ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 1, 1998 By Steve Newton When you write for a weekly like the Straight, most of your interviews with touring musicians happen over the phone, because the story has to be out before your subject hits town. But once in a while you get to actually meet a … Continue reading Colin Linden inspired by Howlin’ Wolf and George Chuvalo on Raised by Wolves
Tag: 1998
Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 24, 1998 By Steve Newton That big old vinyl collection of mine sure comes in handy sometimes. Up until last week I had no idea that it included anything by the Church, but in preparation for a chat with singer-bassist Steven Kilbey, I took a hopeful meander through … Continue reading Steve Kilbey says his band feels like the Church again
David Lowery says Cracker’s songs remain the same on Gentleman’s Blues
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 3, 1998 A lot of today’s rockers love to go on at length about how their latest album is a huge departure from previous ones, how their current music signifies arrival at a whole new level of artistry, and other such bunk. David Lowery is not your typical … Continue reading David Lowery says Cracker’s songs remain the same on Gentleman’s Blues
Lars Ulrich cuddles firstborn, doubts fatherhood will make Metallica wimp out
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 27, 1998 By Steve Newton If there’s one thing you can bet on about a Metallica concert, it’s that Lars Ulrich will not pussyfoot around behind his drum kit. The diminutive Dane always plays like a man possessed, fiercely punishing the skins while his face contorts in a tortured grimace. He’s … Continue reading Lars Ulrich cuddles firstborn, doubts fatherhood will make Metallica wimp out
Big-hearted blues god B.B. King offers guitar picks and hugs backstage in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 13, 1998 By Steve Newton “Come on in!” urged B.B. King to the gaggle of well-wishers and autograph hounds gathered outside his dressing room in the bowels of GM Place. It was 12:30 a.m., about 45 minutes after King had finished his set on the first night of the 44-date B.B. … Continue reading Big-hearted blues god B.B. King offers guitar picks and hugs backstage in Vancouver
Bass legend Tommy Shannon has jammed with all the greats–except Hendrix
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 6, 1998 By Steve Newton Blues-rock bassist Tommy Shannon is best-known for playing with Stevie Ray Vaughan in Double Trouble, but his résumé hardly stops there. The veteran musician has performed with so many other guitar legends that you’d be hard-pressed to find one he hasn’t accompanied somewhere … Continue reading Bass legend Tommy Shannon has jammed with all the greats–except Hendrix
Two years after saying goodbye to Crowded House, Neil Finn returns with solo debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 9, 1998 By Steve Newton After making the agonizing decision in 1996 to break up his world-famous Kiwi pop combo Crowded House, Neil Finn wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. An Aussie artist-musician friend of his suggested Finn try painting, so he spent two weeks at a beachside location doing … Continue reading Two years after saying goodbye to Crowded House, Neil Finn returns with solo debut
Patty Griffin learns how to live on Flaming Red
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 1998 By Steve Newton For her first album, 1996’s Living With Ghosts, Patty Griffin appeared alone, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar. On her new CD, Flaming Red, the 34-year-old singer-songwriter from Maine is in the company of more than a dozen musicians, including such stellar types … Continue reading Patty Griffin learns how to live on Flaming Red
Creed’s Mark Tremonti says My Own Prison is about trying to find hope
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 9, 1998 By Steve Newton When Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti called from Toronto on Canada Day, his band was 90 minutes away from taking the stage at Edgefest, the touring rock show that visits UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday (July 11). The fast-rising Florida quartet is on a bill that includes … Continue reading Creed’s Mark Tremonti says My Own Prison is about trying to find hope
An inspired Yes makes up for a flaccid Alan Parsons Project in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 23, 1998 By Steve Newton There are some bands I used to like in the ’70s that make me embarrassed by that fact in the ’90s. Back in high school, I figured Uriah Heep Live was the cat’s ass, but now, it’s like, “What was I thinking!” And I still recall … Continue reading An inspired Yes makes up for a flaccid Alan Parsons Project in Vancouver
Yes guitarist Steve Howe says sheer determination keeps the core of the band intact
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 6, 1998 By Steve Newton Guitar legend Steve Howe first hooked up with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire back in 1971, just in time to help steer the British prog-rock outfit to glory with best-selling albums such as Fragile and Close to the Edge. While the progressive sound … Continue reading Yes guitarist Steve Howe says sheer determination keeps the core of the band intact
“If you want Priest music,” says Two’s Rob Halford, “go and see Judas Priest.”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 30, 1998 By Steve Newton The last time I interviewed Rob Halford was in 1984, at the peak of Judas Priest’s arena-packing popularity. At the time, he was screaming his lungs out about how “Love Bites”, swaddling himself in black leather and chains, and riding a Harley onstage … Continue reading “If you want Priest music,” says Two’s Rob Halford, “go and see Judas Priest.”
Dave Mustaine calls out today’s trendy jackasses on Megadeth’s Cryptic Writings
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 26, 1998 By Steve Newton When the conference-call operator connects me with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, I’m expecting to be hooked up with the guy in America’s centre of loud music, Los Angeles. But it turns out the snarling metal man has settled down with his family—which includes a three-week-old daughter … Continue reading Dave Mustaine calls out today’s trendy jackasses on Megadeth’s Cryptic Writings