By Steve Newton Way back in July of 1993 I did my first interview with Dick Dale, the pioneering surf-rock guitarist who passed away two nights ago. I chatted with the 56-year-old Californian in advance of a show at the Commodore Ballroom, one of the top live venues in Vancouver. After the gig I hung … Continue reading Dick Dale signed the Ear of Newt guitar
Tag: Dick Dale
Idiots at the Rock Hall think Janet Jackson is more deserving of nomination than Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory Gallagher
By Steve Newton The nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2019 were announced recently and, as expected, Jann Wenner and the other dimwits in charge of the place proved themselves jackasses of the highest order. For the past eight years I've been keeping tabs on the RRHOF's shameful derelictions of … Continue reading Idiots at the Rock Hall think Janet Jackson is more deserving of nomination than Johnny Winter, Link Wray, and Rory Gallagher
Dick Dale doesn’t need no augmented ninth to make your ears bleed
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 8, 2000 By Steve Newton Dick Dale, the undisputed “King of the Surf Guitar”, is known for a uniquely fierce playing style. In concert, he grinds guitar picks down by the dozen, while conjuring a frenzied instro-rock din that—as Ted Nugent used to boast about his own noise—could … Continue reading Dick Dale doesn’t need no augmented ninth to make your ears bleed
Freaky ponytail action and ’60s rave-ups set the tone at Link Wray’s Vancouver riff-o-rama
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 10, 1997 By Steve Newton When I heard that legendary instro-rock guitarist Link Wray was performing a few tunes and signing autographs at the Virgin Megastore last Friday afternoon (July 4), I snuck off from work early and headed down to Robson Street clutching my trusty Plexiglas-body Raven guitar and one … Continue reading Freaky ponytail action and ’60s rave-ups set the tone at Link Wray’s Vancouver riff-o-rama
Link Wray: my one and only interview with the inventor of the raunchy riff
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 3, 1997 By Steve Newton There’s been a missing Link on the North American music scene for a long time, but now he’s back, and instro-rock fans have serious cause to rejoice. Two weeks ago in Texas, 68-year-old guitar god Link Wray launched his first North American tour in 25 years, … Continue reading Link Wray: my one and only interview with the inventor of the raunchy riff
Surf-guitar legend Dick Dale mimics the screams of his lions and tigers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 15, 1993 By Steve Newton For more than 30 years he’s been known as the King of Surf Guitar—he invented the “surf sound” in 1956—but nowadays Dick Dale tends to downplay that title. The 56-year-old guitar legend has just released his first album of new music in 18 years, Tribal Thunder, … Continue reading Surf-guitar legend Dick Dale mimics the screams of his lions and tigers
Modelos keep their cowboy-surf succinct
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 2, 2006 By Steve Newton Back in the late '80s, when Modelos guitarists Joe Rotundo and Mike Kenney attended high school together in Fort Erie, Ontario, they couldn't have guessed they'd be playing in a Vancouver cowboy-surf instrumental band one day. At Ridgeway Crystal Beach high school they were more into … Continue reading Modelos keep their cowboy-surf succinct