By Steve Newton Talk about a shocker. Got up at the usual 7 this morning, realized there was no instant coffee--and no wife awake to make me a latte--so went straight to the cell phone. Saw a tweet about a new concert announcement that needed blogging, so headed over to the computer, clicked on … Continue reading Remembering David Bowie in the seventies
Tag: Chilliwack
The greatest guitar solo of all time: Mick Ronson on Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy”
By Steve Newton I've heard a lotta amazing guitar solos in my life, but today I decided to just go ahead and pick the greatest one of all time. I'm goin' with Mick Ronson's 30-second blast on Ian Hunter's classic boogie number "Once Bitten Twice Shy". It's not because that's the best rock song of 1975--the year I graduated … Continue reading The greatest guitar solo of all time: Mick Ronson on Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten Twice Shy”
40 years ago today: Lou Reed unloads Metal Machine Music, and my teenaged buddy Mike buys it
1975 was a wicked year for rock. That's the year of Aerosmiith's Toys in the Attic, Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, and Thin Lizzy's Fighting.
Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock
By Steve Newton I wasn't the artsiest rock-music fan to grow up in Chilliwack in the seventies; there was way too much Molly Hatchet in my vinyl diet for that. But every now and then I'd venture beyond guitar-based boogie and try something a little more involved, like Roxy Music. I remember buying Stranded when it came … Continue reading Roxy Music vinyl box offers a second shot at ’70s art-rock
Dan McCafferty says that people think Nazareth is “a good night out”
Nineteen seventy-three was a wicked year for rock—or maybe it just seemed that way ’cause I was a rock-crazed 16-year-old.
Debbie Davies holds her own with the big boys of blues
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 5, 2001 By Steve Newton When I hear the name Jay Geils nowadays, I remember how I used to whip over to an old Chilliwack High School buddy’s house at lunch hour for a quick fix of tuna on toast and the latest ’70s rock sounds. Sometimes it was Foghat’s Energized … Continue reading Debbie Davies holds her own with the big boys of blues
Paul Rodgers on living the rock and roll fantasy and his new album Electric
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 21, 2000 By Steve Newton Anyone who’s ever raised a frosty Molson Pilsner to the bluesy riff-rock of Free or Bad Company would do well to attend the Commodore Ballroom on Friday (September 22), when the singer from those bands, Paul Rodgers, shows off the voice that launched a billion basement … Continue reading Paul Rodgers on living the rock and roll fantasy and his new album Electric
Bill Henderson says Chilliwack ripped off its name for the First Nations vibe
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 6, 2000 By Steve Newton It’s a bit weird coming from a small town that has the same name as a popular ’70s rock band. When you admit to having been born and bred in Chilliwack, there’s always some joker who’ll wonder aloud, “Hey, isn’t that where that ‘Crazy Talk’ band … Continue reading Bill Henderson says Chilliwack ripped off its name for the First Nations vibe
Smokin’ Joe Kubek thanks Jimmie Vaughan for turning him on to barbecued bologna
I knew a Smokin’ Joe once. He was a driftin’ country musician who moved into the duplex next door to my party pad in Chilliwack.
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson talks ’70s concept albums but can’t comment on Quadrophenia
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton Although I have no documented proof that I’m related to either Beavis or Butthead, I do harbour a couple of hazy teenage memories that keep me pondering that possibility. The one that has me most worried goes back to Chilliwack Senior Secondary School, circa 1974. During … Continue reading Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson talks ’70s concept albums but can’t comment on Quadrophenia
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets keep the spirit of Lovecraft alive
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 28, 1994 By Steve Newton Whatever you do, don’t say “Iä! Iä! Cthulhu Fhtang” three times. Careless use of that sacred chant—made famous by legendary horror author H.P. Lovecraft in his stories of the Cthulhu mythos—just might incite the evil wrath of the Elder Gods, the unspeakably horrifying … Continue reading The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets keep the spirit of Lovecraft alive
Wherein the Newt pines for the ’70s along with a panel of Vancouver rock experts
me and my fellow rock experts in the '70s ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 4, 1993 By Steve Newton “The music you listen to becomes the soundtrack of your life.” —Mike Bloomfield Ah, the ’70s—what a great decade for rock. I don’t care what anybody says, because, disco aside, the ’70s ruled, man. Back then I … Continue reading Wherein the Newt pines for the ’70s along with a panel of Vancouver rock experts
Layne Staley says “No booze for yooz” as Alice in Chains goes all-ages in Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 23, 1992 By Steve Newton What does it mean when a venue loses its liquor licence and a concert is changed from an all-you-can-drink show to an “all-ages” event? Does it mean that anyone who goes can act like a 16-year-old and get away with it? I guess … Continue reading Layne Staley says “No booze for yooz” as Alice in Chains goes all-ages in Vancouver