sparks influence queen?

crazy duck 18.01.2014 08:30	saw this. What do you guys think?
Lord Gaga 18.01.2014 08:38	I'm a huge fan of Sparks, and I would say that the operatic overtures of 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' might have inspired 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (critics certainly think so), but they had such divergent careers after 1975 that I think that would be it. (And also on Kimono My House, Sparks had a song called 'Thank God It's Not Christmas'. 10 years later, Queen released a single titled 'Thank God It's Christmas'.) Coincidentally, Sparks recorded two albums (Whomp That Sucker and Angst In My Pants) in 1981 and 1982 at Musicland Studios with Mack, and ran into Queen on several occasions. And of course we can't forget that they'd asked Brian to join Sparks back in the early 1970s – good thing Brian didn't join, because they dumped the "band" format pretty quickly, and he'd've been out of a job.
crazy duck 18.01.2014 09:01	Yes didn't they try poaching him while he was in his sick bed? Im sure I recall that they came to visit him in hospital when he got heppatitis?
The Real Wizard 18.01.2014 10:45	Kimono My House is definitely one of the most interesting records of the 70s. I can totally see how they've influenced generations of bands, but they're still under the radar of most.
musicland munich 18.01.2014 12:29	I remember a "Sparks" Comeback somewhere in the 90 's. Correct or is this my personal disremembering ???
Lord Gaga 18.01.2014 12:44	Yeah, they "came back" with Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins in '94, and then they came back again in 2002 with Lil Beethoven.
dysan 18.01.2014 13:54	Sparks are amazing. If patchy! KMH is certainly wonderful. The parallels between both bands musically is clear with tongue in cheek certainly being every bit as important as rocking like a dick on a dog.
dysan 18.01.2014 13:55	In fact, I'm sure they played the Marquee the same night? Might be wrong.
musicland munich 18.01.2014 16:30	^^^don't know if that is true, but easy can be. The first three or four years Queen often were hired as a warm up act for more well known bands.
Heavenite 18.01.2014 19:34	I had a (girl)friend for a few years that got me into Sparks. I know about 7 of their albums now from their first through to their most recent and I have a lot of respect for them. They're an interesting mix, with lots of tongue in cheek stuff and they definitely like having fun with their music. Some of the music on their last album, released about four years ago now (The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman) is really quite divine actually. I think the fact they were focussed on Bergman rather than themselves really helped on that record as sometimes I think they can get a bit too smart for their own good. Their album Lil Beethoven is more subtle and creative too in that respect I think. And their first two albums are just this zany form of art rock. Some of their stuff in the middle years (in the 80's especially) like Pulling Rabbits out of a Hat and Interior Design saw the substance of their music diminish as they chased success in the dance charts, yet they were still able to create some pretty infectious melodies I agree that This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us would most probably have been a significant influence on nascent Queen. The big harmony thing, the keyboards and the garb were perfect in that respect and were virtually a template for Freddie and the boys > link There were probably quite a few bands around that time that had a big influence on Queen I think. Freddie has certainly said that he looked at what was popular at the time and tired to incorporate it into the fabric of Queen and that would probably been especially so at the start of their career. Some say that 10CC's One Night in Paris was influential in the creation of Bohemian Rhapsody (or is it just 10CC fans that say that?) > link It was certainly an incredible musical opus that preceded Bo Rap, so something as grand as that could certainly have influenced Freddie especially I think. It's also interesting that both Sparks and 10CC were sort of art rocky bands with a poppish element. Another band that seems to have significantly influenced early Queen was Sweet. Once again, at least Sweet fans (and their lead guitarist Andy Scott) certainly think so. The combination of crunching guitars and big harmonies would have been another useful template as well I think. But I have read in an early interview with Queen on here that they wanted to take that sound out of the commercial singles market, where Sweet had so much of its success, and expand on it by putting it into more of an album context. However Sweet had already put it into an album context by 1974 themselves with their album Sweet Fanny Adams. Nice track off it here called Heartbreak Today > link Sparks were more keyboard based whereas Sweet were guitar based, and both had the glam rock image and the big harmonies. 10CC were much less similar in terms of style, being a bit more of a faceless band without the charismatic lead singer that both Sweet and Sparks had. So it might have been more the grandness of their ideas that imprinted on Queen, assuming they did at all of course. Next, if I were to consider what made Queen continue on to become a superstar band, while the others I've mentioned mainly retain their fame from their successes in the 70's, well probably two things come to my mind. Firstly, and most significantly I think, Queen stayed together as a unit, whereas 10CC and Sweet fractured in the mid to late 70's. And while Sparks were always the Mael brothers, they kept on sacking their band members. Although this did make them flexible, so they have been able to morph into different guises over the years. Secondly Queen had an ability plug into the prevailing current, yet also still keep one foot in their core area (OK, they were pushing it with Hot Space!). Freddie and John seem to have been at the forefront of keeping Queen current, whereas Brian kept the rock band thing up there as well. Roger seems to have flirted both ways I think. Of the others, Sparks were able to secure some hits in various territories in different parts of the world over the years, although their career seems to have suffered from a lack of continuity in their sound. Whereas Queen have been able to straddle the new and maintain the old. Sweet and 10CC, on the other hand, have largely stuck to nostalgia and have not continued to put out albums regularly over the years. Which in my opinion is a big shame really, but is almost certainly as a result of the fracturing of those bands that occurred way back in the mid to late 70's.
musicland munich 20.01.2014 00:33	Heavenite wrote:Next if I were to consider what made Queen continue on to become a superstar band, while the others I've mentioned mainly retain their fame from their successes in the 70's, well probably two things come to my mind. musicland munich: One big factor was to stay in the headlines of the magazines of that time. I can see that in my collection of BRAVO youth magazine(germany). The other bands you have mentioned disappered from the covers in the early eightys...and they even didn't get slots inside the magazine...Queen managed to get good articles and covers in the 70's/80S and sadly in the early 90's. I will bring some articles and covers on QZ...maybe next weekend.
Heavenite 20.01.2014 06:18	Sounds great musicland! :-)
Apocalipsis_Darko 01.02.2014 21:13	I did an interview by mail with Sparks. The answers about Queen Sparks and Queen in the same concert, 1972. Sparks were the headline. Answer: "Queen wore blue jeans and unloaded all their own gear and then got into their white angel costumes. That's my only memory of that concert". Selective memory. Angel costumes began in 1974 designed by Zandra Rhodes. There are photos from that concert. Queen dressed black. Sparks-Brian May Answer: Yes, we did have many conversations with Brian May and during the 70s at one point he was considering joining Sparks. Perhaps for both bands, things ended up best that we only went as far as discussions. About Sparks influence Queen. Answer: Every band may have had their own style in the 70s but certain bands listened very closely to other bands. Enough said.
Heavenite 03.02.2014 04:24	Great post AD. Fascinating to know that Queen supported Sparks way back when! What I think is interesting is I know of very little evidence from Queen of who were the rival bands that influenced them early on. All I see is artists from the decade earlier like Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. Maybe it's there and I'm just missing it. So I was wondering if anyone can provide any Queen quotes or other evidence for their rival bands in this respect?
crazy duck 03.02.2014 05:25	I know roger mentioned stealing lots from led zep as he inducted them into the RnR hall of fame. Its on youtube im sure!
Apocalipsis_Darko 03.02.2014 06:25	There is also Morgan, the band from Morgan Fisher and Tim Staffel. There are some simmilar sounds with Queen. I did an interview with Morgan Fisher talked about this...and Mott The Hople-Queen. "I feel a little like the blues musicians who Eric Clapton said inspired his music. He made sure they got credit and royalty payments. If Brian could say, just once, that the Morgan band inspired Queen, that would be nice. Brian came to watch many, many shows of the Morgan band at the Marquee Club in London. You can see our schedule here: I am sure Brian did not come just for fun! He came to study my music. And if you listen to our album ("Sleeper Wakes" also called "Brown Out") you can hear some things that Queen used later: quiet piano followed by wild rock guitar, and operatic harmonies". "I have heard rumours that “Marionette” influenced Queen to write “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I don’t see many clear similarities between the two songs, except that both songs had a kind of “rock mini-opera” approach, with some sections for piano and voice, and the full band suddenly joining in for some loud sections. Also a quiet beginning and a quiet end. Queen were fans of Mott - so maybe the rumours are true".
