ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 29, 1996 By Steve Newton The folks behind this latest tribute to blues-rock guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan could hardly lose when they got Vaughan’s older brother (and biggest influence) Jimmie to organize and host a one-off concert featuring Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan (1996)
Tag: Eric Clapton
Album review: Buddy Guy, Slippin’ In (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 15, 1994 By Steve Newton I always felt that Buddy Guy’s two Grammy award–winning ’90s releases—Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues and Feels Like Rain—were fine examples of the legendary guitarist’s crossover blues, but when I wanted to hear him at his raw, sweaty, string-strangling best I found myself going … Continue reading Album review: Buddy Guy, Slippin’ In (1994)
Album review: BBM, Around the Next Dream (1994)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 29, 1994 By Steve Newton Not many rock guitarists could step into Eric Clapton’s shoes—especially the sizeable ones he’s wearing right now, following the release of his stunning blues album, From the Cradle. But when Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker picked Gary Moore to become the M … Continue reading Album review: BBM, Around the Next Dream (1994)
That time blues legend Otis Rush told me that he was always tryin’
By Steve Newton I've interviewed a lot of legendary blues guitarists over the years. B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan--they don't get much more famous than that. But I've also managed to score time with lesser-known blues artists who--though not as familiar to the average music fan--have been very influential … Continue reading That time blues legend Otis Rush told me that he was always tryin’
That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
By Steve Newton Here's a fun little 30-second audio snippet that never fails to make me smile. Back in 1985 I did an interview with bass-guitar legend Donald "Duck" Dunn, who at the time was playing in Eric Clapton's touring band. Dunn is famous for playing bass with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and for his session work … Continue reading That time I asked bass legend Donald “Duck” Dunn why they called him Duck
That time I asked J.J. Cale what it was like growing up in Tulsa
By Steve Newton “Livin’ on Tulsa time Livin’ on Tulsa time Well, you know I’ve been through it When I set my watch back to it Livin’ on Tulsa time” Eric Clapton recorded the Don Williams song “Tulsa Time” on his 1978 Backless album, and liked it so much he recorded a live version for his Just … Continue reading That time I asked J.J. Cale what it was like growing up in Tulsa
That time I asked J.J. Cale if he’d bought anything nice with his Clapton money
Back in 1990 I did my first interview with J.J. Cale, one of the wickedest damn songwriters and guitar players the U.S. has ever produced.
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2016
By Steve Newton Please, God, don’t let any more of my rock heroes die this year. Jeff Beck Loud Hailer The world’s greatest living rock guitarist isn’t resting on his laurels at the age of 72. With Loud Hailer—another term for “megaphone”—Beck delivers a fresh-sounding blast of intense, politically minded rock. His fretwork has never … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2016
That time J.J. Cale told me that Eric Clapton had paid his rent for the last 30 years
By Steve Newton J.J. Cale is the coolest musician I've ever interviewed, and I've interviewed quite a few. Talk about laid back and down to earth. And what a wicked guitar player, as if being one of the world's finest songwriters weren't enough. I did my first interview with him in 1990, and my second … Continue reading That time J.J. Cale told me that Eric Clapton had paid his rent for the last 30 years
That time Duck Dunn told me that Clapton was the best all-around guitarist he ever worked with
By Steve Newton Bass players don't get much more special than Donald "Duck" Dunn. As a session musician for Stax Records, Dunn brought the bottom end on scores of legendary tracks, including gems like Otis Redding's "Respect", Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'", and Albert King's "Born Under a Bad Sign". He was also the bassist … Continue reading That time Duck Dunn told me that Clapton was the best all-around guitarist he ever worked with
That time Mick Fleetwood told me that Peter Green shunned the guitar-hero status of Clapton, Beck, and Page
By Steve Newton Legendary drummer Mick Fleetwood called me up a couple days ago to plug his upcoming gig at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, and I made sure to ask him all about his long-ago bandmate Peter Green. Fleetwood's current outfit, the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, is performing several Green-penned songs from the early … Continue reading That time Mick Fleetwood told me that Peter Green shunned the guitar-hero status of Clapton, Beck, and Page
Albert Lee on going country in England and finding his “natural” gig with the Everly Brothers
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 11, 1986 By Steve Newton In the world of music, jolly old England is famous for a number of things. The Beatles for instance. And rock guitar heroes like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. But country music is not one of Brittania's specialties, and it never has been. Luckily … Continue reading Albert Lee on going country in England and finding his “natural” gig with the Everly Brothers
Susan Tedeschi can’t wait to get Doyle Bramhall II’s new album
By Steve Newton Susan Tedeschi called me up from her home in Florida last week in advance of the Tedeschi Trucks Band show in Vancouver this month. We go way back, as I first interviewed her in 1998 when she was a solo artist with a new debut album. While we were chatting about her … Continue reading Susan Tedeschi can’t wait to get Doyle Bramhall II’s new album