Steve Newton
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Steve Newton
@earofnewt.bsky.social
300 followers 280 following 900 posts
freelance music-writer and journalist for 40+ years; author of the 2018 beer-table book Gord Downie; owner of the website earofnewt.com; check out over 600 of my audio interviews with rock legends since 1982 on my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/c/earofnewt
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earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted the full audio of my 2005 interview with Canadian pop-rock master #CraigNorthey (Odds, Strippers Union, Northey Valenzuela) for all you Craig Northey freaks out there
Craig Northey, February 16, 2005 | Ear of Newt
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February 3, 2026 at 1:39 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
in celebration of #BuddyGuy winning his ninth Grammy Award last night, here's the full audio of my first interview with him

You can subscribe to hear my other four interviews with Buddy

@davidgogoblues.bsky.social @bluesrockreview.bsky.social
Buddy Guy, August 14, 1991 | Ear of Newt
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February 2, 2026 at 8:54 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 7:28 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted my 2013 interview with guitarist-vocalist #WendellHolmes of the Holmes Brothers

Sadly, he passed away two years after our conversation

May he rest in peace

earofnewt.com/2026/02/01/t...
The Holmes Brothers' rootsy gospel-blues inspired by love and gratitude
When you hear the Holmes Brothers, you can tell right off that the gospel-blues trio have been tight for ages.
earofnewt.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:24 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
happy 76th birthday to former Heartbreakers guitarist #MikeCampbell, who once told me how he got into #TomPetty's band

@tompettyproject.bsky.social @tompettyofficial.bsky.social @classicrockpics.bsky.social @classicrockmag.bsky.social
That time Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell told me how he got into Tom Petty's band
I'm really bummed that I never got to interview Tom Petty, but I did get to chat with his forever guitarist, Mike Campbell.
earofnewt.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:05 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted my 2005 interview with singer-bassist Chris Kosnik of the Atomic Bitchwax for the first time

Anybody into the Atomic Bitchwax?
The Atomic Bitchwax bassist Chris Kosnik sees the riff from Deep Purple's "Maybe I'm a Leo" in his head
For a crash course in how heavily the Atomic Bitchwax is indebted to the superstars of the '70s, check out Track 5 from the trio's new CD, 3.
earofnewt.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:56 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted the full audio of my 2005 interview with heavy-metal guitar hero #ZakkWylde

Here's an excerpt:

@zakkwyldebls.bsky.social @panteraband.bsky.social @crownroyal4u.bsky.social @thisdayinmetal.bsky.social @themetalvoice.bsky.social @sabbathbloodypc.bsky.social
That time Zakk Wylde told me that Dimebag was keeping the beer on ice up in God's tavern--but the Crown Royal might already be gone
I did my third interview with Zakk Wylde when his band Black Label Society was touring behind its sixth studio album, Mafia.
earofnewt.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:21 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
25 years ago today I interviewed the world's greatest living rock guitarist

He's no longer living, but you could argue that he's still the greatest
Interviewing Jeff Beck, the world's greatest living rock guitarist
As long as he’s got those magic fingers, you can bet that Jeff Beck will be searching for fresh ways to communicate through six strings.
earofnewt.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:54 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted my 2008 interview with #DankoJones for the first time:

“I’ve been compared to Phil [Lynott] ever since we started the band,”

He plays the Pearl in #Vancouver on Feb. 7

@thepearlvancouver.bsky.social @modoliveofficial.bsky.social
Danko Jones wears his Thin Lizzy influence on his sleeve on Never Too Loud
Jones describes the music on Never Too Loud as more melodic than his previous three CDs, and more of a nod to some classic-rock acts.
earofnewt.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:28 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
in celebration of #JonnyLang's 45th birthday, here's 10 minutes of me interviewing him when he was just 22:

"Ever since I can remember I’ve always wanted to be a singer."
Jonny Lang, October 20, 2003 | Ear of Newt
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January 29, 2026 at 11:11 PM
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on this day in 1987 #NRBQ played the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, and it was pretty awesome
NRBQ tars-and-feathers Vancouver, leaves the Cabbage Patch Kids alone
Not a lot of people showed up for NRBQ's Commodore Ballroom date last Thursday, but of the 500 or so who did, few went home disappointed.
earofnewt.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:20 PM
earofnewt.bsky.social
just posted the full audio of my second interview with #KimMitchell, recorded three weeks after the release of his Shakin' Like a Human Being LP

That album boasted the hit single "Patio Lanterns", and went triple platinum in Canada
Kim Mitchell, July 2, 1986 | Ear of Newt
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January 29, 2026 at 3:17 AM
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on this day in 1998 the #RollingStones played #Vancouver on the Bridges to Babylon Tour, and it was a real headscratcher

@rollingstonesdata.bsky.social @rollingstonesfan.bsky.social @keithrichards.bsky.social @classicrockpics.bsky.social @classicrockmag.bsky.social @rocksbackpages.bsky.social
The Rolling Stones go from bogus to brilliant as the Bridges to Babylon Tour hits Vancouver
I’ve seen my fair share of B.C. Place rock concerts over the years, but none that have left me as perplexed as last Wednesday’s Stones show.
earofnewt.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:43 PM
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hey #Vancouver music fans: do yourselves a favour and go see #Odds at the #Commodore on February 20, but get there early enough to see #StrippersUnion, 'cause they're awesome
Craig Northey calls his Strippers Union cohort Rob Baker a very deep musician
The Strippers Union features a couple of guys from two of Canada's best-ever bands, the Tragically Hip and the Odds.
earofnewt.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:15 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
Here's ten Vancouver-area concerts that you should consider seeing in February, and almost all of them feature Canucks

Remember, when it comes to live music, buy Canadian.

