Hot off the heels of Baby Driver, Edgar Wright is already full speed towards his newest project. The Cornetto Trilogy director will next helm a documentary on the cult rock band Sparks. While currently collecting older archives from the band’s career, he recently shot their late May concert in London as a part of the film, which he confirmed in a statement to IndieWire: “I already shot their London concert in late May. The rest of is it [to be determined] and we’re currently scouring the archives… I have been a fan of them since I saw them on Top Of The Pops in 1979 — and when I had Beat The Clock on vinyl.”
Wright’s personal enthusiasm for Sparks certainly explains his choice in making them the subject for his debut feature documentary. Brothers Ron and Russell Mael created the band in 1972, with Ron on the keyboards and Russell providing vocals. Sparks expanded their cult following after notable collaboration with Italian musician Giovanni Giorgio Moroder in the late 1970s – effectively revamping their sound from conventional rock to synth-pop. The band’s consistent change in style and form continuously re-established them as new and innovative voices in pop music – something we can expect Wright to explore in his documentary. Also, expect crash zooms.
Below, listen to some of the best work from Sparks, who also have a big hand in Leos Carax’s oft-delayed next film.