ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 21, 2011 By Steve Newton LOS ANGELES—Anthony Hopkins is one scary guy. He can be, at least. Just ask anyone who has seen him play cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. Forget Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees—Hopkins took cinematic evil to ghastly new heights with … Continue reading The Rite’s Anthony Hopkins betters the devil you know
Tag: 2011
Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 27, 2011 By Steve Newton Those dickwads down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have done it again. The list of nominees for induction in 2012 was released today and--much to the chagrin of anyone with the slightest notion of what the term "Rock and Roll" stands for--Canuck … Continue reading Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!
Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 6, 2011 The guitar world is in mourning today as the news of Gary Moore's death travels around the globe. The Irish musician—best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and his solo career as a hard rocker-turned-bluesman—passed away early this morning in his room at the luxury Kempinski Resort … Continue reading Irish guitar hero Gary Moore found dead in a Spanish hotel room
“We are Motörhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” declares Lemmy Kilmister in Vancouver
The metal legend just proclaimed “We are Motorhead, we play rock ’n’ roll,” and launched right into the first of 20 rapid-fire blasts...
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy get raw and rootsy in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 18, 2011 By Steve Newton A few months ago, shock-rock king Alice Cooper made headlines in the music press when he complained about Robert Plant refusing to get back with Led Zeppelin. “Jimmy Page wants to do it,” griped Cooper. “John Paul Jones wants to do it. And they got [John] Bonham’s son … Continue reading Robert Plant and the Band of Joy get raw and rootsy in Vancouver
Rod Stewart shows he’s still got it in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 23, 2011 Who’d have thought that two Vancouver concerts in the same week by a couple of ancient rock headliners from the ”˜70s would be so damned impressive? Rod Stewart’s hugely entertaining show at Rogers Arena Friday night (April 22) was a real nice follow-up to Robert Plant’s impeccable performance … Continue reading Rod Stewart shows he’s still got it in Vancouver
Alabama-bred Jason Isbell learned a lot from “The Swampers” at Muscle Shoals Sound
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 8, 2011 By Steve Newton Being from Alabama certainly has its benefits, one being the fact that you can really put your heart into it when you sing the chorus of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s biggest hit. But for Jason Isbell, one of the joys of growing up in northern Alabama was being … Continue reading Alabama-bred Jason Isbell learned a lot from “The Swampers” at Muscle Shoals Sound
“Oh God, there is no f***ing drummer better than Neil Peart” on Rush’s Time Machine Tour
Rush fans are famous for their unwavering devotion to the Canuck prog-rock trio—like the guy who showed up at Rogers Arena Thursday night.
Soundgarden’s grungey return leaves little to complain about in Vancouver
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 30, 2011 By Steve Newton Due to its proximity to Seattle, Vancouver has enjoyed a special kinship to the famed grunge bands of the Emerald City. Before making it big the plaid-clad lads in Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, hungry for gigs, would head north to … Continue reading Soundgarden’s grungey return leaves little to complain about in Vancouver
Clean-living music-biz veteran John Mayall has still got the blues
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 10, 2011 By Steve Newton While prepping for my interview with British blues-rock legend John Mayall I browsed my trusty CD collection and came up with the remastered version of his 1971 album, Back to the Roots. This turned out to be a fine choice from a guitar freak’s standpoint as it … Continue reading Clean-living music-biz veteran John Mayall has still got the blues
Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 24, 2011 By Steve Newton There's a quote on Carlos Santana’s official website that reads: “When you love what you do, you don’t have to work a day in your life.” If that’s true, then anyone who’s heard Santana effortlessly channel the sound of pure joy through his instrument knows that he hasn’t … Continue reading Carlos Santana says you get the tone with what you’re thinking
The Sheepdogs cook up a retro-rock musical stew
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 21, 2011 By Steve Newton When you look at the cover of the Sheepdogs album Learn & Burn, it’s pretty easy to imagine what the music inside might be like. The photo depicts three shaggy guitarists rocking out, and the guy in the middle—with his dirty-blond hair hanging down over his … Continue reading The Sheepdogs cook up a retro-rock musical stew
Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON OCT. 12, 2011 By Steve Newton When it comes to politically motivated rockers, you won’t find many more motivated than Tom Morello. Whether blasting out the intense guitar work that propels Rage Against the Machine’s anticorporate rap-metal agenda or taking on the Woody Guthrie–inspired folk-balladeer persona of his solo project, the Nightwatchman, … Continue reading Activist-rocker Tom Morello says that the people who run this world don’t deserve to