The Chinese spy balloon gets me thinking about that time I asked Nena if her new “99 Red Balloons” was an anti-war song

By Steve Newton I interviewed one-named German pop singer Nena on the phone from Berlin back in May of 1984. That was one month after her band released its 99 Luftballoons compilation album, which featured both English- and German-language versions of the title track (“99 Red Balloons”), which had been a huge hit in Europe the … Continue reading The Chinese spy balloon gets me thinking about that time I asked Nena if her new “99 Red Balloons” was an anti-war song

That time I asked Geddy Lee if Rush had considered breaking up in 1994

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Rush singer-bassist Geddy Lee back in April of 1997, when the trio was touring behind its Test for Echo album. At one point I brought up the topic of the almost two-year break the band members had taken from each other in 1994, following the release … Continue reading That time I asked Geddy Lee if Rush had considered breaking up in 1994

That time Al Stewart told me that he adored Don Henley’s latest hit, “The Boys of Summer”

By Steve Newton I first got turned on to Scottish-born singer-songwriter Al Stewart when I heard his catchy 1976 hit single “Year of the Cat”, from the LP of the same name. I bought his next album, Time Passages, and I liked that one as well. Then I went back and checked out his earlier, … Continue reading That time Al Stewart told me that he adored Don Henley’s latest hit, “The Boys of Summer”

That time I asked Ed Roland if he was shocked by the massive popularity of Collective Soul’s current hit, “Shine”

By Steve Newton Back in June of 1994 Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland called me up from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At the time his band was touring behind its debut album, Hints Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, which opened with the riff-driven, five-minute guitar opus “Shine”. That song would claim the top spot on the … Continue reading That time I asked Ed Roland if he was shocked by the massive popularity of Collective Soul’s current hit, “Shine”

That time I asked Ronnie James Dio which singers he admired the most and he said Mike Reno had a lot of control and “great pipes”

By Steve Newton Back in December of 1985 I interviewed Ronnie James Dio when he was in the midst of his Sacred Heart Tour and headed to Vancouver for a show at the Pacific Coliseum–with Yngwie Malmsteen opening up! At one point in the conversation I asked Dio which singers he admired the most, but … Continue reading That time I asked Ronnie James Dio which singers he admired the most and he said Mike Reno had a lot of control and “great pipes”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally pulls its heads out of its ass long enough to nominate Warren Zevon

By Steve Newton If you’ve been visiting this blog much in the past few years you may have noticed how often I go out of my way to call out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Heck, I even created a special section just for slagging it. The three artists whose continuing absence from … Continue reading The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally pulls its heads out of its ass long enough to nominate Warren Zevon

That time Canadian rock-guitar wizard Dave Martone got choked up talking about Eddie Van Halen

By Steve Newton Vancouver-based guitarist Dave Martone knows wicked guitar players. As well as having collaborated and toured with his good friend Joe Satriani over the years, Martone has managed to work with such acclaimed six-string slingers as Yngwie Malmsteen, Jennifer Batten, Tosin Abasi, Greg Howe, Paul Gilbert, and Marty Friedman. But when I interviewed Martone in November … Continue reading That time Canadian rock-guitar wizard Dave Martone got choked up talking about Eddie Van Halen

That time Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson told me that he never had the desire to make a solo album

By Steve Newton Back in January of 1992 I interviewed Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson while his band was touring behind its Roll the Bones album. At one point in the conversation I asked Lifeson if he ever had the desire to make a solo album, and he claimed that he didn’t. Guess he changed his … Continue reading That time Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson told me that he never had the desire to make a solo album

That time Mason Ruffner told me about the “special thanks” to Jimmy Page on his new Gypsy Blood album

Ruffner and Page try each other’s guitars By Steve Newton I interviewed Strat-playing Texas blues-rocker Mason Ruffner back in July of 1987. At the time he was touring in support of his second album, the Dave Edmunds-produced Gypsy Blood. His music was along the same lines as his Epic Records labelmate Stevie Ray Vaughan, so I … Continue reading That time Mason Ruffner told me about the “special thanks” to Jimmy Page on his new Gypsy Blood album

Ear of Newt and The Tapes Archive present Ronnie James Dio: The Sacred Heart Interview, 1985

By Steve Newton A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog telling of a new partnership between me, the Newt in Ear of Newt, and The Tapes Archive, a U.S.-based podcast that focuses on releasing previously unpublished interviews with rock legends. That blog included a link to a YouTube video The Tapes Archive’s Alan … Continue reading Ear of Newt and The Tapes Archive present Ronnie James Dio: The Sacred Heart Interview, 1985

That time Voivod’s Denis “Snake” Bélanger told me he’d rather sing about extraterrestrials than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll

By Steve Newton Back in August of 1993 I interviewed Voivod vocalist Denis “Snake” Bélanger. At the time his quartet from Quebec was en route to a show at a Vancouver bar called the Town Pump, touring behind its new album, The Outer Limits. I wasn’t that familiar with Voivod, but I quite enjoyed that … Continue reading That time Voivod’s Denis “Snake” Bélanger told me he’d rather sing about extraterrestrials than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll

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 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

Ivan Doroschuk says that Men Without Hats are trying to prove that a synth band can kick ass

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 1984 By Steve Newton In support of their new LP, Folk of the ’80s (Part III), Men Without Hats will be performing at the UBC War Memorial Gym tonight (Friday, August 24). Best known for encouraging people to dance (“The Safety Dance”), the group–composed of brothers Ivan, Colin, and Stefan … Continue reading Ivan Doroschuk says that Men Without Hats are trying to prove that a synth band can kick ass