“I think we've always been a bit delusional and at the start we really did feel we were a cool, British-style band, but it was apparently not connecting in that way, and was always seen as something more esoteric and odd. But then in failing to emulate British bands, a style emerged that became what we are.”

American singer

Russell Craig Mael is an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the pop and rock duo Sparks. Born in 1948, he formed the group in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. He is known for a wide vocal range, especially his high falsetto, and for a flamboyant, highly animated stage presence. Sparks later released the 2015 album FFS with Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand under the name FFS, and the Mael brothers founded Lil' Beethoven Records.