That time Pete Yorn told me about getting into Warren Zevon and recording his “Splendid Isolation”

I did my first interview with Pete Yorn back in January of 2007, when he was touring behind his third studio album, Nightcrawler.

That time Zakk Wylde told me that Dimebag was keeping the beer on ice up in God’s tavern–but the Crown Royal might already be gone

I did my third interview with Zakk Wylde when his band Black Label Society was touring behind its sixth studio album, Mafia.a

That time I asked James Hetfield if anger was the motivating force for Metallica’s St. Anger

I did my second interview with James Hetfield on March 11, 2004, when Metallica was touring behind its much-maligned St. Anger album.

10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990

By Steve Newton Steve Vai is one of those guitarists where you watch him play and you’re like: “How the hell does he do that!?” This is the first interview I did with him, when he was only 29, touring with Whitesnake, and had just released his solo album Passion and Warfare. During the first … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with 29-year-old Steve Vai in 1990

That time Kim Mitchell told me that, the first time he heard Triumph and Rush live, they sucked

Back in August of 1989 I did my third interview with Kim Mitchell, who was touring behind his third solo album, Rockland.

Blue Rodeo tours behind new Diamond Mine LP and blows the crowd away in Vancouver

Toronto’s Blue Rodeo has often been called one of Canada’s best groups. But after seeing the band on the weekend, I’m not so sure.

Victoria’s Jets Overhead soar with help from studio aces Neil Osborne and Warne Livesey

The guitar-driven music on Bridges is reminiscent of 54-40, although overall it’s more in the darkly melodic Death Cab for Cutie vein.

Xavier Rudd says that his two worlds are Canada and Australia

Rudd holds both Australian and Canadian citizenship, and one need only scan the artwork on his new CD for an illustration of that dual status.

Ten minutes on the phone with Joey Molland of Badfinger (R.I.P.)

Just heard the sad news, that Joey Molland of Badfinger–one of the greatest power-pop bands of all time–passed away today at the age of 77.

That time Dave Alvin told me what it was like being in the Pleasure Barons with Country Dick Montana and Mojo Nixon

By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed American singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Alvin, a founding member of the Blasters, four times over the years, ’cause he’s just plain great. This is the first time, back in November of 1991, when he was touring behind his second solo album, Blue Blvd. At one point in the conversation I … Continue reading That time Dave Alvin told me what it was like being in the Pleasure Barons with Country Dick Montana and Mojo Nixon

That time Jon Bon Jovi told me that his band’s new Slippery When Wet album was just meant to be a fun summertime album

By Steve Newton I did the third of my three interviews with Jon Bon Jovi in June of 1987, when his band was touring behind its massively successful third album, Slippery When Wet, which went on to sell over 12-million copies in the U.S. alone. A year earlier the group had barely caused a stir … Continue reading That time Jon Bon Jovi told me that his band’s new Slippery When Wet album was just meant to be a fun summertime album

Joss Stone says that she wants to open doors with soul and spread the music far and wide

When I hook up with 25-year-old millionaire soul-pop superstar Joss Stone she’s on her cell phone at a café in Brussels, Belgium.

George Thorogood says that the guitar just made all the sense in the world to him–and he dug it

“Guitar was the easiest thing, because you can travel with it, you can play on the street corner with it, and you can do auditions with it…”