Scott Sparks - Page 2

Hold onto your bat heads, folks because when the Prince of Darkness finally takes his final bow, the rock ‘n’ roll world will NEVER be the same again. Ozzy Osbourne isn’t just a rock legend – he is rock ‘n’ roll incarnate. Loud, wild, outrageous and unapologetically bizarre, Ozzy didn’t just break the rules, he didn’t […]

Hold onto your leather jackets, rock fans we’re diving into the world of cover songs that didn’t just honor the originals, they obliterated them.  These 7 killer rock covers took familiar tracks and cranked them to eleven, leaving audiences wondering, “Wait, who sang it first?!” 1. “All Along the Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix (vs. Bob […]

It’s Just a Name Classic rock, legendary music, but also memorable band names from U.S. states, cities and regions either to evoke a sense of place, convey a certain attitude or simply reflect where they came from.  These names helped shape their identities and often tied their music to the spirit of a location. BostonFew […]

Steve Walsh left KANSAS after nearly 41 years as the band’s dynamic lead vocalist and keyboardist. Why he left: What he’s been doing since 2014 Solo projects & collaborations Steve Walsh’s departure from Kansas in mid-2014 marked the end of an iconic era.  Now settled in Atlanta with his wife and children, Steve appears content. […]

“VAN-DEMONIUM!”: Rock Stars Who’ve Got VAN in Their Name and the Wild Rides They’ve TakenGet ready to crank the volume, blow your speakers, and maybe double-check your spelling. We’re diving headfirst into the leather-studded, amp-blasting world of rock stars whose names proudly bear the mighty syllable: VAN.  From the smoky blues bars of Belfast to […]

Yes, the Texxas Jam was Awwesome! The Texxas Jam (a.k.a. the Texxas World Music Festival) is often overlooked in the narrative of classic rock history despite being one of the most significant and ambitious rock festivals of the late 1970s and 1980s.  Held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas and later at the Astrodome, the […]

Appetite for Destruction, Guns N’ Roses’ explosive 1987 debut, isn’t just great because it went on to sell over 30 million copies, it’s great because it woke up a complacent, bloated rock ‘n’ roll industry that had lost its edge.  By the mid-1980s, mainstream rock had grown predictable, dominated by polished glam bands with formulaic […]

While both Live Aid (July 1985) and Woodstock (August 1969) are monumental in rock history, Live Aid arguably had a greater impact on rock ‘n’ roll’s global influence and legacy. Woodstock was a cultural watershed a symbol of the counterculture movement, peace and musical revolution. It defined an era and solidified the careers of acts […]

Freedom and American rock ‘n’ roll go hand in hand because both represent rebellion, self-expression and the breaking of boundaries. Rock ‘n’ roll emerged in the 1950s as a bold, electrifying sound that challenged conservative social norms and racial barriers. It mixed African-American blues with country and pop, creating something uniquely American — loud, raw […]

Billy Squier, a successful rock musician in the early 1980s, is often cited as having significantly damaged his career with the release of the music video for his 1984 single Rock Me Tonite. RELATED STORY: Sparks Notes: ‘Texas Flood’ At the height of his fame, Squier had multi-platinum albums like Don’t Say No and Emotions in Motion, along […]

In honor of Paul McCartney’s birthday today (83 years old on June 18, 2025), let’s get controversial: Could his solo work with Wings be better than his former daytime job? Saying Wings is better than the Beatles is a bold stance — one that challenges musical orthodoxy, but there’s a compelling argument to be made; you […]

Ann Wilson, even in a wheelchair, remains a towering figure in rock music — her physical condition does nothing to diminish the power, passion and legacy of her voice. As the lead singer of Heart, Wilson shattered gender norms in a male-dominated genre, delivering iconic vocals that blended raw power with emotional depth. Her performance […]