Tag: Billy Idol

No longer completely plastered, Billy Idol is a man with a plan at 45

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 6, 2001 By Steve Newton When Billy Idol calls from Anaheim, California, just an hour before playing the House of Blues in the city of Mickey Mouse, I can't stop myself from asking the obvious. I've just got to know if he's been to the park that Walt built yet. "I've … Continue reading No longer completely plastered, Billy Idol is a man with a plan at 45

Billy Idol to release expanded edition of his Rebel Yell LP, the one where Steve Stevens kicks ass

By Steve Newton I remember when Billy Idol released Rebel Yell back in November of 1983. That was one impressive chunk of vinyl, boasting the catchy-as-hell hit singles “Eyes Without a Face”, “Flesh for Fantasy”, “Catch My Fall”, and the title track. I was particularly blown away by the frenzied guitar stylings of Steve Stevens, … Continue reading Billy Idol to release expanded edition of his Rebel Yell LP, the one where Steve Stevens kicks ass

That time I suggested to guitar great Steve Stevens that he might want to cover Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”

By Steve Newton Back in September of 1989 I interviewed American guitar great Steve Stevens, who was touring behind his debut solo album, Atomic Playboys. That LP included a cover of the 1975 Sweet song "Action", which Stevens said he thought was a Queen song at first. At one point in the conversation I asked … Continue reading That time I suggested to guitar great Steve Stevens that he might want to cover Deep Purple’s “Highway Star”

Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 8, 2008 By Steve Newton Steve Stevens is best known as the raven-haired foil to platinum-blond pop-punk icon Billy Idol; he’s the leather-clad Les Paul–lover whose incendiary solos lit up Idol hits like “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding”. But Stevens also moonlights as an instrumental rock-guitar virtuoso, and … Continue reading Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)

That time Steve Stevens told me that he thought Sweet’s “Action” was a Queen song

By Steve Newton I was a pretty big Billy Idol fan back in the '80s, around the Rebel Yell period, but my attraction to his music had as much to do with his guitarist and cosongwriter as the sneering blonde rocker himself. I thought Steve Stevens was a wicked picker who had his own unique … Continue reading That time Steve Stevens told me that he thought Sweet’s “Action” was a Queen song

Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 1986 By Steve Newton Steve Earle Guitar Town Catchy country-rock with a down home feel that sounds fresh even after repeated listenings. Eurythmics Revenge Irresistible little rock gems that make you hum whether you want to or not. Brian Setzer The Knife Feels Like Justice Stray Cat … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986

’80s rockers Europe and Billy Idol shill for Geico and Bank of America

By Steve Newton Da-da-da-daaa. Da-da-da-da-daaaa. The opening notes of Europe's huge 1986 hit "The Final Countdown" are ingrained in a lot of people's minds--I usually think of how Gob used it in his failed magic act for Arrested Development--and now Geico has copped it for its "It's What You Do" advertising campaign. In the 30-second … Continue reading ’80s rockers Europe and Billy Idol shill for Geico and Bank of America

Steve Stevens’ sparkly Les Pauls rule at Billy Idol’s Vancouver show

all awesome iPhone photos by the Newt By Steve Newton You've got to give Billy Idol credit. For a guy whose career peaked roughly three decades ago, he's hanging in there incredibly well. There's little flab on the 59-year-old's tanned bod, and his vocal cords are in fine shape too. Judging by his recent album, Kings … Continue reading Steve Stevens’ sparkly Les Pauls rule at Billy Idol’s Vancouver show

Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy

Stevens is the innovative guitarist who was largely responsible for the success of one blond British bombshell by the name of Billy Idol.

The Who brings Quadrophenia, the world’s greatest rock album, to Vancouver

kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 24, 1996 By Steve Newton If I had to choose one “desert island disc”—the all-time–favourite rock album to live out my days to while munching coconuts on some uncharted tropical atoll—it would have to be The Who’s Quadrophenia. Although its 1971 predecessor, Who’s Next, is generally regarded as … Continue reading The Who brings Quadrophenia, the world’s greatest rock album, to Vancouver

Billy Idol on working with Tobe Hooper, getting on MTV, and showing off his Rebel Yell

By Steve Newton On March 29, 1984, Billy Idol played the University of British Columbia's War Memorial Gym. The 28-year-old Brit was touring behind his second solo album, Rebel Yell, which boasted the hit singles "Eyes Without a Face", "Flesh for Fantasy", "Catch My Fall", and the title track. His videos were getting a shitload of … Continue reading Billy Idol on working with Tobe Hooper, getting on MTV, and showing off his Rebel Yell