By Steve Newton When I interviewed AC/DC's Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson back in 1983 I asked Malcolm if he ever had a hankering to step out and play a lead-guitar solo once in a while. As expected, his response was along the lines of, "Why bother when you've got a guy like Angus around?" … Continue reading That time AC/DC’s Malcolm Young told me that he just “tinkles” on lead guitar: “You can’t outdo Angus”
Tag: 1983
That time back in ’84 when Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi told me: “If I go deaf, I go deaf”
By Steve Newton Sometimes when I interviewed heavy-metal bands in the '80s I'd play the devil's advocate and ask silly questions like "What do you say to people who think you're too loud?". Or if they were really heavy--like Black Sabbath--I'd ask them if they were worried about damaging their hearing with their music. I … Continue reading That time back in ’84 when Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi told me: “If I go deaf, I go deaf”
Rudy Sarzo recalls the buzz of Quiet Riot opening Heavy Metal Day at the US Festival in ’83
By Steve Newton I interviewed hard rock/metal bass god Rudy Sarzo at the Vancouver office of CBS Records back in August of 1983. That was less than three months after Sarzo's band, Quiet Riot, had opened Heavy Metal Day at the US Festival, one of the biggest outdoor concerts in North America. Also on the … Continue reading Rudy Sarzo recalls the buzz of Quiet Riot opening Heavy Metal Day at the US Festival in ’83
Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
By Steve Newton Maybe, like me, you were lucky enough to catch the Stray Cats when they played the Commodore back in '82. Or perhaps you saw them when they were on that bill at GM Place in 2007 with the Pretenders and ZZ Top. But if you're one of those sad sacks who've never seen the Stray … Continue reading Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
Krokus warms up with Tom Allom and finds blood and guts on Headhunter
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 17, 1983 By Steve Newton Swiss rockers Krokus recently released a new album of scorching heavy metal, Headhunter, and they play Vancouver sometime this summer. I spoke to the group's vocalist Marc Storace recently, and gained a few insights into the new LP and the Swiss music scene … Continue reading Krokus warms up with Tom Allom and finds blood and guts on Headhunter
Don’t call Vancouver’s Skywalk jazz or fusion, it’s just “a music band”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 8, 1983 By Steve Newton "When it comes to Skywalk," says the group's drummer and veteran session player Kat Hendrikse, "the word jazz is inappropriate. It's got a lot of jazz influences, but basically it's a modern concept. It's modern music in that it's very composition-oriented as opposed … Continue reading Don’t call Vancouver’s Skywalk jazz or fusion, it’s just “a music band”
Prairie Prince on “She’s a Beauty” and what sets the Tubes apart from the rest of the bands
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 5, 1983 By Steve Newton The Tubes will be opening for Peter Gabriel and David Bowie at this Tuesday's big concert in The Dome. I reached the band's drummer Prairie Prince over the phone in Toronto recently and asked him about their new album, current stage show, and … Continue reading Prairie Prince on “She’s a Beauty” and what sets the Tubes apart from the rest of the bands
Rudy Sarzo on playing with Randy Rhoads, life after Ozzy, and the return of Quiet Riot
Sarzo, far left, with Quiet Riot ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 5, 1983 By Steve Newton Formed in 1975 by Kevin DuBrow and the late Randy Rhoads (who died in a plane crash last year while a member of the Ozzy Osbourne band), Quiet Riot were one of the leading Los Angeles rock bands during the … Continue reading Rudy Sarzo on playing with Randy Rhoads, life after Ozzy, and the return of Quiet Riot
Red Rider releases Neruda, Tom Cochrane rails against “trendy bullshit”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 15, 1983 By Steve Newton Red Rider plays the Commodore Ballroom Tuesday, April 19. I spoke to the group's lead vocalist and songwriter Tom Cochrane over the phone from Toronto last Monday. I understand your group had a bus accident in the Rocky Mountains not long ago. Well we lost … Continue reading Red Rider releases Neruda, Tom Cochrane rails against “trendy bullshit”
Kick Axe feels that if you can make metal work in Vancouver, you can make it work anywhere
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 15, 1983 By Steve Newton "If people can look at a band, "say Kick Axe guitarist Larry Gillstrom, "and see that everybody's coming from the same direction and are together on it, then I think they can relate to it a lot better. At least that's what we noticed … Continue reading Kick Axe feels that if you can make metal work in Vancouver, you can make it work anywhere
Streetheart’s prairie-rock dreams “Comin’ True” on Dancing With Danger
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 18, 1983 By Steve Newton Touring to promote their latest album Dancing with Danger, prairie-rockers Streetheart will headline this Monday's (February 21) triple-threat rock showcase at the Pacific Coliseum. Kilowatt and Vancouver's own Headpins will also perform at the event. Last year Streetheart earned a Canadian platinum award … Continue reading Streetheart’s prairie-rock dreams “Comin’ True” on Dancing With Danger
Iron Maiden’s Clive Burr on Martin Birch, Ruddles, and The Number of the Beast
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 9, 1982 By Steve Newton Iron Maiden is quickly becoming one of Britain's most popular metal bands. Last year the band sold well over a million albums with their second release, Killers, cracking the top ten in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Belgium. Their latest album, The Number of … Continue reading Iron Maiden’s Clive Burr on Martin Birch, Ruddles, and The Number of the Beast
Fastway’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke on his days with Motörhead and not wanting to be a guitar hero
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 8, 1983 By Steve Newton Fastway, the new band put together by former Motörhead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke and featuring original Humble Pie drummer Jerry Shirley, opened last Wednesday's Iron Maiden concert at the Pacific Coliseum. I spoke to "Fast" Eddie that afternoon and caught a few glimpses … Continue reading Fastway’s “Fast” Eddie Clarke on his days with Motörhead and not wanting to be a guitar hero