ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 16, 2010 Heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio, best known for his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath, passed away today at the age of 67. He had been battling stomach cancer. His wife Wendy posted the following message on his web site. "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed … Continue reading Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67
Tag: 2010
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 9, 2010 Man, I gotta quit living in the past, because my expectations are just too damn high. Two of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Commodore in 1978 and then Petty again—with Bob Dylan—at Berkeley, California’s Greek Theatre in ’84. Both … Continue reading Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Vancouver gig shows time is catching up with the rockers
Leon Russell and Doyle Bramhall II help pedal-steel ace Robert Randolph shine
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 16, 2010 By Steve Newton Pedal-steel virtuoso Randolph had no problem getting people like Ben Harper and Leon Russell to perform on his upcoming CD, We Walk This Road, which is set for release on June 22. His mind-blowing musicianship alone might have convinced them to offer their talents, but having … Continue reading Leon Russell and Doyle Bramhall II help pedal-steel ace Robert Randolph shine
Iron Maiden shows off the all-mighty power of metal in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 25, 2010 By Steve Newton Just over two years ago Iron Maiden touched down at the Pacific Coliseum on the whirlwind Somewhere Back in Time world tour—during which it played 23 concerts on five continents in 45 days—and tore the roof off the place. They started that show with guns a-blazin’ via the … Continue reading Iron Maiden shows off the all-mighty power of metal in Vancouver
Little Feat drummer and founding member Richie Hayward dies of liver cancer
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 13, 2010 Richie Hayward, the founding drummer and longtime member of rootsy southern-rock greats Little Feat, passed away yesterday at the age of 64 after a long battle with liver cancer. Hayward formed the band in 1969 with keyboardist Bill Payne and former Mothers of Invention members Lowell George (guitar) … Continue reading Little Feat drummer and founding member Richie Hayward dies of liver cancer
To avoid ticking off Aussies and Kiwis, Neil Finn suggests calling Crowded House “Australasian”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2010 By Steve Newton When Crowded House singer and main songwriter Neil Finn picks up the phone at his home in Auckland, New Zealand, he's “catching up on a few things” between legs of a North American tour supporting his band's latest CD, Intriguer. The 52-year-old tunesmith is also enjoying some … Continue reading To avoid ticking off Aussies and Kiwis, Neil Finn suggests calling Crowded House “Australasian”
John Hiatt recalls the “Old Days” at the Commodore when the weed smelled like cat pee
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 25, 2010 By Steve Newton John Hiatt is a songwriter's songwriter, which is why such esteemed artists as Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, and Bonnie Raitt have recorded his tunes. When Canuck blues-rocker Jeff Healey blasted onto the scene in 1988 he doubled up on the Hiatt material, using both “Confidence Man” … Continue reading John Hiatt recalls the “Old Days” at the Commodore when the weed smelled like cat pee
Aerosmith’s Joe Perry says that you never know what Steven Tyler’s gonna do next
It's pretty amazing that the same five guys who played on Aerosmith's 1973 debut album are still performing in the band today.
Aerosmith shows Vancouver it can still make it through anything
photo by the Newt ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 17, 2010 Thursday (September 16) was a big night in Vancouver for legendary guitar acts from the ’70s. Over on the North Shore you had Johnny Winter at the Centennial Theatre, while, downtown, Aerosmith was packing them in at Rogers Arena. I don’t know how the albino blues-rocker … Continue reading Aerosmith shows Vancouver it can still make it through anything
Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 15, 2010 The most entertaining part of Sunday night’s (November 14) Ozzy Osbourne concert may well have occurred before the 61-year-old metal legend actually hit the stage. In the lead-up to his appearance a clip was shown in which Osbourne’s mischievous countenance was comically transposed onto the faces of various characters from … Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”
Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 16, 2010 That pesky new legislation that sets you up for a roadside suspension after just one lousy drink sure is having an effect on folks. When Murray Atkinson of local rock band Swan drops by the Straight for an interview and I ask if he’d rather go for a coffee or … Continue reading Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
Roger Waters delivers a prog-rock spectacle for the ages in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 11, 2010 By Steve Newton At one point during Roger Waters’s spectacular sold-out show at Rogers Arena last night (December 10) he pulled off what he called “an experiment in time travel”, playing in unison with a 1980 video of himself performing the ballad “Mother”. In actual fact, the entire … Continue reading Roger Waters delivers a prog-rock spectacle for the ages in Vancouver