Sparks announce 2012 UK tour
US band perform stripped-down 'Two Hands, One Mouth' tour as duo
Following their sell-out gig in London’s Bush Hall in June, the due forever to be referenced as 'quirky' will commence their 'Two Hands, One Mouth' UK tour UK in October, with further dates soon to be announced.
Probably best known for their 1974 hit 'This Town Aint Big Enough for the Both of Us', brothers Ron and Russel Mael have been hugely popular in the UK since they began recording here in the early 70s, when they developed a cult teenage following.
After a brief stint in Britain, they returned home to Los Angeles in 1976, where they changed to a more American sound, and recorded Big Beat and Introducing Sparks'. In the same year the brothers also made a cameo appearance in thriller film Rollercoaster.
By 1979, Sparks moved from a rock sound to that of electronica, famously working with Giorgio_Moroder . Their re-defining album 'No.1 in Heaven' in turn became a major influence on up-coming electronic pop artists.
After their taste of film years earlier, the brothers entered filmmaking themselves in the late 80s and early 90s and began a six-year project to make a musical based on Mai, The Psychic Girl, a project which never come to fruition.
Sparks returned to music in 2002, with highly regarded albums Lil’ Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers which in turn created a new following and new interest in the established band.
In the summer of 2008 the band then held the 'Sparks Spectacular' – a 21-night run of shows in London in which they played an album a night, in chronological order.
With a UK tour announced, speculation is high for an accompanying “Two Hands, One Mouth’ album - the existence of which has not been confirmed. The band have written on their website that these performances will be in stark contrast to their usual set-up: "They will present a selection of Sparks songs in their purest form. Stripping away the often lavish production we will rediscover the essence of Sparks."
For tickets, visit www.seetickets.com
Oct 21 – Edinburgh – HMV Picture House
Oct 22 – Manchester – HMV Ritz
Oct 23 – Birmingham – HMV Institute
Oct 25 - Brighton – Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Oct 26 – London – The Barbican