ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 1, 1985 By Steve Newton Swiss heavy-metalists Krokus were scheduled to play the Commodore Ballroom late last year, but touring commitments with Sammy Hagar forced cancellation of the gig. And it's too bad, because--since the band is touring behind their strongest LP yet--the show promised to be an exciting one for … Continue reading Krokus guitarist Fernando von Arb says that The Blitz producer Bruce Fairbairn is a very normal human being
Tag: Little Mountain Sound
10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988
By Steve Newton Aerosmith released their first five albums while I was teenager, so I freakin' loved Aerosmith. I played a lotta air guitar to Joe Perry's licks back in the day, so it was a kick to interview him for the first time in January of 1988, after the Permanent Vacation LP came out. … Continue reading 10 minutes on the phone with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry in 1988
Joe Perry credits Bruce Fairbairn and Little Mountain Sound with aiding Aerosmith’s rebirth
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 13, 1993 By Steve Newton Vancouverites may wonder what it is about this town that makes a big-time Yankee rock band like Aerosmith want to come all the way from Boston to make records here. It is the scenery? The night-life? The days when it doesn't rain? When Joe Perry calls … Continue reading Joe Perry credits Bruce Fairbairn and Little Mountain Sound with aiding Aerosmith’s rebirth
Aerosmith snubs Vancouver with farewell tour announcement
By Steve Newton Yesterday Aerosmith announced its farewell tour, a five-month jaunt beginning September 2 in Philadelphia and winding up January 26 in Montreal. Unfortunately, they didn't bother to pencil in a date for Vancouver--the city that was instrumental to their huge comeback success in the late '80s and early '90s. The band recorded three … Continue reading Aerosmith snubs Vancouver with farewell tour announcement
Body Electric’s Frank Ludwig connects with street kids through rock ‘n’ roll
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 6, 1984 By Steve Newton "A lot of people figure, 'Gee, you were in Trooper, you were in Iron Horse. I guess it's a real snap'. But we're struggling, I'll be honest with you--have been for a long time. So it's really encouraging that people are coming out and saying they … Continue reading Body Electric’s Frank Ludwig connects with street kids through rock ‘n’ roll
That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts
By Steve Newton I did my second interview with Jon Bon Jovi in July of 1986, when his band was heading to Vancouver for a date opening for Judas Priest. Little did anybody know that one month later, when Bon Jovi released its made-in-Vancouver album Slippery When Wet, it would rocket to worldwide fame and … Continue reading That time 24-year-old Jon Bon Jovi raved to me about recording in Vancouver just before Slippery When Wet exploded on the charts
Album review: Aerosmith, Pump (1989)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 6, 1989 By Steve Newton Some bands grow old gracefully, mellowing with age, but not Aerosmith. On Pump, the follow-up to the band's 1987 comeback album Permanent Vacation, the bad boys from Boston are as rude 'n' rowdy as ever. And nobody does it better. Pump kicks off … Continue reading Album review: Aerosmith, Pump (1989)
That time I asked famed producer Bruce Fairbairn what he thought of famed producer Bob Rock
By Steve Newton Back in December of 1991 I wrote a Georgia Straight cover story on Vancouver producer Bob Rock, best known for his work with Metallica, and one of the Big Three of Vancouver hard-rock producers (along with fellow Little Mountain Sound-men Bruce Fairbairn and Mike Fraser). While putting the story together I gave … Continue reading That time I asked famed producer Bruce Fairbairn what he thought of famed producer Bob Rock
Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 1987 By Steve Newton "If you grew up in the '70s you liked Aerosmith." That's what Peter Buck of R.E.M. wrote in the liner notes to his band's version of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic," and Buck knows of which he speaks. With albums like Get Your … Continue reading Album review: Aerosmith, Permanent Vacation (1987)
Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 21, 1988 By Steve Newton There are hundreds of hard rock bands out there that are just as good as Bon Jovi. Unfortunately for them, they don't have Bon Jovi's talent for coming up with tunes that are both radio-friendly and capable of hooking into the mass consciousness … Continue reading Album review: Bon Jovi, New Jersey (1988)
Album review: Krokus, The Blitz (1984)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 14, 1984 By Steve Newton Metal maniacs could do a lot worse than pick up the latest vinyl from Swiss headbangers Krokus. Recorded at Vancouver' s Little Mountain Sound and engineered by Payola$ guitarist Bob Rock, The Blitz captures better than any of their previous LPs the raw fire … Continue reading Album review: Krokus, The Blitz (1984)
Joe Perry says that Aerosmith is playing “wicked tight” after its Permanent Vacation
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 15, 1988 By Steve Newton "If you grew up in the '70s you liked Aerosmith." That's what R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck wrote in the liner notes to his group's version of Aerosmith's "Toys in the Attic" on the Dead Letter Office album. And he knew what he was talking about. Along with … Continue reading Joe Perry says that Aerosmith is playing “wicked tight” after its Permanent Vacation
Rock and Hyde gets a boost from ex-Kick Axe picker “Hitman” Harvey
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 25, 1987 By Steve Newton Since the U.S. release of Rock and Hyde's Under the Volcano nine months ago, the album has sold more copies stateside than all of the duo's previous work put together. That's a fair accomplishment given that Bob Rock and Paul Hyde released four albums as the Payola$, … Continue reading Rock and Hyde gets a boost from ex-Kick Axe picker “Hitman” Harvey