Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Jane Stevenson: Toronto Mike'd #404

Episode Date: December 1, 2018

Mike chats with The Toronto Sun's Jane Stevenson about the best, worst and weirdest concerts she's ever seen and her most memorable interviews with rock stars.

Welcome to episode 404 of Toronto Mike, a weekly podcast about anything and everything. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Propertyinthe6.com, KTM Canada, Census Design and Build, Palma Pasta, and Fast Time Watch and Jewelry Repair. I'm Mike from TorontoMike.com and joining me is Toronto Sun author Jane Stevenson. I love that you're calling me an author. Is that not the preferred nomenclature? Well, we say writer, columnist, reporter.

But author sounds like I've written as many books. Let's just pretend I have. I like author. It just makes you seem, not that you're not smart. Of course, you're smart. But author makes you seem smarter, I'm sure, right? I'll take it today. I'll take it, Mike.

It's all about marketing. It's all about the spin. Absolutely. We're going to play a lot of music today. I'm going to let people know a lot of tunes are going to be spun because we're going to talk a lot about musicians and concerts. But here I'm going to open with a little Bare Naked Ladies. Jane St. Clair is not too far from where my oldest plays hockey, by the way.

How old is your oldest? Almost 17. And he plays at George Bell Arena, not too far from Jane St. Clair. Now, Jane, if I were to Google you right now, I would learn that you are a British historian. Are you aware of that? I actually am aware of that because I believe she might have taken either my facebook or my

twitter before i got onto either and i noticed sometimes she comes up jane barbara stevenson is a british historian literary scholar and author maybe that's where i got from uh from nine from 2007 to 2017 she was regis professor of humanity at the university of aberde, she was Regis Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen. She was born in London and brought up in London, Beijing, and Bonn. Now, is that you, true or false? That is not me, but I wish it was. So I'm not sure what that says about my self-esteem. Well, I actually think your gig is cooler than this Jane Stevenson gig.

So don't sell yourself short. No, no. It's just, it sounds like she's been around the world. I have two in my work, but in terms of where she was raised and born and all that, I mean, I'm pretty much through and through Canadian. But true or false, you are paid to attend concerts. That is very true. That is very true. It is probably a smaller fraction these days of what I actually do for a living there. But yes, absolutely. Interview and review, interview rock stars, review concerts. Because we're a tabloid, we tend to do just the big stuff. In the old days, we used to have a club columnist and he or she got to go to kind of some of the rising stars who you would later see in the arenas and stadiums that I cover. But now it's strictly kind of the big stuff because of budget cuts and all that stuff that has happened to the newspaper industry over the last couple of years. So like to me, if you told me I could have either the job where I like get paid to like, again, it's only a small percentage of what you do, but you get paid to go to a concert.

And then the other one that would be great, imagine being paid, for example, the Raptors just played the Golden State Warriors. Imagine being paid to watch that game. Do you know anybody with a job like that? In fact, my husband, Neil Davidson, of the Canadian Press, was at that very game on Thursday night. And he's been doing his sports writing

a little bit longer than I've been doing my music and entertainment writing. But yes, he does in fact get paid to do that very thing. And he's working for Canadian Press. The wire service in Canada. Yes, indeed. Cool. That's very cool. And are you at all, are you also a Raptors fan? I am. I'm wearing my We The North hat. People on radio can't see that right now,

but it keeps me nice and warm in the winter. My husband took me to a game last year. We bought it in that store with the overpriced Raptors goods. But you know, I have to tell you, I wear that hat all over the world. I wore it to the French help skiing. People always notice my hat and they know exactly where I'm from as soon as they see my hat. So there is something about We The North as a marketing tool that really works, I have to say. I really do think it was a tremendous marketing campaign. I admit, I'm kind of skeptical of these when sports try to jam these. I always hated it when the Blue Jays would tell you, this is our new hashtag. Use this, love this team. I'm like, I'll decide if I love this team, okay? That's right. That is absolutely correct. But We the North, I mean, it says more than basketball, doesn't it? I think that's why it works.

And as Canadians, we're becoming, I think, more and more proud of the fact that we're from the country we're from. And it kind of fits in nicely with that, too, as far as I'm concerned. So when your husband is at that Raptors Golden State Warriors game, covering it for CP, and. And your husband we mentioned, of course, is Neil Davidson. Yes. Are you watching on TV? On Thursday night, I was working quite late. I'm not trying to make excuses here. But yeah, it's funny you should say that.

Often when he's at a big soccer game, I will watch on TV. I'm from Vancouver originally. Soccer was a big part of our culture growing up as kids and going to see the Whitecaps and going to the old crickety stadium that we used to go see the games in. So soccer I'm way more interested in as watching because I grew up with it in Vancouver, British Columbia, where it's very popular as well as rugby,

which Neil covers a lot of. Basketball we just didn't have for, well, we did for a very brief time, have a professional basketball team there. So we didn't grow up with it as much as a culture, if that makes sense. We remember big country, Bryant Reeves. I'm trying to remember my Grizzlies. Yeah, it was-

Abderrahim. I remember there was, yeah. You are far more well-versed in this because frankly, at that point, I think I was living here. But in any event, soccer was a big part of growing up in Vancouver. Let's put it that way.

Here's a teaser. So you're episode 404. Yes. 405 is actually Stephen Caldwell. Yes. Who is a former captain of Toronto FC. Yes. And I'm not,

like I'm not, I'm probably not as, I'm not at all, not even close to your husband, but not even yourself like in terms of how i talk about soccer okay so uh there's a gentleman who's gonna come on one of these extra mics here and help me carry the convos like i want to talk about these club teams in like scotland and stuff like with a little bit of like authority you know what i mean you need to have

neil on first where is he in the is he in the? I wish he was waiting in the car, but he's not. Is he on Kneelander Watch? Does everyone at CP Sports? Oh, yeah. Definitely the writers at CP have beats. Neil's beat is more soccer and rugby because he is originally from England. They have hockey writers. They have basketball writers.

Neil tends to, because he's a senior writer, help out those beat writers on their beats. So absolutely, there's a hockey writer. I believe his name is Josh Clipperton. Josh, if I got that wrong, I apologize in advance. But he is their designated hockey beat writer. Oh, I should say hello to a regular listener and previous guest, Gregory Strong, who is listening. Because Gregory also covers sports for CP. And at some point, I know he worked for your husband.

Yes, when Neil was supervising, now he's a colleague of Greg's. So let me say this since I'm hoping Neil actually listens. Neil, in 2019, we're going to have you on Toronto Mike. There's Jane first and then Neil. I think the beer in front of me will definitely entice

him. I'm not sure about las of me will definitely entice him. I'm not sure about lasagna. Maybe if it's vegetarian. Oh, no. It is a meat lasagna. Do you? Are you a vegetarian? I am not, but he tends to.

He's kind of 50-50. It's not that he's a designated vegetarian, but he tends to like vegetarian dishes. If that makes sense. No, I mean, it's a preference. That, of course, makes sense. Yes. So, first, before I... I'm about to present you with those gifts. Can't wait to do that. But first, I need to know, I'm about to present you with those gifts. Uh, can't wait to do that.

But first I need to know, uh, like when your husband was sleeping last night, did he mumble anything like in his sleep about the Nylander situation? Like maybe he knows something he can't disclose. Do you know anything about the Nylander situation? If I, if I had known I would be grilled to this extent,

I would have, uh, when I just picked him up from his haircut, I would have just asked him, what can I tell... Oh, he doesn't know anything. Come on. What can I tell Mike about Nylander? So I do not have any information. I am so sorry. Okay, so for people listening,

because we're not live, we are recording this and it will come out later. So at this exact moment, it is 3.23pm. The deadline for the Nylander contract is is 5 p.m which means basically maybe at the end of this episode i'll check my smartphone and see what the nylander news is and we'll react to it i love the hashtag nylander watch i think that's fantastic yeah i'm just i'm looking myself it just says and it's not saying anything really other than it's kind of

exciting in a way like it's almost like a trade like a trade deadline thing but only like relating to our team and this one particular player gets kind of i'm kind of excited because when we finish our chat and talking about uh i want to talk about your career about music we're really talking a lot about my husband in sports no we're moving on but the knee lander thing is happening right now like it's hard to ignore it and by the time people hear this it will be resolved yes So it's kind of like, we're not aware right now what's going on. So we'll check in our phones

at the end of this episode. So, okay, so Knee Lander update. One more update for listeners about me. Would you please welcome to the stage

Sloane! So tonight I'm going to see Sloan. Fantastic. At the Phoenix. Yeah, I saw they were playing the Phoenix. I'm going to party like it's 1995. You know, they're one of my favorite Canadian bands. And I just say Canadian because outside of Canada,

I think there was a moment in time where they were going to break. Remember when they were signed? Okay, here's what I remember. Subpop signed them. Yes, yeah. Because Grunge was big. And they were from Halifax and they had that. And of course with Underwhelmed and that whole smeared sound. Yeah, no, they had their moment and I just think, sadly,

I mean, you know, not that many Canadian, we're known for Canadian artists, but not that many Canadian bands seem to make it. Good point. Other than Nickelback and Rush, I'm trying to think now, the Guess Who back in the day, and you had Nickelback, Rush. You're right. And honestly, like, Along Border Towns

tragically did make inroads because they would play on the other side of the border, but they never quite made the big, huge breakthrough, sadly. Very. And I mean, I have a lot of, like, I'm big on the 90s CanCon bands. this is my thing so i'll have in for example i'm looking at this picture here because tom wilson was just here from

headstones chris murphy from sloan came in uh andy uh did you say tom wilson from headstones oh god junk house yeah it's because there's a hamilton thing and they those bands yes converge in my head now hugh dylan would be a very interesting interview if you have not talked to Hugh Dillon. He was booked and scheduled and his PR rep blew me off or something. Oh dear. He's one of my favorite people to talk to.

He's a very entertaining man. Would you put in a word for me, Jane? I will actually. I will after this experience if I have a good one. Lowest of the low. I'm thinking of all these bands that have come by lately but lowest of the low. Rusty.

Do you remember Rusty? I do remember Rusty. I remember the low. I'm thinking of all these bands that have come by lately, but lowest of the low. Rusty? Do you remember Rusty? I do remember Rusty. I remember the hair. Well, Rusty's... I'm always fascinated by how these Canadian bands, they don't break in the States. And then they... The guy, Ken from Rusty, right after they broke up in the mid-90s or whatever, he started working

as a short order cook for a restaurant on Bloor Street. And now he's a bricklayer in Sudbury. This is a uniquely canadian story it is it absolutely is and i mean you know um sometimes people break much later in life like just timing is everything mike what can i tell you so it's not too late for sloan i'm gonna say it's not too late for sloan i'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's never too late for sloan Well, I love Sloan. And I can't wait. For those who are listening, I'm going to see the concert with Elvis. Elvis is a regular on the show.

And I'm going to bike over to Phoenix. It's exactly one hour door to door. And I can't wait. Did you say Elvis? Yeah, well, he's not the Elvis. I'm told the Elvis has passed away. Or living in South America. Is that what you heard?

Well, how old would he be now? Oh, gosh. Okay, 77 he dies. Okay, well, let's do the math. 42 or something. Is that what you heard? Well, how old would he be now? Oh, gosh. Okay, 77 he dies. Okay, well, let's do the math. Like 40, 42 or something? Yeah, well, maybe you're right. Maybe even if he was living in South America, he's no longer with us. I hope he's still, he's still, maybe he's a bricklayer inside brewery. Yeah, so another Elvis.

Another Elvis, yeah. But a huge Elvis Presley fan. But so, and I just want a quick little update that this morning was the Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade. And Great Lakes Brewery had... They don't have a float. They actually drive their truck, their delivery truck. This is a... A few lights.

It's a different parade than the one that happens downtown. Right, right, right, right. And their owner, Peter Bullitt, drives the truck. And, I mean, they don't hand out beer. I guess that's against the law yes yes but candy canes and stuff and you know don't don't discount the smaller parades i covered the one in the beaches last sunday believe it or not and i loved it it was very quaint john tory was at the very front of it john tory was in this one and it's very approachable and accessible i like that yeah there's lots of space like yes i brought my kids i don't have to get there like three hours early to get a curb

and someone's going to like slit my throat for the curb. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I mean, I don't know about violence, but I've heard they can be aggressive in that university one. But this one, it was very easy to get in and out of. We got some great pictures, some great video. We had a great time. So I was at that today, and then I had to rush my third born, who is four.

So I was at that today, and then I had to rush my third born, who is four. He had his very first ever Timbits hockey at Rennie Park near Swansea, and he did that, and it was great. Like, the first day they teach you how to, when you fall down, how to get up. That's, like, half the day is, like, learning, like, when you fall down, fall on your stomach, and then go on your knees, and then put your arms out like you're an airplane to get your balance. And then put one skate up and then bend your knees and get on your feet. Like it's like teaching these little four-year-olds how to get up when they fall.

So he's not a killer yet. He's just learning how to skate first. Skate first, then get aggressive. Right. I think, no, figure out how to get up first. Okay. And then you learn to skate and then you get aggressive. Okay, got it. That's the order. Watch that. So are you going to share this six pack with your husband? Yes, I would probably, I'm going to take a wild guess and say he's going to drink the bulk of this.

He's going to drink five of six. I'm going to say five of six and not in one sitting, just so nobody out there gets the wrong idea. As long as he's not driving it's no no driving i just think he is more i would say for sure more of a beer drinker than me i tend to drink um what's the word for corona light yeah corona is a light one yeah like a heineken or something like that sure sure a grosch a grosch i know the great lakes love it when we talk about all the other beers but i had a a Grosch at a Christmas party last night. I just like to say Grosch.

What's the one from Belgium? I quite like that one. I don't know. I can see it. I can see the label, but I can't think of the name. In any event, beer, yes. So that six-pack is courtesy of, I would take credit for it, but it's courtesy of Great Lakes Brewery,

a fiercely independent craft brewery located here in Etobicoke. And Jane, as you know, 99.9% of all Great Lakes beer remains here in Ontario. Now, what does that mean, it remains? So they don't put it on a truck and send it to BC or Manitoba. It all stays in Ontario because the biggest thing to these guys is freshness. They want you to look at the bottom of your can and see the date it was canned. Oh, I see.

No, it was fairly recently. Oh, I see. I see. I see. Yes. So, yeah, I'm not sure how, if you have a date on the bottom. 11-09-18. That would be.

