Pitchfork

British people acting like squares? Way to live up to the stereotype, guys!

In a move that thoroughly irked Ron and Russell Mael, aka Sparks, BBC London 94.9FM refused to play the pair's new single, "Dick Around", from their most recent album Hello Young Lovers, on the radio station's Breakfast Show yesterday morning.

Using what to some (including my eighth grade computer teacher) might be considered extremely poor Netiquette, Sparks' management posted a series of angry press releases on the band's website.

According to the statements, the Maels were invited into the studio as guests of Breakfast Show, where hosts Jono Coleman and JoAnne Good were banned from playing the track on air.

"JONO AND HIS CO-HOST JO GOOD WERE OBVIOUSLY EMBARRASSED - PARTICULARLY AS THEY QUITE CLEARLY KNEW THAT THE TERM MEANS WASTING TIME," the release reads.

"RON AND RUSSELL WERE QUITE CLEARLY ALSO EMBARRASSED BUT ALSO APPEARED TO BE INSULTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN ASKED TO 'GET UP AT 6.15AM TO COME AND BE INTERVIEWED AND THEN NOT HAVE THEIR SINGLE PLAYED' AND WHAT SHOULD (AND COULD) HAVE BEEN AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW ENDED UP BEING A 15 MINUTE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BBC BANNING THE SONG."

Ron commented, "THE BBC HAS OFFICIALLY KILLED OFF OUR NEW SINGLE DICK AROUND, OSTENSIBLY THROUGH RATHER CHILDISH OBJECTIONS TO THE TITLE, AN INNOCENT REFERENCE TO THE IDLE LIFE.

"THAT A PIECE OF MUSIC CAN BE CONDEMNED PURELY BY ITS WITHOUT THE 'DECISION MAKERS' EVEN HAVING THE DECENCY TO OPEN THE CD CASE IS A TRAVESTY AND AN INSULT TO BOTH US AS THE CREATORS OF THE MUSIC AND TO THE LISTENERS OF THE BBC.

"RUSSELL MAEL RESPONDED 'THE REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC TO THIS RECORD HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT POSITIVE SO THE BBC SHOULD STOP TRYING TO BE THE MORALITY POLICE WHEN IT IS SO CLEARLY MISPLACED."

After receiving numerous e-mails from Sparks and their management, BBC London replied, "The track 'Dick Around' hasn't been banned from BBC London; in fact it's already been played on other shows on the station. However, the breakfast team hadn't heard the track-- because it's not a music show-- and decided to err on the side of caution because of the title, and play the other side of the AA single to illustrate the interview."

Weak!

Sparks' management notified the BBC that copies of both the single and album were sent to the show's production team on September 19, giving it nearly a week to go over the tune prior to the interview. In addition, management pointed out that no attempt to spin the AA side of the single ("Waterproof") was made-- instead, the Hello Young Lovers track "Perfume" (given the single treatment last February) was played.

"The situation could have been handled in a much better way had the issue been raised with us last week and not on arrival at the station," the e-mail read. "Similarly the embarrassment for all concerned (including your hosts) would have greatly reduced had you played the correct AA side."

Upon their escape from moral court, Sparks will launch a fall tour of the UK this evening. Following it are two October gigs in Japan.

Dates:

09-27 Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
09-28 Briston, England - Colston Hall
09-30 London, England - Forum
10-01 Brighton, England - Dome
10-03 Wolverhampton, England - Civic Hall
10-04 Cambridge, England - Corn Exchange
10-05 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
10-20 Tokyo, Japan - Shibuya On-Air East
10-22 Kyoto, Japan - Kyoto University (P-Hour festival)