ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 5, 1994 By Steve Newton Sometimes I wonder if guitarists join Guns N' Roses just so they can get in the position to release their own solo recordings of punk-inspired garage-rock and blues-based boogie. (I doubt if they do it so they can bask in the positive vibes … Continue reading Album review: Gilby Clarke, Pawnshop Guitars (1994)
Tag: Guns N’ Roses
Album review: Velvet Revolver, Contraband (2004)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 24, 2004 By Steve Newton Every time I see that oft-shown video from last year's Guns N' Roses riot of a Vancouver cop smashing an innocent guy's teeth out, I can't believe it. It's not that I can't picture our boys in blue pulling those types of stunts … Continue reading Album review: Velvet Revolver, Contraband (2004)
Album review: The Royal Court of China, Geared & Primed (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 31, 1989 By Steve Newton You might expect--with an uppity-sounding name like the Royal Court of China--that these guys would be yet another panty-waisted synth duo creating namby-pamby dance sounds for high-fashion losers. Wrong-O! These guys come up with some of the best thrashing hard-rock these ears have … Continue reading Album review: The Royal Court of China, Geared & Primed (1989)
Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JAN. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton Fans of Guns N' Roses should seriously consider checking out this double-disc debut because it sports the same brand of raggedy, Aerosmith/Dolls-influenced '70s rock that has made GN'R such a big deal these days. There's plenty of excellent boogie on the fast-paced tunes … Continue reading Album review: Rock City Angels, Young Man’s Blues (1988)
Album review: Slash’s Snakepit, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (1995)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 16, 1995 By Steve Newton Those Guns N’ Roses guys sure know how to have their cake and gobble it too. When nothing’s happening with big old moneymaker GN’R they just get a few rockin’ pals together, head into the studio with a few dozen crates of … Continue reading Album review: Slash’s Snakepit, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (1995)
Album review: Guns N’ Roses, The Spaghetti Incident (1993)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 25, 1993 By Steve Newton As Guns N’ Roses would likely proclaim themselves, The Spaghetti Incident KICKS F***IN’ ASS! It’s the band’s rockingest album ever, although when you’re out to deliver raunchy covers of tunes by the New York Dolls (“Human Being”), Iggy Pop (“Raw Power”), and … Continue reading Album review: Guns N’ Roses, The Spaghetti Incident (1993)
Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 19, 1991 By Steve Newton It’s hard to believe that just three years ago Guns N’ Roses couldn’t get a rise out of a Vancouver crowd. The band opened for Iron Maiden at the Coliseum on May 30, 1988, and was so ticked off at the lame reaction … Continue reading Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (1991)
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1991
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 1991 By Steve Newton Rap and dance music made strong inroads in 1991, but the year wasn’t a total write-off. The sacred power of the electric guitar could still be heard above the soulless clatter of MC Moronitis and DJ Jerkaround. Danny Gatton 88 Elmira St. Fellow scribe … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1991
Queen guitarist Brian May doesn’t have much interest in doing “virtuoso stuff”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 25, 1993 By Steve Newton Ever since Wayne’s World came out, I’ve been considering legal action against writer/star Mike Myers. You know that scene where Wayne and Garth are driving around with their buddies in a purple Pinto, singing along and banging their heads to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”? Well, I think … Continue reading Queen guitarist Brian May doesn’t have much interest in doing “virtuoso stuff”
Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan needn’t fear a Tonya Harding from Slash bassist Todd Kerns
By Steve Newton I was interviewing Todd Kerns a couple weeks ago in advance of the Age of Electric show at the Commodore tonight (April 30), and had an evil thought. Since Kerns is well known as the bassist for Slash, just how far would he go to steal the coveted bass gig in Guns N' Roses … Continue reading Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan needn’t fear a Tonya Harding from Slash bassist Todd Kerns
Slash bassist Todd Kerns thinks it’s “surreal” that Axl Rose is in AC/DC
By Steve Newton I was interviewing Todd Kerns a few days ago in advance of his gig with the Age of Electric in Vancouver next weekend, and naturally--since he's the bassist for Slash--the conversation headed in to Guns N' Roses territory. I asked him what he thought of GN'R singer Axl Rose taking Brian Johnson's … Continue reading Slash bassist Todd Kerns thinks it’s “surreal” that Axl Rose is in AC/DC
Newt’s hopes of a second shot at Slash’s JD stash fade with Guns N’ Roses tour news
By Steve Newton "Rock and roll's a loser's game," Ian Hunter once sang, and today I get what he was talkin' about in that line from "The Ballad of Mott the Hoople". A few hours ago Guns N' Roses announced 21 cities on its forthcoming summer tour, but my town--Vancouver--wasn't on the list. So I … Continue reading Newt’s hopes of a second shot at Slash’s JD stash fade with Guns N’ Roses tour news
That time Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil cursed me out and called Axl Rose a pussy, a wimp, and a poser
By Steve Newton Ha! Here's a good one. It's from an old interview I did with Vince Neil back in October of 1991 when Mötley Crüe was promoting its Decade of Decadence greatest hits album. This was around the time Neil was making headlines in the music press for his feud with Axl Rose of … Continue reading That time Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil cursed me out and called Axl Rose a pussy, a wimp, and a poser