Search Results for: the cult

That time Carlos Santana told me pot should be legal and “it’s all fun once you get past the fear”

By Steve Newton Carlos Santana is one of the most amazing guitar players of all time. Everybody knows that. But he’s also got it goin’ on in the humanity department. He knows what’s important in life, it seems. I interviewed Santana in 2011, and at one point in the conversation I asked him if he … Continue reading That time Carlos Santana told me pot should be legal and “it’s all fun once you get past the fear”

Dickey Betts on the “disco shit” of the ’80s and the nauseating music the Allmans made for Clive Davis

By Steve Newton Hey, as you may be aware, I never tire of posting little audio snippets from my four interviews with guitar legend Dickey Betts. Here’s one from 2001 where Dickey, always honest and to the point, explains how the Allman Brothers broke up in the early ’80s to let disco run its course–but … Continue reading Dickey Betts on the “disco shit” of the ’80s and the nauseating music the Allmans made for Clive Davis

That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”

By Steve Newton Back in February of 1984, 10 months before a drunk-driving Vince Neil killed Hanoi Rocks drummer Razzle, I interviewed that band’s lead guitarist/main songwriter Andy McCoy and bassist Sami Yaffa. They were both pretty wasted, and shouldn’t have been doing interviews, but at one point in the conversation McCoy proved he was … Continue reading That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me the opening lines of Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”

Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?

bob geldof photo By Steve Newton Rory Gallagher is quite likely the most underrated rock-guitar player of all time. Even though his instrumental prowess has been constantly raved about by such longtime fans as Slash, Brian May, and The Edge, a lot of music fans have never even heard him. Perhaps most shocking is the … Continue reading Rory Gallagher’s fierce talent exposed by unearthed live tracks, but will the Rock Hall even notice?

That time Steve Morse told me that he transforms into a different kind of person at night

By Steve Newton I did my first interview with Steve Morse in May of 1991, just after he’d released his fourth post-Dixie Dregs album, Southern Steel, and just three years before he’d join his current band, Deep Purple. At one point in the conversation I brought up Steve’s claim that he didn’t “live, breathe, and … Continue reading That time Steve Morse told me that he transforms into a different kind of person at night

That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place

By Steve Newton Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of my fave bands in the seventies, but I never got to see them live with Ronnie, to my infinite regret. I did get to see them for the first time in Vancouver back in ’97 on the Legends Tour, and that was cool because the lineup at … Continue reading That time I asked Rickey Medlocke about rejoining Lynyrd Skynyrd–and why he’d left in the first place

That time Dickey Betts told me to quit being so “reclusive” and come meet him after the show

kirk west photo By Steve Newton I did my fourth interview with Dickey Betts back in 2001, after he’d been kicked out of the Allman Brothers and was touring with his own band, promoting the Let’s Get Together album. As our “phoner” wound down, he invited me to come back and meet him after the … Continue reading That time Dickey Betts told me to quit being so “reclusive” and come meet him after the show

Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Two nights after Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler sailed through town, on September 30, a couple more British rock greats visited. While not as widely known, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson have a following that is just as devoted, and they gave a … Continue reading Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver

Braindead twats at the Rock Hall nominate Whitney Houston, spurn Rory, Link, and Johnny

By Steve Newton I’ve been lobbying for years to get the three most deserving rockers I can think of–Rory Gallagher, Link Wray, and Johnny Winter–inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I keep hoping that one day Jann Wenner and his braindead RRHOF cohorts will pull their heads out of their asses long … Continue reading Braindead twats at the Rock Hall nominate Whitney Houston, spurn Rory, Link, and Johnny

That time 20-year-old Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach sang me a line from his Schooner beer commercial

By Steve Newton Way the hell back in 1989 I did an interview with Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach. That was less than a month after the release of the band’s self-titled debut album, which would go on to sell five-million copies and spawn the hits “Youth Gone Wild”, “18 and Life”, and “I Remember You”. … Continue reading That time 20-year-old Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach sang me a line from his Schooner beer commercial

The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s

By Steve Newton Remember when the last track on an album would finish and you’d wish the music would just never end? Me too. “All Right Now” (Fire and Water, Free, 1970) “American Girl” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976) “Another Star” (Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, … Continue reading The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s

The Georgia Satellites are my favourite bar band in 1988

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 1988 By Steve Newton There’s nothing quite like your favourite bar band in your favourite bar to bring a tired body back to life. After a long haul to Seattle last week to check out the Monsters of Rock show at the Kingdome, I was pretty tired, but it didn’t … Continue reading The Georgia Satellites are my favourite bar band in 1988