By Steve Newton If you're a Led Zeppelin fan--and who isn't, apart from those indie geeks at Pitchfork--you should mark June 3 on your calendar and start putting away some spendin' money. That's when the mighty Zep will release super-deluxe boxed sets of its first three albums--1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, and 1970's Led Zeppelin III. Each … Continue reading The riff returns with first batch of deluxe Led Zeppelin box sets
Tag: Led Zeppelin
Studio star Mike Fraser helps Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock put Vancouver on the musical map
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 28, 1998 By Steve Newton If you’ve listened to rock radio at all in the past decade, you’ve heard Mike Fraser’s work. His mixing and engineering talents have graced such hugely popular recordings as Aerosmith’s Pump, Metallica’s Load, and Van Halen’s Balance. In the past few years, he’s branched out into … Continue reading Studio star Mike Fraser helps Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock put Vancouver on the musical map
Rush debut gets vinyl reissue; John Rutsey gets vindicated
By Steve Newton Universal Music Canada announced today that the mighty Rush will reissue its self-titled 1974 debut album on vinyl to mark its 40-year recording career. Here's the promotional bumph: As part of Universal’s reDISCovered vinyl series, the original 1974 analogue stereo masters were cut to copper plates using the Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) … Continue reading Rush debut gets vinyl reissue; John Rutsey gets vindicated
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1971
All in all, 1971 wasn't one of the greatest years for rock in the seventies. But it was a pretty great one for Alice Cooper, Rory Gallagher, and Yes, who each had two albums on my Top 30. As before, I’ve listed the LPs alphabetically by title, and included three choice tracks from each disc … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1971
Gov’t Mule channels Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie in Vancouver, no Elvis required
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 26, 2013 There was a rumour swirling around town recently that West Van resident Elvis Costello might show up at Gov't Mule's Vancouver show to perform "Funny Little Tragedy", the song he sings on the band's star-studded new album, Shout! Well, last night at the Commodore, Elvis never entered the building. Didn't matter … Continue reading Gov’t Mule channels Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie in Vancouver, no Elvis required
South African guitar wizard Guy Buttery calls Vancouver’s Don Alder “an absolute monster”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 3, 2013 By Steve Newton The world is full of great acoustic guitarists, but every now and again one comes along who really blows you away. Vancouver’s own Don Alder—whose percussive, wall-of-sound compositional approach has helped him win major competitions around the world—is one of them. Another is South Africa’s Guy … Continue reading South African guitar wizard Guy Buttery calls Vancouver’s Don Alder “an absolute monster”
Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 6, 2006 By Steve Newton Chilliwack was the perfect place for a rock-crazed teenager to grow up during the '70s. Not only could you crank "Free Bird" at full blast without fear of recrimination, but the big-city destination of Vancouver's Hastings & Renfrew was only an hour away. Whether it was … Continue reading Roger Taylor says Queen hooked up with Paul Rodgers by accident
Warren Haynes is proud that Gov’t Mule’s new CD draws comparisons to Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 12, 2006 By Steve Newton Warren Haynes spends a large part of his time with a guitar in his hands; for more than a decade he's been doing double duty with southern-rock legends the Allman Brothers and blues-rock kings Gov't Mule. So it's no surprise that the musician is pictured playing … Continue reading Warren Haynes is proud that Gov’t Mule’s new CD draws comparisons to Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy
Black Stone Cherry updates the glorious noise of Zeppelin, Skynyrd, and AC/DC on debut album
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 10, 2007 By Steve Newton When I call Black Stone Cherry drummer John Fred Young’s cellphone, he’s at a gas station in his hometown of Edmonton, a small town in south-central Kentucky. When the phone rings, John Fred is busy purchasing some bottled water, so his dad, Richard, picks up. That’s … Continue reading Black Stone Cherry updates the glorious noise of Zeppelin, Skynyrd, and AC/DC on debut album
Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, NOV. 16, 2010 That pesky new legislation that sets you up for a roadside suspension after just one lousy drink sure is having an effect on folks. When Murray Atkinson of local rock band Swan drops by the Straight for an interview and I ask if he’d rather go for a coffee or … Continue reading Swan’s debut album hits all the right notes
Jason Bonham says his father was a regular guy who just happened to be in Led Zeppelin
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 24, 2010 By Steve Newton John Bonham is often called the greatest rock drummer who ever lived. And whether you agree with that assessment or not—I’m a Keith Moon man, myself—you’ve gotta admit that “Bonzo” was a master of the groove. Thirty years after his alcohol-related death at the age of … Continue reading Jason Bonham says his father was a regular guy who just happened to be in Led Zeppelin
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy get raw and rootsy in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 18, 2011 By Steve Newton A few months ago, shock-rock king Alice Cooper made headlines in the music press when he complained about Robert Plant refusing to get back with Led Zeppelin. “Jimmy Page wants to do it,” griped Cooper. “John Paul Jones wants to do it. And they got [John] Bonham’s son … Continue reading Robert Plant and the Band of Joy get raw and rootsy in Vancouver
Pat Travers in 1983: “I’m a good enough guitarist. We don’t need another one.”
By Steve Newton On January 21, 1983, Canadian rock-guitar hero Pat Travers played Vancouver, opening for a Joe Perry-less Aerosmith at the Pacific Coliseum. Ear of Newt was there, of course. There was no way I was gonna miss two of my fave acts from the '70s. Besides, it was a Friday night. I don't remember … Continue reading Pat Travers in 1983: “I’m a good enough guitarist. We don’t need another one.”