Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Motörhead, T. Rex, Free, the MC5, Humble Pie, and the J. Geils Band

By Steve Newton In yesterday’s blog denouncing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s continued refusal to induct Link Wray, I mentioned that today I planned to induct six acts into Newt’s Rock Hall, to keep up with the Joneses (a.k.a. that other, crappier Hall in Cleveland). And since I don’t like to disappoint people, … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Motörhead, T. Rex, Free, the MC5, Humble Pie, and the J. Geils Band

Warren Haynes calls Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” one of the most haunting recordings ever

By Steve Newton Gov’t Mule is one of my favourite bands, and not just because their original music is so damn fine. Once in a while they’ll do a cover of an old blues tune that inspires me to search out previous versions, with wonderful results. Like back in 1998 when they recorded “John the … Continue reading Warren Haynes calls Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” one of the most haunting recordings ever

That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter :(

By Steve Newton Back on July 10, 1981, somebody at Circus Magazine sent me a rejection letter. They could have at least signed it. Back in the seventies I devoured Circus. It was a total fanzine, but it really covered the bands I was interested in. On any given issue you’d see capitalized band names like … Continue reading That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter 🙁

Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 29, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were in a rockin’, blues-based guitar band and wanted to cover a song from the Beatles’ White Album, you’d probably pick one of the heavier Lennon/McCartney tunes like “Yer Blues” or “Savoy Truffle” or “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey”, … Continue reading Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

Album review: Heart, Heart (1985)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1985 By Steve Newton For their ninth album–and their first on Capitol Records–Heart have utilized the talents of celebrated producer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, the Who), and come up with a catchy collection of heavy-duty rock tunes and soaring ballads. The rockers take up the bulk of this self-titled LP, rugged … Continue reading Album review: Heart, Heart (1985)

Album review: Contraband, Contraband (1991)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 6, 1991 By Steve Newton Ian Hunter must be feeling pretty comfy these days. First off, Great White made him a pile of royalty bucks with its hit version of his 1975 barrelhouse-boogie “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”. Now Contraband—a new conglomeration of members from the Michael Schenker … Continue reading Album review: Contraband, Contraband (1991)

Joe Satriani on the intricacies of amplification and producer Mike Fraser’s “perfect set of ears”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 30, 2018 By Steve Newton When Joe Satriani phones from his home in the San Francisco Bay Area, he apologizes right away for being a few minutes late with the scheduled call. He explains that he was playing his guitar, composing a song, and lost track of time. That’s when it’s … Continue reading Joe Satriani on the intricacies of amplification and producer Mike Fraser’s “perfect set of ears”

Link Wray loses to Bon Jovi as the Rock Hall’s uncanny ineptness soars

By Steve Newton If you’re a fan of real rock ‘n’ roll you’ve probably already heard the bad news: Link Wray has been snubbed yet again by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And to put the poo-flavoured icing on the cake, Bon Jovi got in instead. Yeah, that’s right. The eighties hair-metal band was … Continue reading Link Wray loses to Bon Jovi as the Rock Hall’s uncanny ineptness soars

Edgar Winter and Leon Russell knock ’em down and drag ’em out in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 3, 1988 By Steve Newton I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I heard that Edgar Winter and Leon Russell were going to share the same stage, but I did know that I should definitely be there. I was aware that Winter was something of a wildman–prone to leaping about … Continue reading Edgar Winter and Leon Russell knock ’em down and drag ’em out in Vancouver

Jeff Healey on playing a bar-band guitarist in Roadhouse and “marvellous” star Patrick Swayze

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 1, 1988 By Steve Newton Patrick Swayze may be one of the sexiest movie stars around today, but he can’t play mean blues guitar. Jeff Healey might not be your typical matinee idol, but he can play mean blues guitar–as anyone at the Town Pump will discover this weekend (July 1 … Continue reading Jeff Healey on playing a bar-band guitarist in Roadhouse and “marvellous” star Patrick Swayze

That time Dickey Betts told me that he liked the Allman Brothers’ opening act, Blues Traveler, “a whole lot”

By Steve Newton If you’ve been checking out Ear of Newt much in the last couple years, you likely noticed that I really enjoy posting audio excerpts from my four interviews with Dickey Betts. As I’ve been saying all along, he’s one of my fave guitarists, but I like hearing his down-home southern drawl almost as … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me that he liked the Allman Brothers’ opening act, Blues Traveler, “a whole lot”

Caught on tape: that time Strat fanatic Yngwie Malmsteen trash-talked Ibanez and Les Paul guitars

By Steve Newton The most popular story I ever posted on Ear of Newt–until I broke the news about AC/DC being spotted in Vancouver back in 2018–was the one from 2014 with the headline Yngwie Malmsteen calls Ibanez guitars “a bad copy” of the Strat and says Les Pauls are “furniture”. For some reason people–mostly guitar … Continue reading Caught on tape: that time Strat fanatic Yngwie Malmsteen trash-talked Ibanez and Les Paul guitars

Def Leppard makes a triumphant in-the-round return to Vancouver on the Hysteria tour

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Being a rock critic is not all fun and games. “Sure, Steve,” you’re probably saying, “all those free concerts and backstage brewskies must be real tough.” Okay, so there are worse occupations, but like anything else it can get boring. You become pretty … Continue reading Def Leppard makes a triumphant in-the-round return to Vancouver on the Hysteria tour