That time I called up Danny Gatton while he was sorting through his Roy Buchanan tapes

By Steve Newton When it comes to unheralded guitar geniuses, Danny Gatton is right up there. He’s never achieved the fame of a Clapton, Beck, or Page, but in-the-know guitar freaks realize that he’s worthy of comparison, talent-wise. I only got to interview Gatton once, back in April of 1993, before he came to Vancouver … Continue reading That time I called up Danny Gatton while he was sorting through his Roy Buchanan tapes

Backstage with Slash and Bruce Dickinson as Guns N’ Roses open for Iron Maiden in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 3, 1988 By Steve Newton The politics of rockin’ can be tough on new bands just getting used to the tour circuit. Take for example Guns N’ Roses, who are on the road in support of their first album, and opening for Iron Maiden, who’ve toured the world for 10 years … Continue reading Backstage with Slash and Bruce Dickinson as Guns N’ Roses open for Iron Maiden in Vancouver

That time I told Ronnie Montrose that I really liked Speed of Sound, and he said that he liked Music From Here more

By Steve Newton Like most hard-rock freaks in the seventies, I went nuts when I heard the debut Montrose album in ’73, and the fierce glory of Ronnie Montrose’s cranked guitar unleashed. I continued to love the music he made with singer Davey Pattison in the more prog-oriented rock band Gamma. And when Ronnie went … Continue reading That time I told Ronnie Montrose that I really liked Speed of Sound, and he said that he liked Music From Here more

That time Mick Ronson told me he was a rocker, as if I didn’t know

By Steve Newton I watched that documentary on Mick Ronson, Beside Bowie, the other day, and it inspired me to digitize another snippet off my first interview with Ronno, from 1988. You’re welcome, fellow Ronson freaks! The conversation happened on September 9, ’88, in advance of a show by the Hunter-Ronson Band at Vancouver’s 86 … Continue reading That time Mick Ronson told me he was a rocker, as if I didn’t know

That time Ronnie Montrose told me that singer-songwriters with a real passion are hard to find

By Steve Newton Today the world’s top hard-rock/heavy-metal expert, Canada’s own Martin Popoff, sent me an autographed copy of his new book, Rock the Nation: Montrose, Gamma and Ronnie Redefined. That got me thinking that maybe I should post another audio excerpt from my one and only interview with Ronnie Montrose, which occured in 1994 when he … Continue reading That time Ronnie Montrose told me that singer-songwriters with a real passion are hard to find

Midnight Oil proves itself a kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll band that counts on the Diesel and Dust tour

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 29, 1988 By Steve Newton At Midnight Oil’s press conference the day of their April 22 show the band’s drummer (and one of the major songwriters) Rob Hirst was asked about the group’s preoccupation with political themes. Hirst acknowledged the political side of the band, but also pointed out that politically inclined … Continue reading Midnight Oil proves itself a kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll band that counts on the Diesel and Dust tour

That time Dickey Betts told me about the music business and the Allman Brothers’ “official” albums

photo by kirk west By Steve Newton I still have fond memories of seeing guitar legend Dickey Betts with the Allman Brothers back in the early ’90s, when he was trading killer licks with another of my fave pickers, Warren Haynes. When I did my third interview with Dickey, back in July of ’92, the band was … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me about the music business and the Allman Brothers’ “official” albums

Roy Buchanan talks jamming with Pink Floyd “bluesman” David Gilmour and boasts about his new Bluesmaster guitar

roger fritz photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 8, 1988 By Steve Newton Blues guitar giant Roy Buchanan makes his yearly visit to Vancouver this week, and fans of his searingly soulful, technically awesome style can get their 1988 dose of it. This time around, though, Roy will be shooting off those wild licks with the … Continue reading Roy Buchanan talks jamming with Pink Floyd “bluesman” David Gilmour and boasts about his new Bluesmaster guitar

That time Ronnie Montrose told me that the Montrose LP marked his “kindergarten days” as a guitarist

Very few albums that I bought as a teenager in the seventies had as huge an effect on me as the debut Montrose album of ’73.

That time Warren Zevon told me about his cool-looking mascot, Old Velvet Nose

By Steve Newton I’ve said it before, and I’ll probly say it again: I wish I could have interviewed Warren Zevon more than once. But as the pesky fates would have it, I only got to the chat with the masterful songwriter and awesome human one time, back in January of 1992, when he was … Continue reading That time Warren Zevon told me about his cool-looking mascot, Old Velvet Nose

Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 19, 1991 By Steve Newton It’s hard to believe that just three years ago Guns N’ Roses couldn’t get a rise out of a Vancouver crowd. The band opened for Iron Maiden at the Coliseum on May 30, 1988, and was so ticked off at the lame reaction … Continue reading Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991)

That time Ronnie Montrose told me why he didn’t want to make a fourth Gamma album

By Steve Newton Dedicated fans of guitar great Ronnie Montrose know that, after he made his mark on the hard-rock scene with Montrose, he formed a more prog-oriented band called Gamma with singer Davey Pattison that continued making great music. I snapped up the group’s debut album, Gamma 1, as soon as it came out in … Continue reading That time Ronnie Montrose told me why he didn’t want to make a fourth Gamma album

Blue Öyster Cult transforms into the “New York Guitar Army” in Vancouver

I once owned a belt buckle just like this, but I traded it for a see-through guitar. True story. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 20, 1988 By Steve Newton Blue Öyster Cult is the sort of band you either love or hate. There’s no in-betweens. Nobody every says, “Oh, Blue Öyster Cult, they’re … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult transforms into the “New York Guitar Army” in Vancouver