[Mael-list] Derek's Sparks Loan post

Mon Dec 24 20:36:50 PST 2007

Merry Christmas, everyone.

  It's very surprising and sad to think this flood of live performances could create any possible negative or even ambivalent feelings among Sparks' core of fans.  With due respect for everyone on the list, how the scheduling of 21 shows could give any of us anything but great pleasure is really hard to understand.  The glass isn't half empty, it's not even half full, it's brimming over -- drink up!  As a group we've expressed exasperation on these posts for many years about various difficulties getting Sparks content, about the irregular and infrequent live performances, about what we perceived as insufficient marketing, and about various other issues essentially stemming from our heroes not being in the commercial limelight and making our access difficult.  That they're playing 21 concerts in about a single month seems to me only cause for extreme joy, and I live 6,000 miles away and have precious little chance to attend a single show.  I hope they play 21 more soon after
 even if I can't attend any of them.  I'd like to experience all 21 as much as anyone, but the fact that I can't doesn't drive any doubts or questions about motives for me.  It's 100% wonderful to have 21 chances to see them rather than the few we have had in any given recent year.  Our love for Sparks notwithstanding, we're not talking about taking out loans and putting our lives in jeopardy to purchase oxygen.  They're rock n roll concerts: luxuries, not life staples.  No offense intended at all, friends.  I'm just thrilled and flattered that the Maels have offered such a commitment to us, and even though it will be difficult for me personally to come to the UK for it, that they are doing it is to me cause for celebration.  If you can take in one concert, savor it.

  Last album, last shows, let's hope not.  

  David 

Barry Tsai <netuser247 at aol.com> wrote:
  There seems to me to be at least one obvious possible reason why it was
decided that these retrospective shows should take place, and that would be
that the brothers have decided that the new album will be the last.

I can't think of a more fitting end to the sparks chapter of their careers
then to play every recorded song live one last time. The cynic in me also
suspects that the shows are designed to remind those 'in the business' what
a contribution the brothers have made to the music industry over the last 35
years (Think Q lifetime achievement award...)

As to responsibility to fans - Well, we are all consumers and have a choice;
the same choices we make everyday on what to spend our money on, where to
holiday etc. The crude fact is, as dedicated and loyal, as we sparks fans
are, no one is asking or forcing you go to any or every show.

Have a good Christmas all

Barry

-----Original Message-----
From: mael-list-bounces at lists.kuci.org
[mailto:mael-list-bounces at lists.kuci.org] On Behalf Of Derek Paice
Sent: 23 December 2007 23:01
To: mael-list at kuci.org
Subject: RE: [Mael-list] Derek's Sparks Loan post

Sure, AD/UV5, I can't disagree with what you say here. However, more than
making a particular point I was trying and unravel why I have so many mixed
feelings about this project. Maybe I should refrain from the indulgence of
doing so publicly. However, that you've responded means something provoked
you. I think I was trying to explore some of the tensions between artist,
fan and business. Sometimes the balance is very delicate.

Regards,

derek

-----Original Message-----
From: mael-list-bounces at lists.kuci.org
[mailto:mael-list-bounces at lists.kuci.org]On Behalf Of AD
Sent: 22 December 2007 22:57
To: mael-list at lists.kuci.org
Subject: [Mael-list] Derek's Sparks Loan post

Derek, I really don't have a clue what point you are trying to get across.
Of course, it's a pain in the ass--and a disappointment--when you cannot do
something you want to do....i.e. attend these shows or "put your life on
hold" as you say. BUT, Sparks do not owe us a damn thing and don't think for
a minute that they care about any such hardships. Why should they? This,
like any other business decision, is going to be a means to an
end....typically, of course with the goal of a positive financial
outcome-for them. As it should be. The assumption is that this is a massive
undertaking that really cannot be "worth it" to put on 21 shows.....the
amount of practice, coordination. Doubtful that much or all of it will
actually be "live" (vs. computer triggered). I mean how much actual net
profit can exist from each show to make it a worthwhile endeavor. SO,
selling the shows via download/cd...possible dvd sales, etc....I sincerely
hope no one from the Sparks camp issues some b.s. insulting/patronising
statement about this being some "gift" to the fans and that they expect us
to swallow it. I mean, I've been a huge fan for close to 30 years, but let's
be honest.

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:53:56 -0000
From: "Derek Paice" 
Subject: RE: [Mael-list] Sparks Loan
To: 
Message-ID: 

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At the risk of stereotyping the whingeing pom the more I hear about this the
more I am uneasy. Yes, I've bought some tickets, that I don't presently
have the means to pay for and now Lyle has to be economical with the truth
in order to secure a loan. Prince may have a large enough fan base to have
done his 21 nights in London earlier this year, but Sparks cannot be said to
be in the same league financially. It's obvious that some of us are facing
a degree of hardship to attend the coming series and that most die-hard fans
cannot afford to attend more than a handful of shows, if that. I'm
wondering who's lost the plot here. Maybe it's me or maybe it's true,
Everybody's Stupid.

I can see the attraction of the massive challenge of undertaking a
retrospective as a means of publicising the coming album. I'm looking
forward to the new album with the same eager anticipation that I have with
every release since I first saw that pink brick wall in 1972 and heard
Wonder Girl and (No More) Mr Nice Guys. I'm looking forward to seeing the
band perform live again (and I've long ago lost count of the number of times
I've seen them). The challenges of organising a series like this are
clearly enormous, but is there also (in the middle of 2008) going to be a
small bump in the statistics of victims of debts being called in and of
relationships crashing as fans (ie the "fanatical") feel tested and torn?
Should a band, particularly one with a known, devoted following have any
responsibility beyond producing consumable music?

I wonder what the discussions about this project have covered. Was there
any consideration of audience beyond that of numbers through the doors to
cover the costs? In an ideal world we are all responsible people living
within our means and causing no harm. However, there is a certain addiction
to Sparks that I have experienced many times over the years that this
project seems to be both feeding, but even more, feeding on. Like I say, I
don't know whether I'm just whingeing or whether there is an emperor in a
sheer suit of clothing passing by.

I don't wish the project ill. I'm as jealous as anyone that I can neither
put the rest of my life on hold for a month nor afford a golden ticket. I
sincerely hope it achieves the aims they've set themselves, because it
really is a gamble, and not just a financial one. The more I think about
this the more I feel that interest in downloadable recordings of the shows
is not merely desirable, but is actually morally essential. At least then
the band can say they have tried to alleviate the trouble that trying to
attend too many shows might cause. Still, morally essential ... what do I
know? This is show BUSINESS innit?

derek

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