Tag: Vancouver

That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time

By Steve Newton By now most everyone has heard the awful news: that American rock legend Chris Cornell took his own life after a Soundgarden concert in Detroit Wednesday night. What a complete shocker. What a total downer. He was only 52. I wasn't the biggest Soundgarden fanatic in the world, but I loved a … Continue reading That time Chris Cornell told me that he thinks about strange, internal, retarded, philosophical things all the time

Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the throat

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 4, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands spend months—even years—recording albums, poring over technicalities and making sure every little nibbly bit is in the perfect place. Then there are bands like Florida’s Saigon Kick, which knocked off its debut in 11 days flat. That’s movin’. “Everybody says that,” notes guitarist/main songwriter … Continue reading Saigon Kick’s Jason Bieler on recording fast, being about music, and taking tour managers by the throat

Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 2, 1990 By Steve Newton When the Royal Court of China's debut album hit the record racks three years ago, it took a few people by surprise. By the daintiness of the band's name, possible buyers might be forgiven for taking it as yet another panty-waist British synth duo churning … Continue reading Joe Blanton’s raunchier side asserted itself on the Royal Court of China’s Geared & Primed

Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 25, 1991 By Steve Newton Some bands just aren’t happy unless they’re recording in the fanciest, most expensive studios around. Then there are bands like Chicago’s Eleventh Dream Day, which laid down the tracks for its latest album in a Kentucky tobacco barn. The band members had to … Continue reading Rick Rizzo thinks Eleventh Dream Day sounds better live because of the sonicness of the guitars

David Gogo drinks “anything that’s liquid” and uses the empty glass for a slide in Vancouver

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 19, 1991 By Steve Newton Does 22-year-old David Gogo have what it takes to become Canada’s next blues-rock guitar hero? Can his name be mentioned along with the likes of Jeff Healey, Colin James, and Tony “Wild T” Springer? That question could be on a few minds these days, especially in … Continue reading David Gogo drinks “anything that’s liquid” and uses the empty glass for a slide in Vancouver

Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 11, 1991 By Steve Newton In the rock journalism biz, it’s sometimes fun to get your interviewee a little riled. Like when Blitzspeer vocalist Phil Caivano calls from New York and has to respond to the sly query about whether the metal scene in the Big Apple is any more potent … Continue reading Blitzspeer’s Phil Caivano says the New York metal scene kicks L.A.’s poser ass

Blues Traveler’s John Popper went from the Blues Brothers to Paul Butterfield to Elmore James to Hendrix

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 3, 1991 By Steve Newton If you were ever a big fan of the Blues Brothers, chances are you appreciate a few chuckles tossed in with your listening. Blues Traveler singer/harmonica player John Popper certainly does. In fact, it was his love of comedy that first got him started on the … Continue reading Blues Traveler’s John Popper went from the Blues Brothers to Paul Butterfield to Elmore James to Hendrix

Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 14, 1991 By Steve Newton Sugar and spice and everything nice—that’s definitely not what a concert by Gwar is made of. Simulated decapitation and dismemberment, phony entrails all over the place, fake blood dousing the crowd, and a numbing type of thrash metal that incorporates lyrics even more … Continue reading Oderus Urungus threatens to cancel GWAR’s Vancouver show just because I called

“Weird guy” Donald Trump gets dumped by Precious Metal after “Mr. Big Stuff” video debacle

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 21, 1991 By Steve Newton Even in the big-bucks world of pop metal, rock ’n’ roll and money don’t always mix. Just ask Precious Metal vocalist Leslie Knauer, whose band had a recent run-in with billionaire developer Donald Trump that—apart from generating lots of publicity—didn’t benefit either side. As the story … Continue reading “Weird guy” Donald Trump gets dumped by Precious Metal after “Mr. Big Stuff” video debacle

Ronnie Montrose and Steve Morse jam for the first time on the Yardbirds’ “Shapes of Things”

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 29, 1994 By Steve Newton What do ’60s British rock pioneers the Yardbirds, ’70s fusion greats the Mahavishnu Orchestra, instrumental southern-rockers the Dixie Dregs, and cult guitar hero Ronnie Montrose have in common? Not that much, really, but at the Commodore on Wednesday (September 21) the musical legacies of the first … Continue reading Ronnie Montrose and Steve Morse jam for the first time on the Yardbirds’ “Shapes of Things”

That time I interviewed character actor Brion James, the guy you love to hate

By Steve Newton Back in 1991 I covered the Vancouver filming of a B-movie called Silhouette for Fangoria, and the best thing about that, by far, was that I got to interview character actor Brion James. If you don’t recognize the name Brion James, you’re not alone, but if you’re a fan of genre films … Continue reading That time I interviewed character actor Brion James, the guy you love to hate

New audio: Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, talks about “finding your clown face” on the 1990 set of Stephen King’s It

By Steve Newton The most popular story I ever posted on Ear of Newt was the interview I did with Tim Curry on the set of Stephen King’s It, when it was filming in my stomping grounds of Vancouver in the summer of 1990. On assignment for New York-based horror mag Fangoria, I got to … Continue reading New audio: Tim Curry, aka Pennywise, talks about “finding your clown face” on the 1990 set of Stephen King’s It