Erica Banas: Writing Samples

WRIF Rocks Detroit •

Why I Miss Eddie Van Halen More Than Certain Dead Relatives of Mine

Like everyone else in the world, I’ve experienced my share of loss. Also, like everyone else in the world, I’ve experienced my share of what I’ll refer to as “complicated loss.” For the purposes of this article, “complicated loss” is that murky situation when a relative or other prominent figure in your life dies, but your relationship/feelings about said figure aren’t very “sunshine and lollipops.”
93.3 WMMR •

Rye the Lightning: 5 Things to Know Before Trying Metallica's Latest Spirit

Metallica, like many other bands, expanded their portfolio by entering the spirit game with their brand Blackened American Whiskey. Since launching in 2018, Blackened American Whiskey has won a number of awards and has introduced a variety of offerings with their latest being a Kentucky straight rye double cask finished whiskey aptly named Rye The Lightning. At the helm of Rye The Lightning is Master Distiller & Blender Rob Dietrich, a man who loves the craft of making whiskey as much as he lov
102.9 WMGK •

'Exile on Main St.': A Track Breakdown of the Classic Rolling Stones Album

From 1968-1972, The Rolling Stones released four albums that not only are considered the best work of their career but some of the best albums in rock history. With the release of Exile On Main St., the final album (a double album, no less) helped close out that truly epic tetralogy in the grandest of fashion that only the Stones could accomplish. While we all know the origin story of the band fleeing to Keith Richards’ rented villa in the South of France as a result of Britain’s tax laws on hi
94.7 WCSX •

5 Takeaways from Listening to 'Dark Side of the Moon' High for the First Time

Some people did puzzles. Some people got really into doing TikTok dances. Some people baked bread. For me, the lockdown days of the pandemic found me getting baked for the first time ever. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “How does someone wait until their mid-thirties to explore the world of cannabis?” The answer is quite simple: In my late teens, I tried weed and it made me super-paranoid. As a result, I kept a safe distance from it for well over a decade and just rolled with alcohol if I wa
93.3 WMMR •

Taylor Hawkins Grammy Tribute: Disappointing, But Not Surprising

Ideally, the rock world should be spending the day after the 2022 Grammy Awards talking about how great the Foo Fighters’ performance was on “Music’s Biggest Night” and how the band swept the rock Grammy category. But alas, the tragic, sudden passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins has many revisiting the familiar feeling of disappointment that rockers know all too well post-Grammy Awards in recent years. Hawkins’ passing on March 25 followed by the Foo Fighters officially pulling out of their perfor
WROR •

Winter Olympics 2022: Best and Worst Country Fashion Choices

The Winter Olympic Games in Beijing started two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, but the event is the official start of the Olympics. The biggest highlight is the “Parade of Nations” in which each country competing enters Olympic Stadium led by their nation’s flag while also donning a special outfit. However, not every Olympic outfit is created equal. For some fashion fun, here are some superlative fashion awards from the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
WRIF Rocks Detroit •

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

Guns N’ Roses’ double album Use Your Illusion I & II celebrates its 30th anniversary today (September 17.) Use Your Illusion was one of the most anticipated albums not just in 1991, but ever, with the album dropping at midnight on its first day of release resulting 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 A
WDHA FM •

An Ode to 'Whole Lotta Rosie': Rock's Big Girl Banger

Queen had their “Fat Bottom Girls.” U2 had their b-side tribute to the wonder that are pregnant women with “Big Girls Are Best.” However, the definitive rock anthem for plus-size ladies everywhere is AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie.” Featured on Let There Be Rock, the band’s fourth studio album released on March 21, 1977, “Whole Lotta Rosie” brings the LP to an epic close and has become one of the most beloved tracks in AC/DC’s catalog.
95.9 The RAT •

This is the Most Annoying Thing About the Rock Hall Nominations Every Year

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations and the subsequent class selections are easily the most popular debate topics in the rock world every year. Regardless of who actually is nominated and voted into the Rock Hall, the discussions around the whole process are passionate, lengthy and often fun. However, without fail, one take is always dragged out year after year by someone, and frankly, it must stop.
WRIF Rocks Detroit •

Ozzy Osbourne's 'Ordinary Man' Was One Of The Bright Spots Of 2020

Considering everything that happened in 2020, it’s actually quite easy to forget about some of the positive things from this year, especially if they happened pre-coronavirus, which seems like another lifetime ago. However, something rock fans the world over need to be grateful for this year was the release of Ordinary Man, the twelfth studio album from Ozzy Osbourne. Released on February 21, Ordinary Man marked Ozzy’s first new album since 2010’s Scream. Despite being shut out from receiving a
WDHA FM •

Pink Floyd: Looking Back on Their Live 8 Reunion Performance

Pink Floyd and their reunion at Live 8 in 2005 was the band’s first performance with Roger Waters, who celebrates his birthday today (September 6), in 24 years. While held to the tight 20-minute set time that every performer had during the benefit concert, Pink Floyd, without question, owned the event with their setlist of “Breath,” “Money,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb.” While Waters and David Gilmour did butt heads regarding the setlist and took some convincing to agree to the
100.1 WJRZ •

2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees: 9 Women Artists Who Were Snubbed

From May 2011 to February 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured an exhibit called “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power.” From September 2012 to August 2014, the exhibit traveled around to various museums in the United States. It made its final stop at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. where I was given a private tour of the collection from over 70 different performers, from Janis Joplin and Tina Turner to Chrissie Hynde and Stevie Nicks. While the exhibit’s artifacts dated bac
ROCK 92.9 Rocks •

Sarfraz Manzoor Recounts His Most Unique Encounter with Bruce Springsteen

Sarfraz Manzoor delved deep into his Bruce Springsteen fandom in his memoir Greetings from Bury Park, which has been adapted into the film Blinded By The Light that opens tomorrow (August 16.) One of the most interesting facts about his fandom is the fact he’s seen The Boss in concert over 150 times. With that many shows, there’s plenty of different venues where he’s seen Springsteen live, but one of his most memorable experiences took place in a very intimate setting: “This isn’t a venue at a
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