Edgar Wright and Sparks Talk About Making 'The Sparks Brothers'

[@chucknyc123]

I had the great privilege of sitting in the same room with them Tuesday night at the world premiere of their movie 'Annette' at Cannes. It is as wonderful as everyone hoped. They are finally going to get the recognition that is long overdue.

[@markandrews91]

That must have been awesome!! Wish I was there.

[@krisschaumont2579]

I've listened to NOTHING BUT SPARKS since i watched the documentary!!! That's all the albums probably 7 or 8 times LOL. I have tickets to the Seattle show and I refuse to listen to anything else until then. I've seen the doc about 10 times too. One thing that Edgar Wright said that stuck with me is that Sparks "made him want to be smarter" and there's really nothing more to say other that I adore those legends and appreciate their contribution to my life. Thank you and thank you for the perfect documentary.

[@syntaxdeductable]

I just wanna watch this documentary every day - finally got to see it last night. So uplifting. And I don't think I have ever used that word before.

[@markandrews91]

I just seen the documentary on Netflix. Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s a must see. Very well done and was a long time in the making. Bravo!

[@briancherry8088]

A fan? I'm still not 100% convinced they exist. The music is great though....

[@rspratt]

Great to see Sparks get the recognition they deserve. A wonderfully creative band who have always cut their own path. Really looking forward to seeing this doc

[@davidice1]

As far as I know, this is one of the very few times when they've ever done an interview not in character. General rule of thumb, if you don't find Sparks to be hilarious and completely scrumptious, then you probably weren't paying attention.

[@SpaceCattttt]

So pleased that these fine gentlemen punks finally got the film they deserved. And Edgar Wright was clearly the right man for the job. Wonderful film.

[@amycreagh3108]

great interview! Love hearing more from Ron and Russell. Thank you to Edgar for bringing the Sparks to me! I've now listened to all the albums and watched Annette twice. All I want to do is listen to Sparks. I don't know what this is but it's great!

[@kelvingolden252]

Stunning shirt Russell

[@cosmicsodared]

Love it...great interview..... Talented guys finally getting the recognition they deserve

[@jeezusmaryjoseph]

Hot diggity! Very much looking forward to this. Long time fan. I was lucky enough to catch Sparks once in an almost completely unpublicised gig here in Melbourne Australia which was wonderful not only for a chance to finally see the Maels live but almost as much for the audience who all had their own particular favourite era, resulting in rippling pockets of excitement around the room depending on what was being played at the time. Fair contingent of fans the 80s/90s dancey stuff but a reasonably wide distribution. I saw one older gentleman who (like me) was obviously a fan of the early BritGlam material while his daughter was fairly sedate until the (at that time) recent single Balls was played, whereupon she went off like a frog in a sock.

[@vmannv868]

i want to express how much joy i felt when you said 'Hot diggity!'

[@meederr]

A superb band. Looking forward to watch the documentary - Glad Edgar did this!

[@HoffNL]

Edgar Wright was at the right place and the right time for making this brilliant documentary. No other filmmaker could surpass this. Sparks is more than music and they live for it. They tried to make film music earlier with Jacques Tati but that collaboration never happened. Also before that they tried to gain publicity in the Rollercoaster movie. Now with the musical Annette they made history and it’s the crowning glory of all the hard work they done. I recently went to their concert in Paradiso Amsterdam and it was absolutely fabulous.

[@briandoan3837]

Russell has an Astro Boy figure on his window sill..classy!

[@SmithMrCorona]

"What challenges did you encounter trying to build that visual language that could match the eclecticism of a band like Sparks?" "Um, well, um, the Hitler mustache... was... a little...um..."

[@cardindalrichelieu]

I really like the button up shirt Russell is wearing.

[@qure1]

Really looking forward to this documentary. Saw Sparks at UCSD 1980'ish. Fantastic!

[@rienpost3145]

It was so funny that in the documentary Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols kept referring to Russell as "cutie pie" .

[@Augmuse]

A Sparks documentary is long overdue. I've been listening to Sparks since 1971's Halfnelson album which was re-released in 1972 as Sparks. How many bands have succeeded in so many different styles. Sparks 54+ years career still is on going. I look forward to many more albums from these genius musicians. The lyrics are so good from quirky to serious to humorous. Long Live Sparks!!

[@annabackman3028]

Russell says something like "If medical science let us, it'll be 200-300 albums" 😂! I will watch the movie in two days again, I can pay better attention to his exact words then🥰

[@holodoc]

(pop music? about 110 years maybe :) ) can't wait to see this. I keep staring at Astroboy

[@michael0.770]

I've never noticed before that Ron, behind the keyboard with his usual "look," actually has a great smile!

[@annabackman3028]

It's absolutely contagious! 😁 If you ever will attend in a "don't-smile-contest", bring a picture of a smiling Ron and hold it discreetly, facing your opponent. You will win 😂😂😂! Cheating? I haven't heard anything about a "not allowed to show pictures of Ron Mael" rules? 🤔 😉

[@katandmart]

At first I thought Russel wasnt going to get to answer any questions and Ron was gonna keep cutting in first for the whole interview lol. I cant wait for this movie.