So that's last month. Yeah. Less than a month ago. Right. And yeah, so I picked that up. Yeah. So see, I got my stash right there. But yeah, sometimes I see stories where. Yeah. So see, I got my stash right there. But yeah,

sometimes I see stories where somebody picks up a beer in like the LCBO and it was canned like two days ago. So they don't truck it very far. It's all in Ontario. One truck goes to Halifax.

Everything else stays in Ontario because GLB is brewed for you, Ontario. Can I just say, Mike, too, looking around your basement, I just saw a Sunday Sun

cover in a frame. I'm very impressed. Yes, thank you. And that's because it's celebrating, remind me, is that the second World Series? It's $1.25. That's also very impressive. What is it today?

It is. Oh, I'm going to say $3.50. Hold on. Jane is going off to put on her glasses. She's looking at the old print. Oh, sorry. The other wonderful thing about this. Okay. I'm on my back on mic enough. It's October 25th, 1992. World champs, Jays do it, comma, A. How great. That's the first World Series in 92. Jack Morris is in that pile on. Did you actually get that framed yourself?

No. Somebody gifted that to me at some point because I'm a big Jays fan. I love it when I see people appreciative about newspapers. I grew up with reading a newspaper and although I don't get like the dead tree version anymore, like many, but I know. This is a whole different story. Is it a conservation issue for you?

Just want to go digital? I'm just so digital with everything. That's okay. We have digital subscriptions. I encourage everyone to go out and get one. Do you happen to know, because everything changes so rapidly, do you know what the current paywall is

at the Toronto Sun? Oh, I know you can read 10 stories before you have to pay. That's a month. I can read because I'm thinking the Sunday notes from Steve Simmons, that's only for a month. So I'm just doing the math in my head. Right. Do you still

have a Christmas party at the holiday party at the Toronto Sun? I was going to say, do you have a problem paying for news? We do not have a Christmas party per se, like we used to out in a place, like a venue outside of the newsroom. But we do a very quaint potluck in the newsroom. And I believe Post Media as a company

invites us up to the 11th floor and we do some kind of lunch thing there as well. Does Mr. Steve Simmons attend these functions? I see Steve Simmons very rarely because he is out and about covering things. I saw him in the newsroom the other day. You know, he's funny. He puts me on to things like where should I get some good Chinese wonton soup in the area. So I rely on him for culinary advice more than sports inside stuff. Unlike yourself,

obviously you're a keen sports fan, I can tell. Well, as a music fan, I'm also a big music fan. And since you're a big music fan, I should say, I hope. Should we talk about music at any point? Yes. Don't worry. It's coming, Jane. It's all about the journey, not the destination. Okay. I'll take your word for it. Steve Simmons kicked out the jams and it was fantastic. What does that mean exactly? So he tells me ahead of time, he says, Mike, these are my 10 favorite songs of all time. Yes. I load them up in the soundboard and I play them and he tells us all why he loves the song.

Well, why did we not arrange this? Because I don't typically let people do this on their first visit. Oh, I see. Steve had to come back a second time. I see. Training wheels off, then I can come back. Right. Like we do a deep dive and then it's coming.

But all good things. If this goes well, maybe you can come back with that. Are you getting a feeling about this at all right now? It's all good. Okay, good. It's all good. Fantastic. Absolutely.

In fact, it's going to get better here. I have a... Jane, on this day in 1971, so this exact day in 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono release Happy Christmas, War is Over. Lennon was the first among the former Beatles to release an original Christmas song after the band disbanded in 1970.

So this Happy Christmas would be followed by George Harrison's Ding Dong Ding Dong, which I don't remember. Do you know this song? Ding Dong, Ding Dong? Can You Hum a Few Bars? I wish. I should have loaded that one up.

Of course, I don't like this song, but it's played ad nauseum. Not the one I'm about to say. This one I like. Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time I don't like. What do you think of Simply Happy? A little jaunty for me. I don't like it. A little earnest. A little too on the nose.. I don't like it. A little earnest.

A little too on the nose. Too on the nose. We just said the same thing. Because that's the go-to expression. Yes. And Ringo Starr, and this wasn't until 1999, but Ringo Starr finally released

an original Christmas song, I Want to Be Santa Claus. Not a big hit. I don't remember this one. But you know, of all the Beatles, and I can't believe I can say this, he's the one I i've interviewed the most so he's the one currently i love the most because he's a lovely person to talk to because he's uh i could imagine he'd be more accessible i feel

he does that all-star band that he does and he does and you know for years like i don't know let's say the last 10 to 15 years he has has rehearsed in either Casinorama or Fallsview. And these are both two-hour drives for me, so I have gone up and had the opportunity to do one-on-ones and see the launch of those tours. So I'm not kidding. The last time I interviewed Ringo, he said, see you in two years, Jane.

And I mean, and he means it. He knows I'm going to be back. It's like, it's a tradition let's say so it's always a pleasure after all this time just to continue to talk to him is he the only beetle you've talked to uh well one-on-one i mean i know some people can't press conferences but i don't i mean i did a paul mccartney press conference backstage at um when it was still the air canada center now the scotia bank arena uh before a show started there. And I think I asked a question,

but to me, it's just like a mass, it's a mass experience. I don't think you asking one question at a press conference means you've really interviewed someone. It means you've asked them one question. To me, an interview is like what's happening today. It has to be a chance to react to their response.

Exactly. Otherwise, you're just... Absolutely. And press conferences are messy because everyone has their own agenda and things go all over the place. As you know, with a good interview, it's a great conversation. And it can go all over the place too, but you're kind of guiding that person.

Or sometimes they guide you. It just depends on what they say. Interesting. And we'll talk a lot about some of your your more memorable interviews for sure as this show progresses. Now I'm thinking I need to invite this Paul guy over to Toronto, Mike. He's got to come down to the base. Paul McCartney? Paul McCartney?

Yeah. You think it's going to happen? No. Wouldn't that be fantastic if he just pulled up? I'm a realist, Jane. I know that'll never, ever happen. Hey, if Hugh Dillon blew you off. Well, it's PR. I don't think

Hugh Dillon knew about this. His PR person did that. Yeah, he's a lovely guy and he's a good talker. Yeah, I heard. I want to have him on. He's got the acting part and he's got the singing part. He's got that story of like addiction and triumphing and cleaning up and there's a whole like...

And a very close parallel career with the hip because they're all from kingston that's so he grew up with gordowney and the guys and uh has some great stories about that absolutely so remember the time is brought to you by fast time watch and jewelry repair they've been doing quality watch and jewelry repairs for over 30 years jane have you ever gone to uh back when there were Sears in this country, did you ever go to a Sears to get your battery, your watch battery replaced or a watch fixed?

A lot of people would use the Sears outlets for that. That was Fast Time. They were just being forced to be called Sears. But now that Sears is gone, Fast Time has opened up a bunch of locations because they can't be in Sears anymore because, you know, they don't exist. So if you go to

FastTimeWatchRepair.com to find out a location near you, you can get 15% off any regular priced watch battery installation. If you mentioned, you heard about them on Toronto Mic'd. And they never do that, James. Can I just say, we just turned, we took such a big left turn. I didn't know where

you were going with this. I like to keep you on your keep you on your toes absolutely i don't want you to fall asleep i don't think it's gonna happen once maestro fresh west came in and he's a sweetheart by the way great experience but he sat where you're sitting and for like i'd say for a good 40 minute chunk of the interview his eyes were closed but he was still answering my questions and he was still interesting and seemed kind of engaged. And then afterwards, I asked him about it, and he said he was just resting his eyes. He was tired. But I was worried.

I was worried he was falling asleep. I have this thing about singers when they close their eyes and sing. I don't like it. I think the eyes are the windows to your soul. I want to see your eyes when you're singing. I'm with you, and I want to see your eyes when I'm interviewing you. Imagine you're interviewing Ringo Starr. And he's just nodding off.

You'd be wondering if you were boring him, right? Yeah. No. I mean, you know, yeah. I find that a little unsettling. Let's put it that way. That's a good word. Unsettling. Unsettling. When you were in Vancouver,

is this when you decided you wanted to i would say become an author but apparently that's not the right term but become a writer sure uh yes very young 16 years old full of um full of hope and promise well i was gonna say piss and vinegar but the hope and promise is even better you know it was the early 80s there was the punk scene it was less or so in vancouver than it was in early 80s. There was the punk scene. It was lesser so in Vancouver than it was in Toronto. But absolutely. I mean, first and foremost, a journalist. I knew that's what I wanted to do.

I did like 10 years, or not 10 years, 8 years of that. And before I got the transfer between Canadian Press Vancouver and Canadian Press Toronto. And that's when I strictly started doing all entertainment. But how do you end up at Canadian Press Vancouver? Oh, well, to school I went to UBC for a year did creative writing I thought I might be an author there's that word you love uh and actually write um plays screenplays books and then I decided I have to spend four more years here uh you know learning my craft or I could go to BCIT for broadcast journalism. At that time,

it was like an 85% job placement. So I did two years at BCIT and I got my first job in radio and Kamloops. Do you know where Kamloops is, Mike? It's in British Columbia. In the interior of British Columbia. Near Prince George. No. Not even close. In the interior, think like

more Kelowna, Kamloops, ski country. A lot of skiing. In any event, I lasted two whole months, came back and got a job at CJOR All Talk Radio, where I did newscasts every hour and I did three shifts of reporting a week. So I really got my, cut my teeth on hard news reporting. And then I just started saying, hey, all of these movies are filming here. Can I do a Hollywood North show? So I did that every week. And then I noticed like, I could get interviews on the set. So I started writing those. And then I applied for the job at, after a short stint in television at CKVU, which is now probably Citi, I ended up at Broadcast News

and Canadian Press in news. And then again, I just started saying to people, all of this entertainment is being generated out of this province and city because people are shooting so many series and films here. And I just started continuing to visit sets and doing interviews. And that really kind of got me more and more interested in that kind of writing.

And is it... And all the while going to concerts, should I say, for myself. Yeah, because you love music. Yes, I do. You're an author who loves music. I absolutely am. I'm going to keep calling you an author. Why not? Now, you're at the Canadian Press, and

this husband of yours is at Canadian Press. Is that a coincidence, or is that where you meet the guy? That is where I meet the guy, and I will not be telling you that story. Oh, no. Is that saving that or is that where you meet the guy? That is where I meet the guy and I will not be telling you that story. Oh, no. Is that saving that for your book? But let's say the, do you have like the B-sides for this show? Let's do the B-sides and that's the story of Jane and Neil.

You can't give me a taste of this story? I'm so intrigued. Love at first sight? That's the short version. Is it love or lust? Oh, Mike, always love. Okay, good. No, I don't agree. Love at first sight? That's the short version. Is it love or lust? Oh, Mike, always love. Okay, good. No, I don't agree.

Why am I saying that? It can be lust and turn into love. That happens all the time. That's very true, but sometimes you just know. Okay, and this is in Toronto, right? Not in Vancouver. No, this is in Vancouver, Mike. That's why I'm saying this is a B-side story.

It's a very long story. Maybe we don't play any music and we're just talking about this. No. I am so waiting for you to play something that I really am excited to hear. Oh, you haven't been excited to hear John Lennon? Who else did I play? Oh, yeah. Barenaked Ladies?

You don't like the Barenaked Ladies? I do like the Barenaked Ladies, but I gave you this whole list. I really thought about it. And we haven't played anything off that list. It's coming so soon. But I just want to find out. Because now we have you in Toronto. Yes.

At Canadian Press. Yes. But you've been at The Sun. How long have you been at The Sun? Since 95. So I moved here in 92 from Vancouver. And then three years later, the job at The Sun came up and I applied. And you know when you apply for something like I've got nothing to lose?

That's really how I went at it. I thought, it sounds like an amazing job. I still like my job at CP. Why not? And I just happened to have a great interview. And even in the interview, they said, even if we don't give you this job, we'll think about you for other jobs. So I really hit it off with my two bosses there.

And then as luck would have it, they hired me. Good. And I mean, there have it, they hired me. Good. And I mean, there's a lot of people at The Sun that I was, because I just had Mike Zeisberger in here. Zeis. Yeah, he's a great guy. Love him.

Miss him. Yeah, right. And he took another gig because he said he saw writing on the wall. He was telling me this story. And what is the writing on the wall? I know. What's the crystal ball? Have you seen the writing on the wall? What's the crystal ball saying?

I don't have the crystal ball. But another gentleman who was here was Jim Slotek. Yes, he took a buyout. Right. What's the crystal ball? Have you seen me writing on the wall? What's the crystal ball saying? I don't have the crystal ball. But another gentleman who was here was Jim Slotek. Yes. He took a buyout. Right. He took the buyout. I always get confused who took what. So he took the buyout.

Yes. But still at the sun is Liz Braun, right? Liz Braun and I are the last two entertainment columnists standing. Mark Daniel is our boss half the time. They've kind of split us between news and entertainment, both of us. So, yeah, the entertainment department sadly kind of imploded. Four people took buyouts and left. Can you remind me who the four were?

Absolutely. Jim Slotek, Bill Harris, Steve Tilley, and Bruce Kirkland. Oh, yeah, Bruce. Yes. So, would you share? I know you're still at the Sun. Yes. I don't want you to piss anybody off or anything but uh like too late for that mike oh can you because when i

had slow tech for example he did a comparison of what it was like back in like the 90s compared to and he would know because he was there longer than i uh because everyone always said oh jane you just missed the good times so i guess he had these crazy christmas parties like i missed all of that um but you know the heart wants what the heart wants and I wanted that job and so I said yes to it and it's not as if like this is not specific to the sun

this is specific to the whole industry and radio people will tell you it and I know TV people will tell you we're all hurting from the lack of advertising so it's not anything new it's been going on for years people have been predicting the death of print for as long as I've been doing print,

and it's still there in a much diminished form, sadly, in terms of just the number of writers that we get to have in the newsroom every day. But we're all still there, and we're all still trying. It's one of those things where basically the internet shows up, and it disrupts the whole thing. And then at some point, and again, I'm not an expert, but I just monitor that. At some point, we all kind of decided we shouldn't have to pay for journalism. It's just sort of like a mindset. Well, look what

happened to the music industry. Very similar. Suddenly people were not buying music. They were downloading, streaming, and there was no, and people trying to figure out a way to monetize that. So they're still trying to figure out a way to successfully monetize the digital version of news. Because again, torontosun.com is a very viable site, and you can read all your news that is in the print paper the next day there. But it's constantly being updated. It's live and exciting, I think. We do a lot of videos for almost every story I do, a video now. It's embedded next to my print story online. So that's interesting too. That's another way of engaging, right? And also making money because you can attach ads to videos.

