Sparks - Finnish Interview 1975

From the Finnish TV show, "Iltatähti", that aired on 10/21/1975.
This interview took place 20 days before it was shown on Iltatähti and a day before their concert at Helsinki's Kulttuuritalo.
The interview was going to be shown on the news program Tasavallassa Tapahtuu a day after it was shot, but due to complications with the interviewer's English/communication skills, it didn't get a chance to air. It was that much of a flop. Watch the band eat some cake and chat about... conservatism and the film project with Jacques Tati. Translating isn't my greatest strength but I tried giving the introduction English subtitles so you guys could understand what the host (Mikko Alatalo) was saying. I got this interview from the archives of Yle.

[@flabbybum9562]

It shows how, even at the height of their glam rock phase, these guys were pretty down-to-earth. Bet when they presented this cake to them, they didn't expect the band to actually sit down and enjoy it together. Also, Russell and Ron are asking questions about Finnish people in a spirit of genuine humility, and wishing to learn. Not just a brilliant band, but also decent individuals.

[@funky-kx7zu]

Well said Flabby

[@frankmonroe9078]

Spot on.

[@kimdixon940]

Ah, Dinky Diamond, one of the best, and most-underrated drummers of the '70s.

[@krisscanlon4051]

The two most laid back fellas ever. Sidenote: Ron has the most pronounced California accent ever! I love this band version of Sparks...they need to have the Mankeys back at least...I'm sure Waronker or Freese would be glad to fill in on skins...

[@velmad3091]

How cute they are. Thanks for sharing Greetings from Sweden!

[@harrietrosejimenez]

AAAA this is such a good find! Thanks for sharing this!

[@eastend59]

Ha Ha! Russell is more interested in his dessert!

[@velmad3091]

Janet Broadley 😁😁He is hungry!

[@annabackman3028]

I'm totally with him, it's chocolate!!! 😁

[@LucyOLastic]

Priceless. Thanks for uploading this. Ron is absolutely correct here, talking about "conservativism" with a small "C." It just means traditionalism, conserving traditions and preserving institutions. It was a reaction against liberalism. And of course, this would become all too political in just a couple of years with Margaret Thatcher followed by Reagan. They both attempted a hatchet job on "the 60s." A time Conservatives would prefer had not happened, disrupting the social order. There is some interesting social commentary on "Indiscreet" very reflective of the times, and quite prescient too, as the UK embraced US-style consumerism, as a way of life, as a doctrine in the 1980s. Only wish there was more of this interview! The band are very quiet and not very involved, but they remind me of the Sex Pistols....

[@LucyOLastic]

@Stripes Perhaps but the band here look like a bunch of herberts....and half of Steve Jones' guitar sound was pre-empted by Adrian Fisher/Trevor White.

[@robdavidson1876]

Love Sparks great era huge frantic me!

[@tracymurray6840]

I didn't know they had planned to make a movie with Jacques Tati, also, I want the recipe for that cake.

[@Mounutt]

They did reveale the whole recipe in a british interview from - 74. It's on KZbin somewhere but i can't find it now. It's for a party of fifty though... It was 3 ingredients; some kind of american syrup, milk and chocolate. Baked into three very different layers. Would like to try it myself.

[@mariiaagain]

@@Mounutt i think what you're referring to is the interview which is the last "track" on propaganda, but, unfortunately, they're not talking about the cake there, instead it's about some other sort of liquid dessert type thing( but the cake does look nice, i'd love the recipe too haha

[@girasolegiallo6927]

I’m sure that récit was only a joke really 😂

[@reperception]

I bet there are tons of interviews from this period - and others- in the vault, will we ever see them?

[@supivuokko]

That's what we all wonder.. Let's see if the upcoming doc about them will include any unseen interviews

[@MadcapShambleton]

@@supivuokko Thank you just for this! I'm just grateful that it popped up today (2021-09-17) so I now know the origin of the cake clip in "The Sparks Brothers". It's already been said here, but again, so inspiring to see how incredibly humorous and humble Ron and Russell have been throughout their career, their life.

[@supivuokko]

@@MadcapShambleton I was surprised to see they included it in the doc! I'm not sure if the people editing it saw this video and asked Yle for the original footage. Because this was truly an obscure interview. That is true! I'm real glad you enjoyed, they haven't changed in their ways at all :D

[@MadcapShambleton]

@@supivuokko Just saw your reply today - thanks again! (And after seeing Sparks in Toronto 2022-04-02, I will forever be in awe of their awesomeness!)

[@uhnewt]

pork, rice, and green beans

[@theforrestknightt]

Why is hocus pocus in the background

[@supivuokko]

The program in question often used this song.

[@jonasthemovie]

Are they eating Memma??

[@annabackman3028]

"Chocolate cake" was mentioned, and Memma doesn't taste like chocolate.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

Unfathomable how skinny Americans were back then

[@englishteacher.8635]

Before fast food got into US guts and now half of them can barely walk. Sheer greed. We never saw massive people when we grew up and most bands in the 70's were fashionably thin.

[@bartwaggoner2000]

@@englishteacher.8635 My friends and I all ate at McDonalds etc. all the time in the 60s and 70s and were skinny - more to it than that...

[@englishteacher.8635]

​@@bartwaggoner2000 The first McDonalds only opened in the UK in 1974, but even here, people didn't snack anywhere near as much as they do these days, even in cinemas. More walking back then too. The US uses steroids and growth hormones in their meat and are not as regulated as in Europe.

[@girasolegiallo6927]

They’re still very skinny !

[@richardkeller7884]

I NEVER GOT IT.