That time back in ’84 when I asked Virgin Steele singer David DeFeis what the metal scene was like in New York

By Steve Newton I was playing some of my old interview cassettes from the ’80s a while back and came across a short conversation I had in 1984 with David DeFeis, the singer and main songwriter for New York metal band Virgin Steele. At the time he was promoting the band’s second album, 1983’s Guardians … Continue reading That time back in ’84 when I asked Virgin Steele singer David DeFeis what the metal scene was like in New York

That time the Cult’s Ian Astbury told me that he thought session drummer Mickey Curry was “totally wasted” with Bryan Adams

By Steve Newton Back in January of 1992 I interviewed the Cult vocalist Ian Astbury while his band was touring behind its fifth studio album, Ceremony. That LP–and the one before it, the Bob Rock-produced Sonic Temple–had featured American session drummer Mickey Curry, who is best known for his work recording and touring with Bryan … Continue reading That time the Cult’s Ian Astbury told me that he thought session drummer Mickey Curry was “totally wasted” with Bryan Adams

That time I called Rick Derringer up for an interview but he was taking his fiance out for her birthday

The Derringer I remember from high school By Steve Newton I had a ton of guitar heroes in the seventies, and Rick Derringer was certainly up there. His work with Johnny Winter in the early ’70s, his solo album All American Boy, his kickass band Derringer–I loved it all. So it was awesome to finally … Continue reading That time I called Rick Derringer up for an interview but he was taking his fiance out for her birthday

That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album

By Steve Newton Back in June of 1988 Tesla frontman Jeff Keith called me up from his home in Sacramento in advance of his band’s Canadian tour with Def Leppard. Early in the interview I asked Keith what the group had been up to since releasing its debut album, Mechanical Resonance, a year and a … Continue reading That time Jeff Keith called me up and told me what Tesla had been up to since releasing its debut album

Annihilator tones down the thrash on new CD but still cranks up the heat on stage

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 6, 1993 By Steve Newton Last Saturday night (July 31) wasn’t Vancouver’s warmest evening on record, but the heat inside the Lunatic Fringe sure made you wonder. The club’s air-conditioning had broken down two nights before, so management lugged out a couple of huge fans to keep the temperature down, but … Continue reading Annihilator tones down the thrash on new CD but still cranks up the heat on stage

A teenaged Jeff Healey rocks out with high-school buddies in lost film from 1983

By Steve Newton While searching YouTube for some videos to use with an old Yngwie Malmsteen interview of mine I came across an excerpt from an interview with Jeff Healey that took place in 1983, when he was still in high school. “You gotta keep trucking, I think, is the main thing,” relates Healey before … Continue reading A teenaged Jeff Healey rocks out with high-school buddies in lost film from 1983

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 I told Tom Cochrane that I didn’t think his new “Life is a Highway” song sounded like him

By Steve Newton Tom Cochrane turned 70 the other day–on May 14, 2023–so to celebrate I digitized my third interview with him, from October 17, 1991. That was less than a month after he released the single “Life Is a Highway”, which became a massive hit. But as I pointed out to Tom about a … Continue reading That time I told Tom Cochrane that I didn’t think his new “Life is a Highway” song sounded like him

That time I made Albert King laugh by saying that I thought “King of the Blues” was B.B.’s title

By Steve Newton Yesterday I came across a tweet from the awesome bluesharp Twitter feed that included a couple of minutes of guitar legend Albert King tearing up it up on his Flying V in the company of Stevie Ray Vaughan. After I retweeted it, I got to thinking that maybe I should post another … Continue reading That time I made Albert King laugh by saying that I thought “King of the Blues” was B.B.’s title

Downchild’s Donnie Walsh relishes the resurgence of the blues

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 26, 1988 By Steve Newton Followers of the Canadian blues have cause to celebrate, because one of this country’s most endearing bands is back on track. Downchild–the group that helped inspired Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to don their cool black suits ‘n’ shades and become the Blues … Continue reading Downchild’s Donnie Walsh relishes the resurgence of the blues

Anson Funderburgh says Sam Myers talks about making moonshine with Elmore James

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 9, 2000 By Steve Newton One listen to the new Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets CD, Change in My Pocket, and you can tell the guitarist is from the less-is-more school; his tasty, laid-back approach would put him in the same homeroom as Jimmie Vaughan. Both pickers are from Texas, and … Continue reading Anson Funderburgh says Sam Myers talks about making moonshine with Elmore James

That time I got Jeff Beck to sign the world’s best photo of the world’s greatest rock guitarist

paul little photo By Steve Newton Way back in the spring of 1982, fresh out of UBC, I got hired part-time as a proofreader at the Georgia Straight, a weekly Vancouver newspaper. At the time the paper was a real shambles, barely hangin’ on, but eventually I got hired full-time as a typesetter, listings editor, … Continue reading That time I got Jeff Beck to sign the world’s best photo of the world’s greatest rock guitarist

That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell

By Steve Newton Night Ranger bassist-vocalist and main songwriter Jack Blades called me up from a truck stop in New Mexico back on January 13, 1984. At the time–two months before the band released its big hit “Sister Christian”–Night Ranger was opening for ZZ Top on the hugely successful Eliminator Tour, with sold-out shows all … Continue reading That time Night Ranger’s Jack Blades called me up from ZZ Top’s Eliminator tour with fresh memories of scorpion hell