mila geran photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1985 By Steve Newton "Here's one from 1967," said Eric Clapton at the Coliseum last Saturday (July 27). "I hope you recognize it." Then he launched into "White Room", a hit from his days with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in the power trio Cream. And obviously … Continue reading Eric Clapton ends his 1985 North American tour in Vancouver, Duck Dunn proclaims “GODDAMN!”
Tag: 1985
Rush powns health issues to kick royal ass in Vancouver on R40 Tour
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 18, 2015 By Steve Newton For 40 years now the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart has been traversing the world, taking their patented brand of challenging prog-rock to the masses, proving to all and sundry that Canada is more than just hockey, beer, and maple syrup. And … Continue reading Rush powns health issues to kick royal ass in Vancouver on R40 Tour
Fu Manchu founder Scott Hill just likes big, loud, heavy stuff
By Steve Newton When you check out the song titles on its latest CD, Gigantoid, it’s clear that Fu Manchu still has a hankering for sci-fi–oriented tuneage. The band that once proudly named a song after the flaky Farrah Fawcett flick Saturn 3—which Roger Ebert dubbed “awesomely stupid and totally implausible”—still churns out rockin’ ditties like “Dimension … Continue reading Fu Manchu founder Scott Hill just likes big, loud, heavy stuff
David Gilmour’s guitar solos embolden Supertramp after loss of Roger Hodgson
By Steve Newton On June 28, 1985, my interview with Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg was published. That's no big whoop in the grand scheme of things, but at the time the band has just released its first album without original member Roger Hodgson, Brother Where You Bound, so there was interest in how it would … Continue reading David Gilmour’s guitar solos embolden Supertramp after loss of Roger Hodgson
Dave Alvin’s “dead” brother Phil returns for another rootsy splash in the river of life
By Steve Newton Three years ago, American roots-rock great Dave Alvin had the fright of his life. His older brother Phil—with whom he’d shared many a van, hotel room, and stage over the years in the Blasters—damn near passed away while on tour in Spain. In fact, he was technically toast. “He couldn’t breathe on-stage,” … Continue reading Dave Alvin’s “dead” brother Phil returns for another rootsy splash in the river of life
Frankie Goes to Hollywood shatters windows and preconceptions on the Welcome to the Pleasuredome Tour
Frankie said BANG! three times last Saturday, and with a trio of heart-stopping explosions blew out 61 windows of the War Memorial Gym.
Hal Lindes on joining Dire Straits, performing for royalty, and not writing like Mark Knopfler
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 6, 1984 By Steve Newton Stepping out of nowhere into one of the world's most popular and critically acclaimed bands would be a momentous move for any rock musician--and probably a scary one as well. Especially if the member you were hoping to replace was the band leader's younger brother! But … Continue reading Hal Lindes on joining Dire Straits, performing for royalty, and not writing like Mark Knopfler
UZEB may be “the Van Halen of jazz”, but they sure don’t get paid the same
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 7, 1985 By Steve Newton Last year's Vancouver appearance by Quebec jazz/fusion quartet UZEB was one of my picks for the Top Ten concerts of 1984--right up there with Scorpions and R.E.M. Now the group is returning to the Commodore Ballroom for two nights, next Friday and Saturday (June 14 and … Continue reading UZEB may be “the Van Halen of jazz”, but they sure don’t get paid the same
Robert Plant kicks off his 1985 World Tour with a ’50s-style sock hop in Vancouver
He pranced and tippy-toed across a sloping, wood-grained stage that was impressively bare of the usual concert accoutrements.
NRBQ tars and feathers a Cabbage Patch Kid just for kicks in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 14, 1985 By Steve Newton "Are you having a good time?" asked Terry Adams. And the capacity crowd at Club Soda--who obviously were--answered with a resounding 'Yes!". "Yes what?!" countered bassist Joey Spampinato. And that's the way it was last Thursday--with the New Rhythm & Blues Quartet (NRBQ) making fun of … Continue reading NRBQ tars and feathers a Cabbage Patch Kid just for kicks in Vancouver
NRBQ likes to go by the way it feels at the time
NRBQ stands for the New Rhythm & Blues Quartet, but NRBQ isn't a rhythm and blues band. A bit misleading, wouldn't you say?
Horrific sound at Kerrisdale Arena makes Vancouver a town called malice for the Jam
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 11, 1982 By Steve Newton It looked like a scene from the Who film Quadrophenia outside the Kerrisdale Arena last Saturday night (June 5). Guys in trenchcoats and military-style jackets stood around with girls wearing button-clad and Union Jack-emblazoned overcoats. Inside the Jam, hailed as "England's #1 rock and roll band" … Continue reading Horrific sound at Kerrisdale Arena makes Vancouver a town called malice for the Jam
Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.
On May 11, 1985, Eddie Murphy played the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. This was exactly 12 days before he released "Party All the Time", which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is clearly one of the worst songs ever recorded. What bugs me most about this video--besides the music--is the shirt-button-challenged "rock" … Continue reading Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.