Barry Sparks is one of rock music most respected bassists.
Well travelled and well versed in a wide range of music and personalities.
We caught up with Barry whilst he had probably the only bit of spare time
he is likely to see in 2004.
 Lets
start with the most recent happening, I believe that you have laid down
the bass tracks for the new Scorpions album - can we expect a return to
their classic teutonic uber rock sound?
W ell, I was only there for a week or so, did 5 songs, it was great! they
rule!!! from what i heard, it sounds like classic Scorpions is back!
How did that gig come about?
Rudolph (Schenker) called me and asked me to come to Hannover,
but i was already rehearsing with BZ (Japanese rock band), so Icould only
stay for a week, but it was great, Iam such a huge fan!!
Is it likely to progress any further,
or in other words are we going to see you performing human pyramids on
stage with Klaus and Rudolf in 2004?
Oh, i dont know about that? that would be a blast but, as for now
i just played some bass for them, of course it would be great, but who
knows? i am very happy to have been in the studio with them, they are
the real deal! great guys too.
Ted Nugent, The Nuge, The Motorcity
Madman.....how did you hook up with Ted?
my friend marco mendoza suggested my name to Ted, Ted saw me with Dokken,
and we jammed a bit and hit it off real well! ted is awesome.
I would imagine that the Nuge
gig was not an incredibly difficult bass job, but what was it that appealed?
Teds music is where i came from, i love playing straight ahead rock n
roll more than anything, theres nothing more fun than playing bass on
stranglehold and cat scratch fever! these are rock classics!!
How many arrows / bullets did
you witness Ted fire?
Hahaha, well geez, every show!! maybe 100!!!
Does he still drink a carton of
chocolate milk before a gig?
N o, now he drinks raw alligator blood with a straw!
You played some very big shows
with Ted supporting Aerosmith/Kiss, ZZ Top etc.... what is your fondest
memory?
That was a dream come true, but at the same time that show is kinda
a blur because it was so hectic and we had some real bad technical problems,
but it was very fun!!
What was your fave Nuge song to
play?
"Hey baby" and "Just what the doctor ordered"
I got to sing lead vocals on those songs, so cool!!!! thanks Ted!
As most people will know, you
replaced Jeff Pilson in Dokken. It all started out very promisingly, a
very good reaction from the fans to having you and John Norum in the band,
the album came out and appeared to be doing well, then suddenly everything
seemed to explode with John Norum leaving mid tour etc. Was this meant
to happen?
Meant to happen? no i would say not, John is a good friend and
one of the best guitarists i have ever played with! its just one of those
things, i guess.
What do you think of Long Way Home now?
It has some great songs on it, its a little short, a bit frustrating
to make, if anything i am mainly unhappy with the mix. Don Dokken mixed
it first, i loved it!! but in the end he let someone else finish it, kinda
a mistake i think, but it does have some great moments.
Are you still a member of Dokken?
I love playing with those guys, i am supposed to play on the remaining
tracks, any day now, which i hope happens, so we will see...thats about
all i can say at this point.
Ok you have played with some of the most renowned guitarists over the
years... sum the following up in a few words.
Ted Nugent- amazing person,
great guitarist and a true friend.
Uli Jon Roth- guitar playing from a different
universe!
John Norum- one of the nicest guys you will
ever meet, as a guitarist, I think he has alot of Michael Schenker in
him, which is good, always melodic!
Yngwie Malmsteen,guitar god, for his style
he is untouchable.
Roland Grapow- a fun easy going guy who plays
a mean guitar!
Michael Schenker- my all time fave guitarist.
Jeff Kolmann- he should get the most valuable
player award, he can play anything!
Vinnie Moore- awesome player, great person,
i cant wait to hear the new UFO!
Tony Macalpine- frightening, he is so talented
it is scary!!
Out of the above, who is the loudest
onstage or in the studio.
Hmmm....?. thats a toss up between Uli Jon Roth and Ted Nugent
Ok lets talk gear. What basses and amps are you
currently using?
Yamaha and Carvin basses and Ampeg amps.
String gauges?
F or a 6 string it would be 30 to 128
Pick or fingers?
B oth, it depends on the song, but mainly fingers
Favourite key - and why?
I dont really have one? i guess i will say E!
What do you try to achieve with a bass line?
I think the main role of the bass is to get all the pretty girls
with big boobies dancing, and if i achieve that, I am doing my job! I
have always tried to be a cross between geezer butler and stanley clarke!
the groove is the main thing, then i try to add in as much as i can get
away with! until i get a pick thrown at me!
Whats the best bass line ever
written?
Hahaha funny question? I guess that would have to be "Stranglehold"
 Ok,
I believe you have been working on solo album #2. I also believe that
The Nuge and none other than Billy Gibbons have been blackmailed to play
on it. Whats the crack behind this?
H aha well, i am unaware of the blackmail part! I am so excited to have
Billy and Ted on it! they are living legends! what an honor to have them
on my album, thank you!
What does it sound like - stylistically?
W ell, if your expecting some heavy metal style album, i guess you will
hate it! its a very personal album, all the songs mean alot to me musically
and lyrically, its more about simple catchy songs than "hey look
how fast I can play" I am very proud of it! it has a bit of all my
influences, but its mainly pop rock, you dont need to be a guitar player
to like it.
Who else is on it?
Shane Gaalaas, Jim Pavett both play drums, a couple solos from Billy and
Ted, thats it.
When will it be released?
S oon, I am working on getting the artwork finished now.
Ok that about wraps it up, I hope you have a great
2004 and everything goes to plan, and I feel that you didn't play live
enough in 2003 so please amend that this year. Anything else you want
to add to the this interview?
I think that about does it! thanks alot! Happy New Year!! see ya soon!
Barry
Thanks
Andy
Barry Sparks Links
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