Yes, true. Very, very true, true. So again, I know that there's no specifics on this. And don't worry, we are going to get the music. Jane, we're going to get the music. I promise you. But there was a big announcement from the federal government recently about

I think it was like $600 million in some kind of tax incentive. Yeah, $535 million and change. Yeah, I think you're right. Yes. Yeah, $595 million maybe. But yeah, anyways. At that point, who's counting? You've all overbid. But I need to know, and you don't have specifics at this point. I do not.

Is this something you welcome? You think this is important? Well, certainly the heads of the media companies have said it's welcoming news. Whether it will trickle down to us folks, I don't know yet. I certainly hope so. And post-merger with post-media. Yes. I mean, I'm just wondering, is it still the same feeling?

It's just smaller. It's frankly just smaller. I mean, I'm just wondering, is it still the same feeling or did the culture change at all? It's frankly just smaller. Like we were in our old brick building. I don't know if people remember that old red brick building on King Street near Cherburn and Parliament. I was happy to be in that building for a long time. It was there a lot longer than I was. It felt like ours, you know. Now there's a little feeling like we're a bit of a tenant

in a big apartment, a big high-rise in downtown Toronto. You know, you walk into the sun, there's still camaraderie. We still give each other a hard time. You wouldn't necessarily want your children around us all the time. But we have a good time when we can. But otherwise, everybody's working pretty hard because there's fewer of us. Basement Dweller has a question.

He's a regular listener of Toronto Mic'd. And he says, why do so many local music critics eventually make the jump to becoming film critics? And he points out some examples. You, Peter Howell, Craig McInnes, Bruce Kirkland. Is there any? Jim, I think. is there any Jim I think

I'm going to say Jim actually maybe Jim did more TV and then into film I think it depends on your interest I certainly think that before I was writing about music I was writing about like I told you films in Vancouver that were filming there and TV shows

it depends on your interest I mean if you have a legitimate interest and knowledge of that subject, why not? There's also kind of a stamina thing with music. How many nights can you go out and turn around and wake up in the morning and do interviews? Because nobody really cares that much about your schedule. You're expected to jump through theirs. So if Mick Jagger wants to talk to me at nine in the morning after I've been out till one or two or three writing up a review from the night before, I say yes. I don't say I couldn't possibly do that. So it's, I think from what I know of the two beats, music is, it's exhausting. I can imagine. To sum that up. I can imagine. I've

already given you the six pack of beer from Great Lakes Brewery, but I also would like you to have, and I know your husband might not. Yeah, he's the vegetarian preference guy, but you do eat your meat lasagna. I believe that's a meat lasagna in front of you, but it's an amazing, tasty. There's a lot of it too. Palma's Kitchen.

I might bring this to the Christmas potluck. Would that be bad form or good form? Good form because it's a bunch of tasty lasagna from a wonderful West, well, we'll call it Mississauga. Is it frozen, Mike? It is frozen. I just took that out of the freezer when I saw your car drive. Fantastic.

Am I allowed to say you're in a cute blue car? Yes. I wrote a whole story for The Sun about how we gave up our 91 Volkswagen Golf after, you can do the math, because it would not die. It kept going. So it was a 91? It was a 91. It was a beautiful car. And how long ago did you give it up?

Last November. Very proud of you. So we brought my very first brand new car in my entire life I bought with my husband. And it's a cute little Fiat. We get around the city fast. No, very, very. I know you can't miss it. I love that you're playing this music as we're speaking of Fiat.

Well, I was. Yes. Okay. So let me first say thank you to Palma Pasta for this. They have four locations in Mississauga and Oakville, including the new Palma's Kitchen, which is near Mavis and Burnhamthorpe. And you got to check it out. They got hot and fresh food,

a retail store, seating, great coffee, pizza, everything you'd want. It's right there. Go to palmapasta.com for the specific address and directions.

Palma Pasta is Mississauga's best fresh pasta in Italian food. And Jane, I promise you, you're going to write me an email when you finish. You're going to cook that in the oven, I think 45 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You're going to write me an email to tell me how much you loved your Palma pasta. Sure.

That's my prediction. Or if you bring it to that potluck, they're all going to be reading it. I'm going to tell you right now on the air that I am going to bring it to the potluck and we will tweet out reactions from the potluck. Well, you can't take that back now. That's on the record. This has been recorded. It's a promise I can keep.

Public record. Bob Ouellette is a good friend of mine. People might know him as Bingo Bob. He's on the air in Oshawa, on their rock station in Oshawa. Right now? Not right now. Weekdays, afternoons.

No, he doesn't do the weekend shift. But Bob wants me to ask you if you've ever reviewed a concert with under a three. He's the one who wrote that. Oh, he's the one who's obsessed with my, he believes my rating is four out of five. I don't recall ever seeing a negative review from her. Oh, has he been reading me solidly for 23 years would be my reaction first of all and absolutely i have and the other weird part is this year we went from out of five which i've been doing for 22 years to out of four and that's because due to the lack of film writers we run a lot of wire reviews now and they're the ap and washington post ones are out of four. So to streamline our rating, I now have to review concerts out of four.

So up until the beginning of this year, I was reviewing out of five. And absolutely I have. And I guess... Bob's trying to... That's an antagonistic way. Well, no, it's okay. He's calling you out on the back here.

See, because the other thing too, you have to remember, is that often I... Back in the day when we had me and freelancers and club writers i would often put my hand up for the reviews that i wanted the groups i wanted to see good bands so good bands uh but you know people lose their voice people lose their timing people lose their minds things happen um what about liam gallagher were you at that uh liam gallagher show at the

rebel is it called the rebel now i can't remember the call yeah oh the one very recently he uh didn't do an encore and he did like i don't know he had 45 minutes i tragically had a ticket and can you believe it i said no uh because there was a reason and i'm not sure if i had an interview that night or something in the morning but i was so happy after i saw what happened that i wasn't there because normally i love the gallagher brothers they're right up there in my top 20 interviews, both of them equally. They're so funny. Which one's your preference?

Well, Noel is kind of a born comic. Like he is, is very zippy with the one liners. Uh, but you know, then you get Liam going. If you can understand Liam,

he's pretty funny. Uh, Noel is just, uh, I mean, he could have been a standup comedian. I think I, i laugh pretty hard when i talk to him when i look at those guys i think noel is the uh deep thinker like noel is

sort of the the i want to say the brains almost seems to be more of like the the pretty boy who kind of was born with the the better looks and kind of knows it i used to call noel gallagher the brain trust now um this was in the days where they were at the height of their success. He was writing incredible songs. And Liam obviously went on to a solo career at that time that wasn't as successful. So everyone kind of predicted, you know, that Liam wouldn't really last without Noel. They have to various degrees. Now, Liam is the one really wanting to come back to Oasis.

Noel is not interested. That's right. Now, Liam is the one really wanting to come back to Oasis. Noel is not interested. That's right. So it remains to be seen how much money can someone throw at that group to get them to come back together. I don't know, but wouldn't we all love to see Oasis? I mean, it was fun no matter what was going on.

It was a fun night of music. makes you wonder how like i mean it sounds like uh it sounds like uh don't confuse liam was bullying noel uh extensively throughout their youth and that noel still refuses to kind of do this like i mean i've heard noel talk about the uh bullying and uh like just uh that that uh he inflicted upon do you know that liam was hit over the head with a hammer as a young man something there's another brother too right and i'm not sure which brother did that or a third party outside of the family did it. But I always thought, you know, that might have explained some things. It does explain some things, actually.

Not recommended. No, not at all. Please don't try that at home. Do not try that at home. Okay, let's start by here. Actually, let's start with a question about music so we can get into some music here. How long has it been now, Mike? How long do you have? It's start by here. Let's start. Actually, let's start with a question about music so we can get into some music here. How long has it been now, Mike? How long do you have?

It's been 40 minutes. And here we go. This is a question from Brian Gerstein. He's a sales representative with PSR Brokerage. And this gets us kind of kicked off into the music. Oh, I'm so excited. Propertyinthe6.com Hi, Jane.

Brian Gerstein here, sales representative with PSR Brokerage and proud sponsor of Toronto Might. You can call or text me at 416-873-0292 if you're planning to buy and or sell in the next six months. Jane, you recently interviewed Gene

Simmons, who is here speaking at the Money Club, promoting his new book, 27, The Legend and Mythology of the 27 Club, and his new book, 27, The Legend and Mythology of the 27 Club, and his new soda line, Gene Simmons Money Bag Sodas. It just so happens at the same time Gene sat down with you, he was also sitting right in front of me, watching Davis Cup tennis with Canada playing the Netherlands.

I thought he was here to do promotional work for Invictus MD in Vancouver. Oh, I don't know where the rest of that went. That's never happened before. Was that a long, internal question? I can tell you. Yeah, that's never happened before. But I can tell you, because I did listen to it originally, he's going to ask if, is there anything that Gene won't sell? Like, will he slap his name on anything?

Like, is this guy all about the shillery? Is shillery a word? I'm going to say yes. I mean, no. No, there's nothing he won't sell. I think he's very interested in marketing. He could have just done marketing. He is a salesman through and through.

He also happens to be in a huge rock band that apparently is going to actually say goodbye to us. Next year, I believe they said goodbye to us quite a few decades ago, and then they just kept coming back. You know, it's funny. Some people don't like talking to Gene. In fact, I just interviewed Roger Ashby,

who's giving up his chum spot after 50 years. Right, December 5th. Yeah, and I said, who are your best and worst? And Gene was one of his worst. And I have just not had that experience with him. So you find he'll be engaging and i have once talked to him at the plaza palm court for three and a half hours um it all had to get whittled down to a much tinier get to pay him for his time no no not at all not at all um yeah mean, it's been a couple of decades of interviewing him

and I think if you're not easily offended, and I'm really not, you can sit and have a pretty good conversation with him.

I think he does turn some people off and I understand why. I've heard him, for example, I heard him once talking to

Strombo and I thought he was engaging and interesting and then I heard him talk to a friend of mine on his podcast and I thought he

was a dink. Like I thought Gene Simmons was a dink. To your friend. Yes. Kind of short and just really self-centered and not engaging. Like, so maybe there's two genes and maybe when you got a three and a half hour. Yeah, that was a long time ago. And I mean, he must have liked you. I think so. I think he my friend uh who showed up later from people magazine in any event um interesting there yes i mean nothing you know nothing happened it was just kind of oh she's going to join us for like the last half an hour of this in any event um yeah i think repeated interviews with any artist whoever they are it's going to get better and better because they're going to be more comfortable with you. And that, I mean, Ringo is a perfect example of that,

you know, after all this time of talking to him. And he's very engaging. And Jean as well. Let's start with some of the best interviews. I can bring this up. By the way, you control. You tell me when you want me to. Let's just play this whole song.

Happy to. You know the song's over six minutes long? I believe it. I need to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste. I've been around for a long, long year. Stole many a man's soul and faith. It is one of the greatest opening lines.

Absolutely. So much happening in that intro, musically and lyrically. I love it. It's fantastic. And Mick has a lot of good opening lines because there's a lot of big Rolling Stones songs where that opening line is sort of epic. He catches your attention. Yeah.

Yeah. Tell me about, we're going to start, obviously, we're going to start With Mick and Keith But tell me about Interviewing Mick Jagger And Keith Richards Well this is a really Actually great story

And hopefully one day I'll write my book And or movie First date The Toronto Sun Oh you're going to have a week To learn the computer system And get your picture taken

For your press pass And etc Walked in Jane We need your picture taken You your press pass and etc. Walked in, Jane, we need your picture taken. You're going to New York tomorrow to interview Mick Jagger. I kid you not, my first day at the Sun. And so I said, well, I'm glad I took this job. Went off, interviewed him, perfectly charming. I had done phoners with him before, at least one at Canadian Press.

So I kind of knew what I was getting into. Came back, wrote my story. It was my first story in the sun. Then they said, Jane, you're going back in two days to interview Keith Richards. Oh, so you came back. Yes, I flew back. And I said, couldn't I have just talked to Keith

when I was there two days ago? Like, I just did not get it. But the wonderful thing about all that was you learned, or I learned, how it goes. Mick Jagger, very pleasant, very polite, very funny, very engaging. Looking at his clock the whole time. Fifty minutes is up. You're out the door.

Keith Richards walks in. He has a big drink. He says, I said, what are you drinking there? He says, it's cranberry with a dash of vodka. And I knew it was the complete opposite. And after 45 minutes, they literally picked him up by his armpits and took him out of the room. Wow. Because he was not going anywhere. And he couldn't have been more charming and more with it, frankly.

And great stories. Wonderful, wonderful conversation. and great stories, wonderful conversation. And it was only because there was a Japanese TV crew waiting down the hallway to engage as well that he was removed from my room. We could still be talking right now if those people hadn't come. Amazing.

Is there any bigger bands still together? There's no bigger bands still together, right? It's very debatable. I've talked to, over the years, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. I've told you about my Beatles conversations. But an active band, they're going to tour again, right?

Well, yeah. They just announced this US leg. We're all hoping they come through Canada. I know Michael Weckerle, who just reopened the Elmo sign anyways, and maybe next spring we'll start seeing bands there. Quick thing on Weckerle is that his mom taught at my high school. Aw, nice lady.

Yeah, he was well-liked. I never actually had her, but she was there. Yeah, what did she teach? I should know this, right? I feel like it was Latin maybe or something like that. Oh, I wish I could throw the Latin to you. In any event, there's obviously history with the Elmo and the Stones. He would love to get them back to open that particular venue.

Right. But in the meantime, yeah, absolutely. I don't think there is a bigger band right now still touring stadiums after all this time. Do you remember the Garys? The Garys concert? The two Garys, yes. Now, remember when I said to you I did not grow up in Toronto? That's right.

So I, yes, came to know who the two Garys were after the fact. But absolutely, I do know who you're talking about. Only brought them up because they were telling me a great story about, well, one of the Garys who's here was telling me a great story about how they brought the police to Toronto for the first time to play the horseshoe. And over two nights, apparently only nine people, this is the story this told me,

nine people showed up over two nights. But in his underwear, Gordon Sumner's Sting would be kicking great encores. They were amazing. And apparently a few months later, Roxanne breaks and they're the big deal. Right, right, right.

