Last week, Sparks – brothers Ron and Russell Mael – released ‘Do Things My Own Way’, the first taste from their 28th studio album, MAD!, due this year on new label home Transgressive Records. Now they have released the song’s video, of which Sparks say: “We hope this video, even in a very small way, finally starts a meaningful dialogue about the dangers of pianos falling out of tall buildings.”
Quintessentially Sparks, the video was directed by Los Angeles based Ambar Navarro, who says: “Collaborating with Sparks has been my dream for a long time that took me on my own career journey. It was a new experience getting to work in a fully digital surreal world, pieced together by Dillon Petrillo, and see it all come together at the end. Overall Ron survived his falls with just a few minor cuts.”
Watch the video for ‘Do Things My Own Way’
“Accompanied by handclaps and soaring electric guitars, brothers Ron and Russell Mael imbue the lyrics to ‘Do Things My Own Way’ with a combined sense of defiance and whimsy.” – Consequence
“..a superb dash of Cubist pop, subverting age-old tropes to reveal something fresh and unexpected.” – Clash
“..a track that both moves away from what is expected to reveal something new, and also retains the same charm that put the band on the map.” – NME
“One thing is certain: Sparks walks their own road, untouched by trends, unmoved by expectation.” – Post-Punk
Whilst further details about the album remain under wraps (watch this space!), fans can look forward to the MAD! Tour. Having wowed audiences and critics alike on their 2023 tour – including sold out shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall (two) and Sydney Opera House, a hometown triumph at Hollywood Bowl, and a headlines-stealing set at Glastonbury Festival – Sparks will be returning to the live stage this June kicking off with the Japanese, UK and European legs of their world tour.
Tickets go on general sale on Friday 7th February. Presales start Wednesday 5th February.
“a magnificent night” ★★★★★ – The Times
“a unique and glorious spectacle” – Mojo
“Proper musical thrills” ★★★★ – The Guardian
SPARKS MAD! TOUR DATES:
08/06/2025, Japan, Kyoto, ROHM Theatre
10/06/2025, Japan, Osaka, Zepp Namba
12/06/2025, Japan, Tokyo, EX Theater
13/06/2025, Japan, Tokyo, EX Theater
18/06/2025, UK, London, Eventim Apollo
19/06/2025, UK, London, Eventim Apollo
21/06/2025, UK, Manchester, O2 Apollo
22/06/2025, UK, Manchester, O2 Apollo
24/06/2025, UK, Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
26/06/2025, Netherlands, Haarlem, PHIL Haarlem
28/06/2025, Belgium, Brussels, Cirque Royal
30/06/2025, France, Paris, La Salle Pleyel
01/07/2025, Germany, Cologne, Gloria-Theater
03/07/2025, Denmark, Copenhagen, The Koncerthuset
04/07/2025, Sweden, Stockholm, Grona Lund Tivoli
06/07/2025, Germany, Berlin, Uber Eats
08/07/2025, Italy, Milan, Teatro degli Arcimboldi
Most acts, by the time they’ve been making music together across seven different decades, would have slowed to a crawl, creakily playing the oldies on the heritage circuit and releasing nothing more modern than the occasional Greatest Hits collection.
Sparks aren’t most acts. And, if anything, their rate of productivity has sped up in recent years: since the millennium the duo have released eight new studio albums (including, in 2024, the original Sparks 2013 album recording of Annette), a radio opera (The Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman), a side-project (Franz Ferdinand collaboration, ‘FFS’), a live album, a film musical (2021’s Annette, which won a ‘Best Director award for Leos Carax and the Best Original Score at the César Awards for the Maels), toured the world numerous times, and been the subject of The Sparks Brothers, an acclaimed documentary by Edgar Wright. Their laurels remain resoundingly unrested-upon.
“An utter joy” – The Observer
“Forever fresh” – Classic Rock
“Sparks have truly located their own niche and dug in, as opposed to joining in” – The Wire
“Piquant and literate”- Clash