On January 26, 1986, I did my first interview with guitar legend Roy Buchanan, who was coming to Vancouver for a show at the Town Pump.
Tag: Vancouver
That time Ronnie James Dio got me and my nephew Jeff backstage on the Sacred Heart Tour
By Steve Newton I did my one and only interview with Ronnie James Dio back in December of 1985. The metal legend, 43 at the time, was headed to Vancouver for a show on his Sacred Heart tour, with opening act Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force. I'd been a fan of his since I first heard Elf … Continue reading That time Ronnie James Dio got me and my nephew Jeff backstage on the Sacred Heart Tour
That time Danny Gatton told me that he thought Lenny Breau was the biggest “Humbler” of all time
By Steve Newton Back in April of 1993 I called Danny Gatton up at his home in Washington, D.C., to interview him in advance of a show in Vancouver as part of Music West. When he picked up the phone he'd been busy cleaning out his garage, and told me that he'd come across a huge … Continue reading That time Danny Gatton told me that he thought Lenny Breau was the biggest “Humbler” of all time
The Age of Electric reunites in a blaze of guitar-rock glory and brotherly love
adrian o'brien photo By Steve Newton Let's face it: straight-up, melodic, guitar-driven rock 'n' roll has been taking a shit-kicking of late. In the age of evil EDM and the dreaded DJ it's hard to find a guitar-bass-drums combo that'll knock you out with a show that's electrifying from beginning to end. It happened at the … Continue reading The Age of Electric reunites in a blaze of guitar-rock glory and brotherly love
John Cougar Mellencamp may be little but he’s no bastard on the Scarecrow Tour in Vancouver
He calls himself Little Bastard on his album productions credits, and after meeting John Cougar Mellencamp I half understood why.
Uli Jon Roth makes Vancouver debut, local guitar geeks eat it up
By Steve Newton Masterful rock guitarist Uli Jon Roth made his Vancouver debut last night (March 19), and for local fret freaks, it was well worth the wait. Scrape Records and the Invisible Orange brought Uli Jon Roth's Ultimate Guitar Experience to Venue, and the German axeman displayed his stunning virtuosity on a bill that also … Continue reading Uli Jon Roth makes Vancouver debut, local guitar geeks eat it up
Black Sabbath gets all Paranoid at final Vancouver gig
By Steve Newton Every Black Sabbath freak has his fave Sabbath album. I for one have long trumpeted the supreme awesomeness of 1975's Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath. Others point to the band's spooky self-titled debut of 1970 as its pinnacle achievement. But most of the Sabbath fans I've encountered tend to regard Paranoid--also released in 1970--as the heavy-metal … Continue reading Black Sabbath gets all Paranoid at final Vancouver gig
Roy Buchanan lets his soul scream in Vancouver
me 'n Roy hangin' at the Pump ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 14, 1986 By Steve Newton There were some people who felt that Roy Buchanan played way too loud and not nearly enough at the Town Pump last Monday (February 10). Then there were others--like myself--who could care less about such things as long as … Continue reading Roy Buchanan lets his soul scream in Vancouver
King Crimson freak suggests watching the band like it’s an orchestra
By Steve Newton I was a huge fan of prog-rock in the seventies, but for some reason I did not follow King Crimson much. About all I remember about them was the heavy riffs of "21st Century Schizoid Man". Guess I was too busy getting my prog-rock jollies from Yes, Tull, Floyd, Wishbone, and Genesis. … Continue reading King Crimson freak suggests watching the band like it’s an orchestra
Mötley Crüe plays Vancouver on the Theatre of Pain tour, Nikki Sixx cranks AC/DC backstage
mila geran photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 22, 1985 By Steve Newton "Excuse me women...I mean ladies," said Nikki Sixx as he pushed through the hordes of groupies backstage at the Coliseum last week (November 12). The Mötley Crüe bassist wasn't zeroing in on anyone in particular--his aim was the group's massive portable tape deck. … Continue reading Mötley Crüe plays Vancouver on the Theatre of Pain tour, Nikki Sixx cranks AC/DC backstage
That time Jethro Tull was so smokin’ I bought a hat just like Ian Anderson’s
I don't go nuts buying t-shirts and hats at concerts because they're usually pricey as hell, but when I've just seen a smokin' show I might.
Neil Young’s ragged glory undermined by shitty sound in Vancouver
The sound from the stage was great--until the band got up there. By Steve Newton Yesterday I wrote a fun little blog about how nice it would be if Neil Young topped off his show in Vancouver last night with one of my fave tunes of his, "Long May You Run". He didn't do that--opting instead to … Continue reading Neil Young’s ragged glory undermined by shitty sound in Vancouver
Comeback queen Tina Turner gives Vancouver “a big kiss” on her Private Dancer tour
mila geran photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 4, 1985 By Steve Newton Tina Turner gave the crowd at the Coliseum last Friday (September 27) "a big kiss" for supporting the "comeback" that culminated with her 1984 Private Dancer going six-times platinum in Canada. And she thanked them by playing--with the exception of David Bowie's "1984"--every … Continue reading Comeback queen Tina Turner gives Vancouver “a big kiss” on her Private Dancer tour