Russell Mael

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Russell Mael
Mael during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, 2023
Background information
Birth nameRussell Craig Mael
Born (1948-10-05) October 5, 1948 (age 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OriginPacific Palisades, Los Angeles, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1965–present
Labels
Member ofSparks
Formerly ofFFS
Websiteallsparks.com

Russell Craig Mael (born October 5, 1948)[1] is an American singer best known as the lead vocalist for the pop and rock duo Sparks, which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching falsetto. He has a flamboyant and hyperactive stage presence which contrasts sharply with Ron Mael's impassive demeanour. The duo released their only studio album with Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, as the supergroup FFS, titled FFS, released in 2015. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records.

Early life

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Russell Craig Mael was born on October 5, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. The Mael brothers grew up in Pacific Palisades – a relatively affluent beach neighborhood of Los Angeles – with their father Meyer, who was a graphic designer and caricaturist for the Hollywood Citizen-News, and their mother, Miriam (née Moskowitz), a librarian.[1] Both Meyer and Miriam were the children of Jewish immigrants, Meyer of Austrian and Russian descent and Miriam Polish;[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] Even though he played soccer and lacrosse all throughout high school, much of his inspiration came from his father taking him to the cinema as a child, where he developed an interest in film, visual arts and narrative. Meyer died when Russell was 8.[5]

After graduating from Palisades High School, both brothers enrolled at UCLA;[6] Ron began a course in cinema and graphic arts in 1963 while Russell studied theatre arts and filmmaking during 1966–1968.

Sparks

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Main article: Sparks (band)

Mael is known for his wide vocal range, and his most notable vocal trait is a far-reaching falsetto. An NME review described Russell's vocal range as a "stratospheric blend of Marc Bolan and Tiny Tim".[7]

He has recorded 26 studio albums with his duo, Sparks.[8] The duo has a cult following around the world and are best known for the song "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us", which reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart.[9]

The pair appeared as themselves in the disaster-suspense film Rollercoaster (1977), performing live. They also appeared in episode 22 of season 6 of Gilmore Girls.[10][11] Mael appeared in a cameo as a gallows singer in the Western black comedy film Damsel (2018), and both he and Ron appear as themselves in Annette (2021), a musical romantic drama film directed by French director Leos Carax that they wrote and composed.[12]

Mael during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, 2023

In June 2018, English filmmaker Edgar Wright announced he would be making a documentary on Sparks.[13] 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.[14][15] The film, The Sparks Brothers, had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021.[16]

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.[17] He mixes and engineers their work, and the brothers co-produce.[18]

Personal life

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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 with Bob 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."[19]

It was, however, mentioned in Edgar Wright's documentary film The Sparks Brothers (2021) that Russell dated Miss Christine of the GTOs, and had a brief fling with the Go-Go's member Jane Wiedlin, who was an additional vocalist on the Sparks track "Cool Places".[20]

Discography

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With Sparks

Main article: Sparks discography
Year Album
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
2025 Mad!

With FFS

Year Album
2015 FFS

References

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  1. ^ a b Easlea, Daryl (April 7, 2010). Talent Is An Asset: The Story Of Sparks. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-237-7.
  2. ^ "Russian-American Heritage Museum: Ron and Russell Mael". russianheritagemuseum.com. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  3. ^ 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. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Marric, Linda (July 29, 2021). "Film review: The Sparks Brothers". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  5. ^ The Sparks Brothers, Edgar Wright, 2021 – Netflix Documentary
  6. ^ Welch, Chris. "Bright Sparks". Melody Maker. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Mac Donald, Ian (May 18, 1974). "Kimono My House [album review]". NME.
  8. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Sparks: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  9. ^ "Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  10. ^ "Partings | Gilmore Girls". Woman in Revolt. June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Partings - Gilmore Girls (Season 6, Episode 22) - Apple TV". Apple TV. May 9, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  12. ^ Phipps, Keith (August 9, 2021). "What It's Like to Act With a Puppet In a French Avant-Garde Rock Opera". GQ. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  13. ^ "Edgar Wright to Tackle 70s Cult Band "Sparks" in New Documentary". Collider. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  14. ^ "Edgar Wright's Next Film is Pop-Rock Documentary About Sparks". ComingSoon.net. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  15. ^ Sharf, Zack (June 21, 2018). "Edgar Wright's Next Film Is a Documentary on Cult Pop-Rock Band Sparks – Exclusive". IndieWire. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  16. ^ Willman, Chris (January 28, 2021). "Edgar Wright's 'The Sparks Brothers' Gives Cult Rock Icons Their Due". Variety. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  17. ^ "An interview with Sparks". Mixdown Mag. September 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "Q&A With Sparks". Music Connection. April 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Lister, David (September 6, 2017). "Sparks' Ron and Russell Mael on new album, Franz Ferdinand and mystery". The Independent. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Sparks Brothers' Review: Edgar Wright's Irresistible Celebration of 50 Years of Art-Pop's Brightest Sparks". Variety. January 30, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
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