I'll always remember 1978 as the year I saw Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, when they were touring behind You're Gonna Get It. I'll also remember it for that time Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham took me backstage when the band opened for Styx at the Coliseum. Unfortunately, I'll … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1978
Tag: Thin Lizzy
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1977
Cheap Trick and David Bowie led the way in '77 with two albums each, and the blues was represented by Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, and Roy Buchanan. Aja: Steely Dan ("Peg", "Deacon Blues", "Josie") American Stars n' Bars: Neil Young ("Hey Babe", "Will to Love", "Like a Hurricane") Bad Reputation: Thin Lizzy ("Opium Trail", "Bad Reputation", … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1977
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1976
The spirit of '76 will never falter because that's the year Thin Lizzy put out two LPs instead of just one.
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1975
Ah, 1975. The year I graduated high school. Talk about dazed and confused. Albums listed alphabetically by title, including three choice tracks from each one to help you remember how wicked they really were. Against the Grain: Rory Gallagher ("Bought and Sold", "Out on the Western Plain", "Lost at Sea") America's Choice: Hot Tuna ("Sleep … Continue reading Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1975
Remembering Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott on the anniversary of his death
It was 28 years ago today that Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, suffering from a kidney and liver infection, died of heart failure and pneumonia at a hospital in England. Years of drug and alcohol abuse had taken their toll, and he was taken away from all who loved him—and his exhilirating brand of guitar-heavy … Continue reading Remembering Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott on the anniversary of his death
New page: this is where we slag the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
By Steve Newton If there ever was a good reason to add a new page to Ear of Newt, this is it. I for one and sick and tired of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame making a mockery of the words "rock and roll". Sure, the Hall may have gained a few brownie … Continue reading New page: this is where we slag the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock Hall fucks up royally again, nominates Chic instead of Rory Gallagher
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 16, 2013 By Steve Newton The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has done it again. It's made a complete ass of itself by nominating, for the eighth time, Chic. When you consider that somebody like Irish guitar hero Rory Gallagher hasn't once been given the nod, it's utterly preposterous. No less … Continue reading Rock Hall fucks up royally again, nominates Chic instead of Rory Gallagher
Albert King gets inducted into the Rock Hall tonight: it’s about fucking time
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 18, 2013 By Steve Newton The brainiacs over at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will redeem themselves for years of bad calls when they finally induct blues legend Albert King into their hallowed institution tonight. The gatekeepers at the Cleveland-based facility have been getting flack for years for not inducting Canadian … Continue reading Albert King gets inducted into the Rock Hall tonight: it’s about fucking time
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!
Deep Purple’s still smokin’ after all these years
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 5, 2004 By Steve Newton British rock veterans Deep Purple sold out their upcoming Orpheum show in one week, which ain't bad for a band that hit its commercial peak 30 years ago. Maybe the strong sales were due to the fact that the group hasn't played Vancouver since the 1980s; … Continue reading Deep Purple’s still smokin’ after all these years
Bad Wizard guitarist Tina Gorin says she’d rather sound like Thin Lizzy than Cactus
"Entertainment Weekly reviewed [our new album] and they said we sound like Cactus. So I'd rather sound like Thin Lizzy."
Brant Bjork gets his music to the people
ORIGINALLY PUBLLISHED ON MARCH 10, 2005 By Steve Newton When Brant Bjork calls me up from a Southern California town named Joshua Tree, the first thing that comes to mind is U2: The Joshua Tree was the '87 album that made the Irish quartet tops in pop music. But apart from acknowledging that "the trees … Continue reading Brant Bjork gets his music to the people
Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger thinks the jam-band movement is the new rock ‘n’ roll
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 5, 2005 By Steve Newton The annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is the type of event where jam-happy bands from across the States converge to spread the gospel of anything-goes improv. Umphrey's McGee makes its fourth appearance at the three-day Tennessee fest this June, joining the likes of the Allman … Continue reading Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger thinks the jam-band movement is the new rock ‘n’ roll