Question about Ron Mael from Sparks

[Funky Dude]

Last year when I was watching "Sounds Of The 70's" on pay TV which play lots of music clips from British shows, they play a 1974 Top Of The Pops performance of Sparks performing "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us". What really stood out in the clip was the keyboarder Ron Mael, he looked hilarious because he was dressed in office clothes (brown pants, long-sleeved shirt and neck-tie) and his shoulders were very rigid as well as keeping the rest of his body rigid except for his hands, his black hair was slicked right back, his stubby moustache and funniest thing of all the way he stares at the studio camera with the corner of his eye. :lol: :lol: :lol: Here's a pic of the clip from a website:



It was a hilarious and fantastic clip and the song was great, my question though is, the way Ron dresses and does those funny stares while being rigid, is that Ron's trademark? And does he do it other video clips as well?

[Boodikka]

I remember him doing that stuff during "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" and also the "In Concert" series on ABC. People would stay home just to watch him (didn't have VCRs yet).

_________________
"Is it this sexual RODEO that has you in this STATE?"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Boodikka on 2002-06-26 23:08 ]</font>

[markydefad]

That was Ron Mael's schtick. The weird stares and Hitleresque looks. He was always silent, as I remember.

Sorta acted a prototype for all those MTV kids these days, who contort their faces in weird ways whenever the camera is on them.

They made some real good music, however weird the stage act was.

[Funky Dude]

Here's a more recent pic of Ron Mael around 1999:



As you can see he's on the right and still wearing his brown pants, long-sleeved white business shirt and neck-tie and has his hair slicked back. I guess it was his trademark.

Speaking of Sparks, the only three songs I've heard them are:
This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us
Beat The Clock
When I'm With You

[Blaxman]

At this picture he looks like Marlin Manson's dad!

[Boodikka]

Funky, "Music That You Can Dance To" is an interesting track....rather funny video as well, if I remember correctly.

[markydefad]

On 2002-06-27 09:50, Funky Dude wrote:

Speaking of Sparks, the only three songs I've heard them are:
This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us
Beat The Clock
When I'm With You

Funky Dude,

Might I recommend the following?:

Tryouts For The Human Race (1979)
The Number One Song In Heaven (1979)
(Both produced by Giorgio Moroder)

Modesty Plays (1983)
Cool Places w/Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's (1983)
All You Ever Think About is Sex (1983)
Dance Godammit (1983)
(The above produced by Ron & Russell Mael for Giorgio Moroder Enterprises LTD.)

With All My Might (1984)
Music That You Can Dance To (1986)
Fingertips (1986)-- a cover of Stevie Wonder's first hit.

Those, along with the 3 you already have, are my favorites.