Sparks: Last News

Morrissey has hit out at Sparks calling them “headless Palisades savages who threw their old friends into hot molten lava for sexy kicks”.The former Smiths frontman had a dig at the duo in an Instagram post featuring a series of photos from the ’90s.One of the pictures features a note from Sparks talking about a bunch of demos they had worked on at the time.In the caption next to the post, Morrissey wrote: “A nice note from Ron and Russell Mael – before they turned into headless Palisades savages who threw their old friends into hot molten lava for sexy kicks.”A post shared by MORRISSEY (@morrisseyofficial)The former Smiths frontman and Sparks were close for many years with the former citing the latter as an influence, even writing to NME as a teenager in 1974 to praise their music.Despite them releasing a single in 2009 entitled ‘Lighten Up Morrissey‘, which appeared critical of the singer-songwriter, he was actually a fan of it according to Russell Mael.He previously told The Guardian: “We’ve had many meetings with Morrissey throughout the years, and surprisingly Morrissey really loved our song Lighten Up Morrissey, and so much so that he’s used the video we made in a montage before he goes on stage. He was happy enough about it so he’d want to show it to his fans.

Damiano David and Sparks are among the new names added to the Bilbao BBK 2025 line-up. Check out all the new additions below.In December, the Spanish festival announced the first wave of acts, including Pulp, Kylie Minogue and RAYE.The initial announcement also revealed that there will be performances from Michael Kiwanuka, Nathy Peluso, Bad Gyal, Alice Phoebe Lou, Amyl And The Sniffers, Jalen Ngonda, Jessica Pratt, English Teacher, L’impératrice, Makaya McCraven, Obongjayar, Sofie Royer, Wunderhorse and more.Now, they’ve unveiled the entire line-up, which includes the Måneskin frontman, Sparks, Kaytranada, Japanese Breakfast, Hinds and more.

Sparks have shared the latest single from their upcoming album ‘MAD!’ in the form of ‘JanSport Backpack’ – check it out below.The duo announced their 28th studio album last month and they have now confirmed that it will be released on May 23rd via Transgressive Records (pre-order/pre-save here). They had previously released the lead single ‘Do Things My Own Way’.Now, they have given fans a second taste of the record with the typically whimsical and infectious ‘JanSport Backpack’, a bittersweet tale of a woman dealing with a relationship that is on the rocks.

Sparks have been fairly quiet since their 2023 album ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte‘, but it looks as though the art pop duo might be back with new music soon.The band, comprising brothers Ron and Russell Mael, posted a short video clip on X (Twitter) today (January 27) consisting solely of an angry cartoon face – also making the face their display photo.Their last post on X was a statement on the recent fires in California, on January 19, and their most recent post before that was one on New Year’s Eve, in which they said, “See you in 2025!”Back in October, meanwhile. Sparks announced that they’d signed to Transgressive Records for the release of their next album – coming sometime this year.They shared the news while collecting their award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards.pic.twitter.com/4UPCvytN7v— S P A R K S (@sparksofficial) January 27, 2025Sparks have released 25 studio albums since their 1971 debut, as well as the 2015 album ‘FFS’ as part of a supergroup with Franz Ferdinand, and they’ve also worked on the soundtracks for romantic drama Annette and their documentary film The Sparks Brothers.In an interview with NME in 2021, discussing The Sparks Brothers alongside director Edgar Wright, Ron said, “Cinema has always been a part of us.

The Last Dinner Party have today (August 28) announced a new album of covers and acoustic versions.The collection, which includes a soaring rendition of Sparks‘ ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’, will arrive on October 11. You can pre-order/save ‘Prelude To Ecstasy: Acoustics and Covers’ here.The band’s cover of Sparks’ 1974 single arrives alongside a tour montage video that’s been put together with footage shot over the band’s recent trips to Japan, The United States and their recent performance at Reading Festival.

Adam Sandler plays an astronaut sent to the edge of the solar system in sci-fi drama Spaceman.Directed by Johan Renck (Chernobyl), the film follows astronaut Jakub Procházka (Sandler) who encounters a creature at the edge of the solar system that helps him put his earthly problems back together.Other cast members include Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayar, Lena Olin, Isabella Rossellini and Paul Dano as the voice of the extraterrestrial spider.The film is based on the 2017 novel Spaceman Of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar, and was released on Netflix on March 1, 2024.Max Richter composed the film’s score. His previous credits include the soundtracks for 2007’s Waltz With Bashir, HBO’s The Leftovers and 2019’s Ad Astra.“The visual language of the film really informs your musical decisions,” Richter said about the soundtrack for Spaceman.

