ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 14, 1990 By Steve Newton As far as musical integrity and depth go, Mötley Crüe is not in the same hard-rock league as bands like Aerosmith, Van Halen, or Scorpions. But when it comes to putting on a rowdy, consistently exciting show, these four L.A. dudes do have … Continue reading Mötley Crüe spring up like leather-clad trap-door spiders to wow Vancouver on the Dr. Feelgood tour
Tag: 25 years ago
Joe Satriani explains how he overcame pain and suffering to fulfill his new Blue Dream
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 19, 1990 By Steve Newton Just as almost everyone can recall where they were when news broke of John F. Kennedy's assassination, a lot of rock fans can vividly remember that day in 1970 when the news of Jimi Hendrix's death came down. Joe Satriani was in high school at the … Continue reading Joe Satriani explains how he overcame pain and suffering to fulfill his new Blue Dream
Bonham tours behind The Disregard of Timekeeping and Jason reflects on his dear old dad
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 22, 1989 By Steve Newton In September of 1980, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died of a heart attack attributed to massive quantities of alcohol. A year before that tragedy--which stopped the much-loved band in its tracks--Led Zeppelin performed a major outdoor concert at Knebworth, England, and Bonham's 13-year-old son Jason … Continue reading Bonham tours behind The Disregard of Timekeeping and Jason reflects on his dear old dad
Kim Mitchell ponders Max Webster’s past while on the Rockland tour
Twenty-five years ago today--on October 15, 1989--a 37-year-old Kim Mitchell played the Orpheum Theatre, touring behind his third solo album, Rockland. In advance of the show I interviewed him on the phone from his Toronto home, and we talked a bit about the new album, which was gettting a buzz at the time from the raucous … Continue reading Kim Mitchell ponders Max Webster’s past while on the Rockland tour
Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton You might have seen the movie Fame--or the TV series that followed it--which traced the exploits of young students at Manhattan's renowned High School of the Performing Arts. With all the dancing in the streets that went on, you'd figure anyone enrolled in the institution was having … Continue reading Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy
Bass god Billy Sheehan pooh-poohs Mr. Big’s supergroup status
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Seeing a destined-to-be-huge band in a small venue can make for one of the most memorable nights in any rock fan's existence. Kiss at the Commodore, Jeff Healey at the Yale, Living Colour at the Town Pump, Metallica at the New York Theatre--those are just a … Continue reading Bass god Billy Sheehan pooh-poohs Mr. Big’s supergroup status
Johnny Winter is white, hot, and blue in Vancouver
On September 1, 1989, Johnny Winter played the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. The chance to witness the underrated Texas guitar legend in the confines of one of Vancouver's finest concert venues (for the second time) was not one I was about to pass up. Besides, at the time I was really grooving on his latest album, … Continue reading Johnny Winter is white, hot, and blue in Vancouver
Meat Loaf plays Vancouver, threatens to kick 900 asses
@shotbykevin ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 8, 1989 By Steve Newton Meat Loaf was one of the most unusual rock personalities of the '70s. First off, unlike most rock frontmen, Meat Loaf was fat--and I don't mean just chubby--yet he'd spend a good part of his time on stage mauling sexy female vocalists … Continue reading Meat Loaf plays Vancouver, threatens to kick 900 asses
Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 21, 1989 By Steve Newton All the acts at last Sunday's (July 16) rock 'n' roll bash at B.C. Place had played Vancouver last year—Rod Stewart at the Coliseum, Tom Cochrane at the Orpheum, and Jeff Healey at the Commodore. But that didn't stop 21,000 rock fans from shelling out big bucks to … Continue reading Rod Stewart plays Vancouver with guests Tom Cochrane and Jeff Healey, no encores allowed
Cult guitarist Billy Duffy says it all boils down to the Les Paul
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 25, 1989 By Steve Newton In the last few years, little old Vancouver has become a real attraction for top-name recording acts, rivaling some of the more established music centres in the world. Bon Jovi started the ball rolling by recording the zillion-selling Slippery When Wet album here in 1986, followed … Continue reading Cult guitarist Billy Duffy says it all boils down to the Les Paul
Dickey Betts rambles into Vancouver with a “wicked” Warren Haynes on slide
By Steve Newton On April 2, 1989, southern-rock legend Dickey Betts brought his new band to Vancouver for a show at the 86 Street Music Hall. One of the coolest things about that gig was that it was the Vancouver debut of 28-year-old guitarist Warren Haynes, who would go on to huge acclaim as the driving … Continue reading Dickey Betts rambles into Vancouver with a “wicked” Warren Haynes on slide