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Interview with Barry Sparks
Bass player for the Ted Nugent band/Dokken/UFO
By Debbie Rao
March 1 2005
Over the past four years, Barry Sparks has turned into a touring machine. The dynamic bass player spent much of 2003-2004 on the road touring with Dokken, Ted Nugent, and UFO. Barry was in such great demand, that as soon as the Dokken summer tour( Check out the tour diary Barry did for us) ended last August, Barry was asked to step in and fill in for UFO bass player Pete Way, who was experiencing Visa problems for UFO's fall tour. Well is it already February 2005, and the accomplished bass player is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Barry is currently touring the country the Detroit Motor City Madman Ted Nugent on the Toby Keith/Ted Nugent tour, which started mid-January and will run thru March 13.
In addition to all the touring, Barry found time to record his first solo CD entitled,” Can’t Look Back." This CD also features special guest appearances by Ted Nugent and Billy Gibbons.
I recently had the chance to catch up on the latest news with Barry last weekend. In this exclusive interview, Barry gives his fans the latest insight on tour with Ted, Nugent , the latest Dokken, news , and life as one of the popular bass players in music today
Barry, it's been awhile since our last interview. Tell me how is the Toby Keith/Ted Nugent Tour going?
It's going great. At first I thought it was a weird combination. I mean there are some similarities between the personalities of Ted and Toby. There is something there that works. The country fans seem to dig our show, and the Ted Nugent fans probably did the Ted Nugent show too.
Now is the audience 50/50 Ted, Toby? 
I think so. I think Toby fans are in their mid 30’s to late 40’s. Pretty much everyone knows "Cat Scratch Fever", unless you live in a cave, you know that song.
Now Toby's a little bit country and Ted is a little bit Rock and Roll!
Something like that, exactly! We only get forty minutes to play. So it is a short set. I wish we could do an hour.
So are you just playing all the hit songs in the set? Are you playing any new material?
We don't have time to play any new songs, unfortunately. On the Ted solo shows, we throw in a bunch of new songs, it is a 2 1/2 hour set.
I remember two years ago, Ted had a great stage show. Now does Saddam Hussein still make an appearance every night?
Laughter! Yes, he still makes an appearance. He has been shot many times. (ed note: Why the fuck is he shooting Saddam, he’s no threat to us anymore.)
So Ted shoots him every night still that is so cool. I know you are playing the Mohegan Sun Casino March 4, and I am looking forward to reviewing your show. Now will Ted be going hunting that day?
If there are even a couple of hours, he will sneak it in.
Have you ever gone hunting with Ted?
No, I'm not really a hunter type kind of guy. I have shot guns with him, but it is not something I have gotten into. To each his own.
Did you get to play at the Presidential Inauguration this year?
Actually we never did that. Plans got changed. So we never ended up doing that.
When did the Toby Keith/Ted Nugent tour begin?
The tour began in January and will run till March 13. We are also doing some solo Ted shows. There is talk of more Toby shows with Ted this summer.
That will be awesome. You have to play the Tweeter Center again, next time around. What is your favorite Ted Nugent song?
I still love "Hey baby, "Just What the Doctor Ordered." I like the stuff off of "Craveman." It the newest album. I never get tired of playing "Stranglehold."
Will you be recording with Ted soon?
I think so, he is talking about doing a record pretty soon. Hopefully.
Will you be playing in Iraq anytime soon with Ted?
I haven't heard anything about that? Last time he did, he just went himself, along with Toby Keith. So I don’t know.
You are safer here! I recently saw you play on the UFO Tour last September. Any UFO Tour plans? Are you their permanent bass player?
I am supposed to play some shows in July with this in the States. Pete still can't get into the States, until Pete can get back in I will help out.
That works for me. It was funny some of the UFO fans actually thought you were Pete in Hampton.
Yeah that blew my mind. Somebody thought I was Michael the too. That was pretty cool. (ed note: What a bunch of stupid fans)
Barry, now let’s talk about your solo career. Do you have any solo shows in the works?
I got one show in Tucson on March 18. It is at a place called City Limits. It is a CD release party.
Who is in your band?
My brother Kevin Sparks, Mark Lindholm on bass, John Bjak on guitar, Jim Pavett on drums. I'm playing almost the whole CD, plus five new songs, and I am going to throw "Hey Baby" in for fun.
Are you playing with Dokken in Europe?
Yeah, I have been waiting to see if that is confirmed.
Yes it is, it starts April 8-April 24. What is your favorite city to play in Europe? I'm not really sure. I like going to Italy. Each country has its own uniqueness to it. I like England, Austria. It's pretty cool.
Will you be writing more songs on the next Dokken CD? "Don't Bring Me Down” was awesome.
I hope so. The problem is when we are not playing. I'm on the road with who knows? It is a matter of being around ya know. I have to tell you a funny story. Two weeks ago, your favorite actress Cathere Zeta Jones was in Cambridge. She was nominated the Queen of the Hasty Pudding Club that is run by Harvard University students.
What is your favorite Cather Zeta Jones movie?
Zorro easily, that is cool.
Did you see her?
No, I thought of you though. (ed note: Can someone please tell me what the hell they are talking about)
Barry, what has the highlight of your career been so far?
Man there is so many. I am playing with all these guys that I grew up with like Ted and UFO.
It must be so surreal and such a high to be playing with Ted and UFO.
It is hard to nail down just one thing. I have had some great shows with Dokken. I hope it keeps coming my way.
It can only get better. Who inspired you to become a musician?
Geddy Lee, Chris Squire are some of my favorite players.
Thank you so much for doing this interview, I will see you in Ct with Ted Nugent March 4 at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
Thank you Deb. www.barrysparks.com www.tednugent.com www.tobykeith.com www.heehaw.com
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