ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 26, 1994 By Steve Newton After hearing that Canuck guitar-rock great Kim Mitchell had reunited with longtime lyricist Pye Dubois–and then recorded their new tunes with ace producer Joe Hardy (ZZ Top, Colin James, the Tragically Hip)–I had high hopes for the resulting CD, Itch. Those hopes were … Continue reading Album review: Kim Mitchell, Itch (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 5, 1994 By Steve Newton Sometimes I wonder if guitarists join Guns N’ Roses just so they can get in the position to release their own solo recordings of punk-inspired garage-rock and blues-based boogie. (I doubt if they do it so they can bask in the positive vibes … Continue reading Album review: Gilby Clarke, Pawnshop Guitars (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Like a hearty handshake from a rarely seen high-school buddy, every new Allman Brothers release is a hazy reminder of my teenage glory days, when the purchase of a southern-rock LP such as the Allmans’ Eat A Peach made everything right in my small-town world. Nowadays … Continue reading Album review: the Allman Brothers Band, Where It All Begins (1994)
go Johnny, go! By Steve Newton A couple months ago I interviewed legendary rock guitarist Martin Barre, best known for his work on all of Jethro Tull‘s top albums and hits. At one point in the conversation we got to talking about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which has famously refused to induct … Continue reading Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre says it’s “outrageous” that Johnny Winter isn’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Talk about cutting out the fat. John Mellencamp just keeps making his instrumentation leaner as the years go by; now he’s gotten to the point where he’ll pass up bass and go with drums and guitars only, and the effect–on bare-bones tunes like “Brothers” and “Too … Continue reading Album review: John Mellencamp, Dance Naked (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1984 By Steve Newton The last time the Thompson Twins played Vancouver they were a support act for the Police. But since that visit the British trio have hit it big with their Into the Gap album–which debuted on the U.K. charts at #1–and are now full-fledged headliners in their … Continue reading Alannah Currie says that the Thompson Twins want to make music for the whole world
“If we’re gonna do somethin’ we should do it quick,” says SImmonds, “because we’re not gettin’ any younger, obviously.”
By Steve Newton After he was inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 2016, Steve Miller famously ranted against the Rock Hall, citing its lack of female inclusion (no women were inducted that year) and what Miller claimed was a disrespect for the artists the institution was meant to honour. When the 78-year-old … Continue reading Steve Miller recalls his “unpleasant” experience with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
By Steve Newton I always thought the Beat Farmers were one of the world’s most underrated rock ‘n’ roll bands. Their club gigs were legend. But when I usually think about them I picture the latter-day lineup that included dual guitarists/vocalists Jerry Raney and Joey Harris. Lest we forget how incredible the band was before … Continue reading Oh man, this video of the Beat Farmers doing Neil Young’s “Powderfinger” is bloody awesome
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 7, 1984 By Steve Newton After leaving his band of four years, Rainbow, Roger Glover is back again with the original lineup of seventies supergroup Deep Purple. Glover supplied the bottom end for Purple on such powerful tunes as “Smoke On the Water” and “Highway Star”, but often had to stand … Continue reading Roger Glover plugs new solo album Mask, keeps mum about Deep Purple reunion
By Steve Newton I thank my lucky stars that I got to interview Stevie Ray. Twice! 20. “Wham” (The Sky is Crying, 1991) 19. “Cold Shot” (Couldn’t Stand the Weather, 1984) 18. “Hide Away” (Couldn’t Stand the Weather 1999 reissue bonus track) 17. “Testify” (Texas Flood, 1983) 16. “Come On [Part III] (Soul to Soul, … Continue reading Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
McCafferty, left, with Nazareth in the ’70s By Steve Newton Just had some sad news relayed to me by my nephew Jeff, the rock-loving dude you may have heard about through my backstage memories of Iron Maiden and Motley Crue. Jeff let me know that Dan McCafferty, the original vocalist for Scottish guitar-rockers Nazareth, had … Continue reading Nazareth singer Dan McCafferty dead at 76
By Steve Newton One of the most underrated rock bands of all time. 20. “Selfish Heart” (Tales of the New West, 1985) 19. “Lost Weekend” (Tales of the New West, 1985) 18. “Big Ugly Wheels” (Van Go, 1986) 17. “Happy Boy” (Tales of the New West, 1985) 16. “Baby’s Liquored Up” (Viking Lullabys, 1995) 15. … Continue reading The Beat Farmers’ 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome
