Sparks: Lil’ Beethoven Live in Stockholm (E) Out to buy: On DVD Thirty years ago, Ron and Russell Mael, aka the Sparks, were pop’s oddest couple, a kind of prototypical Pet Shop Boys and a Californian Roxy Music rolled into one. In June this year, three months before wowing an audience half their age at… Read More

[b]SPARKS ‘Lil’ Beethoven’ Live In Stockholm” DVD Review (August 5, 2004, Evening Standard (UK):[/b]): “Remarkably strong, Weimar-influenced cabaret musical from Seventies innovators Ron and Russell Mael, plus bonus material which essentially consist of a greatest hits show. Fellow glam-traveller David Bowie can only dream of being this innovative still”

Steve Jones, former Sex Pistol, has invited Ron and Russell to be on his radio show on LA’s Indie 103.1 at 1:00PM this Friday (6th August). [url]http://indie1031.fm/listenlive.html[/url]

A new range of Sparks merchandise is available from: [url=http://www.cafeshops.com/allsparks]Sparks’ Cafeshop[/url] This is an online-only collection that is separate to the tour merchandise or previous collections The range includes T-shirts, hats, lunch-boxes, junior and kids clothes as well as a selection of underwear! (Please note that the printing is through thermal imaging) NB:note from Cafepress:… Read More

The new Sparks Forum will be located through the Allsparks site – please update your browsers [url]http://www.allsparks.com/forum/[/url] please note that messages posted during the last month or so will not be there (apparently due to the immense size of the file!) Should you have any difficulty accessing the Forum please email [email]sparksreaction@aol.com[/email]

[url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/thereview.cfm?id=763032004]Scotland On Sunday[/url] [b]Someone must shoulder the blame for Darkness debacle [/b] SIOBHAN SYNNOT PAGE THREE GIRL UNDERSTANDABLY, there has been a general gnashing of teeth at the news that David Bowie has been forced to pull out of T in the Park with a trapped nerve. Who could replace Dame David as the headline… Read More

[b]Sparks – Lil’ Beethoven – Live In Stockholm – DVD[/b] will be released in UK on August 9 through demonVision – part of the Demon Music Group. International releases will follow – details will be posted here as they become available SPARKS – LIL’ BEETHOVEN – LIVE IN STOCKHOLM (DEMONDVD001) is a brand new live… Read More

[b]Evening Standard review[/b] By David Smyth “Today I bought the album of the year. I feel I can say this without expecting several letters saying I’m talking rubbish,” wrote 15-year-old music obsessive Steve Morrissey to the NME on 15 June 1974. The album was Kimono My House, the British breakthrough of arty LA brothers Ron… Read More

[b]Meltdown London[/b] Sparks played “Kimono my House” a la mode 1974, and “Lil’ Beethoven” a la mode 2004. Two different shows, two different stage settings. It was worth crossing the ocean(s) to be part of this journey. For the first time since I met Momus, I felt close to other musicians. “Lil’ Beethoven” was unbelievable;… Read More

[b]Sparks @ Morrissey’s Meltdown, Royal Festival Hall, London, 12 June 2004[/b] [img align=right]http://www.allsparks.com/newsscript/newspicts/kmhmeltdown.jpg[/img] Sitting in the auditorium of the Royal Festival Hall for Sparks’ appearance at Morrissey’s Meltdown festival, it is easy to understand why the art rock duo have been able to cultivate a 30-year career producing no less than 19 albums. The diversity… Read More