What about interviewing Sting? Well, Sting's fun. Cause, um, Sting was, uh, these are in the good old days where we went to locations to interview people. And, um, he was, I went to his apartment in New York city, uh, once, and, uh, it was a beautiful apartment. I don't know if he still lives there. And it was several floors. And they said, go up that spiral staircase and i was sitting on this big burgundy velvet couch in front of a fireplace and i remember i was all stretched out and happy and uh he walked he was playing piano in another part of the apartment and i could hear him play and then kind of stop and then i knew he was coming up and i remember complimenting him on his couch knew he was coming up and I remember complimenting him on his couch uh in his apartment and um and then you know as Brits like taking a little bit of the piss and that's maybe what has endeared me

to some of these people over the years is that I'm not always um reverential uh I like to have fun I like to see if they have a bit of a sense of humor about themselves and their image and at that point he was nominated for Grammy. And I said, are you going to go that night? And he said, I believe I'm washing my hair. And I said, well, that shouldn't take too long. And he started laughing because, of course, Sting was getting less and less hair on top.

But he loved that. I said that. And it's the same for most of them. They want to have it. I mean, think about it. If you're doing interview after interview after interview, you to have a few laughs don't you well you want to i think which because i mean i do i don't get sting on the show or mick jagger okay but i get you know jane stevens but you want to put them at ease people comfortable they're gonna be a better

conversation absolutely and if you're just holding your notepad with your interview questions and you will not go off that topic, they'll sense it too. And they'll know that you're just kind of maybe not super comfortable or confident or know your stuff. All I can say about that is know what, you know, listen to the album,

know the artist, and hopefully you'll have a good time because I interview a lot of people and they say, thank you for listening to the album. And that always cracks me up. Doesn't everybody? That's my job.

Yeah, like that's part of the research. No, I mean, I know people who interview authors about a book and never read the book where I think it's important. I don't understand that at all. At least do the fast style reading where you kind of cherry pick interesting parts. Yeah, I don't actually think you're doing your job.

And it sounds like you do your job because you're having these great chats of these legends including this Irish guy I'm listening to right now. Yes.

I've had some pretty pretty fun conversations with this band. And you know when they say do you remember where you were when I remember hearing boy when I was little with this band. And, you know, when they say, do you remember where you were when... I remember hearing Boy

when I was a little, you know, teenage kid in Vancouver at some wild party and being out on a lawn and someone saying, come inside, you have to listen to this song for the first time. And I remember that feeling of discovering, you know, the feeling of discovering a band. There's nothing like it,

especially for your teenager i think uh there's a there's a connection between adolescence and hormones and great music and uh so to many many many years later get to talk to bono initially on the phone but what the most memorable time was actually quite a scene they They were doing a surprise appearance at The Edge. And at that point, it was at Queen and Young. I don't know if their studio is still there, but they showed up. They just piled into the studio. And they said to me, Jane, when Bono leaves, you are going to jump into the limo with Bono and drive to Rogers Center. And they were playing the first of two shows that night. That was the tour of the 360 degree tour where they were in the kind of, they called it the

spaceship. And so I get in the car first, everyone's chanting Bono, Bono. And he jumps in and I look at him and I say, do you want a few seconds? And he goes, no. And I could tell that he was very used to this uh kind of adulation and chanting and then we and then we had a police escort and i said to him this is this is underway so quickly i'm not going to get my 15 20 minutes i'm more i'm worried that we're going to get to the venue in five right and he goes oh no no no you're going to get all the time you need and sure enough we sat parked underneath the the Rogers Center for another 10 minutes, 15 minutes.

And eventually they knocked on the door because you know me, I'll take what I can get. And they said, well, he's got to go now. And he said, thank you very much. And then I went inside and it gets better. I got one-on-ones with the rest of the guys. And they came through a dressing room one after the other. I got 15 minutes with each of them. then the part the hard part of my job started i had to file on deadline before the concert started so you can imagine between five and eight all of this is happening

and i'm completely freaking out but what we ended up doing was we ran the bono chat first with my review of the first night show. And then we ran the other three the following day. Because we knew there was no way I could write four interviews and a concert review. Were they at the edge because the guy's name is The Edge? They were at the edge? The Edge was at the edge? Is that right?

Oh, I see, Mike. You're being funny. I'm being funny. Sorry. I apologize. I won't do that. I won't try that again. I know.

No, no. I don't think so. I'm trying to remember who was hosting back that. I won't try that again. I know. No, no. I don't think so. I'm trying to remember who was hosting back then, but it was quite a scene. I don't know about you, but I've never been in a police motorcade in my life. And to be with Bono, one of the biggest rock stars in the world, you were asking me. Yeah, we're talking about these big bands. And now I'm thinking, yeah, well, Kate the Rolling Stone is a legendary band, but U2 is a big effing band.

Yeah, U2 is up there for sure. And I'll never forget that experience. I mean, it was quite something, too. I kind of felt like I was in his shoes for a good 15 minutes. And it's an interesting way to live under the microscope, let's say. Now I want to know who was hosting at the Edge. What year are we talking here? Well, that was, okay.

Because I could hear a good guess. Well, you take a guess. We could look it up. It's the 360 tour, 360 world tour. And they did two nights. And then I believe they came back

and did one or two more nights. So I'm going to say that was maybe three tours ago. So if they do tours every two or three years or four years, let's say a decade ago, I'm guessing.

I can't look it up for you. I'm trying to think who could have hosted that. Josie Dye, could she have hosted that? I thought it was a guy. Or was it Alan Cross? They usually send him sometimes if he's there at the time. I think I would remember if it was Alan Cross. As you can imagine, I was in a fairly hyped up state because I was about to jump into a car with Bono. So I wasn't paying that much attention to who was actually hosting the show and um but other than

the fact like I'm getting in a car with him and seriously and then and also like and then I have to write and it has to make sense and I can't get anything wrong so there's always that too right I'm trying to look up 360 Degrees Tour. I think that's what it was called. It was kind of a strange name. But it was because you could see them under that spaceship. Yeah, that was... I'm not bad.

2009. I said 10 years ago. Okay. So it was nine years ago. Ooh. No Line on the Horizon was the album. I guess that year is kind of a sad year for The Edge because that's the year Martin Streak took his own life, 2009.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. December of 2009. To associate that sad memory. Just realized that. I'm sorry to hear that. Well, it's too bad. And now I'm thinking, yes,

Strombo had his own show that was on there. Anyways, we won't spend too much time if it was like a if it was a Strombo or an Alan it could have been like Adam Adam I can't remember Adam Ricard

yeah maybe maybe before I knew Adam okay interesting now I the list of concerts you shared with me ahead of time are so lengthy

and you don't have four hours do you have four hours for this no you don't whatever you like Mike I'm here now let's make the most of it

well let's talk about this one for sure. We'll be right back. She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl Hey, babe, your hair's all right Hey, babe, let's go out tonight Man, David Bowie. I love him. He's my number one. Still. Well, on that note, I'm bringing down Rebel Rebel,

and let's talk about your favorite David Bowie song. Okay, don't make me cry, Mike. Don't make me cry. Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Ground control to Major Tom. Take your protein pills and put your helmet on. Ground control to Major Tom. One, two, three, four, five, six. Commencing countdown, engines on

2. Check ignition and may God's love be with you Talk to me about David Bowie. I could talk to you for hours about David Bowie. I'll make the time. I'll cancel my slow and fun time. Really? No. You'll have to come back.

Okay. Well, maybe start. I mean, let me hear your voice. Why do you love David Bowie? What makes him special? Well, I think, you know, we were talking earlier about the connection between being a teenager and discovering a really exciting artist and that connection that you make and I had an older sister and so she was playing and she was going like she told me later she went to see David Bowie in the 70s I mean I wasn't old enough um I you know the first David

Bowie tour I saw in Vancouver was the Let's Dance album in the 80s, and it was so mainstream and commercial. And I came to appreciate, well, I already did appreciate his earlier stuff because of my sister. So I was listening to that music through her. And as a little kid or a young teenager going, this guy is different every time. And it's so exciting that he is a chameleon and that he's soaking up so many different influences. And not only that, he is a world-class performer. Like, so it's not just about the records. It is about

the live performances. And as I got to see more and more and more of him over the years, particularly in my job at The Sun, it was so different every time and so exciting to see what he was going to do. You know, the guy who trained as a mime. It's such a strange thing that he did that, but it made him a very precise performer and very aware of what he was putting out to the world and very artistic in the truest sense, a real artist, David Bowie,

I think. I was really lucky to see his play, Lazarus, two months before he died. I went to New York to see it, and it was the Man Who Fell to Earth character repositioned in a play that he wrote with some of the songs from the early 70s and mid-70s. And I was so honored to see it. And I kept thinking, is he here tonight? Is he here tonight? Because he staged it in a little 200-room theater in the Lower East Side. And I know he didn't live very far. And then, of course, we lost him.

It was such a shock to lose him two months later. Because very few people knew how sick he was because he was going to that theater every day and workshopping Lazarus and people just didn't know how close he was to death. So to be that productive to the very end of your life and to be so creative, still firing on all pistons and going out the way he wanted to go out with a new album, a new play musical, a new video. Remember, there was a video. An unbelievable video.

People could not believe that this man was still creating right to the very end of his life. And I guess in hindsight, we shouldn't be surprised. He was David Bowie. And you met him. I did. I interviewed him on the phone more than meeting him, but the one time I met him, it was so bizarre. And if you ever have fellow music critics,

Ben Rayner from The Star or Brad Wheeler from The Globe on, I don't know if I've told you. Ben said he, no, but Ben did say he would come on. I just said, he's a very busy guy. I got to get him in here. Yes. We all entered this room. I can't remember, maybe the Four Seasons.

And it was like a, it looked like a newscast so David was behind a desk and then we had our names and placards, like four of us and then there was someone from the Post, I can't remember who it was, so the four of us and David and he had a crystal ball, I'm not making this up

and he was saying, I see in your future and he was very funny and he was telling us our fortunes before the interview part started, and it was kind of like what they call a four-on-one, just meaning we got all asked questions, but we knew each other. I certainly know Ben and Brad very well,

so we were at ease, and it was very funny. He was just very funny. I found him always just willing to have a laugh and not take it too seriously. And again, what we were speaking of earlier, where if you're doing dozens of these, maybe hundreds of these, you know, to be with somebody who's up for having a bit of a laugh and going off topic, I think they welcome it. And he was certainly smart and charming and funny and knowledgeable and inspiring and all the things you hope your rock star will be. Just before he passed, I had Em Griner on this show.

And Em was in this, again, we didn't know he was going to pass. So it was right before. It was like a month, I want to say, before. And we had a whole section devoted to where she just sang his praises because she, of course, she toured with him and sang with sang with him on stage like as a backup one of the backup singers of the for the tour and she just loved the guy and was just just so like yeah he's a creative genie he's an artist what you see is what you get i hope she said i hope she said that um you know what what you hoped he would be he was because of course i didn't work

with him i was a journalist and i always say to people when they say, what was he or she like? Well, you know, they are being recorded. I am taking notes. So most of them are going to be in their best behavior because they know I'm writing a profile. But Em would have a much better idea of the man because she was behind the scenes with him. She raved about him. I'm not surprised.

Here's a guy that whenever I have a 50-something-year-old sports writer on this show and we're gonna kick out the jams i know i'm gonna get some bruce like this is like uh i just know it's coming i don't know which bruce always but uh and by the way because i mentioned in uh he's not from the headstones he's from junk house but when tom Wilson was here, he told the best story about meeting Bruce Springsteen. All I'm going to say is a teaser to you if you ever want to listen. It was episode 399. Bruce Springsteen's tits.

That's all I'm going to say. And that will make sense when you listen to 399. You'll be glad you did. Wow. Tell me about talking to Bruce. Well, you know, I, in Vancouver, in my little way, was not, I hate to say it, a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. Now, that's because I had not seen him live. As soon as you see Bruce Springsteen live, you get it.

You go, my God, this man is like a preacher. And he's like a preacher for three to four hours. And it never really lets up. And, you know, the people that have been lucky enough to spend apparently thousands of dollars to go see him in New York. I'm so happy this is coming to Netflix, by the way, in December.

My boss, my entertainment boss, just went and spent quite a bit of money to see him. He said it was totally worth it. I just could never quite get to the spending. What is it? $750 to see Bruce for three hours on Broadway. I know a lot of people have. Damien Cox was the last episode.

He did that. And he said it was worth it. Yeah, he's a big fan though. Yeah, I'm a big fan too. The problem is I've seen him so many times. I don't feel compelled. I've also seen him alone. He did a solo show at the Air Canada Center that was really interesting.

So because I've been spoiled and seen him so many times, I didn't feel like I needed to make that pilgrimage. However, down in the basement of the Massey Hall, which is what we're getting to, when I got to speak to him, myself, a Globe and Mail writer, and a Star writer, that was pretty fantastic. I think we had about 45 minutes. It was, I guess, three on one.

And again, another guy, what you see is what you get. A very soulful person, a very honest person, knows his frailties, knows his strengths, great storyteller. You know, the best songwriters are the best storytellers as far as I'm concerned. And he is one of those guys. Did not disappoint in the slightest. I wish I could tell you I interviewed him again, but I haven't. I've asked every time he's come through. You know, frankly, some people don't need to do interviews anymore. And if you don't enjoy it as an exercise, why would you, right? If you don't have to do it.

I remember talking to Iggy Pop once and I said, you know, you really should do more of this because you're quite good at it. I mean, I just loved talking to Iggy Pop. And he's like, but don't you understand? It's an exchange of energy every time I do it. And it takes a lot out of me. It drains you. It does drain you.

And I get it now. But, you know, at the time I was like, you know, you should have your own radio show. He was so entertaining. Maybe he does now on Sirius or something. But he was so. Like speaking of Bruce, Little Stevie's got his own show. Yes, yes. And Little Stevie,

have I talked to Little Stevie? I don't think I have talked to Little Stevie. Is he Silvano? I don't think I have. Silvio. Are we talking about, what are we talking about? Sopranos.

Oh, the Sopranos, yes. Yeah, no, I haven't spoken to him, I don't think, over the years. I think I would remember that. But yeah, that one time in person will always rank right up there for me. And I saved all my cassettes because that's the kind of girl I am. So I have all my old interviews with all of these people I've interviewed over the years. Good for you because you could have a podcast and where you could, if you digitize this stuff.

