Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam’s gem

Entertainment / Music Backspacer, the new album out today from Seattle rock icons Pearl Jam, finds the band in a dramatically different headspace.      Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Sun Sep 20 2009  Backspacer, the new album out today from Seattle rock icons Pearl Jam, finds the band in a dramatically different headspace. Oh, the aggressive energy crackling of the speakers from such fist-pumping sonic blasters as “The…

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Three Decades of Preserving the Status Quo

  Britrock Veterans Keep On Keepin’ On Despite Relegation To The Nostalgia Zone      Nick Krewen The Toronto Star March 20, 1997   Francis Rossi loves to ramble. The first half-hour of a 60-minute conversation with Status Quo‘s co-founding guitarist produces a barrage of opinions on everything from The Royal Family to squiring eight children: all before a reporter has an opportunity to pose a single question. “Ah, you’ve…


Geek Rock Trio Targets Hagar

PUBLISHED IN THE TORONTO STAR ON JANUARY 30, 1997   Nerf Herder Makes A Career Of Taunting Van Halen’s Ex-Singer   By Nick Krewen Toronto Star January 30, 1997   “Is this what you wanted, Sammy Hagar? Sammy Hagar, is this what you wanted? Dave lost his hairline, but you lost your cool, buddy. Can’t Drive 55, I’ll never buy your lousy records again. Never again.”   –from “Van Halen,”…


Much-Travelled Mike Watt Gets Help From Famous Friends

PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR APRIL 27, 1995   BY NICK KREWEN Ball-hog or Tugboat? Mike Watt, the legendary the bass-playing linchpin who anchored San Pedro underground collage masters Minutemen for six years and followed it up with flannel rocking fIREHOSE for seven, has named his first solo album after one of his favorite armchair hobbies: wrestling. “It’s the only TV I watch, besides Soul Train,” said Watt, recently in…