Spotlight: Sparks 'The Very Best Of' NZ Tour - Auckland & Christchurch Shows

Innovative musical giants, whose nearly six decade career (so far) led the way in art-rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic dance and any / everything else they turned their attention to, Sparks will soon be playing their first ever headline dates in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their legend captured on film in director Edgar Wright's must-watch 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers, California-born brothers Ron and Russell Mael will be thrilling patient local fans at Christchurch Town Hall on 21st May, and Auckland's Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre on 23rd May.

Counting amongst their devotees Sonic Youth, Björk, Sir Paul McCartney (check out his homage HERE), The Smiths, Cate Blanchett, Faith No More, Franz Ferdinand, Jello Biafra, The Darkness, Beck, Flea, Jack Antonoff, Weird Al Yankovic, and Aotearoa's own The Sneaks (who would regularly cover the duo's 1983 hit 'All You Ever Think About Is Sex'), Sparks are reaching a new generation as featured guests on Gorillaz's latest record The Mountain. Even dedicated fans will point to different eras of the group as personal favourites — for example this listener adores the back to back mid-'70s run of Kimono My House and Propaganda, while Aotearoa vaporwave pioneer Eyeliner (Luke Rowell aka Disasteradio) has notably extolled the virtues of 2002's Lil' Beethoven.

Infamously playing a massive twenty one night Sparks Spectacular London residency in 2008, when they performed every single one of their albums to date in order of release (one record per night), it's finally time for NZ to experience the incomparable onstage magic of Sparks. Now with twenty eight studio long players out in the world, including 2025's MAD!, if you've been twiddling your thumbs it's time to take action to catch Sparks — brought to you by Destroy All Lines...

Sparks - The Very Best Of - NZ Tour

Thursday 21st May - Town Hall, Christchurch
Saturday 23rd May - Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland

Tickets on sale via destroyalllines.com

Learn about the enduring influence and impact of Sparks with the official trailer to director Edgar Wright's 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers...

Experience the dynamite rock of 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us', from 1974's Kimono My House...

Here's their tremendously catchy and stylish 'Beat The Clock', from 1979's No.1 In Heaven...

Bop along with Sparks' new wave classic 'All You Ever Think About Is Sex', from 1983's Sparks In Outer Space...

Here's Sparks' majestic 'When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way'', from 2002's Lil' Beethoven...

Cate Blanchett co-stars in the official clip for the title track to Sparks' 2023 album The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte...

Press release:

The legendary US art pop icons, Sparks, are coming to New Zealand for the very first time this May.

Inspiration to generations of musicians – from New Order and The Smiths to Björk & Beck – Sparks broke through with their 1974 smash Kimono My House, setting in motion a wildly eccentric trajectory that saw them apply their unforgettable touch to art rock, synth pop, new wave, movie musicals and everything in between. Their influence & impact on music cannot be overstated – as super-producer Jack Antonoff declared “all pop music is re-arranged Sparks”.

More than 50 years into their singular career, the Californian art-pop icons have never been more beloved. Buoyed by Edgar Wright’s admiring 2021 documentary, Sparks have gone from strength to strength, scoring major films, releasing critically acclaimed records, and touring the world with rapturously received, sold-out performances.

They’ve collaborated with everyone from electronic guru Giorgio Moroder to Todd Rundgren, The Go-Go’s Jane Wiedlin and maverick French filmmaker Leo Carax (on 2023’s musical Annette) and earned high-profile fans from Paul McCartney to “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Following the May 2025 release of their acclaimed 28th studio album MAD! and the companion October 2025 EP MADDER!, the band’s recent world tour was rapturously received. And who can forget the cameo from Cate Blanchett, who danced in a canary yellow suit in their film clip for ‘The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte’, which then became a tribute nearly every night on their mammoth 40-date world tour!

With more than six-decades of classics – including ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us’, ‘Angst In My Pants’, and ‘The Number One Song In Heaven’ – plus recent hit albums The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte (2023) and MAD! (2025) in their arsenal, Sparks is set to deliver a euphoric evening of music that has become the stuff of legend.