By Steve Newton "Rock and roll's a loser's game," Ian Hunter once sang, and today I get what he was talkin' about in that line from "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople". A few hours ago Guns N' Roses announced 21 cities on its forthcoming summer tour, but my town--Vancouver--wasn't on the list. So I … Continue reading Newt’s hopes of a second shot at Slash’s JD stash fade with Guns N’ Roses tour news
Tag: backstage
That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
By Steve Newton I don't go nuts buying t-shirts and hats at concerts because they're usually pricey as hell, but when the band puts on a smokin' show I sometimes break down and score myself a souvenir. If I recall correctly, Jethro Tull was pretty smokin' at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver on December 10, 1991, … Continue reading That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
Malcolm Young calls Powerage his favourite AC/DC album backstage in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 26, 2001 By Steve Newton There are three things that are inevitable in this world: death, taxes, and a ringing in your ears after seeing AC/DC. As I write this review, it’s been two hours since the Aussie rockers left the Coliseum stage in a flurry of golden confetti, and the … Continue reading Malcolm Young calls Powerage his favourite AC/DC album backstage in Vancouver
Perfecting the lost art of the backstage meet ‘n’ greet at John Mellencamp in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 20, 1999 By Steve Newton I like John Mellencamp, but my sister Julie and cousin Cory are crazy about him, so I did some serious scroungin’ and wangled three backstage passes to meet the Indiana rocker before he went on stage at GM Place last Saturday (May 15). Now, for those … Continue reading Perfecting the lost art of the backstage meet ‘n’ greet at John Mellencamp in Vancouver
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
Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
By Steve Newton It's nice when you can pay somebody back for turning you on to great music when you were a kid. Back in the '70s, my older sister got me into everybody from Steely Dan to Robin Trower to Lynyrd Skynyrd. But I'll always be especially thankful for her getting me into Bob … Continue reading Taking my sis to see the Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
By Steve Newton Guns N' Roses were probably the biggest rock band in the world--or was fighting it out with U2 for that title--when this telling photo was snapped backstage in the early '90s sometime. The thing I remember most about meeting Slash was when he offered me a guzzle from the bottle of Jack … Continue reading That time I turned down a swig of Slash’s JD at a Guns N’ Roses gig
That time Billy Idol told me “I don’t sign autographs! I’m no fucking star!”
By Steve Newton There's a bit of an interesting story behind this picture, another one taken by the awesome Bev Davies. I'd interviewed Billy Idol on the phone then gone to see him play UBC's War Memorial Gym on the Rebel Yell Tour. I was hanging out backstage with a gaggle of fans way more … Continue reading That time Billy Idol told me “I don’t sign autographs! I’m no fucking star!”
Backstage with the King of Nasty Rock, Alice Cooper
By Steve Newton After his Vancouver performance on the Hey Stoopid Tour, I think it was, I got to say howdy to one of my biggest rock idols of all time. I still think Alice Cooper's string of early '70s albums--Love It to Death, School's Out, Killer, Billion Dollar Babies, and Muscle of Love--is unmatchable … Continue reading Backstage with the King of Nasty Rock, Alice Cooper
“Would you buy a used car from one of these guys?”
By Steve Newton I've been fortunate enough to interview Steve Earle a number of times over the years. On a pretty well regular basis since his second album, Exit O, actually. During one phoner I made the mistake of pronouncing the title "Exit Oh", and he kindly corrected me. "It's Exit Zero." He's always been very … Continue reading “Would you buy a used car from one of these guys?”
Giving the Nuge rabbit ears while eating an apple
By Steve Newton This is one of my fave alltime backstage snapshots, courtesy longtime Georgia Straight concert photographer Kevin Statham. I was backstage at a 1991 Damn Yankees show at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, with a couple of my buddies, including "Honest" Todd Salive (in the Mad Duck shirt) and Terry "Terr Bear" Cave, the former … Continue reading Giving the Nuge rabbit ears while eating an apple
Metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67
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