Tag: Chilliwack

ZZ Top’s been rockin’ with the same dudes for nigh on 45 years

ZZ Top is the only major rock band from the '70s that still exists in the exact same form as on its first album, and for that you've got to give the bearded wonders credit. Rush would be up for similar acclaim were it not for John Rutsey playing on their debut album before Neil … Continue reading ZZ Top’s been rockin’ with the same dudes for nigh on 45 years

Jason Goes to Hell and takes the audience with him in what surely isn’t The Final Friday

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 19, 1993 By Steve Newton I’ll never forget the time I saw Friday the 13th: Part 2 at the grand old Paramount Theatre in Chilliwack back in ’81. It was the first low-budget slasher flick I’d seen on the big screen, and, mindless and exploitative as it was, it scared the … Continue reading Jason Goes to Hell and takes the audience with him in what surely isn’t The Final Friday

The Sabbath Time Machine

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 18, 2013 By Steve Newton Black Sabbath (without Bill Ward) isn't giving any interviews in advance of its show at Rogers Arena this Thursday (Aug. 22), but that's okay with me. It just gives me an excuse to crawl back into my '70s time machine and reminisce, home movie-style, about what … Continue reading The Sabbath Time Machine

Edgar Winter strives to break down senseless musical barriers

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 28, 2005 By Steve Newton Most rock bands from the '70s aren't making waves on the sales charts these days, but not every musician who thrived 30 years ago has been barred from Billboard in recent years. Edgar Winter had the chorus from his 1971 song "Dying to Live" used in … Continue reading Edgar Winter strives to break down senseless musical barriers

Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 6, 2006 By Steve Newton Chilliwack was the perfect place for a rock-crazed teenager to grow up during the '70s. Not only could you crank "Free Bird" at full blast without fear of recrimination, but the big-city destination of Vancouver's Hastings & Renfrew was only an hour away. Whether it was … Continue reading Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident

Warren Haynes is proud that Gov’t Mule’s new CD draws comparisons to Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 12, 2006 By Steve Newton Warren Haynes spends a large part of his time with a guitar in his hands; for more than a decade he's been doing double duty with southern-rock legends the Allman Brothers and blues-rock kings Gov't Mule. So it's no surprise that the musician is pictured playing … Continue reading Warren Haynes is proud that Gov’t Mule’s new CD draws comparisons to Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy

“Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 18, 2011 Chuck Ruff--the guy with the coolest name ever who also played drums with the Edgar Winter Group during its mid-'70s heyday--passed away in San Francisco last Friday (October 14) after a long illness. He was 60 years old. Ruff is best known for his shit-hot drumming on the … Continue reading “Frankenstein” drummer Chuck Ruff from the Edgar Winter Group dies

Alvin Lee’s guitar heroics keep the spirit of Ten Years After alive in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 14, 1987 By Steve Newton There are a lot of rock and roll superstars that today's average rock fan never had the opportunity to see live, either due to drug overdoses (Hendrix, Tommy Bolin), car crashes (Marc Bolan), plane crashes (Ronnie Van Zandt, Randy Rhoads), or other tragedies. Then there are … Continue reading Alvin Lee’s guitar heroics keep the spirit of Ten Years After alive in Vancouver