Sparks are an enigma. Fans are super fans, and those who aren't simply haven't discovered them yet.
Brothers, Russell and Ron Mael formed the influential Sparks in the late 1960s and didn't reach Australian shores until 2001.
Now, we're treated to their second tour in three years after 2023 saw them performing along the east coast for the first time.
"A couple years ago we had such a great time playing at the Sydney Opera House and places like that," Russell, singer and co-songwriter, says.
"It was a real treat after all of this time. So, getting to come back now is exciting for us."
What does a well-travelled duo think of playing in such iconic venues? "We've been really fortunate to be able to play places like Royal Albert Hall in the UK a couple times, and the Hollywood Bowl here in Los Angeles.
"But you try to do the same show regardless of the status of the venue, you know. The audience is coming to see you regardless of where it is, so you have to do the whole show."
With 26 studio albums and numerous hit singles since 1971, Sparks are widely regarded for their constant exploration with sound, lyrics and performance.
1974 saw their first global hit with 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us', paving the way for bands such as Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys with their trailblazing 1979 album 'Nº 1 in Heaven' (produced by the icon, Giorgio Moroder).
'When Do I Get To Sing My Way' rocketed up the charts in 1994, and the beautiful 'All That' became a sleeper anthem during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020.
With such a vast library of songs, deciding what to play must create great debate. Surely? "It's hard when you have 28 albums," Russell says.
"There's several hundred songs in the Sparks catalogue and picking those 21 songs for any particular evening is a real task. There are iconic ones we feel that an audience really might want to hear, but we also like to present the new material as well."
2025 saw the release of Sparks newest album, 'Mad!'. It was quickly followed by the EP 'Madder!', inevitably adding to selection woes. "Yeah, it's tough," Russell shares.
"We're the type of band that feels that what we're doing currently is equally as strong as what we did in the past.
"We also like doing songs that are kind of obscure ones that people may not expect that we would do from an album that maybe didn't get its 'just dues' at the time it came out. You know, it's kind of all over the map."
A recent Sparks resurgence has seen them partner with Franz Ferdinand, creating the super band FFS, the excellent 2021 documentary 'The Sparks Brothers' directed by Edgar Wright ('Shaun Of The Dead', 'Baby Driver') and a guest appearance by a dancing Cate Blanchett on 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' (appearing in the video clip and onstage at Glastonbury 2023).
A recent collaboration with Gorillaz on 'The Happiest Dictator', from global hit album 'The Mountain', has seen their exposure skyrocket around the world, proving once again that Sparks are proudly unique and fervently unpredictable.
The groundswell of new fandom isn't lost on the Mael brothers. Russell acknowledges there are new fans discovering them everyday, a rare luxury for a band of this vintage.
"It's a really diverse and varied audience that we have now, and we really like that. We relish the fact that not only the older fans have been with Sparks from day one, but the newer fans that came in along the way."
The Australian tour promises to be a highlight of the 2026 concert calendar. Very few bands have had the staying power of Sparks, especially when their music may not be as recognised as their peers.
However, who exactly are their peers? Countless musicians have cited them as a key influence or a point of connection with fellow artists.
Their sonic lineage can be found throughout the past five decades, through a myriad of musical styles and genres.
How have they done this? "From day one, we kind of developed our own unique take on music, and it's the one thing we're incredibly proud of now.
"We've stuck with our vision and not wavered from it and watered it down along the way for any commercial reasons or other outside forces. We've been true to the vision that we've had from day one," Russell says.
How should a new fan prepare for a Sparks show? "No preparation is the best preparation," Russell says. "Soak it in. I believe people leave with the impression they've seen something really unique.
"Our musical and creative slant is obviously not in line with the horrific things that are happening around the world.
"What we do is not going to change the world, but at least it gives people support in knowing there are other ways of approaching the world, and what's happening now. So, hopefully when everybody sees us, they realise which side we're on."
Sparks 2026 Tour Dates
Mon 25 May - Vivid LIVE @ Sydney Opera House
Thu 28 May - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)
Sat 30 May - Open Season @ Glasshouse Theatre at QPAC (Brisbane)