@rickshawtheatre.bsky.social @foxcabaret.bsky.social @thesadiesofficial.bsky.social @cityofvancouver.bsky.social
Newt's top 10 Vancouver concerts to check out in February 2026
Vancouver rock 'n' roll legend Rich Hope plays the Rickshaw Theatre on February 20, with guests Janky Bungag and Runner.
earofnewt.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:22 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
40 years ago today I did my first interview with #RoyBuchanan, one of the greatest guitarists of all time

@fenderguitarsamps.bsky.social @guitarcenter.bsky.social @guitarplayer.com.web.brid.gy @bluesrockreview.bsky.social @rocksbackpages.bsky.social
Roy Buchanan on turning down the Rolling Stones, loving Van Halen, and being flattered by Jeff Beck
Not many guitarists can say they were invited to join the Rolling Stones. Not many can say they turned the offer down either.
earofnewt.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:55 PM
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remembering #EddieVanHalen, born on this day in 1955 in Amsterdam

40 years later his big brother Alex told me when he first realized that Eddie had the makings of a guitar legend

@rocksbackpages.bsky.social @guitarplayer.com.web.brid.gy @guitarworld.com.web.brid.gy @classicrockmag.bsky.social
That time I asked Alex Van Halen when he first knew that Eddie had the makings of a guitar legend
It was clear right away that the guy creating the six-string racket on "You Really Got Me" had the makings of a guitar legend.
earofnewt.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:23 PM
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just posted my 2004 interview with #PhantomPlanet frontman #AlexGreenwald for the first time

Anybody remember Phantom Planet?

They're still touring and making albums, apparently
Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald has been getting back into metal lately
"I used to listen to metal as a teenager, and I felt like revisiting it, in particular Slayer. That first Slayer record is really good."
earofnewt.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:51 PM
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just posted the full audio of my 2004 interview with Canadian rocker and actor #HughDillon

Always loved talkin' to that guy
Hugh Dillon of the Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir, May 16, 2004 | Ear of Newt
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January 25, 2026 at 11:52 PM
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remembering #WarrenZevon, born on this day in 1947 in Chicago

He once told me that he managed to have a long and remarkably distinguished career and still remain poor

@warrenzevon.bsky.social @warrenzevon.com
Warren Zevon talks Vancouver's Odds, "Werewolves", scoring films, and managing to remain poor
Once upon a time, there were four young men who played in a band called Dawn Patrol at a Vancouver bar called the Roxy.
earofnewt.com
January 25, 2026 at 12:41 AM
earofnewt.bsky.social
#MenWithoutHats play the casino in Coquitlam tomorrow (Saturday) night

No idea what they're like now, but when I interviewed singer #IvanDoroschuk back in '84 they were doin' alright

@menwithouthats.bsky.social @canadianmusicblog.bsky.social
Ivan Doroschuk says that Men Without Hats are trying to prove that a synth band can kick ass
"We're not into haircuts, we're not into clothes, we're not into being on the cover of magazines. We're just into making good rock and roll."
earofnewt.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:58 PM
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#BadReligion opens for the #Offspring in #Vancouver tomorrow (Saturday) night, which is weird because they're a better band

Here's the interview I did with singer #GregGraffin 30 years ago

@badreligionband.bsky.social @epitaphrecords.bsky.social
Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin is more impressed by D.O.A. than the Sex Pistols
“All I knew was that throughout its history," says Bad Religion's Greg Graffin, "punk was always given a lot less credit than it deserved."
earofnewt.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:22 PM
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a new video game-based horror flick called Return to Silent Hill opens in theatres today, but if it's anything like the last one I'd stay the fvck away

@fangoria.bsky.social @bdisgustingpod.bsky.social @dreadcentral.bsky.social @unclecreepy.bsky.social @horrormakesushappy.com
Silent Hill: Revelation 3D is so numbingly awful it tries to scare you with a Kellogg's Frosted Pop-Tart
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 26, 2012 By Steve Newton When I walked into the Vancouver media screening of Silent Hill: Revelation 3D the other day, there was a handful of movie critics sitting around ...
earofnewt.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:56 PM
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remembering #LynyrdSkynyrd guitarist #AllenCollins, who died on this day in 1990 at the age of 37

Seven years later #RickeyMedlocke told me that he was hired to play Collins's guitar parts in Skynyrd

@skynyrdpod.bsky.social @lynyrdskynyrd.bsky.social @guitarworld.com.web.brid.gy
That time Rickey Medlocke told me that he was hired to play Allen Collins' guitar parts in Skynyrd
Back in 1997 Lynyrd Skynyrd was headed to Vancouver for a show with Paul Rodgers, so you bet your ass I was gonna go.
earofnewt.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:24 PM
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just posted my 2004 interview with Adam Renshaw of the Forty-Fives for the first time

Anybody remember the Forty-Fives?

They're still around, actually

@yeproc.bsky.social @stevenvanzandt.bsky.social
The Forty-Fives' Adam Renshaw has been rockin' out to Creedence on a portable 8-track player
When I call Adam Renshaw up the drummer for the Forty-Fives is cruising through Sacramento in his band's van, enjoying a game of Scrabble.
earofnewt.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:05 PM