That time I asked Lemmy what he liked to do in his spare time when he wasn’t touring with Mötorhead or making albums

By Steve Newton That Lemmy: what a character. I got to interview the metal legend a couple of times before he left us in 2015 for that Great Gig in the Sky, the first time being in the previous century–back in April of 1999. That was just a month after the release of Mötorhead’s sixth … Continue reading That time I asked Lemmy what he liked to do in his spare time when he wasn’t touring with Mötorhead or making albums

That time I asked Warren Haynes if he was daunted by the prospect of taking over Duane Allman’s spot opposite Dickey Betts

By Steve Newton The first time I ever saw Warren Haynes perform live was back in 1989, when he was a member of the Dickey Betts Band. The group played Vancouver’s 86 Street Music Hall, touring behind its debut album Pattern Disruptive, and holy crap was Haynes a killer on the slide guitar. Five years … Continue reading That time I asked Warren Haynes if he was daunted by the prospect of taking over Duane Allman’s spot opposite Dickey Betts

That time Mark Hollis of Talk Talk told me all about the video-within-a-video called It’s My Life

By Steve Newton You may have heard the sad news making the rounds in the music press today regarding Mark Hollis. The singer-songwriter of Talk Talk, one of the most adventurous and under-rated of ’80s pop acts, has died at the age of 64. Now, those who’ve read my stuff over the last 37 years … Continue reading That time Mark Hollis of Talk Talk told me all about the video-within-a-video called It’s My Life

Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 11, 1990 By Steve Newton Has AC/DC ever put out a bad record? I doubt it. But their efforts haven’t all been great, either. The band’s latest, the Vancouver-made (and grammatically incorrect) The Razors Edge falls somewhere between the band’s strongest (Powerage, Back in Black) and weakest (Flick of the … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)

That time Warren Haynes told me about playing with Dickey Betts and becoming an Allman Brother

By Steve Newton One of my favourite things about being a rock writer is getting to chat with musicians like Warren Haynes. He’s one helluva singer and songwriter, in my book, and of course his guitar playing just freakin’ rules. I’ve been lucky enough to have interviewed Haynes six times so far, the first being … Continue reading That time Warren Haynes told me about playing with Dickey Betts and becoming an Allman Brother

Black Sabbath’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Sabbath Bloody Sabbath rules. 20. “Junior’s Eyes” (Never Say Die, 1978) 19. “A National Acrobat” (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973) 18. “Into the Void” (Master of Reality, 1971) 17. “Wishing Well” (Heaven and Hell, 1980) 16. “War Pigs” (Paranoid, 1970) 15. “Sabbra Cadabra” (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973) 14. “Dirty Women” (Technical Ecstasy, 1976) 13. … Continue reading Black Sabbath’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Album review: Johnny Crash, Neighbourhood Threat (1990)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 19, 1990 By Steve Newton Just last month the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band (or one of ’em, anyway) was locked away in Vancouver’s Little Mountain Sound with producer Bruce Fairbairn, putting the finishing touches on its next album. No, I’m not talking about the Stones here. … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Crash, Neighbourhood Threat (1990)

That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi if she had a favourite tune on Just Won’t Burn

By Steve Newton I love listening to Susan Tedeschi sing and play guitar. I mean, who doesn’t? I love interviewing her too, because she’s not just a wicked musician, but a total sweetie as well. The first time I chatted with her was back in 1998, when she was just 28, and touring behind her … Continue reading That time I asked 28-year-old Susan Tedeschi if she had a favourite tune on Just Won’t Burn

Van Halen’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton Guess I’m just more of a Dave guy. 20. “Runaround” (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991) 19. “Drop Dead Legs” (1984, 1984) 18. “You Really Got Me” (Van Halen, 1978) 17. “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Diver Down, 1982) 16. “Running With the Devil” (Van Halen, 1978) 15. “Dreams” (5150, 1986) 14. “Everybody Wants Some!!” … Continue reading Van Halen’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

By Steve Newton I guess you could say I like the first album the best. Let the Newt-bashing begin! 20. “O.D.’d on Life Itself” (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 19. “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” (Fire of Unknown Origin, 1981) 18. “Teen Archer” (Tyranny and Mutation, 1973) 17. “Before the Kiss, a Redcap” (Blue Öyster Cult, 1972) … Continue reading Blue Öyster Cult’s 20 best songs, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

That time I called Susan Tedeschi to talk about Just Won’t Burn and her mom said she was in the tub

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Susan Tedeschi in November of 1998, just eight months before she met husband-to-be Derek Trucks while opening for the Allman Brothers and they started the relationship that would result in two beautiful kids and the formation of the equally stunning Tedeschi Trucks Band. At the time … Continue reading That time I called Susan Tedeschi to talk about Just Won’t Burn and her mom said she was in the tub

That time I asked Dickey Betts what Allman Brothers tunes he was playing with his own band

By Steve Newton Back in 2001 I did my fourth interview with Dickey Betts, one of my fave pickers ever. At the time he was touring with the Dickey Betts Band, which had recently released its Let’s Get Together album, the one where Dickey wore an Allen Woody t-shirt for the cover photo. At one … Continue reading That time I asked Dickey Betts what Allman Brothers tunes he was playing with his own band

Pseudo Echo rock and rolls all night and turns Vancouver into Funkytown

chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton Like most Aussie rock ‘n’ roll bands, Pseudo Echo shuns the fancy costume/big hairdo approach on which many British and American acts rely. Like their countrymen AC/DC, Angel City, and Midnight Oil, Pseudo Echo lets its own particular brand of music do the talkin’–and leaves the … Continue reading Pseudo Echo rock and rolls all night and turns Vancouver into Funkytown