Barry Sparks, bassist for DOKKEN and Ted Nugent, recently hooked up with KNAC.com's Boston-based contributor Debby Rao for a look back at 2006:

Debby Rao: How did you get the gig with Ted Nugent?

Sparks: "Marco Mendoza, who was playing bass for Ted, he wasn't able to tour with Ted, because he was in WHITESNAKE at the time. He recommended me, which I was really grateful for. Ted came down to a Dokken show, and I met him. I went to try out. The good thing was, I was huge Ted Nugent fan and I loved all of his stuff. I grew up with all of that stuff. I put a lot of work on the road learning songs with Dokken and stuff, so I could just hop from one thing to another."

Debby Rao: What do you enjoy most about touring with Ted Nugent?

Sparks: "Oh Man, there is so many great things, that I could say about Ted. One of the great things is that there has never been a night where we walk onstage and we don't put out 110 percent. I don't know if I learned this from him, or I have always been like this too. When you love to do what you do, you do it the best you can. That is how I always felt. That is one thing that Ted does for me. He is definitely a hero of mine. Another thing that I like about Ted is that he stands up for what he believes in. He doesn't care what people think."

Debby Rao: Do you have special Metal Moment of 2006 that you would like to share with us?

Sparks: "Playing with Ted Nugent at the Sweden Rock Festival in June."

Debby Rao: "What are your top five albums of 2006?

Sparks: "I am way out of fashion, here goes:

1) THE BEATLES - Rubber Soul

2) Paul McCartney - Chaos And Creation

3) RUSH - Caress Of Steel

4) THE BEATLES - Revolver

5) SWEET - Level Headed

Debby Rao: Do you have any special update that you would like to share with us?

Sparks: "Look out for the Barry Sparks Band's next CD, Live In Mexico. Thanks a lot, Happy New Year!"