Newt's top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 24 to 26 On Saturday at VIFF Centre guitarist-composer Tony Wilson’s The Homeless Project shines a sympathetic light on Canada’s urban dispossessed.

my list of cool stuff to do in #Vancouver this weekend

@viffest.bsky.social @rickshawtheatre.bsky.social @vanartgallery.bsky.social @spacecentreyvr.bsky.social @brasscamel.bsky.social @pwhlgoldeneyes.bsky.social @vancanadians.bsky.social @cityofvancouver.bsky.social

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus moved by disasters and domestic abuse on Don't You Fake It Hailing from Florida, the members of the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus have an ingrained sympathy for victims of natural disasters.

just posted my 2007 interview with singer #RonnieWinter of Florida alt-rock band #TheRedJumpsuitApparatus for the first time

@redjumpsuit.bsky.social

Midnight Oil proves itself a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band that counts on the Diesel and Dust tour Politically correct or not, Midnight Oil is--when you get right down to it--one heckuva kick-ass rock 'n' roll band.

on this day in 1988 #MidnightOil played the Orpheum Theatre in #Vancouver, and they kicked ass

Malcolm Young calls Powerage his favourite AC/DC album backstage in Vancouver There are three things that are inevitable in this world: death, taxes, and a ringing in your ears after seeing AC/DC.

25 years ago today #AC/DC played #Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, and afterwards #MalcolmYoung signed my copy of #Powerage

@gertspaepen.bsky.social @acdcbrasil.bsky.social

That time Peter Frampton told me that he and David Bowie used to jam at school as kids Back in August of '87 I interviewed Peter Frampton, who at the time was playing guitar with David Bowie on the Glass Spider tour.

happy 76th birthday to rock legend #PeterFrampton, who once told me that he and #DavidBowie used to jam at school as kids

@mrpeterframpton.bsky.social @davidbowiereal.bsky.social @davidbowienews.bsky.social @davidbowieglamour.bsky.social @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @mwardlaw.bsky.social

That time Gord Downie told me his original lyrics for the Tragically Hip's "Ahead By a Century" In October of 1996 I did my fifth and final interview with Gord Downie, which became a main source for my 2018 coffeetable book on him.

30 years ago today the Tragically Hip released its most successful single, "Ahead By a Century", and six months later Gord Downie told me about its original, X-rated lyrics

@thetragicallyhip.bsky.social @gorddownie.bsky.social

Lacuna Coil guitarist Cristiano Migliore is okay with singer Cristina Scabbia being hotter than him The rhythm guitarist for the Italian gothic-metal group is fine with the fact that his band's sexiest member gets all the glory.

just posted my 2007 interview with #LacunaCoil guitarist #CristianoMigliore for the first time

His Italian gothic-metal band was on the "Hottest Chicks in Metal" tour at the time

@lacunacoil.bsky.social @cristinascabbia.bsky.social @revolvermag.bsky.social @blabbermouthnet.bsky.social

The Bravery's Sam Endicott says he's been going through a phase where all he listens to is Deep Purple "I listen to a lot of old stuff, classic rock... We don't sound anything like Deep Purple, but I just love it. I don't know, it's weird."

just posted my 2007 interview with #SamEndicott of New York City indie-rock band #theBravery for the first time

Anybody remember the Bravery?

love to read that one!

J. Geils from the J. Geils Band, April 20, 2006 | Ear of Newt Get more from Ear of Newt on Patreon

20 years ago today I interviewed American guitarist J. Geils

Man, I used to love his band back in the day

"Live" Full House baby!

@dukerobillard.bsky.social @guitarworld.com.web.brid.gy @bluesmusicfan.bsky.social @bluesrockreview.bsky.social @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @mwardlaw.bsky.social

The Cliks' Lucas Silveira was blown away when his sister brought home the Pretenders' debut album As a kid growing up in Portugal, Lucas Silveira got an accidental taste of early-'80s guitar rock that would prove hugely influential on him.

just posted my 2007 interview with #LucasSilveira of Toronto alt-rock band the Cliks for the first time

Anybody remember the Cliks?

Pennywise in the flesh: the full transcript of my exclusive 1990 interview with Tim Curry on the set of Stephen King's It I was on assignment for New York's Fangoria magazine, and no other journalist in the world was invited to meet Curry on the set.

happy 80th birthday to British actor #TimCurry, who once told me that he viewed his #Pennywise character from #StephenKing's It as "a smile gone bad"

@stephenking.bsky.social @stephenkingcast.bsky.social @stephenking.fr @fangoria.bsky.social @horrorfacts.com @nerdhorror.com

R.I.P. Dickey Betts: the 10 best quotes I ever got from the legendary Allman Brothers guitarist You may have already heard the sad news: legendary Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts passed away today at the age of 80.

remembering #AllmanBrothers guitarist #DickeyBetts, who died two years ago today at the age of 80

Here's what I posted when he passed:

@dickeybetts.bsky.social @greggallman.bsky.social @warrenhaynes.bsky.social @tedeschitrucksband.bsky.social @ultclassicrock.bsky.social

Neil Young & Crazy Horse create a gorgeous, gut-wrenching guitar noise on the Smell the Horse Tour His long-underrated lead guitar prowess was vividly displayed throughout but particularly during the majestic “Cortez the Killer”.

35 years ago today #NeilYoung & #CrazyHorse played the Pacific Coliseum in #Vancouver, and holy crap were they awesome

@thrasherswheat.bsky.social @neilyoungarchives.bsky.social @rocksbackpages.bsky.social @rockandrollgarage.bsky.social

Dan Wilson of Semisonic, April 17, 1996 | Ear of Newt Get more from Ear of Newt on Patreon

30 years ago today I interviewed #Semisonic singer, guitarist, and main songwriter #DanWilson

Two years later the Minneapolis trio scored a number one hit with the pop ballad "Closing Time".