Move over, Mike. I'm coming to your basement full time. TMDS welcomes you. I do other people's podcasts here. You do. It's part of my business. We should talk. Toronto Mike Digital Services, TMDS. Yes. Okay. We should talk.

Now, you mentioned some of these artists like David Bowie. You met him in person and you talked to him and then you had phoners. Yes. Right? I made a decision a while ago. I felt, and this is, I don't get paid the way you get paid by the sun, so you don't have the same choice, perhaps. But I've decided not to do phoners,

because I don't make enough money that I, unlike yourself, where you need to do phoners. I didn't have to do phoners. So I realized I didn't like phoners nearly as much as I like. Sorry, Bruce is finishing up right here. There goes Bruce, everybody. He's toweling off. He's toweling off. He's toweling off.

He's gone for a run. Yeah, he's like, okay, three more hours. That's right. I got to go see Bruce live. Maybe that's a lot of new appreciation for him. But phoners versus in person,

do you have a strong preference for in person or? Well, for sure, you get a better sense of somebody. Again, the eyes are, you know, whatever to your soul.

So you get, if someone's engaged or not engaged, if, you know, the whatever to your soul. So you, you get, if someone's engaged or not engaged, if, um, you know, they could be doing that, having their nails done while you're talking to them, you never know. Um, but you know, sometimes the challenge is to, um, turn someone around, you know, it happened with Ray Manzarek from the doors, believe it or not on the phone, he seems so uninterested. And then before I knew it, I think I called him on it. Once you're in the job long enough, you start to develop a confidence that your time is as important as theirs.

And you say, you know what? This doesn't seem to be working out for you today. We all have bad days. Would you like to do this another day? And I think I said something along those lines. And as soon as I said it... To Ray. To Ray Manzler.

And you know the doors were one of my still are one of my all-time favorite bands if you ask me you know dead or living who do you wish you could talk to Jim Morrison would be very near the top of that list as crazy as he was I would have loved to seen them live I would have loved to talk to him such a poet but anyways you know he really turned around Ray Manzik really turned around after the first two three or four questions that were just I could tell he wasn't into it and as soon as I called

him on it he came right around sometimes you have to do a reset like that if it's going that sideways like that or you need to do the reset and it's easier to do that on the phone in person they might walk out I guess if you I had recently had an experience like this with Molly Johnson.

What happened? Now I wish you would go listen to this and then come back. She came here. She was promoting the Kensington Market Jazz Festival. She sat there. It was the day Aretha Franklin died. That's a tough day.

Right. I guess there was that. I got this very uh strong impression that she did not like me she just did she was short and snappy and really rude actually before i started recording so then i go oh like crap i've never had a guest sorry you've just met her for the first time yeah yeah yeah yeah so this is happening and it's going real bad actually like i'm doing my normal thing which is like a light and trying to warm her up and then get, you know, I have questions about the infidels. You know, these are important questions.

Yes. We're doing our thing. 100 watt bulb is playing, right? And then it's going so badly. I have this thought of like, do I just send her home because she doesn't want to be here? And what would happen? Would you just say that podcast is no longer being scheduled? I don't know.

It's never happened before. So this is, and this was like episode three 60 something or something. So right. You've been doing it for a while. Yeah. We're in four Oh four. And this has been a long time.

Yeah. This was only, well, grief only died in like August or something like that. So, uh, bottom line is I made a decision to call her out on it. So I decided like,

I said openly, like I just frankly told her how she was making me feel and i told her like what i thought of what she was doing and then in this uh discussion where i'm doing this like i call it a reset of sorts i may have uh used the word diva but i said it like this i said something to the effect of um i'm get i was like we were talking about why she was being the way she was and i said i was getting diva-like vibes, and then this word diva triggered something with her where she went off on me again,

and it got much worse. Oh, no. I thought it was going to be a happy ending. Then it starts to warm up, and at the end of this episode, she takes a picture with me like every guest has, and she gave me a very warm hug before she waltzed over to

Lakeshore. I just finished the Tragically Hip song without talking about Gord. We will. We're going to talk about Gord. But anyway, so I'm just listening to you talk about that. The whole like I think the reset helped we put it out there and then I think we were able to like salvage it. It turned into what probably the most talked about episode I've ever

had. Because it was difficult. Yeah, it was unique. Kind of like the Gian, Billy... Billy Bob Thornton. Billy Bob Thornton, which was very talked about. Well, I always say to people, listen, if you are not into talking to me today or any day, just say no.

And I will move on and you will move on, Mike, to many hundreds of other people who do want to speak. Because I actually am at the point where I think my time is as important. Because I'm being pulled in so many different directions, especially now. And you're doing like not just now you do news, right? I do news, yeah. What kind of news? I know it's a little off, but what kind of news?

What did I do? What have I got coming up tomorrow? Because we do these things called Sunday and Monday features. I did a piece. Well, it's Sunday and Monday features. I did a piece, well, it's not that off topic. I did Roger Ashby. That's pretty much my neighborhood. Did you get a vibe that the man had no interest in actually retiring

but was told to... Oh, no! If you read my story, and I hope you will, he said to me that he had a two-year contract, and I guess they're negotiated every couple of years. I'm not really sure about radio. But they decided

the two years out, when he turned 69, 50 years, that's a good time. And also he talked about things like social media that he's not interested in and rebranding a little bit of the Chum show. Yeah, they rebranded it and they brought in Jamar McNeil from Chicago.

He's been on the show, and Roger's been on the show. And I got the feeling from Roger that he would go as long as they'd let him. Well, he did say to me that Bell Media have asked him to do something with the iHeartRadio app. Now, does that mean maybe his old interviews, him doing another? It'll be an oldie show. Yeah, another kind of show. I don't know.

I said, can you tell me more? And he said an oldie show. Yeah, another kind of show. I don't know. I said, can you tell me more? And he said, not right now. But he didn't say that. I mean, now, maybe he's not supposed to say that,

but he did not say that to me. You know, I get that a lot of times I have veterans who I think retired and they will basically come on the show and say they were

tapped on the shoulder and told their time was up. It's like Logan's run, right? You're 30, you die. And I'm making light of it, but rock and roll is a young man's game. And you know what the Edge said to me? I can't believe I get to drop this line on you. Do it.

I said, you know, they say rock and roll is a young man's game. And he said, you know, oh, I can't do the Irish accent. I wish I could. My grandfather's from Belfast. He said, but I still feel like a young man. That's not bad. And I said, okay, Edge, well, you know what? If you still feel like a young man, go for it.

And I do think there's another thing about rock and roll, a theory of mine. It does keep you young. You know, I asked Sammy Hagar when he was going to pack it in, and he said, what, am I supposed to golf? Like, he's not going to go golfing. And neither is Ozzy, by the way, you know? You know, earlier you talked about Keith Richards. he's not going to go golfing and neither is Ozzy by the way you know oh you know

earlier you talked about Keith Richards and when I think Keith I think I can't believe he's still alive it's like amazing right and Ozzy's another guy where I think they must have like a some special gene like in their DNA that sort of like protects them from the damage someone I don't know if this is true someone has told me that Keith Richards is like a chemist and that the way that he mixes things, whatever they are that he puts into his body, he kind of knows his tolerance for things. Famous last words. I know what I'm doing. So he knows what he's doing. With Ozzy, I just got the impression that he just, what is he

going to do with his time? If you think about it, these people are musicians. This is what they get up in the morning for. This is what they want to do with their lives so if you tell them you can't do this anymore now in some cases it's legitimate if they don't sound good live anymore or they can't they don't have physical stamina i get it i mean i just saw phil collins on a chair much like this uh on stage because he can't stand and he came on to stage with a cane, and I felt for the guy. Because he can still sing, but he cannot move right now. I could not believe he was in such tough physical condition and touring.

Maybe delay the tour? I don't know. It really threw me for a loop. And then his wonderful 17-year-old son, Nick, on drums, who was great, by the way. Interesting. Okay, cool. Cool.

All right. 45 seconds left in this song, but it's okay. I queued up a third Tragically Hip song. Oh, thank God. Because, again, there. All right. 45 seconds left in this song, but it's okay. I queued up a third Tragically Hip song because, again, there's a lot of great interviews you've done

and we only touched on some of them, but again, you're going to have to come back and we're going to do more. Are we wrapping up? No, we're not wrapping up

because I want to ask you about some weird interviews. Okay. Tell me about interviewing Gord... Gord Downie. Effing Downie. Yeah, I know.

I just... You know, when I think about David Bowie, I think about Gord Downie. Effing Downie. Yeah, I know. When I think about David Bowie, I think about Gord Downie in the same way. I'm just so sad they're not here anymore. And my first experience with Gord was in the basement of the Pacific Coliseum. They sent me across the country. They were launching that particular tour and it would have been at the beginning of my career

at the Sun, so let's say sometime between 95 and 97 or 98 day for day for night yeah fully completely I'm gonna look it up but in any event he was in the basement I like being in basements with musicians and with me because that's where we are right now it's a very musical environment isn't it yeah in any event uh he was in the basement and uh he was behind i'm gonna say johnny faye's drum kit i don't know whose drum kit it was but he was playing the drums like the cymbals while he was speaking to me fairly far away from him and i walked in and i thought he's put a barrier up between me and him already. And he doesn't seem to be answering my questions in an eloquent, thoughtful, long way. You know, that was like, I was getting not the diva vibe like you got with Molly,

more the, I'm maybe not into this vibe right now. And I get it. You know, they're about to launch a tour but they had scheduled it and so I again much like Ray Manzarek said he said something about enjoying this process so much and I think he meant the interview I said really because that's not how this is coming across to me and as soon as I said that he relaxed because you reset it again and the trip and um he said at the time he had had a not great relationship with my predecessor and i think he thought maybe i came in with some preconceived notions about the hip um i think at that time they were trying to maybe break through the u.s and that wasn't really

happening well if it is the day for night this is when dan akrid gets the most yes so let's say it's in that era maybe a little later than that if I had to guess in any event he so relaxed and became the Gord that I grew to know and love and every other interview I looked forward to we had a great time we always

had laughs he was very forthcoming he was actually very complimentary about my writing, and that meant a lot to me because we haven't really talked about it, but it's not always easy being a woman in this industry. Well, we can talk about it right now if you like.

And it was nice to get that pat on the back from someone whose lyric writing I so admired. Oh, he's on my wall right there. That's what I think. I'm turning around now. Jane is turning around, everybody. That makes me happy that you have that. That's what I think of Gord. I'm turning around now. Jane is turning around, everybody. That makes me happy that you have that. It's my favorite band of all time. Is it really?

Now, did you get any of the hip in here over the years? Never. Did you try? Not hard enough, apparently. You know, you never know. It might happen still. You never know. You never know. Yeah. So that's my story, my first Gord story.

And then it just was fantastic from there on in every other time. But I like your style. Like, I like how when things, when you're not getting what you expect or demand from somebody, that you'll call them out on it almost. But I mean, I think that happens with time. Like, I don't think my first, like if Mick and Keith on my first week of The Sun hadn't been great, I don't know how I, I might have panicked. I don't know.

But we'll never know because those two went well. But I think with time and confidence and knowing who you are and knowing like, you know, well, I have 15 minutes, so if I don't have 20, it's okay. I've got 15. You know, I can write something from this. But like Radiohead, when I did Tom York and Johnny Greenwood. Oh, tell me about, because Radiohead, I'm big fans. Yeah, and this is like, again, at the very beginning of their career,

because I saw them up at the Opera House, and then I saw them gradually build their way up to arenas. And they just seemed so pained to be talking to me. And I remember when I walked out, Johnny Greenwood said, thank you for your column inches. And he meant like for your, like, you know. Yeah, for writing about that. Yeah, advertising.

But he couldn't just say, you know, that was a lovely chat or, you know, it still was painful. Thank you for your column inches. It's like such an impersonal way of saying thank you. But I've interviewed Ed O'Brien. I've interviewed Ed Greenwood. I've interviewed Phil Selway.

And I've had great conversations with those three gentlemen. So it just depends. People are humans. They have good days. They have bad days. They could have been having a bad day that day. I don't know. I don't think they should have put them together is what I thought.

Sometimes I think when you interview like often people with bands will say can you talk to the whole band and I'll always say it always goes better one on one. Like I chased Ozzy Osbourne's PR guy out of the room. Not physically I just said do you mind leaving me alone with him for 20 minutes?

Because I find that nobody's looking. They're not looking at their handler to say, can I answer this or can't I or what should I say here? It's just much more natural. And I think in the case of Tom York and Johnny Greenwood, maybe they just didn't like my style. I have no idea.

I'll never know. They're kind of pretentious, right? Like their radio head. I mean, excellent, gifted musicians. And again, this is at the very beginning of their career. But is it pre-OK Computer or is it pre-OK Computer? Or is it post-OK Computer? Oh, it's pre, I think. Oh, OK. So, Pablo Honey or whatever.

So, Creep is the big single. Or the one with High and Dry. That's Pablo Honey, right? That's probably one of my favorite Radiohead songs. It's a great video, too. But, yeah, I'd have to look it up. Again, it was very early on in their careers. And I didn't call them on it because they weren't rude.

I don't want to say, it was almost like they were shy, if that makes sense. Like reserved. Very British. I mean, my husband's British. I'm used to that British reserve. And the other Jane Stevenson is British. Do we have to talk about her again?

No, not anymore. Anyways, the thing is that sometimes you have to break through that British reserve too. And usually you can do it with jokes or something. And it was just tough with those two. I know I wrote a story and it was fine, but it just never felt like we were really, you know, firing in all cylinders, as they say.

What about this talented mofo, the late great Prince? Well, that was very interesting. Tell me. That was at the Four Seasons, the old Four Seasons. And we all got one-on-ones. And they forgot to tell this girl, you couldn't bring your tape recorder. So when I walked in, there was a huge bouncer in front of the room. And they said, friends will see you now.

And I said, great. And I'm all excited. And I walk in. They're like, oh, but you have to leave your tape recorder outside the room. And I'm like, excuse me? And they said, he's afraid of bootlegging. The interviews will get bootlegged. I'm like, I'm here to tell you, this is about quote verification. So if he doesn't like something I wrote, I can say it's right here. Would you like me to it back? I do that. That's why I record all my interviews, right? Except for Prince. Prince is the only

time in 23 years I've not recorded an interview. Which means you can write whatever you want because I can't prove it because you wouldn't let me record it. Can you imagine? I panicked and I said, okay. And then I knew I would remember most of it for the story. I was writing it that afternoon. But I was

writing Longhand for the first time. So I don't, sorry, is Prince the same guy who you're not supposed to look him in the eyes? Do I have the right singer? I don't know if it's

an urban legend. I heard that about Madonna. Somebody said that he was doing something but his handlers or whatever pass on the word that please don't look

Prince in the eye. I feel like that's him. Nobody said. He's a strange animal. Nobody said to me don't look Prince straight in the eye. I feel like that's him. Nobody said. He's a strange animal. Nobody said to me, don't look Prince straight in the eye. They did say, please leave your tape recorder outside. And frankly, he was in like yellow, like a yellow suit and yellow platform heels. And he was actually really funny, really engaging, really charming, smart guy.