Glastonbury Festival has revealed its line-up for The Park in 2023, to be headlined by Fever Ray, Fatboy Slim and alt-J.The legendary festival – which will be held from June 21-25 at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset and headlined by Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John – has been announcing its stage line-ups one-by-one in recent weeks.This week, the Arcadia line-up was announced, featuring performances from The Chemical Brothers, Skepta and more, while The Streets‘ Mike Skinner, Nia Archives, Skindred and more will all play Shangri-La across the weekend.Now, The Park – comprising the Park Stage, Rabbit Hole, Stonebridge, Free University of Glastonbury and HMS Sweet Charity – have revealed their line-up.Along with previously announced names including all three headliners and the likes of Thundercat, Sparks and Weyes Blood, new names have been confirmed for the Glastonbury line-up in the form of Jockstrap, Viagra Boys, Max Richter and more, all of whom will play the Park Stage.Also set to play the Park Stage are The Comet Is Coming, Shygirl, Leftfield, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and more.See the full line-up for The Park at Glastonbury 2023 below.The Park's incredible line-up for this year’s Festival is here! pic.twitter.com/7wdgnVmuVv— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) May 18, 2023Last week, Glastonbury confirmed the line-up for the new ‘Woodsies’ area, comprising the stage formerly known as the John Peel Stage and the wooded area next door.Artists set to appear in the new area include Rina Sawayama, Måneskin, Warpaint and Christine & The Queens.

Sparks have shared the title track for their new album ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte’.The Los Angeles duo – comprising brothers Ron and Russell Mael – also announced that the song, which you can listen to below, will come with a video featuring actress Cate Blanchett at 5pm GMT tomorrow (March 3) here.They said via press release: “We met Cate Blanchett in Paris at the César Awards last year, little knowing that a year later, one of the great actors of our time (and a splendid person!) would graciously consent to lending her bootie-shaking skills to the first video from our new album, ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte’. Dreams really do come true.

Sparks performed an impromptu rendition of ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’ at a public piano at Paris Gare du Nord yesterday (April 20) – you can watch a clip of the moment below.The Mael brothers, who won Best Music Film at this year’s BandLab NME Awards for The Sparks Brothers, are currently on their rescheduled UK and European tour, which visited the UK and Ireland earlier this month.The morning after their gig at Casino de Paris in the French capital on Tuesday (April 19), Sparks performed a short version of ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’ at a public piano situated on the platforms at Paris’ Gare du Nord station.The duo are seen performing the song – with the help of one excitable fan who happens to be walking past – in a short clip that has since been shared on Sparks’ social media channels, which you can watch below.A post shared by S P A R K S (@sparks_official)Sparks’ European tour continues tonight (April 21) at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.The band will reissue five of their albums from 2000-2009 – 2000’s ‘Balls’, 2002’s ‘Lil’ Beethoven’, 2006’s ‘Hello Young Lovers’, 2008’s ‘Exotic Creatures of the Deep’ and 2009’s ‘The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman’ – on vinyl later this month and into next month.

Sparks are reissuing five albums on vinyl and have shared a rare track, ‘It’s A Sparks Show’ – check that out below.The brothers are re-releasing five albums from 2000-2009: 2000’s ‘Balls’, 2002’s ‘Lil’ Beethoven’, 2006’s ‘Hello Young Lovers’, 2008’s ‘Exotic Creatures of the Deep’, and 2009’s ‘The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman’.The albums, which have all been re-mastered, will be available on vinyl and CD this spring, and each release comes with new bonus material. It’s the first time ‘Balls’ has been pressed on vinyl.The reissues of ‘Balls’, ‘Lil’ Beethoven’ and ‘Hello Young Lovers’ are out April 29, while ‘Exotic Creatures Of The Deep’ and ‘The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman’ will arrive on May 17.You can listen to ‘It’s A Sparks Show’ here:Last month, Edgar Wright’s documentary film about Sparks won Best Music Film at the BandLab NME Awards 2022.“We’re so honoured to be given the finger by NME,” Russel Mael said while accepting the award remotely.

The Sparks Brothers has won Best Music Film at the BandLab NME Awards 2022.The Edgar Wright-directed documentary about the band Sparks beat out Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, Oasis Knebworth 1996 and Questlove’s Summer Of Soul for the win.“We’re so honoured to be given the finger by NME,” Russel Mael said while accepting the award remotely. “Thanks to the great director Edgar Wright and the whole team who made this wonderful film,” he added.His brother Ron Mael, also shared his “thank you”, noting that he was “deeply appreciative of this award” before throwing up a celebratory middle finger.

Sparks have said one of the reasons behind their longevity is their “shared vision” that pop music can “still be done in a fresh way”.The duo, which is comprised of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, was formed in 1969 and have released 25 albums to date.Speaking to the Guardian, Russell explained their decades-long career was harmonious. “Our roles don’t overlap,” he said.

Sparks have revealed that they’re working on new music.In a post on social media, the brothers shared a picture from the studio with the caption “#newsparksalbum”.In an accompanying picture, Ron and Russell Mael can be seen inside the studio wearing masks whilst Russell can be seen holding up a sign that reads: “SHHH! SPARKS RECORDING!”You can see the post here:A post shared by S P A R K S (@sparks_official)Speaking to NME last year about their last album, ‘A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip’, Russell said: “The only battle plan was to try to do something that would sounds as compelling and urgent and provocative as anything we’ve ever done, even to someone who had never heard Sparks before.“We don’t want people saying, ‘Oh you should have heard the