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Bass player Barry Sparks is one of the hardest working musicians in music today. He had spent most of 2005 on the road touring with Dokken and Ted Nugent. And this year, Sparks is showing no signs of slowing down. Right after he finished the winter Dokken tour, the energetic bass player embarked on a solo tour that will take his band up and down the West Coast until April.
In 2001, Sparks replaced bass player Jeff Pilson in Dokken. The addition of Sparks added a new, modern sound to the legendary band. In 2003, while with Dokken in Detroit, Sparks was approached by Motor City Madman- Ted Nugent, and was asked to join the Ted Nugent band. Barry spent the summer of 2003 touring with the Nuge on the ZZ Top/Ted Nugent tour.
Barry Sparks has a Rock and Roll record that would make any musician proud. In the past, he has toured with Yngwie Malmsteem, Michael Schenker, The B'Z, and also replaced Pete Way in 2004, for the UFO Fall U.S. Tour, when Pete was experiencing visa problems.
In 2004, Sparks released his second solo album, "Can't Look Back", and is currently working on a new CD, "Summerland."
I recently caught up with the bass wonder after his Winter NAMM appearance last weekend. In this exclusive interview for GlamMetal. Barry talks about the new Dokken album, his solo project, the music industry today, what he learned from Ted Nugent, The LA Club Scene, and life on the road as one of the busiest musicians in Rock today.
Barry, It has been awhile since we last spoke. You recently set out on a solo tour. How is it going?
It is going great. We had a couple of great shows. In Mexico, it was awesome. We are going back there next weekend I think. Long Beach was great. We did a couple of shows in LA. We got a whole West Coast Tour coming up in April. We will be going to San Diego, and then make it up to Seattle. It is great to be out playing our own songs with my band. They are great guys. 
Now you are fronting the band. Was it hard to make the change from playing bass, to singing and playing acoustic guitar?
I love it. I love playing bass for everybody equally. But there is something about singing your own songs and playing that is really cool.
Now your brother Kevin Sparks is playing guitar in the band?
Yeah! We always have been playing together for years, we started when we were kids.
Now who else is in the band?
On guitar, we have another guitar player called John Bujak, he is a great friend of mind and great guitar player, Matt Mesa is the bass player, Roger Cardillo is the drummer. It is really cool cuz they are play great, and are really cool guys, so it is alot of fun.
How would you describe the Barry Sparks Band sound?
It is to my ears pretty much very Beatle-ish. almost Eagles sounding too. Even though we are playing acoustic it really does rock. People have to come and see it to see what we are doing. There is alot of harmonies, Beatle type harmonies, good catchy hooks. We are playing everything off of "Can't Look Back", and pretty much a hold new album's worth of new music that we are doing here too. We do a couple of covers. If I’m going to do a cover song, I am going to do an obscure cover song. For my own personal enjoyment.
Barry, Let's talk about the show in Santa Fe, Mexico. Didn't Don Dokken and Jon Levin show up and jam with you?
Yeah, they did, it was great! We were setting up, getting ready to play and in walks Don and Jon. It was funny, cuz I wasn't expecting to see them. I looked up and it took a few seconds to register, and I said Wow! Laughter! I said "What are you doing here"? It was great. They came up in the middle of my set, we brought them up and we played some Dokken songs. It was a blast.
Now this past weekend was a big weekend for you, you attended the Winter NAMM Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. What were some of the highlights at NAMM this year?
NAMM was great I was doing a demo thing at the Carvin booth, I was demonstrating the new Carvin Icon bass at the booth, so I would be playing for a little bit and one of my heroes Stanley Clarke was there. I was sitting there doing my little bass thing, and there Stanley Clarke was standing there smiling at me. That made my day. Getting that pat on your back from your idol was really cool. At night we did a gig at Long Beach with Steve Ferrone, and an All-Star Band and they were just great. 
Let's talk about your new signature guitar bass. Is it on the market? Can the fans purchase it?
My signature bass is the one I am making. MY brother and I are starting a guitar company called Sparks Guitars . It is a cross between a Gibson Thunderbird, and a Explorer. I have never been crazy the way a Thunderbird sounded, I always liked the way they looked but never liked the way they sounded or played, so my brother and I designed this new bass It plays like a dream. You can go to my website for more information. at www.barrysparks.com I played the bass on the last Dokken tour.
Barry, You have been performing with Dokken since 2001 .Were you a big Dokken fan back in the day? How did you get the gig with Dokken?
Yeah! Actually John Norum was in the band at the time. John and I have known each other thru the years.John asked me to play on his first couple of solo records, but I was with Yngwie at the time. I totally wanted to play on them. I was on the road, so I wasn't able to do it. He was kind of rallying for me to get me in the band. But yeah, it's. awesome being in Dokken.
Thank God for John Norum. You were the perfect replacement for Jeff Pilson. You have brought a fresh, new bass sound to the band. Now last year you spent most of the summer touring with Ted Nugent. Now Mick Brown recently joined the Ted Nugent Band. Is it really cool to be playing with Mick in both bands?
Mick is a great guy. It is awesome. It has also really help cuz on the last Dokken tour we were ON FIRE. We had been touring all summer, night after night, we were really tight.
That is funny how you mentioned that. In a recent interview with Jon, Jon stated that this is the best that Dokken has ever performed as a band on the past Winter Dokken Tour that just wrapped up in December. Do you feel the same way? Do you feel that this is Dokken at their best?
Definitely I agree. It is the best we have ever played on this last last tour.
Now Barry, You have been performing with Ted Nugent for a while,what is the most important lesson that Ted Nugent has taught you as a musician and friend? 