Like, again, everything you want. So that part was great. It was just the conditions, like the big bouncer, no tape recorder, like very precious. And, you know, that always makes me wary. And then he was great. So maybe he was truly worried about bootlegging. It was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted to.

There's a story where Prince covered Radiohead. And then, yeah, Prince covers Radiohead. and then, yeah, Prince covers Radiohead, and then it leaks online, and then Prince's lawyers get it shut down because it's not supposed to be there,

and the guys from Radiohead said, no, put it back because it's our song. Have you heard this one? No. It was Creep, I think. Oh, really? I think so.

Oh, that's very interesting. Yeah, a whole copyright thing. Can Prince have a song taken down that is not his? And there's a whole thing there. Oh, interesting. Yeah, and then uh you know how they are in the radio head they're the ones who said pay what you want for our album yes i remember that yeah this was very bleeding edge stuff back in the day yeah yeah i um i yeah i haven't heard that one but i'm

i will say to you i'm very happy to have seen him over the years here and um uh you know every much like spring senior bowie he's right up there for me in terms of a live performer. And then getting to see him with the piano at Sony Center two months before he died. Of course, we didn't know he was going to die in two months.

And you weren't allowed to take pictures at that show. And all we did was we ran down and took a picture of his purple piano. So the day, sadly, I had to write his obit, we ran my purple piano picture in the Sun because that was his last performance in Toronto Way over time That digs on me Now I ain't saying she a gold digger

But she ain't messing with no gold diggers Now I ain't saying she a gold digger But she ain't messing with no gold diggers But she ain't messing with no gold diggers But she ain't messing with no gold diggers But she ain't messing with no gold diggers Yay, as I call him. Kanye West.

Yes. That was a weird interview, too. Well, I think he's a particular kind of cat and his thing is is that you know it was i find it odd when you go to an album listening session and they're at the album listening session so he sat and listened with us and then we all got one-on-ones but it was running hours late so what happened was the star writer at the time, she left without talking to him. And I said to my bosses later, so could I have left and still maintained my job? Some people actually do that.

And, you know, maybe they have a bigger backbone. Like you're saying, it's great that I call people on bad interviews, but I would never. I wait. I wait as long as it takes for the big interviews, you know. Gwen Stefania once waited eight hours in Los Angeles. Now, I found out later she was changing costume outfits between interviews so my friend took me shopping

so it wasn't like I was sitting there waiting for eight hours I went out oh good because Tragic Kingdom is still one of my favorite albums of all time

this is her solo days in any way she was great at the end but in the moment it was it did feel like a long time that I was waiting not a ska in her solo days

I just want to say I think it's her brother that was a ska influence. But all the ska left. Yeah, she became more of a pop star. I miss the ska stuff. Yeah, she became more of a pop star. Anyways, so that was unusual. And then, you know, he was all about himself.

So he was, it was all about him. And, you know, how great he was. And everything you would imagine Kanye to be, he was. Yeah. I actually, do you remember which album the listening party was for? No. was and everything you would imagine Kanye to be, he was. Do you remember which album the listening party was for? I'm going to say that was at least 10 to 12 years ago.

Maybe very early. Maybe second, third. It wasn't the college dropout. If it was... Because there was Graduation Day. He had the trilogy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was one of those okay and uh and you know i subsequently have been to an album listening with rod stewart who's also a very good interview and he had to again he played his music and then he sat at the front i told asked him later was that weird for you because we're all watching you listen to your own music and he said no it's a pleasure to share

things that i love with other people. So for them, it's not weird. I find it to be weird for us to be watching them listening to their recorded music, right? And they're not performing it. They're just listening to it while you're watching them. Yeah, that would be weird. Do the kids call that meta?

What's that called? Meta, yeah, I guess. It's fun. It's fun. It's fun to be there, but it's a little odd. Oh, dear. I know where this is heading. So those were weird interviews. Yes.

Now let's have a fun little chat about a few of the worst interviews in your lengthy career. Holly came from Miami, FLA Hitchhiked away across the USA Plucked her eyebrows on the way Shaved her legs and then he was a she She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side Said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side. Said, hey, honey. Take a walk on the wild side. Tell me about interviewing Lou Reed.

Well, you know when you, maybe you don't. If you go into something and you don't know the reputation, you just think it's going to be another great interview with someone whose music you do admire. Oh, like Molly Johnson. And so this is the days where we had a club writer sitting opposite me and I only mention this because of what he said

to me afterwards. So I get on the phone with Lou Reed and he's notoriously a bad interview. And I haven't really paid attention to that. And so I'm asking my questions

and he is answering them with more questions back to me. And I'm saying things like, well, Lou, you wrote the song, so I thought I'd ask you. Like I start to kind of go into, are you a preschooler mode with him? Condescending. And he doesn't like that.

It did not last very long. I think maybe 10, 15 minutes. And then I hung like that. And I think it did not last very long. I think maybe 10, 15 minutes. And then I hung up and the club columnist said, who are you talking to? And I said, Lou Reed. And he goes, Oh, it sounded like you were talking to a four year old. And I said, yeah, it's kind of how it felt. And I was sad about it because, of course, I didn't want it to go badly. But I remember I wrote, my lead of the story was Oxford Dictionary defines an interview. And it was the definition of an interview. And I remember the next day, a lot of people came out of the woodwork and said to me, way to go. You called him on his bullshit in print.

And I'm sure I'm not the first person to do that. Like, wasn't there a very famous Daniel Rickler one where lou walks off in the middle of it it does ring a bell and he still had and daniel was saying um you're still wearing the microphone so you can hear hear lou am i remembering that correctly for much music or something um so there had been many before me that were bad and i'm sure many after i also heard he didn't like to talk to females he didn't like to talk to non-musicians uh so i was a double whammy and um so really the club do you encounter that a lot are there a lot of these old school rock guys that don't want to talk to a woman no it's a man's game no in fact it's quite funny when i

i find the opposite and when i went to um when i went to talk to Ozzy and Geezer Butler about Sabbath, that last retirement, you know, the farewell tour in New York, when I walked in, the first thing Ozzy said was, it's a girl. And it was like I was born, like a baby was being born. It's a girl. And he was so excited because he could tell they'd had a day of men in black leather and black T-shirts. God bless those men.

Talking to them, very probably enthusiastically about Black Sabbath. And they were happy. Again, if you're doing something over and over and over again, you're looking for a change, right? For sure. So they were quite happy to talk to me. But yeah, Lou not that can't be a surprise to you that Lou Reed is one of my worst interviews can it no not actually no not at all surprise I will say that about Lou Reed I think was I think it's great but I saw Trainspotting

like many people did and I love the soundtrack so much like I was spinning that soundtrack and Perfect Day is on that soundtrack and And I will tell you, I never heard Perfect Day until Chainspotting. So I missed it. The first round I wasn't too young. Perfect Day is a perfect song. I still listen to that all the time. And there's this whole thing about

can you separate the art from the artist? And I think you can. You just played one of my all-time favorite songs. And despite the fact that i had a bad interview with him i'm never gonna i'm not gonna stop listening to lou reed i mean it was just that experience in that day at that time maybe he was having a bad day you never know unless they tell you you know uh something just happened and i'm sorry i'm off which he did not say to me trust me uh you don't know what's going on with somebody and um that's

just the nature of what we do for a living. We walk in and it can be a good or bad day. You hope it's a good day. You hope they're up for it. And if they're not, like me, I guess, you call them on. With Lou Reed, I didn't call him on it other than really, I guess, getting really exasperated and starting to talk to him like a child. I didn't say, you know, what's going on, Lou?

Why are you being so defensive and kind of unpleasant? Thank you. You can't always get what you want But if you try sometime You'll find You'll be here to be Jane, it's so good. What's so good? Just this? Yeah.

Yeah. Especially in the headphones. uh okay we've talked a lot about the rolling stones already but i want to ask you about uh some of your best con the best concerts you've ever seen like the rolling stones uh tell me anything you can about the very best rolling stones concerts you've attended well i think um i think certainly between the toronto club shows you know when michael cole from toronto was their guy on tour they would come here and Well, I think certainly between the Toronto Club shows, you know, when Michael Cole from Toronto was their guy on tour, they would come here and rehearse.

Everybody knew they were in town. Everybody knew they were doing a surprise club show. So I got to see them at places like the Phoenix and the Palais Royal where you would be with members of their family and a very select group of people got to go and see them. Contrast that with going to see them at Fenway Park in Boston. And I literally, giving me goosebumps thinking about it, I crawled up a spiral staircase to the very top of Fenway Park by myself

and watched them from the roof for about a half an hour. And I was in a press box that was kind of not great. Old, you know, Fenway Park's old. And I said to one of box that was kind of not great, old, you know, Family Park's old. And I said to one of the security guys, is there a place I can be outside? Like there was, I think there was a glass or plastic in front of us.

And he said, follow me. And I went up there and I felt so privileged to see them that way. And so happy and quite happy to be on my own, frankly, to, you know, appreciate the moment of that.

So from a very tiny club experience where you feel like... Oh, Palais Royale? How does that fit? How many people can watch a show at the Palais Royale? Oh, I don't know. Let's say there was maybe

between 500 and 700, if I had to guess. The Phoenix holds 1,000, right? So the Phoenix, I know, is 1,000. The Palais Royale seems smaller. It just seems smaller. I bike by it every day. I bike by it today.

I broke my pinky outside of it this summer. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I still can't bend it more than that. It's a very sad thing. Oh, dear. The Palais Royal. I wasn't sure what the capacity was. Yeah, it was very tiny.

And those days are kind of gone now for the Stones in the city because they moved from Live Nation over to AEG, which is kind of the biggest competitor. And now they rehearse in Los Angeles or, frankly, pretty much anywhere they want. But wouldn't it be great if they came back and did at least some shows in Canada on this tour? Oh, the El Macombo, right?

Or, frankly, come and play the El Macombo, because that would be full circle for that venue. And it would be wonderful to see. So I hope that does happen, just for everybody's sake. Yeah, me too. That would be full circle for that venue. And it would be wonderful to see. So I hope that does happen just for everybody's sake. Yeah, me too. That would be great. Speaking of great. Speaking of my bucket list of people I still would like to do one-on-ones with.

Oh, you haven't had that pleasure yet. I have done a press conference. Again, I don't had that pleasure yet. I have done a press conference. Again, I don't feel a press conference. I'll tell people, yes, I've been in a press conference with him, but I don't feel that's an interview. So I'd love to sit down and talk to him. But my goodness, I've seen a lot of him over the years here. And I remember I went to the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunion tour.

That was quite something. And then seeing him, all the way from that to seeing him play by himself at Massey Hall. I remember I had Kathleen Edwards in front of me. And we were like little schoolgirls. We were just giggling because we were about to see Neil Young live at Massey Hall in present day. And he didn't disappoint. at Nassie Hall in present day, you know, and he didn't disappoint. Another true artist, very different than some of the other people who've been speaking about, such a political guy,

such a conscience, the guy, you know, whatever you think of Neil Young's political views and his fight for the environment, you know, he lays it all out there in concert and talks about these things. And then he just can play so well. I mean, he can be this folk guy on an acoustic guitar and then, man, can he rock out an electric guitar like few people I have seen at his age do to this day. You're never really disappointed when you go to a Neil Young show, are you? Well, I'm not disappointed, but like the last time I saw Neil Young, he turned his back to us all for a good 10 or 11 minutes. I'm sorry, when was that? Not too long ago. Las Lobos

opened for him. What was the venue? Air Canada Centre. I don't remember them. Were there a couple nights? Maybe I went to the good night. Maybe it was a couple nights. He turned his back to you. Yeah, he turned his back. That's fine. He did this guitar thing. He's Neil back to you. Yeah, he turned his back, but that's fine. He did this it was a guitar thing and it was I mean, he's Neil Young, so to be honest

he can turn his back on me and I still enjoy it because I think he's tremendous. Right. It's kind of one of those things where I was kind of surprised by the move a little bit because I see, you know, the thing is when you see most, like I don't go see shows, of course no one sees shows like Jane Stevenson, but

I don't see that. That's not true. I don't see that many shows. I have contemporaries who probably see more than me, for sure. And you know, sports journalists like Dave Hodge, for example. Dave Hodge goes to an incredible amount of live shows. I've been in the gondola at the Phoenix for hip shows. And Dave Hodge has been right beside me. And I'm always surprised that he is at those shows.

But God bless, you know. but God bless you know if you're into it you're into it he's really into it Frank Turner it doesn't matter he came here and he kicked out his jams but he actually did his top 100 but we only played the top 10 but he did his top 100 songs of all time Dave Hodge

I'd like to rise to that challenge I think that's a great idea challenge challenge you're challenged okay I'm challenged anytime you want to come by because again I'd like to rise to that challenge. I think that's a great idea. Challenge. Challenge. You're challenged. Okay. I'm challenged. Anytime you want to come by, because again,

we're going to do like 10% of what we could have done. Cause I'm trying to keep this under two hours, which is maybe it'll happen. We'll see. I'm not done yet, but I could do this a hundred times. Like it's all about how inconvenient this visit is, et cetera. But every time you come,

I can get more beer for you and your husband and I can get you more pasta, which is pretty good. Wow. Well, those are all very great motivators. Pasta and beer. They pair well together. Man, this cassette kick. I had the kick cassette, and I think I destroyed it playing it so much because it's a playthrough. Everything is a single on that album. Tell me about seeing In Excess with Michael Hutchence. Yeah, I'm so glad I got to see them as much as I did

and that I did get to interview him. I think it was two of the members of the band before he died in Toronto and I'm really glad I got to do that because to me, we haven't really talked about the sex and drugs of rock and roll, but the sexiness of Michael Hutchence.