Apocalipsis_Darko 03.02.2014 06:29	Yes, Roger talked in an interview about they studied all the bands in that time
Heavenite 04.02.2014 07:25	crazy duck wrote: I know roger mentioned stealing lots from led zep as he inducted them into the RnR hall of fame. Its on youtube im sure! Thanks for that Crazy Duck! It isn't all that surprising I guess. I remember reading years ago in this large Rock Encyclopedia I had that Queen were described as an ersatz Led Zeppelin. Personally I think any comparison pretty much ended with Queen I. Queen II is much more Queenish than I.
Heavenite 04.02.2014 07:29	Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: There is also Morgan, the band from Morgan Fisher and Tim Staffel. There are some simmilar sounds with Queen. I did an interview with Morgan Fisher talked about this...and Mott The Hople-Queen. "I feel a little like the blues musicians who Eric Clapton said inspired his music. He made sure they got credit and royalty payments. If Brian could say, just once, that the Morgan band inspired Queen, that would be nice. Brian came to watch many, many shows of the Morgan band at the Marquee Club in London. You can see our schedule here: I am sure Brian did not come just for fun! He came to study my music. And if you listen to our album ("Sleeper Wakes" also called "Brown Out") you can hear some things that Queen used later: quiet piano followed by wild rock guitar, and operatic harmonies". "I have heard rumours that “Marionette” influenced Queen to write “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I don’t see many clear similarities between the two songs, except that both songs had a kind of “rock mini-opera” approach, with some sections for piano and voice, and the full band suddenly joining in for some loud sections. Also a quiet beginning and a quiet end. Queen were fans of Mott - so maybe the rumours are true". Given that Tim Staffel was in Morgan, I am wondering if that was the reason that Brian went to see Morgan. Although the description of their music in the quote does sound Queenish. Have you listened to any of their stuff AD? If so, what did you think? And did you think it was particularly Queenish? Oh, and where did you see that Roger article regarding their influences. I would definitely be interesting in reading that.
Apocalipsis_Darko 04.02.2014 07:52	It sounds a little of Queen, yes...You have the albums in youtube. Roger spoke about influences in the Mojo interview, november issue. He said Led Zep, The Who (he always said those bands), Bowie, and also they were attentive to other bands of the label, like Sparks and Cockney Rebels.
The Real Wizard 04.02.2014 09:43	Heavenite wrote: crazy duck wrote: I know roger mentioned stealing lots from led zep as he inducted them into the RnR hall of fame. Its on youtube im sure! Thanks for that Crazy Duck! It isn't all that surprising I guess. I remember reading years ago in this large Rock Encyclopedia I had that Queen were described as an ersatz Led Zeppelin. Personally I think any comparison pretty much ended with Queen I. Queen II is much more Queenish than I. Agreed 100%. The Zeppelin and Sabbath influences are all over the debut album (Son and Daughter could've been on Paranoid), but from Queen II through Jazz they were completely their own making. It wasn't until The Game that they started sounding like other artists again.
Lord Gaga 04.02.2014 17:42	I'd argue there were still some Zeppelin- (Some Day One Day, Loser In The End) and Who- (Father To Son) inspired elements on Queen II, and even the Stones (Now I'm Here) on Sheer Heart Attack, but not enough to dismiss it as a knock-off of those bands.
The Real Wizard 04.02.2014 19:49	Fair play. In fact, Now I'm Here is extremely All The Way From Memphis. It is about their tour with Mott, after all..
The Real Wizard 04.02.2014 22:04	dysan wrote: In fact, I'm sure they played the Marquee the same night? Might be wrong. Indeed, Queen were the opener.
