Search Results for: ramones

That time ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes told me about being fired from Whitesnake by David Coverdale

Sykes (right) and Coverdale in happier times By Steve Newton Back in May of 1989 I interviewed English guitar hero John Sykes, who you may know for his fiery fretwork on the final Thin Lizzy album, Thunder and Lightning. Two years before we did that interview Whitesnake had released its self-titled album, the one that … Continue reading That time ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes told me about being fired from Whitesnake by David Coverdale

That time Wang Chung’s Nick Feldman told me about recording the soundtrack for William Friedkin’s latest film, To Live and Die in L.A.

By Steve Newton I interviewed Nick Feldman of Wang Chung in March of 1987, the day after the British pop band played the 86 Street Music Hall in Vancouver. I mainly wanted to chat with him because I loved the soundtrack Wang Chung did for the 1985 William Friedkin thriller, To Live and Die in … Continue reading That time Wang Chung’s Nick Feldman told me about recording the soundtrack for William Friedkin’s latest film, To Live and Die in L.A.

That time Martha Davis told me that the Motels lost 60 grand a week on their last tour

By Steve Newton I wasn’t a huge fan of new-wave music in the mid-’80s–I was too busy banging my head to Maiden and Priest and Scorps and such–but for some reason in November of 1985 I sat down with Martha Davis for an interview that was never actually published. She was promoting the Motels’ fifth … Continue reading That time Martha Davis told me that the Motels lost 60 grand a week on their last tour

That time back in ’85 when I asked Brian Vollmer if Helix were hometown heroes in Kitchener

By Steve Newton Way back in November of 1985 I interviewed Helix frontman Brian Vollmer. This was right after the band had released its fifth album, Long Way to Heaven, and were quite popular on the Canadian heavy-metal scene. Anybody remember 1983’s “Heavy Metal Love”? At one point in the conversation I asked Vollmer if … Continue reading That time back in ’85 when I asked Brian Vollmer if Helix were hometown heroes in Kitchener

That time I asked 30-year-old Brother Cane frontman Damon Johnson if, being from Alabama, he was a Skynyrd fan

DJ & Eddie VH By Steve Newton Brother Cane singer-guitarist Damon Johnson called me up from Chicago back on April 26, 1995, five days after his band had opened for Van Halen at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. The group would play another 20 or so gigs with Eddie and the boys that year, … Continue reading That time I asked 30-year-old Brother Cane frontman Damon Johnson if, being from Alabama, he was a Skynyrd fan

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 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

That time I asked Richard Marx if he was hoping to sell nine million copies of his followup to Repeat Offender

By Steve Newton When I interviewed Richard Marx back in November of 1991 he was one of the most popular singer-songwriters around. His self-titled 1987 debut album had sold three million copies, and his 1989 followup, Repeat Offender–the one with “Right Here Waiting”–had moved six million copies. So, doing the math, I asked him if … Continue reading That time I asked Richard Marx if he was hoping to sell nine million copies of his followup to Repeat Offender

That time Corby Lund of the smalls told me how things got hairy in the Balkans with the Bosnian police

By Steve Newton I interviewed Corby Lund of the smalls for the first time in 2000, the year before that Edmonton rock quartet broke up and he became Corb Lund, popular Canadian country artist. The band was touring behind its fourth and final album, My Dear Little Angle, and had recently returned from a rather … Continue reading That time Corby Lund of the smalls told me how things got hairy in the Balkans with the Bosnian police

That time blues legend John Mayall told me why he handles his own gear and never uses roadies

By Steve Newton I did the second of my three interviews with British blues great John Mayall back in May of 1990, when he was heading to Vancouver for a show with his band the Bluesbreakers. He was touring to promote his latest album, A Sense of Place, which featured slide-guitar ace Sonny Landreth on … Continue reading That time blues legend John Mayall told me why he handles his own gear and never uses roadies

That time back in 1985 when Roger Glover told me about the reunited Deep Purple’s first jam session

By Steve Newton I did my second interview with Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover back in March of 1985, when the band’s Mark II lineup–composed of him, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, singer Ian Gillan, keyboardist Jon Lord, and drummer Ian Paice–had reunited to record the Perfect Strangers album and embark on a sold-out world tour. At … Continue reading That time back in 1985 when Roger Glover told me about the reunited Deep Purple’s first jam session

That time Chaka Khan sang me a bit of Emily King’s “Georgia” because she couldn’t remember her name

By Steve Newton I interviewed legendary soul-funk vocalist Chaka Khan last year before she played the PNE in Vancouver, on a double bill with Patti LaBelle. As the conversation wound down I asked Chaka what she’d been listening to in her spare time lately, a question she seemed to have some trouble with. At first … Continue reading That time Chaka Khan sang me a bit of Emily King’s “Georgia” because she couldn’t remember her name

That time I asked 24-year-old Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof what he thought of mainstream metal

By Steve Newton Way back in July of 1985 I interviewed Metal Church rhythm guitarist and main songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof. At the time the Seattle-based band was touring behind its self-titled debut album, and taking part in a two-night show at Vancouver’s New York Theatre called Metal Massacre. That gig also featured fellow up-and-coming heavy-metal … Continue reading That time I asked 24-year-old Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof what he thought of mainstream metal

Metallica announces new album to be released on my birthday, but won’t play Vancouver on world tour

By Steve Newton Metallica, arguably the world’s greatest-ever heavy-metal band, has announced that it will release its next album on my birthday. The Bay Area headbangers will unleash their 12th studio album, 72 Seasons, on April 14, 2023. “72 seasons,” says Metallica singer-guitarist James Hetfield in a press release. “The first 18 years of our … Continue reading Metallica announces new album to be released on my birthday, but won’t play Vancouver on world tour