The 29 th of July 1972, Sparks appeared on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" TV show. - Read more.... Four months later Sparks attempted their first assault to Europe shortly after their New York debut at Max's Kansas City club.
During this 1972 European Tour, Sparks played almost 30 gigs : The band played in Great Britain, Holland and Switzerland. The Marquee Club in London was packed, and when Sparks performed on Britain's "Old Grey Whistle Test" TV show, host Bob Harris and english audience were marvelled at Ron Mael's appearance and Russell Mael's look.
"In England in the winter of 1972 Russell met a girl whose father owned a club in Zermatt, Switzerland called the Post. Russell convinced her to persuade her father to let us play in his club. I believe he also agreed to pay for our lodging and meals. We arrived in Zermatt, went to the club, and attempted a sound check. The club owner couldn't believe what he was hearing and refused to let us play. We got to spend the next week in snowy Zermatt, in a little chalet, skiing at the foot of the Materhorn. That was really cool." - Harley A. Feinstein
In Switzerland, at Zurich, Sparks performed "Wonder Girl" on "Hits A GoGo" TV show, a very famous german musical show co-produced by the Swiss TV.
"English glam-rocker Gary Glitter was on that show with us. There was a bunch of friendly kids that regularly danced on the show. The parents of one of them owned an ice cream parlor and all the band went there afterwards. How wholesome !" - Harley A. Feinstein