Heavenite 07.02.2014 17:21	Apocalipsis_Darko wrote: It sounds a little of Queen, yes...You have the albums in youtube. Roger spoke about influences in the Mojo interview, november issue. He said Led Zep, The Who (he always said those bands), Bowie, and also they were attentive to other bands of the label, like Sparks and Cockney Rebels. Thanks AD. Will check both the magazine and those clips on YouTube out.
slithybill 28.08.2014 15:10	This is from an interview with Joe Elliott in Guitar International magazine earlier this year. link Robert Cavuto: I loved your version of“Marionette”; can you share some insight about it? Joe Elliott: There’s a very strong rumor, even from the Queen camp, that it’s the song that inspired Freddie Mercury to write “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It doesn’t sound anything like Bo Rhap, but it is a mini-opera. In 1974, Queen opened for Mott The Hoople when they were playing “Marionette”. Every night, Freddie would stand at the side of the stage watching it. These little stories are hovering around in my brain. They just kind of keep coming up now and again; I find them fascinating. The song is actually about the music industry. These guys were ahead of their time. “Just shut up and sing and we’ll do all the work. We’ll keep all the money and you’ll not get paid.” It’s like they put you back in your box when the show’s over. No, not on my watch. This is the first time I've heard anybody with a connection to the "Queen camp" mention "Marionette" possibly being the inspiration for Bo Rhap. I think it's also intriguing that "Marionette" is about the music industry as Queen also wrote a few songs on the same topic. But, then, so did Pink Floyd and many other artists.
Apocalipsis_Darko 31.08.2014 14:38	Also Beach Boys chorus....as first Uriah Heep records.
Vocal harmony 20.07.2018 11:05	I remember reading through this thread four years ago and finding it quite interesting,listen to a couple of Sparks albums this week, so I thought a quick revisit would be interesting. Something that got me thinking is the FFS album. Franz Ferdinand and Sparks. It has a brilliant balance in production, song writing and playing allowing both acts to shine through under that collection umbrella. Now I'm sure this will never happen but in 2018 would a Queen+Sparks album work in a similar way.
dysan 20.07.2018 13:00	Curious this got bumped as I was pondering my response on another thread about the production of Jazz. One parallel I thought about (muted raw guitars and drums very much mixed 'up') was the Sparks album Big Beat from 1976. It's quite an ugly record, but perhaps the ridiculous mix was considered visionary at the time.
Moët Et Chandin 30.12.2018 16:14	Most artists listen to other stuff and absorb influences ft on various sources unconsciously. The best dont obviously plagiarise but develop what they've heard ( the form) further in a different style . The Queen debut is a bit guilty of the latter ( Zeppelin Yes and Sabbath traits) but post Sheer Heart Attack they were truly original. As for Sparks, they were an underrated group and one of the most inventive in the 70's. Sparks and Queen have one thing in common: in the mid 70's both were not afraid of the avant Garde and music hall and some comic arrangements in their work
Moët Et Chandin 30.12.2018 16:19	Listen to Kimono My House,Propaganda and Indiscreet- astonishingly inventive and eclectic albums.
Pim Derks 30.12.2018 16:44	Don't forget Number One In Heaven, Lil' Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers - and pretty much everything they've done since 2002. Such an amazing band.
dysan 31.12.2018 09:52	It shows that Queen were serious about the band being a job - the difference between them absorbing sounds and styles of contemporaries and merely copying. Beyond the mentioned albums, there are some Sparks 'deep cuts' well worth checking. The Whomp That Sucker album was recorded at the same time (and the same studio with Mack) as The Game and there are some startling similarities. The originally unreleased version of I Like Girls (from 1972/3) has a fantastic glam sound with fiddly lead guitar parts that puts me in mind of Queen II for some reason. The guitar solo of Big Boy (1976) is pure Queen harmonics. Ironically, much of that material was demoed with Mick Ronson on guitar whose early work with the Spiders From Mars was nicked (at least conceptually) wholesale by Queen.
Lamebert whoehahaha 02.01.2019 18:01	From Sparks to Queen...in the end everyone is inspired one way or another by the one and only...GEORGE BAKER SELECTION Remember Little Green Bag? Then listen to Drowse Remember Una Paloma Blanca? Then listen to Bohemian Rhapsody 1-on-1 copies

QueenZone discussion #1368055

sparks influence queen?