Crosby, Stills & Nash turn it up too loud, forgetting that they aren’t Young

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton “Look, there’s that crazy guy!” declared the frail-looking, bespectacled chap sitting in front of me at the Queen E. last Thursday. He was pointing at a large, bearded man in the stage-right balcony who was standing up and howling and throwing punches around, … Continue reading Crosby, Stills & Nash turn it up too loud, forgetting that they aren’t Young

That time Steve Hackett told me about hearing Queen’s demo tapes and thinking Genesis’ label should sign them

By Steve Newton Before Queen became one of the top rock bands on the planet, they were just another struggling band trying to score a record deal. That’s how Steve Hackett remembers it, anyway. When I interviewed the former Genesis guitarist back in 1993 I asked him about his relationship with Queen guitarist Brian May, … Continue reading That time Steve Hackett told me about hearing Queen’s demo tapes and thinking Genesis’ label should sign them

50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands

By Steve Newton 1973 sure was a stellar year for guitar-based rock. Maybe the best one ever. Mind you, that opinion has a lot to do with how old I was back in ’73 (which just happened to be the same year that Bob Seger released Back in ’72, the one with “Rosalie” and “Turn … Continue reading 50 years on, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s debut LP still brings the dynamite in both hands

Newt’s top 20 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, Dec. 16-18

Keithmas XIII is at the Rickshaw By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane performs at the Pacific Coliseum as part of the PNE Winter Fair, which includes holiday-themed food and beverages, an outdoor marketplace, live kids’ shows, and ice-skating in the Agrodome. If Cochrane doesn’t play “Life is a Highway” you should ask … Continue reading Newt’s top 20 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, Dec. 16-18

10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990

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

Thin Lizzy: A People’s History celebrates one of the greatest rock bands of all time

By Steve Newton British author and music historian Richard Houghton just sent me an autographed copy of his new hardcover book, Thin Lizzy: A People’s History, and man does it look awesome. I haven’t read it yet, but what I can tell you is that it brings together memories of that amazing band from hundreds … Continue reading Thin Lizzy: A People’s History celebrates one of the greatest rock bands of all time

22 minutes on the phone with Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington, talking Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, prog rock, and lasers

By Steve Newton I called up Brit Floyd guitarist, vocalist, and musical director Damian Darlington at his home in the county of Cheshire, England, a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to get the scoop on his group, which is regarded as the world’s best Pink Floyd tribute band, in advance of its Vancouver show … Continue reading 22 minutes on the phone with Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington, talking Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, prog rock, and lasers

That time I suggested to guitar great Steve Stevens that he might want to cover Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”

By Steve Newton Back in September of 1989 I interviewed American guitar great Steve Stevens, who was touring behind his debut solo album, Atomic Playboys. That LP included a cover of the 1975 Sweet song “Action”, which Stevens said he thought was a Queen song at first. At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time I suggested to guitar great Steve Stevens that he might want to cover Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”

That time Steve Stevens told me that he thought Sweet’s “Action” was a Queen song

By Steve Newton I was a pretty big Billy Idol fan back in the ’80s, around the Rebel Yell period, but my attraction to his music had as much to do with his guitarist and cosongwriter as the sneering blonde rocker himself. I thought Steve Stevens was a wicked picker who had his own unique … Continue reading That time Steve Stevens told me that he thought Sweet’s “Action” was a Queen song

Brit Floyd guitarist agrees with Roy Buchanan that Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is just a bluesman at heart

Brit Floyd’s Damian Darlington By Steve Newton Back in April of 1988 I did my second and final interview with American blues-guitar great Roy Buchanan, just four months before he was found dead in a jail cell in Fairfax County, Virginia. At one point in the conversation I asked Buchanan about his recent tour in … Continue reading Brit Floyd guitarist agrees with Roy Buchanan that Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is just a bluesman at heart

Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

Geez, even Jimi knew Johnny ruled. By Steve Newton Back in September of 2010 Gibson.com posted what it felt were the 50 greatest guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it. Most conspicuous by his absence is Texas blues-rock legend Johnny Winter. I for one am getting sick and tired of … Continue reading Gibson picked the top 50 guitar solos of all time, and boy did they ever blow it

Edmonton native Krystle Dos Santos found a soulful home among the amazing vocalists of Vancouver

By Steve Newton You might be a big Stevie Wonder fan, but I’ll bet you’re not as big a Stevie Wonder fan as Krystle Dos Santos. When she was four or five years old the local soul vocalist would sing along to his LPs, trying her best to read along with the words. Then eight years … Continue reading Edmonton native Krystle Dos Santos found a soulful home among the amazing vocalists of Vancouver

Leslie West, guitar legend of Mountain fame, gravely ill after his heart stopped

By Steve Newton Fans of Leslie West should send thoughts and prayers to the American rock-guitar legend. Yesterday West’s brother, Larry West Weinstein, posted on Facebook that Leslie was gravely ill and near death after his heart stopped, and that he was put on a ventilator. “I am asking for all your prayers,” wrote Weinstein. … Continue reading Leslie West, guitar legend of Mountain fame, gravely ill after his heart stopped