kevin statham photo By Steve Newton I interviewed Devin Townsend for the second time in September of 1993, shortly after he’d hooked up with Steve Vai and they’d recorded Vai’s Sex & Religion album. Townsend–who has since gone on to become one of the most acclaimed and prolific metal musicians in the world–was 21 at … Continue reading That time 21-year-old Devin Townsend raved to me about his new band, Noisescapes
By Steve Newton I did the second of my five interviews with Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy back in March of 1993. At the time Buddy was promoting his new album Feels Like Rain, so I called him up at a tour stop in Buffalo, New York. After clarifying that we were both definitely doin’ … Continue reading That time Buddy Guy told me how thrilled he was to finally record with B.B. King
By Steve Newton Woke up today to find that German guitarist, session musician, composer, and teacher Frank Steffen Mueller had shared a link to my Facebook group, Newt’s Flaming Colossal Rockatorium. The link is for a YouTube video Mueller just posted of himself playing a ’69 Les Paul goldtop, performing an original song in the … Continue reading Frank Steffen Mueller releases original instrumental for Irish guitar legend Gary Moore
By Steve Newton I haven’t interviewed that many drummers over the years, mainly because when I cover a band I shoot for the guitarist, since that’s the instrument I’m most drawn to. But after interviewing Alex Van Halen on August 6, 1995, in advance of a Van Hagar show on the Balance tour, I should … Continue reading Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 18, 1984 By Steve Newton “I always liked the Yardbirds when I was a kid,” says metal guitar-hero Gary Moore. “I was always into Jeff Beck and everything. And apart from the fact that I like the song and the guitar, the lyrics appealed to me as well because they fitted … Continue reading Gary Moore talks covering the Yardbirds and scoring with metal while opening for Rush
bev davies photo By Steve Newton Way back in January of 1984 I did my first interview with B.B. King. He was playing a string of shows at the Plazazz! Showroom in North Vancouver, so I drove my ’66 Dodge Polara on over the Lions Gate Bridge to visit the blues great in his room … Continue reading That time I asked B.B. King why he chose guitar as his instrument
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 26, 1986 By Steve Newton When Canadian power trio Triumph plays the Pacific Coliseum this Sunday (December 28), its long-time fans will be in for a bit of a surprise. For the first time in its 12-year career, the group will be sporting a fourth member, Toronto guitarist Rick Santers. Santers, … Continue reading Rick Santers makes power trio Triumph a power quartet on The Sport of Kings Tour
By Steve Newton Back in November of 1983 I did the first of my two interviews with pioneering British guitarist Allan Holdsworth. At the time he was based in L.A., and about to bring his band, I.O.U., up to Vancouver for two shows at a small venue called the Soft Rock Cafe. As the interview … Continue reading That time I asked Allan Holdsworth what he’d like the future to hold for him
By Steve Newton Back in September of 1993 I did my second interview with Canadian rocker Devin Townsend, who has since gone on to become one of the most prolific and admired metal musicians in the world. He’s been called a musical genius, and deservedly so. But back in ’93, when he was 21, Townsend … Continue reading That time Devin Townsend told me that he thought the guitar was a stupid instrument
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 5, 1994 By Steve Newton Sometimes I wonder if guitarists join Guns N’ Roses just so they can get in the position to release their own solo recordings of punk-inspired garage-rock and blues-based boogie. (I doubt if they do it so they can bask in the positive vibes … Continue reading Album review: Gilby Clarke, Pawnshop Guitars (1994)
By Steve Newton I’ve interviewed Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford four times, and he’s always been a very amicable, well-spoken chap. The second time was back in October of 1990, one month after the release of Priest’s Painkiller album. At one point in the conversation I asked Halford what his personal favourite tune was on … Continue reading That time I asked Rob Halford what his personal fave tune was on the new Judas Priest album Painkiller
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Like a hearty handshake from a rarely seen high-school buddy, every new Allman Brothers release is a hazy reminder of my teenage glory days, when the purchase of a southern-rock LP such as the Allmans’ Eat A Peach made everything right in my small-town world. Nowadays … Continue reading Album review: the Allman Brothers Band, Where It All Begins (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 15, 1994 By Steve Newton Talk about cutting out the fat. John Mellencamp just keeps making his instrumentation leaner as the years go by; now he’s gotten to the point where he’ll pass up bass and go with drums and guitars only, and the effect–on bare-bones tunes like “Brothers” and “Too … Continue reading Album review: John Mellencamp, Dance Naked (1994)
