Russell Mael
Russell Mael | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Russell Craig Mael |
Born | Los Angeles,California,U.S. | October 5, 1948
Genres | |
Occupation | Singer |
Years active | 1965–present |
Labels | |
Website | allsparks |
Russell Craig Mael(born October 5, 1948)[1]is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the bandSparkswhich he formed in 1971 with his elder brotherRon Mael.Mael is known for his widevocal range,in particular his far-reachingfalsetto.He has a flamboyant and hyperactive stage presence which contrasts sharply with Ron Mael's inexpressive demeanour. The band released an album with British rock bandFranz Ferdinand,as the supergroupFFS,titledFFS,released in 2015. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records.
Early life
[edit]Russell Craig Mael was born on October 5, 1948, inLos Angeles,California.The Mael brothers grew up inPacific Palisades– a relatively affluent beach neighbourhood of Los Angeles – with their father Meyer, who was a graphic designer and caricaturist for theHollywood Citizen-News,and their mother, Miriam (néeMoskowitz), a librarian.[1]Both Meyer and Miriam were the children ofJewishimmigrants, Meyer ofAustrianandRussiandescent and MiriamPolish;[2][3]despite this, a source affiliated with the brothers' 2021 documentary stated that they "weren't raised, nor do they identify as Jewish", and the documentary does not mention their Jewish heritage.[4]Much of the Mael brothers' inspiration came from their father taking them to the cinema as children, where they developed an interest in film, visual arts and narrative. Meyer died when Mael was 8.[5]
After graduating fromPalisades High School,both brothers enrolled atUCLA;[6]Ron began a course in cinema and graphic arts in 1963 while Russell studied theatre arts and filmmaking during 1966–1968.
Sparks
[edit]Mael is known for his widevocal range,and his most notable vocal trait is a far-reachingfalsetto.AnNMEreview described Russell's vocal range as a "stratospheric blend ofMarc BolanandTiny Tim".[7]
He has recorded 26 albums with his band, Sparks.[8]The band has acult followingaround the world and are best known for the song "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us",which reached No. 2 on theUK Singles Chart.[9]
The pair appeared as themselves in the 1977 disaster filmRollercoaster,performing live. They also appeared in episode 22 of season 6 ofGilmore Girls.Mael appeared in a cameo as a gallows singer in the 2018 WesternDamsel,and both he and Ron appear as themselves inAnnette,a musical film directed byLeos Caraxthat they wrote and composed.
In June 2018,Edgar Wrightannounced he would be makinga documentaryon Sparks.[10]He had covered the band's concert in London in May at O2 Forum Kentish Town. This concert would also be a part of the documentary.[11][12]The film,The Sparks Brothers,had its world premiere at the2021 Sundance Film Festivalon January 30, 2021.[13]
Since the late 1980s Sparks have almost exclusively recorded in Russell's home studio, to escape the limitations of expensive studio time and maintain creative independence.[14]He mixes and engineers their work, and the brothers co-produce.[15]
Personal life
[edit]In 2017, a reviewer noted that while the brothers' biographies recount a Los Angeles childhood in which they surfed and were both models for mail order catalogues, their private lives are otherwise almost entirely unknown. "Well, we're in good company withBob Dylan",was their reported response." We feel the less you do know, it keeps the mythology and the image in a better position. "Even to the question of whether they have partners or spouses, they refused to give an indication, insisting that" the vagueness is more interesting than the reality. "[16]
It was, however, mentioned inEdgar Wright's 2021 documentaryThe Sparks Brothersthat Russell dated Miss Christine ofThe GTOs,and had a brief fling withthe Go-Go'smemberJane Wiedlin,who was an additional vocalist on the Sparks track "Cool Places".[17]
Discography
[edit]With Sparks
Year | Album |
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1971 | Halfnelson |
1973 | A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing |
1974 | Kimono My House |
1974 | Propaganda |
1975 | Indiscreet |
1976 | Big Beat |
1977 | Introducing Sparks |
1979 | No. 1 in Heaven |
1980 | Terminal Jive |
1981 | Whomp That Sucker |
1982 | Angst in My Pants |
1983 | In Outer Space |
1984 | Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat |
1986 | Music That You Can Dance To |
1988 | Interior Design |
1994 | Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins |
1997 | Plagiarism |
2000 | Balls |
2002 | Lil' Beethoven |
2006 | Hello Young Lovers |
2008 | Exotic Creatures of the Deep |
2009 | The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman |
2017 | Hippopotamus |
2020 | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip |
2021 | Annette |
2023 | The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte |
With FFS
Year | Album |
---|---|
2015 | FFS |
References
[edit]- ^abEaslea, Daryl (April 7, 2010).Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks.Omnibus Press.ISBN978-0-85712-237-7.
- ^"Russian-American Heritage Museum: Ron and Russell Mael".russianheritagemuseum.com.RetrievedAugust 27,2022.
- ^Buffa, Dan (June 18, 2021)."Edgar Wright introduces the world to" The Sparks Brothers "in insightful and often comical music documentary".St. Louis Jewish Light.RetrievedAugust 27,2022.
- ^Marric, Linda (July 29, 2021)."Film review: The Sparks Brothers".The Jewish Chronicle.RetrievedAugust 27,2022.
- ^The Sparks Brothers, Edgar Wright, 2021 - Netflix Documentary
- ^Welch, Chris."Bright Sparks".Melody Maker.RetrievedNovember 8,2012.
- ^Mac Donald, Ian (May 18, 1974). "Kimono My House[album review] ".New Musical Express.
- ^Ankeny, Jason."Sparks: Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedApril 21,2011.
- ^"Singles".Official Charts Company.RetrievedApril 21,2011.
- ^"Edgar Wright to Tackle 70s Cult Band" Sparks "in New Documentary".Collider.June 21, 2018.RetrievedJune 22,2018.
- ^"Edgar Wright's Next Film is Pop-Rock Documentary About Sparks".ComingSoon.net.June 21, 2018.RetrievedJune 22,2018.
- ^Sharf, Zack (June 21, 2018)."Edgar Wright's Next Film Is a Documentary on Cult Pop-Rock Band Sparks – Exclusive".IndieWire.RetrievedJune 22,2018.
- ^Willman, Chris (January 28, 2021)."Edgar Wright's 'The Sparks Brothers' Gives Cult Rock Icons Their Due".Variety.RetrievedAugust 8,2021.
- ^"An interview with Sparks".Mixdown Mag.September 8, 2023.
- ^"Q&A With Sparks".Music Connection.April 30, 2023.
- ^Lister, David (September 6, 2017)."Sparks' Ron and Russell Mael on new album, Franz Ferdinand and mystery".The Independent.RetrievedAugust 8,2021.
- ^"The Sparks Brothers' Review: Edgar Wright's Irresistible Celebration of 50 Years of Art-Pop's Brightest Sparks".Variety.January 30, 2021.RetrievedOctober 3,2021.
External links
[edit]- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- American male songwriters
- American male pop singers
- American people of Jewish descent
- Record producers from California
- American countertenors
- Living people
- American male new wave singers
- Musicians from Santa Monica, California
- Songwriters from California
- Sparks (band) members
- American synth-pop singers
- UCLA Film School alumni
- 1948 births
- 20th-century American male singers
- 21st-century American male singers
- FFS (band) members
- American expatriates in the United Kingdom
- American expatriates in France