Guitar

Ron Sexsmith reveals his Secret Heart

NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator Thursday, March 2, 1995       “Secret Heart What are you made of? What are you afraid of?”   — from “Secret Heart”, written by Ron Sexsmith, © 1995 Ronboy Rhymes Inc./Interscope Pearl Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., BMI.   French fries. When I first met Ron Sexsmith, his two favorite foods were French fries and Yorkshire pudding — mainly because they were British. At the time,…


Slash jumps into the Snakepit

  BY NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator January 26, 1995   First there was Izzy Stradlin’s Ju Ju Hounds. Then Duff McKagan released his punk ‘n’ roll album, Believe In Me, followed by Gilby Clarke‘s Pawnshop Guitars. Now, add guitarist Saul Hudson — better known to the world as Slash — and drummer Matt Sorum to the list of Guns N’ Roses members past and present who have taken time to pursue…


Slippin’ in and out with blues guitarist Buddy Guy

NICK KREWEN Eric Clapton calls him “by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive.” Late virtuosos Jimi  Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan idolized him, and he used to trade licks with Chicago blues legends Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Willie Dixon. Yet it’s the fans that dictate Buddy Guy‘s agenda — even if it means entertaining them in sub-zero degree weather. “I played for people outside last…


Adams Promises “Spanking New Show”

Published in the Hamilton Spectator on Thursday, January 11, 1995 to promote a January 17 gig at the 18,000 seat Copps Coliseum with Bryan Adams.  NICK KREWEN   Ready to celebrate Hamilton’s 150th with a non-stop evening of wall-to-wall rock ‘n roll radio classics? You should be. Bryan Adams, Canada’s consummate pop songwriting superstar warns that this Wednesday’s Copps Coliseum appearance will be the final show before he finishes his…


Summers at Six Nations

  Where Robbie Robertson Learned To Play At The Feet Of His Mohawk Cousin   NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator October 6, 1994   TORONTO:  As a kid growing up in Toronto, Jamie Robbie Robertson had little interest and awareness in music. That all changed at the age of 11, when Robertson, who would later co-found The Band, started spending his summer vacations visiting relatives at the Six Nations Reserve just…