Erica Banas: Writing Samples

Erica Banas: Writing Samples

Specializing in rock/classic rock news coverage and commentary, with experience in wrestling, TV and film.

93.3 WMMR •

'Metallica' & 9 Other Best-Selling Albums During the SoundScan Era

Metallica released their self-titled fifth studio album on August 12, 1991. Affectionately known as "The Black Album," the LP became a game-changer for the band. It also had a massive impact on the music industry at large thanks to the game-changing technology then known as SoundScan, which premiered on March 1, 1991.Per a feature piece from Billboard, "SoundScan, which is now known as MRC Data, measured album sales as they happened — stores scanned bar codes at the checkout register — and over...
105.7 WROR •

Aerosmith Needs to Get the Back To The Beginning Treatment

The rock world is still basking in the afterglow of Back To The Beginning, the July 5 all-star concert that saw the final performance of the original lineup of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist. It's hard to imagine any other event or moment in 2025 topping it. It was truly that impressive and moving. Here's hoping it inspires a similar event for Aerosmith.Back To The Beginning came about in large part because Ozzy was forced to cancel his farewell tour due to various health issue...
WRIF Rocks Detroit •

Oasis Tour Kickoff & Black Sabbath’s Final Show: A Back-to-Back Return/Farewell for Rock Fans Everywhere

For months now, I've been looking forward to this July 4th weekend. No, it's not because of the patriotic holiday. Instead, it's because of England.In August 2024, Oasis announced a series of reunion shows in their native U.K. A month later, they announced a series of shows in North America. (This tour has since expanded to include shows in Asia, Australia, and South America.)Similar to the 2016 "Not in This Lifetime..." tour from Guns N' Roses, this is really the first time I'll get to see Oasi...
93.3 WMMR •

'Use Your Illusion': Fantasy Track Listing If It Weren't a Double LP

Guns N' Roses' double album Use Your Illusion I & II was released on September 17, 1991. Use Your Illusion was one of the most anticipated albums not just in 1991, but ever. The album dropped at midnight on its first day of release. This resulted in late-night lines at record stores all across the country.GN'R may have staved off fans with 1988's GN'R Lies, but the adoring masses were eager for something to really sink their teeth into following the smash success of 1987's Appetite for Destructi...
93.3 WMMR •

6 Best Patriotic Rock Anthems, From Pride to Protest

America: She's beautiful, complicated, and has oftentimes been the subject of some of the most popular songs in rock history. Some of these songs champion the wonder of the country, while others point out the country's challenges and errors. Just like America, the six songs below are beautiful and complicated. They are also some of the best patriotic rock anthems of all time.In the decades since its release in 1984, Bruce Springsteen's classic song "Born in the U.S.A." continues to be thought of...
102.9 WMGK •

Rock Hall No-Shows: 10 Times Artists Didn't Attend Their Induction

In the long history of Rock Hall induction ceremonies, there have been many no-shows by inductees. Some of them were due to health or other personal reasons. Others? Not so much.The latest no-show comes from Carol Kaye, the iconic session bassist who is part of the 2025 induction class. Kaye is one of the recipients of the Musical Excellence Award. In a since-deleted post on Facebook (but reported by Variety), Kaye's big issue has to do with being included in the popular session musician group,...
95.9 The RAT •

One-Album Wonders: 5 Iconic Rock Acts Who Only Released One LP

Much is said and written about one-hit wonders in the history of rock and other music genres. But what about one-album wonders? What about artists who gave the world just one album? What if that album continues to stand the test of time? In this list, we'll explore five artists who, for a variety of reasons, are beloved one-album wonders.Might as well start off with most people's go-to example of a one-album wonder: The Sex Pistols. Released in 1977, Never Mind the Bollocks was the only studio r...
Play Jack Radio •

Final Performances: Last Shows of 5 Legendary Rock Stars

Final performances from rock stars is a rather tricky subject. (In fact, we have a whole list about musicians who lied about retirement.) However, many legendary rock stars have given their final performances, whether they were aware of it or not.From the poignant to the tragic and everywhere in between, here is a look at the final performances from five legendary rock stars.The music world said goodbye to the brilliant Brian Wilson on June 11, 2025. His final performance ended up being on July...
94.7 WCSX •

5 Cult Classic Rock Films You Should Binge

There have been many rock films that were box office hits or critical darlings, like Wayne's World or Almost Famous. But that's not what this whimsical list is about.If you're in the mood for some rock and roll fun and are looking to shake things up, consider hunkering down and bingeing these five cult classic rock films. We know what you're thinking: "Bingeing five films?! That's crazy!" No, it isn't, especially when you consider how many times you've binged a season of a TV show or an entire s...
Sunny 106.3 •

10 Musicians Who Lied About Retirement

Farewell tours have been common over the years, but as common as they are, musicians also go back on their word. There are plenty of musicians who lied about retirement. Here are just 10 examples from the rock world and beyond.The B-52's are the latest act to go back on their retirement. In April 2022, the band announced their farewell tour, which was dubbed their "Final Tour Ever of Planet Earth." They found a bit of a loophole, as far as touring goes, with a residency in Las Vegas. However, th...
Q105 •

10 Covers That Are Better Than The Original

There are a ton of cover songs throughout rock history. Among the many topics often debated in the rock world, one of them is covers that are better than the original. While this list could easily be very lengthy, we picked out what is considered ten covers that are better than the original. Oftentimes, these covers change the arrangement of the original for a fresh new take on the song. Other times, an artist will stick closer to the source material but just give a song an "oomph" that wasn't p...
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