ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 4, 1987 By Steve Newton The raunchy guitar sounds of the '70s were all the rage at the Commodore last weekend (November 27 and 28), with British boogiemeisters Foghat headlining over Florida-based southern rockers the Outlaws. But it was the triple-guitar attack of the openers that was the real highlight both nights. I'd … Continue reading The Outlaws’ triple-guitar attack outshines Foghat’s boogie-blues in Vancouver
Tag: 1987
Steve Earle takes Exit O back to Vancouver and delivers another hell-raisin’ good time
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 27, 1987 By Steve Newton Whenever Steve Earle hits town, you're pretty well guaranteed a hellraisin' good time. It happened at his Vancouver debut last May at the 86 Street Music Hall, and then again last Thursday (November 19) when he and his rip-snortin' band the Dukes returned to the Expo … Continue reading Steve Earle takes Exit O back to Vancouver and delivers another hell-raisin’ good time
Hellraiser shows rising horror star Clive Barker should, like Stephen King, stick to writing
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton Some guys just don't know when to leave well enough alone. Stephen King just wasn't satisfied with the work that other directors did with his stories. He had to write and direct last year's Maximum Overdrive. It was one bad movie, and not even a nifty … Continue reading Hellraiser shows rising horror star Clive Barker should, like Stephen King, stick to writing
Drummer Steve Smith gave up Journey’s arena rock to gain Vital Information
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 27, 1987 By Steve Newton It's a long way, in musical terms, from the commercial rock of Journey to the improvisational jazz of Vital Information. But for drummer Steve Smith, who appears at the Town Pump Friday (March 27) with Vital Information, it was a route that had … Continue reading Drummer Steve Smith gave up Journey’s arena rock to gain Vital Information
Nick Feldman on how Wang Chung gave To Live and Die in L.A. a deeper dimension
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 13, 1987 By Steve Newton Why would a British commercial pop outfit name themselves Wang Chung? Beats me. Maybe because Duran Duran was already taken. Or it might have something to d0 with the Chinese musical term huang chung, which means perfect pitch. "It means lots of different things," laughs Nick … Continue reading Nick Feldman on how Wang Chung gave To Live and Die in L.A. a deeper dimension
David Bowie’s Glass Spider tour helps Frampton come alive again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 21, 1987 By Steve Newton Old rockers never die, they just play guitar for David Bowie. At least, that's what Peter Frampton was doing at B.C. Place last Saturday. But Frampton and Bowie actually go back a long way--all the way back to the art school they used … Continue reading David Bowie’s Glass Spider tour helps Frampton come alive again
Johnny Winter’s lightning-fast licks prove that he’s still alive and well in Vancouver
charles campbell photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 25, 1987 By Steve Newton Texas is famous for a few things. Lonestar beer. Redneck sheriffs. The Dallas Cowboys. It's also famous for an albino guitarist named Johnny Winter, who grew up in Beaumont, Texas, with a keyboard whiz brother named Edgar. When Johnny was just … Continue reading Johnny Winter’s lightning-fast licks prove that he’s still alive and well in Vancouver
Kurtwood Smith broke his own bad with RoboCop’s immortal “bitches leave”
Aaron Paul is famous for saying "bitch" an awful lot in Breaking Bad, but Kurtwood Smith was totally bitchin' it up 27 years ago in Paul Verhoeven's original RoboCop. Smith played the wimpy looking but nasty-as-hell villain Clarence Boddicker with great gusto; he virtually stole the show from Peter Weller's titular crimefighter. One of the greatest moments in celluloid … Continue reading Kurtwood Smith broke his own bad with RoboCop’s immortal “bitches leave”
Alvin Lee’s guitar heroics keep the spirit of Ten Years After alive in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 1987 By Steve Newton There are a lot of rock and roll superstars that today's average rock fan never had the opportunity to see live, either due to drug overdoses (Hendrix, Tommy Bolin), car crashes (Marc Bolan), plane crashes (Ronnie Van Zandt, Randy Rhoads), or other tragedies. Then … Continue reading Alvin Lee’s guitar heroics keep the spirit of Ten Years After alive in Vancouver