Songwriter

The Pumpkins Sing for Charity

PUBLISHED IN THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR ON MONDAY, JULY 20, 1998 NICK KREWEN Hamilton Spectator July 20, 1998   TORONTO: While Hollywood stars Walter Matthau, Yasmin Bleeth and James Woods stroll through the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, the real drama is unfolding several floors above as rock star Billy Corgan is giving a state of the union address on his band Smashing Pumpkins. The interview was supposed to include…


Rufus Wainwright – Flamboyant Performer Keeps Up the Family Tradition

Versions of this article ran in Southam newspapers after May 13, including the Hamilton Spectator Nick Krewen If your parents were a pair of famous folk icons, you might just be a little intimidated about embarking on your own recording career. Not Rufus Wainwright. Already hailed by hip lifestyle magazine Details as “one to watch in ’98,” the Montreal-born piano-playing son of Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III (remember “Dead…


Soul Asylum needs a drummer

Nick Krewen Hamilton Spectator Tuesday, May 12, 1998 TORONTO — Ten days away from starting their next world tour in New York City, and Soul Asylum still haven’t found a drummer to fill the seat left vacant by their last one. Yet Dave Pirner and Dan Murphy spent last Wednesday in a Toronto hotel room seemingly unconcerned about their dilemma. Murphy, the band’s baseball-jersey wearing guitarist, spends his time milling…


Numan Gets His Feet Back Down To Earth

  Nick Krewen, May 6, 1998, The Toronto Star After all these years, Gary Numan may be the one who is getting the last laugh. Ever since the self-proclaimed alien of electro-pop and his Tubeway Army blasted their way to the top of the British charts in 1979 with the robotic “Are `Friends’ Electric?,” accidentally launching post-punk’s new romantic era, music critics have never forgiven him. They’ve ridiculed his unearthly,…


Where’s LaBeef? Sleepy LaBeef

PUBLISHED IN THE KITCHENER-WATERLOO RECORD APRIL 3, 1998   By Nick Krewen When you’ve been around as long as Sleepy LaBeef, the myths start piling on as frequently as the miles. Now celebrating his 40th year on the road, the legendary rockabilly, country, gospel and blues specialist was rumored to have entered the wrestling ring to supplement his early income as a musician. “No, I’ve never wrestled,” maintains LaBeef in…