ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 1, 1989 By Steve Newton You've gotta like a band like the Georgia Satellites--they know what they do best, and the just keep doin' it. On their first two albums they made pulverizing boogie-blues their one-and-only forte, and on their excellent third album they've not only kept the faith--they've become better … Continue reading Album review: Georgia Satellites, In the Land of Salvation and Sin (1989)
Tag: AC/DC
That time I asked Doc Neeson if the Angels/Angel City were inspired by their longtime friends AC/DC
By Steve Newton Way the funk back in 1985 I did my one and only interview with Doc Neeson, frontman for Angel City, who were known as the Angels in their native Australia. I thought Angel City were an awesome band. They put out an album called Face to Face that--with killer tracks like "Take … Continue reading That time I asked Doc Neeson if the Angels/Angel City were inspired by their longtime friends AC/DC
The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
By Steve Newton Remember how you'd set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. "(Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party" (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) "All the Way From Memphis" (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) "Already Gone" … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
That time I asked legendary producer Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge
By Steve Newton Back in December of 1991 I wrote an article on local producer-to-the-stars Bob Rock, who'd made a name for himself in recent years with bands like Blue Murder, Motley Crue, and especially Metallica (he'd helmed their breakthrough Black Album, which was released four months earlier.) In doing research for the story I contacted … Continue reading That time I asked legendary producer Bruce Fairbairn if Bob Rock had tried stealing his AC/DC project, The Razors Edge
AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place
I don't care how tiny Angus is, the world needs his killer riffs. By Steve Newton There's been a lot of rumour and speculation flying around the music world since yesterday, when I posted a blog on the Georgia Straight website reporting that Phil Rudd and Stevie Young had been spotted in downtown Vancouver. The … Continue reading AC/DC rumours regarding Phil Rudd and Vancouver come from the right place
Album review: AC/DC, Who Made Who (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 12, 1986 By Steve Newton This latest offering from Aussie ear-busters AC/DC is the official soundtrack of the new Stephen King film Maximum Overdrive. So is it music to watch possessed trucks run people over by? You betcha. Actually, Who Made Who is more of a compilation album … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, Who Made Who (1986)
Pseudo Echo rock and rolls all night and turns Vancouver into Funkytown
chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton Like most Aussie rock 'n' roll bands, Pseudo Echo shuns the fancy costume/big hairdo approach on which many British and American acts rely. Like their countrymen AC/DC, Angel City, and Midnight Oil, Pseudo Echo lets its own particular brand of music do the talkin'--and leaves the … Continue reading Pseudo Echo rock and rolls all night and turns Vancouver into Funkytown
Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master
By Steve Newton The hard-rock world lost one of its most beloved artists on November 18, 2017, when AC/DC rhythm-guitarist Malcolm Young passed away at the age of 64. Ill health had forced him to leave the band in 2014, and to be confined to a nursing home, where he suffered from dementia. I only met … Continue reading Malcolm Young: the five best quotes I ever got from AC/DC’s rhythm master
Album review: AC/DC, Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 2000 By Steve Newton It’s hard to believe that the scruffy Aussie hooligans who blessed rock music with the blues-metal masterwork Back in Black are now content to churn out such substandard fare as Stiff Upper Lip. Don’t be fooled by the CD’s spirited title track, … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, Stiff Upper Lip (2000)
Album review: The Four Horsemen, Nobody Said It Was Easy (1991)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 26, 1991 By Steve Newton It can be a long wait between AC/DC albums, so easily-pleased fans of gritty, bastardized blues might cotton to the latest release from a new band featuring former D.O.A. drummer Ken “Dimwit” Montgomery. The Four Horsemen’s Nobody Said It Was Easy offers … Continue reading Album review: The Four Horsemen, Nobody Said It Was Easy (1991)
Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 11, 1990 By Steve Newton Has AC/DC ever put out a bad record? I doubt it. But their efforts haven’t all been great, either. The band’s latest, the Vancouver-made (and grammatically incorrect) The Razors Edge falls somewhere between the band’s strongest (Powerage, Back in Black) and weakest … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, The Razors Edge (1990)
Album review: Johnny Crash, Neighbourhood Threat (1990)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 19, 1990 By Steve Newton Just last month the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band (or one of ’em, anyway) was locked away in Vancouver's Little Mountain Sound with producer Bruce Fairbairn, putting the finishing touches on its next album. No, I’m not talking about the Stones here. … Continue reading Album review: Johnny Crash, Neighbourhood Threat (1990)
Nazareth survives its hangover to blast “Razamanaz” and rowdy-up Vancouver on a Sunday night
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 25, 1987 By Steve Newton No-frills rock 'n' roll is something that's always been close to this scribbler's heart. From the basic guitar/bass/drums sound to the jeans/-t-shirt/runners wardrobe, it's the type of music that makes the ordinary person on the street think: "Yeah, I can relate to that." AC/DC is a prime … Continue reading Nazareth survives its hangover to blast “Razamanaz” and rowdy-up Vancouver on a Sunday night