@semisonicband.bsky.social @danwilsonmusic.bsky.social

That time Jeff Beck told me that Jan Hammer was "too good to sit around" The first time I ever saw Jeff Beck in concert, Jan Hammer was all over the place. It was at the Seattle Kingdome in 1976.

happy 78th birthday to keyboardist and composer #JanHammer, who #JeffBeck once told me was too good to just sit around

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.

40 years ago today #JohnMellencamp played #Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on his Scarecrow Tour

He was still part Cougar back then

earofnewt.com/2016/04/16/j...

That time Allan Holdsworth told me that he still struggles to pay the rent every month The music world is in mourning today as word of the death of revered British guitar player Allan Holdsworth spreads.

remembering guitar genius #AllanHoldsworth, who died nine years ago yesterday at the age of 70. He once told me that he struggled to pay the rent every month

@allanholdsworthgrp.bsky.social

Newt's top 10 things to do in Vancouver this weekend, April 17 to 19 Record Store Day Canada on Saturday features special vinyl releases as part of its 19th annual celebration of independent record stores.

my list of cool stuff to do in #Vancouver this weekend includes heading out on #RecordStoreDay in search of that live #ThinLizzy LP on transparent vinyl

@recordstoreday.bsky.social @recordstoredayuk.bsky.social @rickshawtheatre.bsky.social @viffest.bsky.social @vanartgallery.bsky.social

Jeff Golub follows in the footsteps of Jeff Beck and Ronnie Wood playing guitar with Rod Stewart "I don't sing--I've got the kind of voice where, as soon as I start singing in the shower, people bang on the walls."

remembering rock and jazz guitar great #JeffGolub, born on this day in 1955 in Copley Township, Ohio

I interviewed him when he was in #RodStewart's band

Former punk-rocker Corb Lund dons cavalry garb to go kickass country with the Hurtin' Albertans “One half [of my fan base] is cowboys and rural people and the other half are sort of college-radio and underground-music fans."

just posted my 2008 interview with Alberta's #CorbLund for the first time

He was really into history and horses back then

@corblund.bsky.social

Braindead bozos at the Rock Hall induct legendary rockers Luther Vandross and Sade, ignore Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher yet again Last night those dimwits down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did it again. They forgot to induct Johnny Winter and Rory Gallagher.

those dim bulbs down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will never learn, I reckon

@rorygallagher.com @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @joehodgson.bsky.social @rocksbackpages.bsky.social

That time Deep Purple's Roger Glover told me what Ritchie Blackmore was really like as a person I did my second interview with Roger Glover back in March of 1985 I asked him Ritchie Blackmore's reputation for being moody and egotistical.

happy birthday to me and guitar legend #RitchieBlackmore, who his old bassist in #DeepPurple once told me wasn't such a bad guy:

"I don't think he's any more moody than anyone else."

@deeppurplepod.bsky.social @blabbermouthnet.bsky.social @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @mwardlaw.bsky.social

Headbangers and pop idols alike get blown way by Queen and Paul Rodgers in Vancouver What an awesome heavy-metal band Queen used to be. What, you didn't know Queen used to be an awesome heavy-metal band?

20 years ago today #Queen and #PaulRodgers played #Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, and they did, they did, rock me

Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, April 13, 2006 | Ear of Newt Get more from Ear of Newt on Patreon

20 years ago today I interviewed #RaineMaida of #OurLadyPeace, who told me about working with producer #BobRock and firing him and stuff

@ourladypeace.bsky.social @canadianmusicblog.bsky.social

Bono dedicates new tune to old friend Michael Hutchence as U2 elevates Vancouver As usual, the black-clad Bono put on quite a show, whether sprinting around the red heart-shaped runway that encased the stage...

25 years ago today #U2 played #Vancouver's GM Place on its #ElevationTour, and I didn't mind it at all

@u2songs.bsky.social @u2official.bsky.social

Former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford helps turn Pink Floyd blue “It’s kind of everyone’s favourite side project, you know, just an excuse to play with some great friends that are great musicians.”

happy 60th birthday to former #BlackCrowes guitarist #MarcFord, who I interviewed 25 years ago when he was playing in a bluesy #PinkFloyd tribute band just for kicks

@davidgilmour.com.web.brid.gy @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @progrockjournal.bsky.social @progrockdude.bsky.social

America's Dewey Bunnell says "A Horse with No Name" is all about the feeling of the desert I spoke to Dewey Bunnell recently and asked him about the group's beginnings, former member Dan Peek, and producer Russ Ballard.

#America's #DeweyBunnell recently announced that the band's 1971 hit, "A Horse with No Name", has passed the one-billion airs mark on #Spotify

Back in '83 I asked him about that tune

Bobby Baker thinks the Tragically Hip are better players and songwriters on new Road Apples “The songs were much more of a collective effort,” says Baker, “which is something we’ve been working toward since the beginning."

happy 64th birthday to #TragicallyHip guitarist Rob (aka Bobby) Baker, who once told me that Vancouver's #TownPump was one of the best rock 'n' roll clubs in Canada

@thetragicallyhip.bsky.social @gorddownieofficial.bsky.social @canadianmusicblog.bsky.social

Pat Travers in 1983: "I'm a good enough guitarist. We don't need another one." In advance of his Vancouver show a star-struck me did a phone interview with the then-28-year-old "axeman" (in the parlance of the times).

happy 72nd birthday to Canadian rock legend #PatTravers, who once told me that he was a good enough guitarist, and didn't need another one

@canadianmusicblog.bsky.social @ultclassicrock.bsky.social @blabbermouthnet.bsky.social @classicrockpics.bsky.social