By Steve Newton Back in February of 1984, 10 months before a drunk-driving Vince Neil killed Razzle, I interviewed Hanoi Rocks' lead guitarist/main songwriter Andy McCoy and bassist Sami Yaffa. They were both pretty wasted, and shouldn't have been doing interviews, but at one point in the conversation McCoy proved he was at least sober … Continue reading That time a drunk Andy McCoy from Hanoi Rocks sang me a bit of “All the Young Dudes”
Tag: Mott the Hoople
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
Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 7, 1988 By Steve Newton Two nights after Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler sailed through town, on September 30, a couple more British rock greats visited. While not as widely known, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson have a following that is just as devoted, and … Continue reading Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson bring the best of Mott the Hoople to Vancouver
Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson on reuniting and getting lean and mean after 40: “Might even want to prove something”
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton Whatever happened to Ian Hunter, the former leader of one of Britain's most influential pre-punk rock bands Mott the Hoople: the corkscrew-haired singer with the ever-present shades and Cockney twang; the gifted songwriter who penned such classics as "All the … Continue reading Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson on reuniting and getting lean and mean after 40: “Might even want to prove something”
Album review: Bad Company, Dangerous Age (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 23, 1988 By Steve Newton Bad Company put some mighty fine albums in the mid-'70s, particularly Straight Shooter and Run With the Pack. But that was when they had soulful crooner Paul Rodgers singing for them. Now they've got some Ted Nugent reject named Brian Howe in the … Continue reading Album review: Bad Company, Dangerous Age (1988)
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 🙁
Rock Hall boneheads once again choose Chic over Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame apparently believes that Depeche Mode outrocks Johnny Winter, that Chic blows Rory Gallagher away, and that Joan Baez is more rock than Link Wray. Whatta buncha boneheads. Yep, Jann Wenner and his gaggle of dimwits at the Rock Hall have done it again, blindly ignoring three … Continue reading Rock Hall boneheads once again choose Chic over Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, and Link Wray
Newt’s Rock Hall inducts UFO, Robin Trower, Blue Oyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, and Ten Years After
By Steve Newton Tonight the much-maligned Rock and Roll Hall of Fame officially inducts Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, Steve Miller, Chicago, and, unbelievably, legendary rock 'n' rollers N.W.A. Now, this is better work than you commonly expect from the RRHOF, which, back in 2013, had the audacity to induct Cat Stevens instead of fellow nominee Link … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts UFO, Robin Trower, Blue Oyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, and Ten Years After
Mott the Hoople drummer Dale “Buffin” Griffin dies from Alzheimers at 67
By Steve Newton The drummer from one of my fave bands of the '70s has passed away. Dale "Buffin" Griffin, a founding member of Mott the Hoople, died peacefully in his sleep last night. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009. Griffin played on all the Mott the Hoople albums, including 1972's breakthrough All the … Continue reading Mott the Hoople drummer Dale “Buffin” Griffin dies from Alzheimers at 67
Mott the Hoople box set is definitely worth the extra dollars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 24, 1998 By Steve Newton This long-awaited, three-disc Mott the Hoople box--All the Young Dudes: The Anthology-- is only available as a British import, but for die-hard fans of the distinctive and innovative glam-era band it’s definitely worth the extra dollars. As well as the group’s biggest hits … Continue reading Mott the Hoople box set is definitely worth the extra dollars
Producer Dave Jerden heard a lot of Mott in Seattle’s Sweet Water
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 17, 1995 Sweet Water singer Adam Czeisler and guitarist Rich Credo go way back—and I don’t mean just to high school or anything. When they were seven years old, the future rock mates met on a bus coming back from a YMCA summer camp in the San Juan … Continue reading Producer Dave Jerden heard a lot of Mott in Seattle’s Sweet Water
This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JUNE 15, 2010 By Steve Newton Several years ago I was combing the CD stacks at Zulu Records—back when they were located on the other side of Fourth and a little further east—and came across the 1995 tribute album Rattlesnake Guitar: The Music of Peter Green. Man, what a find that … Continue reading This Is the Blues goes heavy on underrated guitar hero Peter Green
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1974
Last year I put together a list of my 30 fave albums from 1973, which was a particularly awesome year since it included the release of what I've always felt was the world's greatest rock album, the Who's Quadrophenia. Now that you've all had a good chance to go out and purchase each and every one … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1974
Affable hipster David Bowie enthrals in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 29, 2004 Boy, talk about goin' through ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Although he's always been one of the most charismatic rock stars of all time, David Bowie hasn't always been able--or willing--to connect with a live audience. I recall seeing him at the Pacific Coliseum on the Station to Station tour of '75, … Continue reading Affable hipster David Bowie enthrals in Vancouver
Die-hard New York Dolls revel in their trashy past
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUG. 25, 2005 By Steve Newton Looking back, 1973 was a wicked fuckin' year for American guitar-rock albums. It saw the release of Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies, Blue Oyster Cult's Tyranny and Mutation, Johnny Winter's Still Alive and Well, and the debuts by Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montrose, and the New York … Continue reading Die-hard New York Dolls revel in their trashy past