The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s

By Steve Newton Remember how you'd set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. "(Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party" (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) "All the Way From Memphis" (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) "Already Gone" … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s

Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 5, 1985 By Steve Newton Uli Jon Roth used to be known as Ulrich Roth, and he used to play lead guitar on Scorpions albums like Virgin Killer and Taken By Force before the Scorps replaced him with current axeman Matthias Jabs and struck it rich with Blackout … Continue reading Album review: Uli Jon Roth’s Electric Sun, Beyond the Astral Skies (1985)

That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter :(

By Steve Newton Thirty-six years ago today somebody at Circus Magazine sent me a rejection letter. They could have at least signed it. Back in the seventies I devoured Circus. It was a total fanzine, but it really covered the bands I was interested in. On any given issue you'd see capitalized band names like MOTT, … Continue reading That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter 🙁

Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Warren Zevon, Rick Derringer, Albert Collins, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, and Jethro Tull

By Steve Newton So the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did it again. Today the poorly-named musical dumping ground in Cleveland inducted six acts into its fold, including folkie Joan Baez and rapper Tupac Shakur. Sure, they're both great at what they do, but are they rock 'n' roll? Kinda doubt it. The other … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Warren Zevon, Rick Derringer, Albert Collins, Ronnie Montrose, Gary Moore, and Jethro Tull

Back in the ‘Wack Vol. 6: The Postcards say “school gets in the way of jamming”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS, APRIL 29, 1981 By Steve Newton (In the sixth of a series of stories on local bands The Progress presents a profile of The Postcards. Next: Midnight Smoke.) The Postcards is a young rock and roll band made up of students from the Chilliwack and Sardis areas. Members of … Continue reading Back in the ‘Wack Vol. 6: The Postcards say “school gets in the way of jamming”

Ian Anderson goes solo while keeping Jethro Tull intact

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 2, 1984 By Steve Newton Sitting on a park bench, eyeing little girls with bad intent Snot running down his nose, greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes Hey Aqualung Longtime fans of Jethro Tull will recall the above lyrics from the unsavoury tale of a corrupt degenerate named Aqualung. … Continue reading Ian Anderson goes solo while keeping Jethro Tull intact

That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s

By Steve Newton I don't go nuts buying t-shirts and hats at concerts because they're usually pricey as hell, but when the band puts on a smokin' show I sometimes break down and score myself a souvenir. If I recall correctly, Jethro Tull was pretty smokin' at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver on December 10, 1991, … Continue reading That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s

Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson talks ’70s concept albums but can’t comment on Quadrophenia

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 23, 1997 By Steve Newton Although I have no documented proof that I’m related to either Beavis or Butthead, I do harbour a couple of hazy teenage memories that keep me pondering that possibility. The one that has me most worried goes back to Chilliwack Senior Secondary School, … Continue reading Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson talks ’70s concept albums but can’t comment on Quadrophenia

Lars Ulrich denies that Grammy “loser” Metallica is mellowing out with …And Justice For All

By Steve Newton On May 31, 1989, Metallica played Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on a bill with the Cult. This was just three months after the band had its expected Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance stolen away by Jethro Tull--whose Crest of a Knave album somehow beat out Metallica's mighty ...And Justice for All--and metal … Continue reading Lars Ulrich denies that Grammy “loser” Metallica is mellowing out with …And Justice For All

Jethro Tull’s acoustic side gets showcased on A Little Light Music

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCTOBER 22, 1992 By Steve Newton “So how’d it go last night?” That’s a question I’ll often start an interview with, to loosen things up when I know a musician has played a gig the night before. Usually, I get a response along the lines of, “Really good, actually,” … Continue reading Jethro Tull’s acoustic side gets showcased on A Little Light Music

Jethro Tull slays a sold-out crowd in Vancouver with help from “Michael Jackson’s dad”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 12, 1991 By Steve Newton If there is one thing people have come to expect from a Jethro Tull concert, it’s a cleverly staged, highly theatrical show. If there are two things, they’d be the theatrics and the British rock pioneers’ enormous repertoire of classic tunes. And if … Continue reading Jethro Tull slays a sold-out crowd in Vancouver with help from “Michael Jackson’s dad”

Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 27, 2011 By Steve Newton Those dickwads down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have done it again. The list of nominees for induction in 2012 was released today and--much to the chagrin of anyone with the slightest notion of what the term "Rock and Roll" stands for--Canuck … Continue reading Rush finally chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…NOT!