He was right up there for me. He's a Mick Jagger-esque figure. He's been very sexy very sexy person is Mick sexy or am I misreading this? Mick has his moments for sure but there was something about the way Michael Hutchins moved

that he you hear it in the music, the funk, the soul that sound that he liked in the band and he liked to dance and i remember him dancing on the bar at the warehouse which is no longer there on that last leg of the that tour or i don't know his last leg but it was certainly the last time i saw them and um i just was so

happy that he felt so relaxed at that point in their career that he could still do things like that, like get up on a bar, dance, and in the middle of a concert. And again, it's exciting. It's something not everybody feels comfortable doing. But he struck me as somebody, whatever was going on with him personally, that he was very at home on stage. And he came alive on stage he really did and uh because he was a he was much quieter and uh more thoughtful as an interview than i thought he would be i'm glad he was but he just was a different kind of person than i thought when i interviewed him and um he was such a um not a wild card but he just he was wild he was just fun to watch and surprising and exciting and all those good things that you want in a concert and in a frontman, you know. Freddie Mercury had the same things. Again, I was a kid when I saw Queen in Vancouver, but I remember being in the eighth row on the floor. All of my

male friends and female friends, we all loved rock and roll. We all went to see all these shows in the 70s and 80s, less so, but definitely in the 70s. And I was so happy that my friend had taken me to see Freddie Mercury because, man, was he something else. And now people are discovering this, right? Through Bohemian Rhapsody. Right. Because they're saying, wow, like that was Live Aid? They did that at Live Aid?

I remember seeing them do it live and going yes like where have you people been freddie mercury is amazing um so it's i love that he's being appreciated again i'm sorry i got off topic there no tangents are wonderful you're kidding me especially with michael hutchinson about you freddie i'll listen to you talk about freddie mercury every day of the week yeah and again like subsequently, subsequently I've talked to Brian and Roger from Queen and Adam Lambert. And you know what? I think Adam Lambert

has done an amazing thing because the legacy of Queen through his singing, him being able to sing those songs has meant that they're still touring those songs and they're still as good. When I saw them last year

or the year before, they made my top 10. I'm just compiling my top 10 list now for 2018. and i remember i was so surprised at how good they were with him because you always think nobody's going to replace freddie mercury about that now like so this is some something i find very interesting when a like a popular band replaces their lead singer let's talk about lindsey buckingham because i just softly went back. Okay, tell. And I was so torn because I am such a Lindsey Buckingham as a guitar player fan. And I love Neil Finn from Crowded House as a singer. And I thought, why can't I have both?

And for Neil Finn to step into those shoes, now they have Mike Campbell from Heartbreakers really doing the heavy lifting on the guitar stuff. So Lindsey Buckingham, I think I wrote in my review, you should take it as a compliment. They require two people to replace him, right? Neil on vocals and playing guitar, but really Mike Campbell playing all the solos and they did a great

job and I was really quite nervous about going into that show thinking how is this going to be? Is this going to be really uncomfortable? And I had just seen strangely enough lindsey buckingham and christine mcvee the summer before at the budweiser stage and i thought that was going to be weird and that was wonderful like for some reason them together really worked um so there you go but so queen right uh they adam lambert is the uh playing the role of Freddie Mercury. And In Excess did it too.

Yes, In Excess did it less successfully, let's face it. They had a wild card. J.D. Fortune, that guy, I interviewed him a few times in the height of that. He's a Toronto guy, right? I believed a lot of things he was saying, and I guess later on some of these things proved not to be true.

And they had their falling out with him over what I'm not exactly sure. But of course we want these things to succeed. But for whatever reason, that didn't succeed. Whereas with Adam Lambert, I think he legitimately wanted to preserve the legacy of Queen. So during that show,

there is a lot of video of Freddie. And there is a lot of talking about Freddie and about him not replacing Freddie. You know, just about continuing lot of video of Freddie. And there is a lot of talking about Freddie and about him not replacing Freddie. You know, just about continuing the legacy of the band. So I like that they pay respect to Freddie during that show. Of course, no mention was made of Lindsay Buckingham

at the Fleetwood Mac. But there were old pictures of Fleetwood Mac. I'm pretty sure that was shining up on the video screen that Lindsay might have been in. But yeah, I mean, it was a bit odd to have seen Rumors you know again a kid in Vancouver seeing the Rumors tour the height of their success with that album there was nothing like that and then to see sadly them part ways with Lindsay after all this time and continue on with two people actually really respect right so so so I'm sad they did it, but they have really good taste. They chose two people.

It was hard for me not to like, if that makes sense. Yeah, it does. Totally makes sense. A couple bands I'm thinking of, Journey. Journey, he's not dead, of course, but they have Steve Perry still around,

but they have a new singer and they seem to still, like still people come out and see Journey. Yeah, Journey. It's the fellow who sounds a lot like him. He's a Filipino guy. I saw a documentary is the fellow who sounds a lot like him. He's a Filipino guy. I saw a documentary about him. He sounds a lot like him. But he's not him.

He's definitely not Steve Perry. Journey, I guess I would argue aren't on this. To me, you could argue differently. They're not a Fleetwood Mac or Queen to me in terms of rock or folk rock or blues. So maybe they can get away with having someone lesser than.

I don't want to say that he was lesser than. I'm pretty sure I might have seen Journey with that guy, though. And I'm trying to remember what I thought because I'm not sure I was reviewing or if I just went out of curiosity. But it's interesting. I was a big, massive alice in chains fan and of course lane staley died and i i've seen alice in chains uh at the but well what's when it was the most amphitheater uh with their new lead singer and how was that it was really good yeah like it was really good so i don't know i think maybe part of us if we're fans we're rooting for them to be good right so maybe part of it is we're colored a little bit in our perception of it i i don't know

like one that i'm thinking of now that wasn't so great was remember when van halen oh i know you're going to chiron yes that's the one because because sammy hagar he already mentioned uh he was okay he was so you know he was better than okay they had probably one of their biggest i mean he couldn't drive 55 but he was all right. Yeah, and I remember doing... We haven't talked about this. It was one of my worst interviews. I had the Van Halen boys. And was Gary Cherone in the room?

I don't think he was. So I talked to the Van Halen guys. And I'm trying to remember if Michael Anthony was still in the band. I think he was. And they were so... It was like being in a room, not with mobsters, but just unfriendly folks. And I think

they saw the writing on the wall with Gary Cherone. And I think it was hard for them to do interviews about it because trying to sell something you know is just not going to work. I guarantee I did not give that a 4 out of 5. I'm going to tell the bomb.

Yeah, I remember it being uncomfortable. And yeah, that one didn't work at all. I guarantee I did not give that a four out of five. I'm going to tell the bomb. Yeah, I remember it being uncomfortable. And just, if you don't choose the right person, it's going to, it's not going to work, right? I seem to remember, and I never saw this, but I do think, I think Stone Temple Pilots might have had Chester Bennington. You are correct. And he, sadly, I interviewed him a few months before he died. Please, no correlation between any of this, me interviewing people when I, sadly, I interviewed him a few months before he died. Please, no correlation between any of this me interviewing people

when I'm dying. No, rock stars die young because they have a tough, they live hard. Yeah. And of course, there's Chester Baines

who took his own life. Yeah, I know. And I loved... And there's a whole Chris Cornell connection there which is kind of... Yeah,

we have you talk to me and like, to me, I always called him the total package. Like, to me, he was sexy.

He was talented. He had one of the best voices in rock and roll. He was wonderful to speak to in interviews. And I was, again, I kind of, I throw in him with Bowie and Prince and there's somebody else, Gore Downey, who I'm very sad that I'm not around anymore. And I throw him in there as well

because he was a absolute dynamo on stage to watch and to listen to and great in interviews. But with, I can't remember where I was going with this. Chester Bennington. Chester Bennington. He was so excited when I spoke to him and Mike about that album coming out and touring

that you couldn't have told me, and again, you never know what's in someone's head, that that would happen to him months later um that that he would take his own life and um you know it was uh chris cornell's birthday i think there's a whole kind of he did he was really suffering after chris committed suicide and i know he sang at chris's funeral and there was a somebody said a correlation there i don't know exactly he sang hallelujah i I think. Yeah. I mean, it was really sad. Very, very sad. And then to, I remember talking to Mike when he came through this year, because he came

through and talked about surviving that, you know, trying to survive beyond Chester's death. Another really thoughtful guy and had been through so much. The fact that he was going, you know, on tour to talk about this stuff, I couldn't believe it. Like the strength that some people show to be able to do that. Because I think it's easier to talk about stuff way, way down the line. Like I remember talking to Dave

Grohl on the first Foo Fighters album. Very defensive about Kurt. Understandably so, he was upset. And, you know, now he's just like one of the loveliest, not that he wasn't lovely, just he was grieving. Now he's like the, he's carrying the flag for rock and roll bands

now. He is, he is, you know, Mr. Wonderful. I just call him like one of the nicest, my thing is, I call him one of the nicest guys in rock and roll because he is just very friendly and enthusiastic and wants to keep rock and roll alive. Did you see the pictures of him barbecuing for the firefighters in L.A.?

He barbecued. I read about it. He fed those people. And I have a friend who lives in Malibu. She's married to a lighting guy, one of the best lighting guys out there. And she told me, Jane, there were firefighters standing with hoses in front of a fire the size of Denver. Like she said, it was like a monster. And they were standing there with hoses. And of a fire the size of Denver. Like she said, it was like a monster. And they were standing there with hoses.

And she said, my shoes were melting. Like crazy, crazy stuff was happening. And we don't even realize how bad that was. And he was out there barbecuing for them, which I think is fantastic. Dave Grohl, nice guy. Nice guy. I already played Sex Pistols. So I want to ask you about

a couple of weird concerts. Yes, this one ranks right up there. Okay, so which one can we do?

First, can we do Sex Pistols and then we can talk about this song. Okay, do Bon Jovi

first, of course. You're the boss. Really? I'm not sure about that. So I have seen Bon Jovi many times in arenas.

This is the one where they played their latest album from start to finish at small venues. And they only did four in the world. And they did the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto. And it was one of those nights where I think I had to file. After every show, people always ask me, when do you file? I file right after a show. In the old days, I filed by midnight for the next day's paper.

Now, I file as soon as I can. It goes online in the morning, and then it goes in the following day's paper. Because we just don't have people. Okay, because I do have a question. I forgot to ask it because I wanted to get to the music so badly. But there was a question about how come concert reviews... I should get this right because the poor guy sent it. I'm going to get his name, too.

Hold on. Stand by while we listen to john bon jovi here sean hammond wants me to ask you why are concert reviews rarely in the next day's paper okay so we don't have the staff that was so in the old days we'd have someone there till midnight to put it in and then it would be in the next day's paper and my boss actually loved that he loved that i did overnight reviews so So, I mean, I wrote 45 minutes sometimes. Crazy. Now, there's someone there until 8 on the entertainment side. So, unless it's like I'm trying to think of something.

Maybe the Rolling Stones playing a club show. We would get somebody from sports. The sports guys are there late because of games being late. Right. Then they might put it in. Or news. Somebody in news could put it in. But news guys are only there until 10.

So, it's a stretch. Well, Buffery or somebody like that. Well, Buffery's a writer. He's it in. But news guys are only there until 10. So it's a stretch. Buffery or somebody like that. Well, Buffery's a writer, or an author, as you call us. Okay, so Simmons, somebody, I don't know. So he's an author. Layout people. We're talking layout people. The short answer is no layout people in entertainment after 8 o'clock anymore.

So it's up to news or sports to put us in. And they are very busy putting out many other pages. So now we strive to get it first thing in the morning. It's always there. We have someone at 7 online. So you will see my review online very early

and then it will be in the following day's paper. And I think it's great too when it's in the paper the next day. So Bon Jovi's at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. So I'm there.

I'm a little bit of a nerd. So I'm taking pictures because I have to post, tweet, you know, stills and video and take notes and get the set list right and get everything ready for my review. And for some reason that only the record company and Bon Jovi know, they put me in the front row. And I'm never, I can tell you right now, in the front row at a concert. Ever. I don't think it's ever happened. And like Elton John, I just saw Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour.

I was in the eighth row. Fantastic. But Elton could not see me working, right? Right. And I think that's why they don't put us in the front row. And I will tell you why. So all of these women of a certain age around me, it's like when Oprah gives away a new car that's what's happening they're all beside themselves rushing the stage all around me trying to get to you know

cutie pie Jon Bon Jovi and I have my head down and I'm writing notes and tweeting out pictures and the girl beside me I think she was from hello magazine lovely girl she starts elbowing me as my head is down and i go what and she goes he's talking to you and i look up and he's right in front of me and he's going what's wrong didn't you do your homework because he sees i'm writing and i go my homework is you and he starts laughing and he goes are you having a good time he knows I'm writing review I said yes and he goes well there's that and then he goes back to all of the other women who want his attention and I think it's two things I shouldn't be in the front row right and if you don't show interest, someone is interested in you. Because I was the only person.

You're playing hard to get, sort of, right? I didn't mean to. I was just doing my job. But it was really funny because I think that's one of the few times someone has come right over to me and said, what are you doing? Oh, that's funny. Like, I'm sure they knew I was in the front row, right? That couldn't have been a shocker. You were referenced by Sammy Hagar, too, right?

Well, that one was hilarious. So I went backstage. I was at the front row, right? That couldn't have been a shocker. You were referenced by Sammy Hagar, too, right? Well, that one was hilarious. So I went backstage. I was at the Bud stage, so maybe it was still Molson Amphitheater. And I did my interview, and I guess I talked to Sammy many times, very friendly. I go out.

He starts going on a tangent about something. And again, my head's down. I'm working. I'm tweeting. And he goes, when I was to jane backstage a minute ago and i literally went like you can't see it on radio right now but i was looking i went like this i threw my hand up and then i just kept going like i didn't even look up at him and i just thought really sammy like i mean more important things were happening than you and i talking but he was just being being sweet. Maybe not, but that's pretty cool.

Yeah, it was something that I brought up that he wanted to talk about. So he said, well, when I was talking to Jane, you know, an hour ago, and I thought, this is hilarious. So, you know, most of the time, I assume they don't remember me. And if they do, it's a bonus. Very cool. Now, just before we get the Sex Pistols story, I just want to tell the listeners about Census Design and Build.

