kevin statham photo By Steve Newton I can barely believe the shocking and terrible news. I just heard that Jeff Beck died yesterday after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. That is surely one of the most profound losses the music world has ever suffered. Jeff Beck’s guitar playing spoke to me more than any other player. … Continue reading Jeff Beck, the world’s greatest rock guitarist, dead at 78
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
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 28, 1989 By Steve Newton I didn’t get it as first. When Alfie from Penta Records told me to call the Four Seasons Hotel and ask for Stanley Tools, the joke name went right past me. And I also couldn’t figure out why Jeff Golub–solo artist and current Rod Stewart guitarist–needed … Continue reading Jeff Golub follows in the footsteps of Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood playing guitar with Rod Stewart
By Steve Newton Over the past 40 years or so I’ve seen hella concerts in the Vancouver area, either at clubs, soft-seat theatres, arenas, or stadiums. But I’ve also enjoyed the odd memorable gig outside Metro Vancouver. Back in the mid-’80s I was fortunate enough to see both Midnight Oil and Angel City play club … Continue reading That time I told Jeff Beck that the first time I ever saw him was with Aerosmith on the Rocks Tour in ’76
By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Joe Satriani eight times because, hey, he’s Joe Satriani, and I freakin’ love what he does with a guitar. Here’s 10 minutes of my first interview with Satch, which took place just nine weeks after the release of his Flying in a Blue Dream album. He called me up from … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Joe Satriani in 1990
By Steve Newton Ever since hearing the sad and shocking news of Jeff Beck‘s death last Tuesday (January 10) I’ve been thinking of how huge a loss his passing was. By all accounts he was an incredibly fine person, above and beyond being the greatest rock guitarist who ever lived. I’ve been recalling some of … Continue reading That time Long John Baldry told me that Jeff Beck’s wife wouldn’t let him join Baldry’s band back in ’64
By Steve Newton Today marks the anniversary of the passing of hard-rock drummer Cozy Powell, who slammed the skins for the likes of Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow before perishing in a high-speed wipeout at the age of 50. Powell–who had a fascination with fast cars and motorbikes–died on April 5 of 1998 … Continue reading Remembering Cozy Powell, one of the greatest hard-rock drummers of all time
Sunny War plays the Fox By Steve Newton Blues Hoodoo: jazz-funk quintet composed of guitarist Konrad Breuers, saxophonist Ian Putz, keyboardist Stuart “Stubop” Young, bassist Shawn Stewart, and drummer Ron Wells performs original tunes and covers of Chick Corea, Jeff Beck, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, and the Brecker Brothers. January 12 at Frankie’s Jazz. Johnny … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in January
Johnny A plays Blue Frog Studios By Steve Newton MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos is featured in the career retrospective Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, running until March of 2024 at the Vancouver Art Gallery. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were selected … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, January 8 to 12
Brass Camel plays the WISE Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver punk-rockers the Black Halos play the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests the Spitfires and Alien Boys. Billy Hopeless in da house! FRIDAY: Vancouver rockabilly trio Cousin Harley, featuring guitar wizard Paul Pigat, plays White Rock’s Blue Frog Studios. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Grammy-winning violinist … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 13-15
By Steve Newton Oh man, was 1975 ever a great year for rock. Maybe the greatest. Of course, it helped if you turned 18 in ’75. I mean, just to name a few, the LPs released that year included Led Zeppelin‘s Physical Graffiti, Thin Lizzy‘s Fighting, Queen‘s A Night at the Opera, Aerosmith‘s Toys in … Continue reading Gordon Lightfoot’s Gord’s Gold was the only folk album I ever bought as a teen
The Black Crowes play the Queen E. By Steve Newton MONDAY: screening at the Rio Theatre of South Korean director Jae-hyun Jang‘s folkloric, occult thriller Exhuma, the highest grossing Korean film of 2024, so far. MONDAY TO FRIDAY: True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices explores 30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing from around the … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, April 15 to 19
Alex Weimann performs at West Van United Church By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Boston guitarist Johnny A, former touring member of the Yardbirds, performs instrumental rock, jazz, and blues at Blue Frog Studios. FRIDAY: jazz-funk quintet Blues Hoodoo –composed of guitarist Konrad Breuers, saxophonist Ian Putz, keyboardist Stuart “Stubop” Young, bassist Shawn Stewart, and drummer Ron Wells–performs … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, January 12 to 14
