lotta Rosie” (Let There Be Rock, 1977) 15. “Gimme … Continue reading AC/DC’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time I asked AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson what their fave tunes were on the new Flick of the Switch album

By Steve Newton I’ve been reading Mick Wall’s 2012 book about AC/DC, Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be, and today I got to the part about the band recording 1983’s Flick of the Switch, which the author reckons is AC/DC’s worst album ever. I will admit it’s no Powerage, but hey–the title track is … Continue reading That time I asked AC/DC’s Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson what their fave tunes were on the new Flick of the Switch album

That time Dickey Betts told me why he got kicked out of the Allman Brothers Band

By Steve Newton I did my fourth interview with guitar legend Dickey Betts in August of 2001, when he was touring with the Dickey Betts Band in support of their new album Let’s Get Together. A little over a year earlier he’d been fired by fax by the Allman Brothers, who he’d cofounded back in … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me why he got kicked out of the Allman Brothers Band