Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 29, 1988 By Steve Newton If you were in a rockin', blues-based guitar band and wanted to cover a song from the Beatles' White Album, you'd probably pick one of the heavier Lennon/McCartney tunes like "Yer Blues" or "Savoy Truffle" or "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey", … Continue reading Georgia Satellites’ Rick Richards on covering the Beatles, meeting the Faces, and thanking Jack Daniels

Album review: Paul McCartney, All the Best (1987)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 12, 1988 By Steve Newton Die-hard McCartney fans whose record collections aren't already jammed with his solo and Wings projects may want to consider this two-album set featuring the biggest hits (but not necessarily best songs) of the "cutest" Beatle. When McCartney is in prime songwriting form he can still … Continue reading Album review: Paul McCartney, All the Best (1987)

Album review: Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch (1985)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 4, 1985 By Steve Newton On the back cover of the debut album by 25-year-old guitar genius Stanley Jordan is a "WARNING: do not be deceived. Despite what your ears might tell you, there is only one guitarist on this album. And there are no guitar overdubs whatsoever." After hearing … Continue reading Album review: Stanley Jordan, Magic Touch (1985)

David Bowie’s Glass Spider tour helps Frampton come alive again

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 21, 1987 By Steve Newton Old rockers never die, they just play guitar for David Bowie. At least, that's what Peter Frampton was doing at B.C. Place last Saturday. But Frampton and Bowie actually go back a long way--all the way back to the art school they used to attend in … Continue reading David Bowie’s Glass Spider tour helps Frampton come alive again

Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.

On May 11, 1985, Eddie Murphy played the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. This was exactly 12 days before he released "Party All the Time", which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is clearly one of the worst songs ever recorded. What bugs me most about this video--besides the music--is the shirt-button-challenged "rock" … Continue reading Eddie Murphy plays Vancouver, so I party with his entourage till 5 a.m.

Jennifer Batten calls Jeff Beck “the greatest guitar player who ever lived”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 13, 2002 By Steve Newton Any guitar freaks lucky enough to have seen Jeff Beck at the Commodore last year will rave about his top-hatted blond accompanist, whose mastery of the guitar-synth almost stole the show from the British rock legend. The waiflike lady was Jennifer Batten, who returns to Vancouver … Continue reading Jennifer Batten calls Jeff Beck “the greatest guitar player who ever lived”

Steve Stevens on covering Sweet, working with Ted Templeman, and becoming an Atomic Playboy

Stevens is the innovative guitarist who was largely responsible for the success of one blond British bombshell by the name of Billy Idol.

Chicago bluesman Morris Holt, aka “Magic Slim”, dies at 75

   ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 21, 2013 The blues world lost one of its elder statesmen yesterday when Morris Holt--aka "Magic Slim"--passed away at the age of 75 at a hospital in Philadelphia. He had been under medical care since late last month, when breathing problems caused him to suspend a tour with his … Continue reading Chicago bluesman Morris Holt, aka “Magic Slim”, dies at 75