Sparks founders recall Sunset
The avant- pop band Sparks has been making curiously brilliant music for over four decades, and for a lot of that time they’ve done so in proximity to Sunset Boulevard. Founded by brothers Ron and Russell Mael, who were raised in Pacific Palisades, the band earned early attention for gigs at the Whisky a Go Go, and learned the ropes by watching such bands as the Move, Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Doors.
“It was really our education,” said Russell Mael during a recent interview with him and Ron.
On Sept. 8, the band will release a new album, “Hippopotamus,” and in early 2018 ( tentatively), shooting will begin on “Annette,” the Leo Carax- directed adaptation of a Sparks musical. Adam Driver and Michelle Williams are committed to the project. ( For more articles on the music legacy of Sunset Strip, visit www. latimes. com/ sunsetblvd.)
You were raised in Pacific Palisades, so you must have relied on Sunset Boulevard.
Ron: When we started commuting, at least for me, I had a commute along Sunset Boulevard to get to UCLA, so the Dead Man’s Curve area and all that, that was something that was really special to me.
And then when we were in school and going to listen to music, it was always going to places like the Whisky and seeing British bands, just getting turned on by so many of those people coming to Los Angeles. The Whisky became so comfortable for us.
Why do you think that was?
Ron: It was kind of seedy, and that kind of gave it even a better atmosphere than the wholesome venues. At the time, there were like 12 people in the audience when we were playing — maybe six waitresses and six groupies.
It’s just such an important artery for me. I got my first speeding ticket on Sunset Boulevard, too, so it was memorable for that.
Did you buy your records at Wallichs Music City?
Ron: That was the most amazing place. What was
that, Sunset and Vine? We would go down there, and it was the place where you could try out any record. You go into a little booth and listen to Beach Boys records to decide whether you wanted to buy them.
Aside from the clubs, do you have memories of Sparks hanging on the Strip?
Ron: Well, the other thing on Sunset was the Hyatt House, and it had the reputation of bands driving through the lobby on motorcycles and throwing televisions out the windows. That wasn’t really our style.
When we moved to London in the mid-’ 70s, we came back to Los Angeles and we stayed at the Hyatt. After our show Rodney [ Bingenheimer] was there as part of a little party. But it was such a wholesome party, more in keeping with our general ethos. So we had bagels. Somebody threw a bagel out the window and the hotel got really furious.
Russell: Keith Moon is driving motorcycles down corridors but we’re the ones that get kicked out for a bagel.