God bless Snowy White’s guitar licks on his live version of Peter Green’s “Slabo Day”

By Steve Newton I first heard Snowy White when he became the coguitarist in one of my favourite all-time bands, Thin Lizzy. He shared the six-string duties with Scott Gorham on the early-'80s albums Chinatown and Renegade, which weren't my fave Lizzy discs. And I'd actually preferred the guitar-work of previous Lizzy pickers Gary Moore, … Continue reading God bless Snowy White’s guitar licks on his live version of Peter Green’s “Slabo Day”

Mick Fleetwood says he’s more expressive with his blues band than with Fleetwood Mac

By Steve Newton Mick Fleetwood is best known as the drummer for one of history’s most popular recording acts, Fleetwood Mac. But eight years before that band became the multiplatinum voice of mid-’70s pop, it was a gritty blues-rock outfit led by a stunning guitarist by the name of Peter Green. So when Fleetwood calls … Continue reading Mick Fleetwood says he’s more expressive with his blues band than with Fleetwood Mac

Graveyard has nothing to do with death (metal)

By Steve Newton When your band is called Graveyard, it’s no surprise that you sometimes get pegged as yet another grinding death-metal act. According to Graveyard frontman Joakim Nilsson, it happens quite a bit. “Yeah, we hear that a lot,” says the 37-year-old singer-guitarist, on the line from his home outside Gothenburg, Sweden. “But I … Continue reading Graveyard has nothing to do with death (metal)

Squeeze carries on undeterred after Jools Holland opts for his “Mr. Showbiz caper”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 25, 1990 By Steve Newton The liner notes to Squeeze's new live album, A Round and a Bout, contain a precise itinerary of the 892 concerts that the band has performed around the world since forming in '74. There are early shows at the Camden Girls School and … Continue reading Squeeze carries on undeterred after Jools Holland opts for his “Mr. Showbiz caper”

Fleetwood Mac brings one helluva drum sound to Vancouver

By Steve Newton Fleetwood Mac must really love Vancouver. The Anglo-American pop greats played Rogers Arena less than five months ago, on November 18, before returning for last night's gig at the same venue. Apparently the feeling is mutual, because hordes of Vancouverites were willing to drop $199 (plus service charges and fees) for the … Continue reading Fleetwood Mac brings one helluva drum sound to Vancouver

Mick Fleetwood recalls the “powerful vibe” of Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 9, 1997 By Steve Newton Like some 25 million other folks, I own a copy of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. I purchased my vinyl version when it was released in 1977, and when I pulled it out the other day to see if I was ready to turn it … Continue reading Mick Fleetwood recalls the “powerful vibe” of Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac

Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 15, 2010 The most entertaining part of Sunday night’s (November 14) Ozzy Osbourne concert may well have occurred before the 61-year-old metal legend actually hit the stage. In the lead-up to his appearance a clip was shown in which Osbourne’s mischievous countenance was comically transposed onto the faces of various characters from … Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne shows Vancouver he’s “still fucking crazy”

Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and Paris, dead at 66

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 7, 2012 One of my fave rockers from the '70s, Bob Welch, died today. His body was discovered by his wife at their home in Nashville, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A suicide note was found, according to Nashville police. I first tuned in to Welch's music … Continue reading Bob Welch, former member of Fleetwood Mac and Paris, dead at 66

You can’t believe everything you read in a girlie magazine

photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 20, 2013 By Steve Newton "I don't believe Fleetwood Mac will ever tour again," drummer Mick Fleetwood told Playboy last year, dashing the concert hopes of diehard '70s soft-rock fans everywhere. But as seen as Rogers Arena last night, you can't believe everything you read in … Continue reading You can’t believe everything you read in a girlie magazine