ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 18, 2004 By Steve Newton Has the Tragically Hip finally lost its standing as Canada’s top rock band? There’s little doubt that Kingston, Ontario’s favourite sons have been on a downward slide, popularity-wise, for the last few years. Back in ’96, the group came close to selling out the Pacific Coliseum … Continue reading There’s not a band in the land that can touch the Hip in concert
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 28, 2004 By Steve Newton Much has been made of the Sam & Dave controversy in regard to American hard-rock legends Van Halen. There are those who scoff at the idea of the band existing without original vocalist David Lee Roth, while others feel that his replacement, Sammy Hagar, has … Continue reading Van Halen still brings the dynamite in both hands
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 2004 By Steve Newton Hugh Dillon turned a few heads when he laid his popular guitar-rock band, the Headstones, to rest last year. The Toronto-based outfit had been making well-received music for a decade, but that didn’t stop the singer, songwriter, and guitarist–also noted for his acting work in films … Continue reading Hugh Dillon lays Headstones to rest and puts his faith in the Redemption Choir
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 25, 2004 By Steve Newton Reno, Nevada, isn’t the ideal place for a man battling addictions to be, but Metallica main man James Hetfield seems up to the challenge. When he calls from a tour stop in the renowned party town, the newly rehabilitated rocker makes it clear that he wasn’t … Continue reading James Hetfield on addiction, rehab, and channelling the anger with Metallica
By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed a lot of incredible bluesmen over the years, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Roy Buchanan. But far and away the nicest was B.B. King. Famed Vancouver punk-rock photographer Bev Davies snapped this shot of me ‘n’ B.B. in his hotel room at the Plazazz Showroom in … Continue reading B.B. King: The nicest bluesman I ever met
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 11, 1983 By Steve Newton Eddie Van Halen calls him “fantastic”. Gary Moore says “he’s frightening. He’s definitely dangerous and getting better all the time.” Carlos Santana gives him “more credit than anyone for just pure expression in soloing.” Journey’s Neil Schon says: “If you play guitar and ever think you’re … Continue reading Guitar phenom Allan Holdsworth says he’s not impressed by flash
When I hook up with former Drive-By Truckers guitarist-vocalist Jason Isbell, he and his band are trying to escape from Manhattan.
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 28, 2007 By Steve Newton A few days before attending last Friday’s (March 23) Eric Clapton/Robert Cray show, I came across a timely TV broadcast of Taylor Hackford’s 1986 concert documentary, Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock ‘N’ Roll. Both Clapton and Cray are featured in it, the former performing the … Continue reading Eric Clapton gets shown up by Doyle Bramhall II in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 14, 2007 By Steve Newton When Black Sabbath came to town last Sunday (March 11)—calling itself Heaven and Hell, I guess, to make sure no one expected Ozzy Osbourne to dodder onto the stage—it was the quartet’s first public performance in 14 years. More importantly, it was the group’s first … Continue reading Megadeth blows Black Sabbath (“Heaven and Hell”) off the stage with its unbridled energy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 7, 2007 By Steve Newton It’s somewhat ironic that Black Sabbath‘s 1978 album was titled Never Say Die, because that disc actually signaled the end of the group’s original lineup. After eight albums with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, the metal pioneers gave him the boot, replacing him with Ronnie James Dio. … Continue reading Tony Iommi on Heaven and Hell and how Frank Zappa always loved his “Supernaut” riff
The metal legend just proclaimed “We are Motorhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” and launched right into the first of 20 rapid-fire blasts…
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 28, 2005 By Steve Newton My earliest memory of drinkin’ beer goes back to when I was about seven or eight. Don’t panic, I wasn’t wasted. I just recall sampling the warm dregs of my dad’s Black Label stubby while watching an Original Six NHL game on the tube. It was … Continue reading Zakk Wylde says that Dimebag Darrell is keeping the beer on ice up in God’s tavern
So, yeah, I’ve reviewed a few shows over the years. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/ZAKK SABBATH at the Orpheum Theatre, March 17, 2026 BRIT FLOYD at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, July 24, 2025 DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS at the Commodore Ballroom, June 12, 2025 TOQUE at the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, Nov. 24, 2024 SCOTT SMITH AND THE MIDNIGHT RIDERS … Continue reading concert reviews
