Sparks Biography

Here, I plan to publish a brief biography on Sparks. Until it's finished, I will be placing a small selection of rare photos, articles and single sleeves, since I thought it would be nice to share it with other Sparks fans. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to do so but if I'll get some notificications to remove them, I will. Should you be interested, please also check my rare recordings of Sparks further below this page. Click on the images to enlarge.

Reprinted newspaper article that appeared in the Japanese Guide Book on Sparks. I suppose the original article dates from around 1953.

A teenage Russell and Ronnie Mael caught at a movie theatre, 1966.

Young Russell as quarterback at UCLA, 1966.

Sparks' first appearance at Dick Clark's American Bandstand, 1972. Dick Clark, Harley Feinstein, Ronnie Mael, Russell Mael.

Sparks' first single. This was rush-released in Holland on November 10, 1972, due to their one-off appearance in The Hague.

Sparks at the Marque Club in London, November 1972. Ronnie Mael, Jim Mankey, Harley Feinstein, Russell Mael, Earle Mankey.

An interesting article on Sparks in Music Scene, November 1972.

One of the adds the Maels ran in Melody Maker to select an English back-up band. The ones that were chosen eventually were Adrian Fisher, Martin Gordon and Dinky Diamond.

An article from Dutch magazine Muziek Express with the original line-up; Adrian Fisher, Ron, Dinky Diamond, Russell, Martin Gordon, just before Adrian and Martin were released from their duties.

The sleeve of the hard-to-find American single Achoo, that was released in 1974.

The sleeve of a rare and French-only single, released in early 1975.

Record Mirror, UK, 1975.

The Japanese sleeve of Looks, Looks, Looks, released in 1975.

Finland 1976.

The French sleeve for Big Boy, 1976.

Bravo magazine, Germany, 1976.




The Japanese sleeve for I Want To Hold Your Hand, 1976.




Freizeit Magazine, Germany, 1977.




Muziek Express, Holland, 1977.

Holland, 1977.

Joepie magazine, Belgium, 1977.

Holland, 1977.

A review on No. 1 In Heaven in Sounds, 1979.

The German sleeve for Beat The Clock, 1979.

A review on Terminal Jive, Melody Maker, UK, 1980.

One of three photos that appeared in the book "Rockstars in Underpants", circa 1980.

The German sleeve for Tips For Teens, 1981.

Russsell, Ron and me outside the dressing room at a cancelled gig in Arlon, Belgium, 1981.




An official promo shot for Whomp That Sucker, 1981.

Bam magazine, USA, 1981.

An article in an American music magazine, 1982.

The French sleeve for Modesty Plays, 1982.

Ron and Jane Wiedlin, USA, 1983.

Ron and Russell with Sparks fan Stephen Duffy, 1986.

The Belgian sleeve of Music That You Can Dance To, 1986.

Ron and Russell with Sparks fan Morrissey, 1989.

The unreleased demo recordings, pre-Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins, that were discovered and made available by a fan.

The English sleeve for National Crime Awareness Week, 1993.

The USA promo release of When Do I Get To Sing My Way, 1994.

A review on Sparks' come back gig at London's Shepherds Bus, reviewed by ex-Sparks bass player Martin Gordon.

MixMag, 1994.

Sleeve of the unreleased Let's Go Surfin' single that was considered to be released in France.

European schedule, March-April, 1995.

Promo shot, 1997.

An article on Ron's collection in a Hamburg newspaper, Germany, 1999.

Sparks drummer Tammy Glover with my two eldest daughters Marie-Claire and Whitley-Ann, Cologne, 2000.

Männer magazine, Germany, 2000 (1/2).

Männer magazine, Germany, 2000 (2/2).

Flyer for the Australian tour, 2001.

Southbank, UK, October 2002.

Record Collector, 2003 (1/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (2/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (3/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (4/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (5/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (6/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (7/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (8/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (9/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (10/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (11/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (12/13)

Record Collector, 2003 (13/13)

Times Magazine, UK, March 2003 (1/5)

Times Magazine, UK, March 2003 (2/5)

Times Magazine, UK, March 2003 (3/5)

Times Magazine, UK, March 2003 (4/5)

Times Magazine, UK, March 2003 (5/5)

Announcement for the gigs at the Ocean, 2004.

The Word, UK, 2006 (1/6)

The Word, UK, 2006 (2/6)

The Word, UK, 2006 (3/6)

The Word, UK, 2006 (4/6)

The Word, UK, 2006 (5/6)

The Word, UK, 2006 (6/6)

Ron spotted in his jeep in Los Angeles by the car in front of him, 2009.

2009.