by Madeline Bocaro
At the end of a smashing 2025 world tour supporting their 28th studio album Mad!, Sparks performed their first off-world concert – on the moon!
Their live album Sparks Live On The Moon (released August 14, 2026 – Transgressive Records) captures a 20-song set, spanning their nearly six-decade career. The show is nothing short of cosmic! Songs from the latest masterpiece Mad! are featured, along with a special surprise – the intro and outro are voiced by one of the band’s biggest fans, Australian actress Cate Blanchett!
Sparks and their entourage packed their freeze-dried noodles, put on their moon suits, took a giant leap and headed out into the ether.
The Mael brothers have pushed boundaries far and wide for nearly six decades. The only place to go from here was to break the sound barrier.
There is clearly no one else in their orbit.
Russell and Ron stated in the press release…
“After our 2025 World Tour, Sparks accepted an invitation to do a special one-off concert on the Moon, more precisely at the Taruntius Crater, near Mare Fecunditatis. Honored to be the first band to perform on the moon, let alone at the beautiful Taruntius Crater, we couldn’t have imagined the lunar fan interest, with all tickets being grabbed up within an hour, Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT). Thank you, Moon! And a big thank you to Cate Blanchett for taking the time out of her busy schedule to accompany us on this journey and perform emcee duties at this special concert. What a riot Cate was on the mission’s 4-day flight, helping us pass the time with hours of gravitational-pull jokes and the like!
So sit back, close your eyes and imagine the wondrous setting, and enjoy Sparks’ first full concert album, Live On The Moon.”
– Russell Mael and Ron Mael, Earth 2026
From the first track available to download (‘Whippings and Apologies – Live On The Moon’) we got a sneak peek at this dynamic show. This rarely performed song from the second Sparks album, A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing (1972) wowed everyone throughout Sparks’ recent tour of our home planet. The pounding song (with numerous tantalizing stops and starts) whips the audience into a frenzy – and it does not apologize! The moon version preview clearly conveys extreme excitement, leaving us salivating for more.
Whippings and Apologies
Next available for download was the song ‘Lord Have Mercy,’ which solidified the incredible atmosphere of the moon concert, the rapture of the crowd and the utmost clarity of the sound recording – especially Russell’s stellar vocals!
Lord Have Mercy
This is Sparks’ first unearthly live album. There are only two other live audio releases; One And A Half-Nelson – The Instant Darlings Recorded Live (the first-ever semi-live Sparks [unofficial] bootleg released on vinyl in the early 70s) and Two Hands, One Mouth: Live in Europe (2013).
The entire set is packed with hits, rarities, classics and new material from Mad!. The obvious opener is the band’s new anthem, ‘So May We Start’ from Sparks’ 2021 musical, Annette. Three songs from No. 1 in Heaven (1979) are included. Russell’s mention of producer Giorgio Moroder gets a big round of applause.
The lunar calendar indicated that it was the weekend, so ‘Goofing Off’ from Introducing was an appropriate choice. The ballad ‘Please Don’t Fuck Up My World’ was also appropriate. We would all be miserable living on the god-forsaken moon if that happens!
‘Suburban Homeboy’ (“Ron Speaks” Version) is a treat from our usually mute maestro! ‘Music That You Can Dance To’ appeared on the set list a few years back, and proves to be a highlight every night! (The album celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, with a Deluxe Edition plus demos, bonus tracks and alternate takes)!
The question (instead of “when”) is “WHERE do I get to sing ‘My Way?’” The answer: on the moon! Sparks take their 1994 hit to another level. Sinatra and Sid Vicious would have been envious!
The concert ended at earthrise with the emotional, uncompromising ‘All That’ from A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip which had everyone on their feet during the Earth tour (from Royal Albert Hall to the Hollywood Bowl and beyond). On the moon, the crowd gave a floating ovation!
Coming back down to Earth wasn’t easy, but Sparks will certainly hit the ground running, as usual – with much more in store for us in the near future!
**
Sparks Live On The Moon is available to order now as a limited-edition moon coloured, marbled double LP, 2CD and download.
Back on Earth, Sparks have been playing a run of shows this summer. Following dates in Japan, their first ever performances in New Zealand and a return to Australia, the band kicked off the European leg with more spectacular performances.
Remaining 2026 concert dates:
Thursday 20 August – Netherlands, Nijmegen, Openluchttheater De Goffert
Friday 21 August – France, Charleville-Mézières, Cabaret Vert Festival
Date tba – UK, Crickhowell, Green Man Festival
Tuesday 25 August – UK, York Barbican
Wednesday 26 August – UK, Southend-on-Sea, Cliffs Pavilion
Date tba – France, Rock En Seine Festival
Saturday 29 August – Belgium, Antwerp, De Roma
Sparks Live On The Moon
- So May We Start
2. Do Things My Own Way
3. Reinforcements
4. Academy Award Performance
5. Goofing Off
6. Beat the Clock
7. Please Don’t Fuck Up My World
8. Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab
9. Suburban Homeboy (“Ron Speaks” Version)
10. All You Ever Think About Is Sex - Drowned In A Sea Of Tears
12. JanSport Backpack
13. Music That You Can Dance To
14. When Do I Get To Sing “My Way”
15. The Number One Song In Heaven
16. This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us
17. Whippings and Apologies
18. Lord Have Mercy
19. The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte
20. All That
Live Album Credits:
Produced By: Russell Mael
Mixed By: David Wrench For Solar Management Ltd
Mastered By: Bill Inglot & Dave Schultz
At D2 Mastering in Los Angeles
Art Direction/Design: Julie Vlasak
Cover Headshot Photo: Munachi Osegbu
Inside Photos: Joe Okpako/Projoe Photography
Inner Sleeve Photos: Jonathon Lee Burlew, Peter Freeth, Emmi Joutsi, Steve White
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