Avi: A Tribute By by Michelle Brosé
with assistance from (in alphabetical order) Azariah, Red Princess (Christina), Jackdaw, Jibbs, Kayt, Mary, Ron, Slazz, and Willie

Friends, Russians, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to praise Avi, not to bury him.

When we regulars at the weekly Red Chats first heard the news that Avi was no longer a Red Elvis, we didn't want to believe it. To diehard fans, losing a band member is only slightly less traumatic then having your parents break up. You wonder who will take care of your musical needs now. You wonder if the music will ever be the same again. You wonder if the band was cheating on the departing member, or if the departing member was cheating on the band. You feel a pang of loneliness when you see the new album cover without the departing member. You start to think that if only you had been a better fan, they'd still be together.

After the initial shock, we realized that we had to be adults about this--dammit!--and accept it with dignity and grace. And so we've put together this tribute to Avi, as a small token of our affection and appreciation for the good times and good music he's given us all.

It would have been relatively easy to overlook Avi at a Red Elvises show. He didn't have any wicked guitar solos. He wasn't out in front shaking his pelvis or playing a big red balalaika while sporting flaming red hair. He was hidden behind the drums much of the time, his hair was only slightly flaming, and he only got the spotlight during the rare renditions of "Play that Funky Music, White Boy" or the occasional drum solo (which he supposedly "can't stand", if the Live album is to be believed). And yet I consider Avi the very backbone of the Red Elvises, because he provided the structure for the rest of their sound. Take Scorchi Chorniye, for example: though there's some amazing guitar pickin' in the beginning, that's only to build up suspense. The real meat of the song begins when the drums come in, and everyone starts dancing.

Indeed, percussion has been the backbone of music ever since some unknown caveman back at the dawn of time picked up two rocks and pounded them together as he danced around the fire. It's been in our collective unconscious for so long, it's pulsing in our blood. Even before birth we're cradled in a world of rhythm, suspended under the beat of our mother's heart. And so it's no surprise that Avi exerted a subtle, but powerful influence over us in the audience; when he drummed, we boogied. When he paused, we all froze. If he had missed a beat, we would have noticed, and been soured on the rest of the song.

Of course, he never did miss a beat (that I know of, at least). Even while Zhenya peeled his shirt off at MusikFest, he still kept time. But for most part, he was content to let the three guys with guitars pull off the stage antics and get the glory. He could have competed for his fair share of attention in any number of ways; drummers are notorious for overbearing, out-of-control personalities. But instead Avi impressed everyone with his genuine friendliness and warmth.

And (it must be said) he looked so good in those leather pants.

I can't claim to have known Avi personally, but I can tell of my limited experiences meeting him. At my first RE show, Oleg had waved Avi and Zhenya over to get them in a picture with my group before the show. Though I didn't really speak to any of the Elvii then--the crowd would have drowned me out--I still have the print of the picture, with Avi looking almost brutally handsome in a black-and-silver kanji print t-shirt which shows off his well-muscled arms to good effect.

A few weeks later, at the RiverFest show, I had a chance to speak with him briefly. (I had to wait a while, though; he had a blonde stuck to his face for several minutes, and he was making no attempt to dislodge her.) Later, when I saw that he had finally came up for air, I went over and started to say that I had been to MusikFest. He replied, in that soft Texas twang, that he remembered me, so I joked, "Guess I'm unforgettable, huh?"

Avi just smiled and sang a few bars of "Unforgettable." (Such a smart boy. There couldn't have been a more perfect response.) Well, that deserved a compliment in return, so I gushed for a bit about his drumming abilities; his face absolutely lit up and he put his hand over mine as he thanked me. The infamous RiverFest show had, no doubt, been a difficult one for all of the Red Elvises; I was impressed that he was good-natured enough be so attentive that night.

At my third Close Encounter of the Red Kind, Crocodile Rock, I wasn't even going to bother trying to talk to the Elvii... I already had their autographs, and I was starving and penniless to boot. But as they left the stage, Avi (and Igor, to his credit) stopped to thank me for coming and ask me what I thought of the show. Though it only took him a few seconds to do that, it made it worth the hassle of the evening. (Admittedly, getting up close had something to do with it, too!) It's the little things like that--being remembered and acknowledged by someone in the band you've come a long way to see--that make the experience truly memorable for a fan, and inspire their loyalty.