[@fly_8659]

This is a really great interview... I haven't watched the movie and I think I already like these guys

[@WavesRay]

"Do you take this girl? Yes, I take this girl. Johnny had a next of kin."

[@jenniferjuniper97]

Their energy is contagious

[@victhedude417]

I just saw the movie yesterday. It was great!! Very entertaining to learn about all the creative twists and turns these guys made over the many decades. Now I can't wait for the DVD!

[@relevantinformation6655]

Thrilled for SPARKS !!

[@misterdavid5400]

So my theory seems correct from what Edgar Wright is saying, in that Sparks did indeed influence Queen and Depeche Mode - two of my all time favorite bands.

[@70sheaven]

Read in a biography that ron tried to get Brain May to join sparks in early 70s

[@annabackman3028]

@@70sheaven True, but both Ron and Russell did. Anyway, Russell said in a radio interview some years ago that "it was probably for the best to all of us he declined". I'm certain he's right. As it turned out May had his fame, success and money, and Ron and Russell could do their own music, their own ways and had a little less problems when going back to America and turn into a different style (Big Beat). And to another (Introducing Sparks), and another (No. 1 In Heaven) etc. I don't think May had been overwhelmed of doing 'Indiscreet', and they would have had an energy consuming conflict immediately. So it was definitely for the best. And there was no hesitation from May. A very clear 'NO'. 😂

[@Andy.Moore.AndysTreasureTrove]

This is one of the better Sparks/Wright interviews.

[@rileyglover4608]

I find it funny that there are enough of this type of specific interview to even say that.

[@Andy.Moore.AndysTreasureTrove]

@@rileyglover4608 Please explain. Why is it funny that there are so many of these types of interviews with Spark and Wright? Or are you saying they're all the same?

[@rileyglover4608]

Not saying that they are the same at all. I just find it interesting and weirdly funny that enough interviews with the same three people to comment on the quality. This is a normal part of the interview cycle (like the interviews done with Disney/Pixar's Soul) but the first time I heard some one comment on the quality on a interview and compare the quality of others interviews in a interview cycle. I think I over explained this, didn't I?

[@Andy.Moore.AndysTreasureTrove]

@@rileyglover4608 The interviews are all similar, but have lots of differences too, most notably the interviewer's manner and questions. Being an interviewer myself, I appreciated both the thoughtful and respectful manner of the interviewer and his questions, as well as the responses he elicited from the subjects. Sounds like you're saying "If you've seen one you've seen them all." I see differences, and have favorites. It's OK that you don't.

[@rileyglover4608]

@@Andy.Moore.AndysTreasureTrove Ok, now I see what you mean now. I was just talking about the amount of interviews, not on the interviewers themselves and how they conducted them. I was just taken aback by how many interviews were up for this. I am a big fan of all three people interviewed, so super cool to see all the love being thrown apon them. I like your reply by the way. You care about the art of the interview quite a bit, and I respect that alot. I didn't think about that when I responded. I just thought it was a odd thing to say, as I never heard that type of comment before. Sorry about that.

[@krisschaumont2579]

man this was so good.

[@jaked8949]

Is Ron a shoe collector? They are displayed behind him.

[@NoxiousRob]

He has a large collection of Air Jordan shoes. Also a large collection of snow globes!

[@annabackman3028]

@@NoxiousRob And hand sanitizers! 😁

[@djpuggyp8925]

Rock on Edgar

[@visitinghours2203]

Very, very nice.

[@TheMarquisboy]

I watched this to see and hear Ron and Russell's take on the film. It's rare to see or hear the brothers in interviews, so it was VERY irritating to hear the bloke with the microphone droning on.

[@annabackman3028]

Since the spring 2020, before the release of 'A Steady Drip Drip Drip' May 3, there have been LOADS of interviews. First on the album and later about 'The Sparks Brothers', and during the summer 'ANNETTE' has been in focus. Type "Sparks interview" and one of these three. And as usual, YT give you 3-4 suggestions, even though you probably could add a '0' behind 😒. 30 - 40 i nearer the truth, I would guess that's not enough.

[@vickigibbons6784]

Thank you

[@busatrx850]

How do I get to see this documentary?

[@emanuellancecruz3028]

Download it on pirate bay

[@annabackman3028]

Amazon. Blu-Ray, DVD. Tons of extra material.

[@ivormectin9889]

Nice one Vulture!

[@sonofsound]

Overall, a fantastic band and a pretty good doc. I understand that Wright saw fit to highlight ALL of their career, but that doesn't make a good movie doc, per se. To make something that captures the entirety of the Mael Bros. catalog would've been better as a 4-to-6-part streamer. There's a glorious 100-minute cut of this doc that should be made. The irony of the subject matter in this regard is that Sparks were masters of the pop song format; Wright, while working away tirelessly and doing his best, is not a master of the doc format.

[@davidfanning1600]

Pointless. Just saying Sparks are great over and over gets a bit boring after a couple of minutes - even though yes they are great.