By Steve Newton Lee Rocker is best known as the bassist for the Stray Cats, but he also made some great music with a band called Phantom, Rocker & Slick, which included guitar great Earl Slick and Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom. When I interviewed Rocker in March of 2007 he was touring behind … Continue reading That time Lee Rocker told me that the Stray Cats instantly connected with people, even in the early days
Tag: Brian Setzer
Album review: Stray Cats, Rock Therapy (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 1986 By Steve Newton Before Brian Setzer went solo with The Knife Feels Like Justice, one of the most consistently fine rock albums of '86, and before Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker joined up with guitar ace Earl Slick to produce two albums as Phantom, Rocker & … Continue reading Album review: Stray Cats, Rock Therapy (1986)
Album review: Brian Setzer, The Knife Feels Like Justice (1986)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 23, 1986 By Steve Newton For his first solo album, former Stray Cats guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer has surrounded himself with a crack band that includes former Derringer bassist Kenny Aaronson, Allman Brothers keyboardist Chuck Leavell, John Cougar Mellencamp's drummer Kenny Aronoff, and a fiery guitarist by the name of … Continue reading Album review: Brian Setzer, The Knife Feels Like Justice (1986)
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
Roy Buchanan on turning down the Rolling Stones, loving Van Halen, and being flattered by Jeff Beck
me 'n Roy backstage at the Pump, February 10, 1986 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 7, 1986 By Steve Newton Not many guitarists can say they were invited to join the Rolling Stones. Not many can say they turned the offer down either. But Roy Buchanan--quite possibly the best white blues guitarist in … Continue reading Roy Buchanan on turning down the Rolling Stones, loving Van Halen, and being flattered by Jeff Beck
Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
By Steve Newton Maybe, like me, you were lucky enough to catch the Stray Cats when they played the Commodore back in '82. Or perhaps you saw them when they were on that bill at GM Place in 2007 with the Pretenders and ZZ Top. But if you're one of those sad sacks who've never seen the Stray … Continue reading Stray Cats Live at Rockpalast finds the rockabilly revivalists at their ballsy best
Brian Setzer returns to a Stray Cats vibe with Rockabilly Riot: All Original
By Steve Newton Universal Music Canada has announced that former Stray Cat and current shit-hot guitar slinger Brian Setzer will release a straight-ahead rockabilly album on August 12. Titled Rockabilly Riot: All Original, the disc will feature 12 Setzer-penned tracks performed in the company of pianist Kevin McKendree, bassist Mark Winchester, and drummer Noah Levy. That … Continue reading Brian Setzer returns to a Stray Cats vibe with Rockabilly Riot: All Original
Lee Rocker goes solo after Stray Cats and Phantom, Rocker and Slick
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 14, 2007 By Steve Newton As a kid growing up in Long Island, New York, standup bassist Lee Rocker would marvel at Earl Slick's razor-edged guitar work on the 1974 David Bowie concert album, David Live. He never expected that 10 years later he'd be playing with Slick … Continue reading Lee Rocker goes solo after Stray Cats and Phantom, Rocker and Slick
ZZ Top, the Pretenders, and Brian Setzer bring ’70s-rock magic to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 29, 2007 I saw some very cool things at the big Jack FM classic-rock triple bill at GM Place last Thursday (August 23). First off, local punk-rock legend Joey "Shithead" Keithley could be seen strolling along the mezzanine, where he was accosted every 10 paces by a wide-eyed fan who … Continue reading ZZ Top, the Pretenders, and Brian Setzer bring ’70s-rock magic to Vancouver