Ted is so inspirational in a billion ways. One of the things that I learned from Ted is he just has the right attitude. I tell him, even if he wasn't a guitar player he would succeed at anything he would do. Any project he does, he plays to win. That rubs off on you. It is an attitude and vibe that you get from him. You can't help , ya know but get out there and tackle things in your life better because of him.
That is true. In the past, you have also performed with Yngwie Malsteem. Did you get to see Joe Lynn Turner at NAMM this weekend?
I missed him. I met him a couple of times, and he is a great guy. He is a great singer. We did a couple of things with Yngwie Malmsteen. We recorded a Japanese album called, "I Can't Wait" We also did another album called "Magnum Opus."
Dokken are in the studio recording their latest album,"Lightning Strikes Again." Do you think you will contribute a song on the new album.? I loved "Don't Bring Me Down."
It all depends. I am hoping to get out and write some. stuff. We will see.
Now you played with the BZ in Japan. How are Japanese audiences different from American audiences? Are they more intense?
We played some really big shows in Japan. The thing that is great about Japanese fans are that they are som loyal to the band. They also listen to the music. Alot of the American fans get stuck listening to the old songs, they don't want to hear anything new. Over there is kinda like , they want to hear new stuff. They are more open minded.
Who are some of your influences?
As for bass players, Steve Harris , Geddy Lee yeah! Michael Schenker, ya know the Beatles are a huge influence on me. I think it really comes down to more stuff like Rush, Yes, Zeppelin, Beatles, great bands. There you go.
Now you have been in the music business a long time. How has the music business changed since the early 90's? How would you compare it to now? It is definitely better. In some ways it is better. I think in the mid 90's it was just really lame. It was a down time. I really don't think there is anything great that came from that period in time. People were very much close-minded to everything unless you were not the new grunge act or Soundgarden .It is kinda changed abit now. I think that is cool. People are accepting more of everything. That is alot better cuz it was so close minded back then. As for shows I, don't think it has changed that much. As for the way the actual gigs go, some of the die-hard fans are alittle older so they don't bang their head as much. Laughter!
You have been performing in Los Angeles alot these days your solo band. How is the LA Scene? Does it still have that pay to play policy?
To be honest with you IT SUCKS. Laughter! I am not talking about the audience. I am talking about I think it is pathetic that clubs expect you to be indebted to them to have you play. I can go anywhere else and make good money. When you go to LA, they expect you to be happy to be there. The fans are great everywhere. I mean I almost feel sorry for some of the fans. They come to all of the shows. It just sucks for the attitude that the clubs have towards the band. It is an attitude the clubs have what can you do for me.? I am like Hey there is a great band and let's respect them.
It must be so hard to play in LA. You are an established musician. I can't imagine what it would be like for someone just starting out.
Ya know like when I am doing these shows with my own band, in ways it sucks cuz I am very spoiled , because I have played with such , great bands, and I have been treated a certain way, and I am use to that, but when you are on your own you start from scratch. Believe me, it is not easy, and you go to LA, I definitely feel it.
The Nashville scene is like that too. You have to pay to play.
Yeah, I think it sucks it is so lame, and I think the more bands do it, the more they get away with it. The more they will just keep doing it. It is wrong in every possible way.
It it hard to believe LA is still like that. 
I think it is worse. I wish the bands out there the Best of Luck, I know how tough it is.
Barry, You have the best of both worlds. You get to perform with Dokken and Ted Nugent , and now you have your solo career. How do you separate the two? Going from playing theaters and arenas to performing in smaller clubs with your band?
The cool thing about it is, we do small clubs with my band. You definitely realize, you are reminded of the fact, that you are doing because you love the music and you believe in it. There is nothing more, there is not enough reward right now, than to do it for the fact that it is what I believe in. All the negativity, is in LA. I mean the tour is going great in Arizona, Mexico. I mean we are carving a cool niche out here.
I am so happy for you. I remember when I interviewed Don, and he said it was pay to play back when Dokken was getting started back in 1986.
I have been kind of sheltered from it, but it has been like that for years.
Right, I know where you are coming from. . Let's talk about your new solo album. It is going to be called "Summerland." What kind of sound are you aiming for?
Yeah, It is going to be called " Summerland." I got the whole album, almost written. I just haven't had the chance to start recording it yet . I am so proud of "Can't Look Back." The cool thing is with this album it is like I am looking I shooting for. I feel like I have a direction, I know what I am going for this time. I am in no hurry, but it should be done by the end of the year. I believe
Will you have any special guest stars on the new album. I know Ted Nugent and Billy Gibbons performed on your last solo record?
It depends. I keep going both ways. I have so many friends that would love to play on it. It could become that thing, or I might just do it myself. I would love to have guys like Ted Nugent and Vinnie Moore on it.
Since 2005 has come to close, do you have any special albums of 2005?
Man it sounds awful, I have been on the Beatles kick lately. Everything I have been listening sounds old. Laughter! I am sheltered from the new stuff, I don't even know what is going on. I know there is alot of great stuff out there going on, but I just content in the fact I am doing What I really want. I am on a Beatles kick right now.
That's cool. Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans at GlamMetal?
Man, I just want to thank everyone who visits my website, who is interested in what I am doing. That is the coolest thing, that is why I keep doing it. As long as they are out there, I will keep doing it.
Well the response has been great for your solo tour. The reviews have been very postive.
WE are absolutely killing. The band is great, and we are doing some slick stuff, great harmonies, some real stuff that I haven't done before. Also the new Dokken album is going to be great. Ted is also talking about recording a new album, so we will see. I will be busy this year for sure. Check out my new signature bass guitar at Sparks Guitars. The info is on my website at www.barrysparks.com There is only five of them in existence, so whoever gets them now, it is pretty rare. It is not like there is hundreds of them laying around. It is pretty cool.
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