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how to get $10 right now. So here we are two hours deep into the Jane. Can you believe we're at two hours? Like, are you surprised? Are you okay? We're almost done. I was going to say, once you hit two, you might as well keep going. Well, after we talked about my husband for the first half an hour. Well, when I have him on, I'm going to talk about you for longer. I see where you're going with this. Yes, absolutely. I get it now. So everyone can get $10 right now if you install. So Paytm is an app designed to manage all of your bills in one spot. I use it to pay every bill I have to pay every month. And you can download it from paytm.ca. So install the app. It's really easy for your smartphone. and then when you pay your first bill

use the promo code toronto mike all one word and they'll give you ten dollars and pay tm cash right away that you can use towards a bill payment another bill payment i should say or a reward purchase so if you want 10 bucks right now use the promo code toronto mikeIKE with P-A-T-M. Now, Jane, I need that Sex Pistols story, and then I'm going to play a couple of artists and hear about the worst concerts you've ever attended. I'm closing on a down note. I'm so sad that we haven't gotten to my bad John Mayer interview. Well, do the John Mayer interview.

Listen, tell me now. Well, have you ever met somebody who, again, it's the phenomenon when there's someone else in the room who's their buddy. So he's really playing to his buddy, not to me, right? Right. So anything I asked him, it was a big joke with his buddy and nothing was serious. So I thought, I'm actually not going to get a straight answer to anything. And sometimes that's fun.

I remember with Green Day, they rearranged all the furniture in the room of the hotel room. But it was so bizarre. It was great. But with John Mayer, it was like right before that horrible Playboy interview where he talked about his sex life with all these famous women. And people just hated him for a couple of years. It was right before that. So it was when everybody was in love with John Mayer and, uh,

except for me, cause I had a bad interview with him and I just felt like he wasn't, uh, going to give me a straight answer. And I, he was playing to somebody else. He was playing to me like a peacock, like a tour,

like wink, wink to his tour manager, no matter what I said. And I just thought like that one, I wished I'd had the balls to just say you know what uh I'm gonna just use my column inches to reference Radiohead on another artist and I didn't I just kind of sat there for 15 minutes and left and thought what a dick uh that's too bad I'm not a I'll tell you I'm not a John Mayer fan. I never cared for his music.

Not my cup of tea. I can't say I was a huge fan going in. Nothing's changed. Like I said, I can listen to Lou Reed and appreciate his music. But now isn't John Mayer touring with The Grateful Dead, What Remains of The Grateful Dead? Maybe. I don't know. I think they just announced another leg of that.

So he seemed to have gone off on another tangent entirely with music that has little to do with that, that idea that we had of John Mayer as a sensitive singer, songwriter, guitarist guy. Now I played the Sex Pistols, so I need to hear that about the Sex Pistols. Okay.

So the Sex Pistols reformed uh we all got flown to denver have you been to red rocks the amphitheater there nope i highly recommend it it's kind of like being in ancient rome like you're in the stone amphitheater and um there was this really wild lightning storm happening in the distance so you're kind of up on this mountain in this amphitheater and it's johnny rotten okay so johnny rotten is running off stage every let's say after every song taking big sucks of oxygen off an oxygen tank because they you're so high elevation wise right that it's hard for singers it's notoriously hard to play that venue and it was so surreal the whole thing was so nuts the lightning storm and johnny rotten and the sex pistols like in present day right like

to me there's a band that maybe should have stayed back in the 70s there was something about updating them i know they had a tour and they did very successful business i believe that first like well they called it then they call like, filthy lucre or something like that. You are correct. They called it like it was. You're right, the filthy lucre tour. And Johnny Rotten was quite an interview. Again, very antagonistic.

Always, right? But funny, like very funny person and like, you know, like to take the piss again. But you did not know where he was going. And that was one where you had to roll with it because you knew it was just his part of his persona to be Johnny Rotten, frankly. Yeah, he's the kind of guy I would think you wouldn't ever be able to have real talk with him because he's always in character. Like there's that persona I would think Johnny Rotten presents. Maybe now, maybe later in life uh you know as long as he thinks maybe the sex pistols

are a going concern he'll keep that up but uh if there's you know let's face it they did that one tour i think they came back years later and it wasn't as successful if i remember like i remember it being very badly attended on the second go. But just to see them in such a beautiful, natural setting, to me, they're such an urban British band of a certain time. To see them in this natural setting with an electrical storm and him barely able to sing, it was just so strange and wonderful at the same time. What can you tell me about seeing Britney Spears in concert?

Well, do you remember when Britney shaved her head? How could I forget? Lost her mind, sadly, and was carted away. I'm pretty sure it was right, not right before, but certainly leading up to that. And it was just one of those concerts where you know when you know someone is just not into it anymore, and they're just phoning it in or whatever the word is, the phrase is.

Yeah, phoning it in. And I just, I know whoever that fellow was who thinks I don't underrate concerts. That's Bob Ouellette from The Rock. I'm pretty sure I gave her a two or one and a half out of five. It just wasn't good. or one and a half out of five. It just wasn't good. And there's a lot of lip syncing and dance moves that weren't being handled very well.

How do you think of lip syncing? Because you're going to see genuine rock bands who would never consider lip syncing, right? And then you go see like a Britney Spears or I don't know, name your pop singer of the moment and you get a lip syncing. That's more of like a theatric, right?

And you have to be careful about that because people have told me you cannot accuse people in print of lip syncing like what's that's more of like a theatrics and you have to be careful about that because uh people have told me you cannot accuse people in print of lip syncing unless you see the technology because sometimes they have what's called guide vocals so they're singing to themselves essentially um to help them sing in concert but yeah that that was sad because it i mean her turn her life took such a horrible tournament she has kids and she's kind of come out of that now she went on to a successful Las Vegas her dad took over her uh finances or something and then she seems to rebound yeah she well apparently this was a Las Vegas residency I never got to see her in that but um yeah the last time I saw her she was not in good form um

and yeah I mean I I think that was was life was getting the better of Britney and she shouldn't have been touring and that's sad when you see somebody touring who's just touring to supply jobs for thousands of people or people who have invested interest in keeping her going but clearly she's not well and she shouldn't be doing it

have you ever seen like a legendary old timer on stage and you were thinking to yourself like this is unfair this person should think isn't uh physically well you know what like uh we haven't even got to my pete towns an interview which was fantastic but there was one time roger daltrey had lost his voice and it was at casinorama and he had lost his voice and he said my voice is shot and he was honest about it but i think that was a one-off like the next time i saw him he was fine but i felt bad like i think really people hate to cancel concerts but i think if you can't

sing you really should cancel the concert and say i can't do my job today you're gonna have to come back another time bob willett is a big pearl jam fan it's all about bob today and your husband those are the two is bob the only person who asked me a question? No, I asked you the Sean Hammond one and I asked you the Basement Dweller. You've had a few different. Cherry pick them. They don't all make the big show. We only have six hours for this show.

We're going to go to the sunrises. If I didn't have Sloan, I would let you go all night. I was a big fan of this band as a teenager. It was all pre-grunge, right? So we were all into these kind of like these hair guys and big loud rock. Give a little taste of this, then I'm going to ask you about Sebastian Bach. You saw Sebastian Bach in concert. How many stars did that one get?

Well, the thing is, he was with Kings of Chaos. So it was like a heavy metal super group. And the problem was that he was so excited about being on stage with all these other guys from all these other groups that he couldn't settle down and just sing. Everything was at the highest end of enthusiasm in between songs interesting that he was like he was fanning out he was like he was he was a fan of the people he was performing with and he could not stop becoming a fan just for those say 70 to 90 minutes and I had the audacity to call him out on it in print and I really like I read my review the other day because I thought I know we're going to talk

about this uh and I don't feel like I was as hard on him as he thinks I was I just said if he could have just calmed down it would have been great um but man did that guy troll me and uh to the point where I had to block him that's fascinating so is he the only rock star you've had to block? maybe others I think other people block me I can't get on Billy Idol's Twitter

I don't know what I did to Billy Idol that's a shame I had a great interview with Billy Idol about his book but maybe in concert I think I talked about his plastic surgery and what was that? Expendables? I said he's in the next cast of the Expendables about his book, but maybe in concert I think I talked about his plastic surgery and what was that? Expendables? I said he he's in the next cast of the Expendables

I was having fun, again I sometimes have fun in my reviews and I guess he didn't like that but Sebastian Bach I remember posted this picture of me interviewing somebody, I forget who it was and all he wrote was, consider the source like it was a threat

and I thought, you know what he's never going to forgive me, that's somebody. I forget who it was. And all he wrote was, consider the source. Like it was a threat. And I thought, you know what? He's never going to forgive me. That's okay. He has a career without my approval. Is he still buddies with Axl Rose? I think they were, yeah. And I've got to tell you, Guns N' Roses is right up there for me. I love Guns N' Roses.

I was at their last concert. And did you join? Yeah, I went three hours. And Axl and Slash seemed to be okay. Absolutely. I actually thought, I always have thought Slash has aged better

as a guitarist than Axl has as a vocalist. I think those are very difficult songs to sing. Yeah, yeah. But I had a great time and, you know, Sweet Child of Mine

is right up there for me. Actually, you can't, I guess you can. If you turn around again, I've made Jane turn around a few times. Do you see the flag that's over the monitor back there? Okay. So I bought that in 88, I think, because I was a big app.

I was so crazy about Appetite for Destruction. I went to a head shop downtown, like Young and Wellesley or something like that, and picked up the Appetite for Destruction flag. Well, you know, you want to know the Neil and Jane story. You're not going to get it today. But the first cassette pushed across a table. Appetite for Destruction. From Neil to Jane.

Appetite for Destruction. With the racy liner notes. Do you remember that? It was just, that was shocking to you. All I knew was that I felt very privileged that I was getting a little peek into his musical mind. He wanted you to take him to Paradise City. You know what?

I just couldn't believe it was happening. Jane, I'm not playing you off, but I do have a concert to attend to, and I do need to have you back at some point. We're going to wrap it up. Should we wrap it up on a positive? I guess we just did. Oh, yeah. Well, if you want, there's a long intro to this, an extra.

You can say one last story here if you want to spill one more. Pick your best one that we didn't get to. Well, Pete Townsend was pretty good over tea at Windsor Arms. Okay, tell us. So Pete wrote a book. And so he was there as an author, as you like to say. And I came in and there was, as you might not imagine for Pete Townshend, a tea setup. So little tiny sandwiches and tea and crumpets and all sorts of British tea things.

And at the end, I said, at the end, I had to go. I had to go write. And they said, you know, Brad from the Globe was downstairs. Brad's waiting, Jane, so if you don't mind wrapping that. But there was a beautiful piano in the room. And I remember I said, he said, oh, please don't go. And he just seemed so sad. And I said, well, what's going on?

He goes, I've watched Expendables 1 through 3 today. That's all I've done. He wanted some conversation. And there was a guy who actually did want to talk, right? And I think it's different when you do come and talk about your book book especially if it's your life story you you do want to talk about it it is like therapy as you said yeah yeah and some catharsis there right there was catharsis and i love that he said please don't go and i because i could say to people pete townsend didn't want me to leave the room because he just wanted to keep talking to somebody

and i'm sure brad engaged him um in the same way but it was just so funny how he was like you know I want to keep going and that's unusual that someone wants to continue you know they'll say no no no give us five more minutes and you know this is going well I'm just looking at some of

the women because we haven't talked about any of the women you know that's true there's a lot of testosterone in our lineup and like the Stevie Nicks of the world and the Chr't talked about any of the women. You know, that's true. There's a lot of testosterone in our lineup and the... Yeah, like the Stevie Nicks of the world and the Chrissy Hines,

you know, two of my heroes growing up in the 70s. can I pitch you something? Yes. What if... No,

no, you don't have to do it next week or anything, but what if in 2019 you came back at a convenient

time for you and we just talked. What if we just shared your best stories about female artists? Sure, we could do that. time for you. And we just talked. What if we just shared your best stories about female artists? Sure. We could do that. Because women rock.

The closest we came is I praised Tragic Kingdom, which Gwen Stefani. That's the closest we came, I think. I had quite a bad interview with Courtney Love. She'd be up there. Yeah. I would love to hear Courtney Love's stories. Okay, we're going to do all, we are going to do all this.

If I have to pester you to a point where you end up blocking me on Twitter, that's the biscuit thing. By the way, Jane, I'm thinking now, are you possibly amongst all the concert reviewers who are active today, is it possible that you've covered more concerts in Toronto than any of them? Is that possible?

I'm going to say no. Only because like Weekly is like Now and Exclaim. They cover the horseshoes. They cover everything. We cover, like I said, the big stuff. Like Elton John. Before you hang up

I'll be back. Elton John Goodbye Yule Buck Road was my very first concert. And I was a little kid and I fainted in Vancouver. And my older sister had to come get me from first aid and bring me out in my lifeless form. And I rallied and saw him. But I got to interview him many years later at the top of Caesars Palace when he was about to launch his residency. And say to him, if I get hit by a van out on Las Vegas Boulevard, my life has become full circle. I've now talked to you and life is good.

So to answer your question, no, I think there are others probably because of just the sheer volume of what they do. They cover week in and week out for the weeklies because the dailies, we just don't cover as much. It makes sense to me. Yeah, you do the big shows. I'm dailies, we just don't cover as much. That makes sense to me. Yeah, you do the big shows. But I'd say I'm up there, Mike. I don't want to downplay myself.

I was going to say, you're definitely top three. Top three? How's that? I just had you top one. I had to degrade that based on your feedback there. Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, we could probably look at the weeklies and find out who does the most reviewing for them.

But still active. That would be interesting to see who is still around. Right. From the early nineties when I started to now. I'd be very curious. Jane, this has been an absolute pleasure. I had a great time.

That was fantastic. I got to talk music and play tunes and it was fantastic. And remember when you said it was going to be like therapy? Do you feel good? I feel good. I don't, I didn't really feel that bad, but I feel better. I feel better. You don't really feel that bad, but I feel better.

I feel better. You don't feel any worse than when you got here. No, I don't. And you have at least you got some product here. I do. I'm very excited about it. Beer and pasta. Breakfast of champions.

That's right. And that brings us to the end of our 404th show. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Jane is at Jane C. Stevenson. Don't forget the C. Catherine is my middle name. Catherine, good for you. That's my mom's middle name. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at

Great Lakes Beer. Propertyinthe6.com is at Raptors Devotee. Jane, this is one of the rare times that the song ran out before my extra here. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Fast Time Watch and Jewelry Repair is at Fast Time WJR and PayTM is at Palma Pasta. Fast Time Watch and Jewelry Repair is at Fast Time WJR. And Paytm is at Paytm Canada.

See you all next week.