And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Read on:

Avi struck me immediately as a down to earth guy. My dialogues with The Red Elvii have all been joyous in their own ways, to be sure. But with Avi, there were no pretenses. He immediately struck me as self assured, warm, intelligent, and extremely funny. Self confidence is an attractive characteristic, and one you can't fake - I don't see too many people who possess it, especially those messing around in show biz. Whatta guy! Whatta mensch! Ack - he even did a fabulous impression of his Aunt in New Yawk, dahlink, when I called to wish him happy birthday. Enough to make a girl plotz, I'm telling you! If you'll excuse me for speaking on behalf of the world, we need more people like him. I wish him all the best and look forward to hearing jingles that don't make my head hurt.
Slazz

Avi, we hardly knew ye. It seems that no sooner had the Red Elvises become Our Favorite Band but that we were deprived of one quarter of our joy! Nevertheless, we had the privilege of seeing you play live twice, and we will always treasure your autographs, especially the one on the bowling pin, as part of our precious memories of The Avi Era of Red Elvis history. We dug that klezmer beat!
Love Always,
Jackdaw

In a day of mega-drum sets, electronic and traditional, Avi is able to keep it simple, allowing his skill and talent to shine through.
Ron, husband of Jackdaw

Avi? What to say? What haven't all his loving fans already said when asked to "Pour their heart out" in his guestbook? No longer will I have to spend hours seaching through archives of hundreds of pictures of him which are almost all the same - he's always making cute faces and blowing kisses at the damned photographers. It was an irresistable tempation for girls with cameras just to stand around using up rolls of film just taking pictures of him blowing kisses at them (I admit, I did not resist that particular tempation so well myself). But despite the fact that I'll no longer have to go through page after page of him puckering up a bit like a fish, I will miss him an awful lot. Much thanks for the good time Avi!
--Jibbs

I've always thought Avi was totally adorable, if that counts for sentiment. :) I will seriously miss Avi's lively presence, both onstage and on the albums. He's such a sweetheart, too. I only met him once, but he was completely wonderful.
--Az

Last summer I saw the Red Elvises 4 times in 4 days in the Chicago area and then saw them again a week later in California. Of course I didn't tell them I would be seeing them again so soon. When I pulled into the lot at the Sawdust Festival Avi was unloading his drums as I went past. I stopped and called out to him, when he turned around to say hi he stopped and said, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Chicago!" I told him I had come out for the day just to see them and he said that was all right then.
In September I saw them in Rockford Il and Chicago in the same day. When Avi found out what I had paid for tickets to see them he gave me his cellphone number so I could call him to get in with the band.
Willie

A kickass drummer for the band,
Very cool guy, from toe to hand.
I certainly will miss (as I'm sure we all will), that

Special drummer named Avi Sills.
Incredibly hot in his black leather pants, gotta
Love it when he busts a move for a dance. (belly or otherwise!)
Lots of girls have there been that Avi made swoon,
So best wishes for you Avi, and I hope to see ya again soon!

-Red Princess, Christina

Avi was always upbeat and friendly and sweet, ever since I first met him two and half years ago in a hair salon during a charity event, when he was going out with a good friend of mine who was getting her hair done for a worthy cause that night. That was before I had ever seen the band play, I didn't even know who this guy was who was so lively and nice and gushing over my friend, telling her how cute she looked with foil on her head. Little did I know I'd see him again in a couple of months in a very different setting.

About five months later, after falling hard for Red Elvises, I bought a nice silver metal license plate holder for my car with the band name across the top of it, etched in red letters of course, and the four guys' names across the bottom. I showed it to Avi after a show one night and he liked it and wanted one too (with just "Red Elvises" across the top), so later on, after the January 8, 1999 show at Rusty's, we agreed to go to the place where I got mine so he could get one too. That was the Friday night before my birthday, and it just happened that we went license plate holder shopping two days later, on my actual birthday, along with a friend of his and my roommate. We stopped to eat before getting to the place, and once Avi found out it was my birthday that day, he told the restaurant people, without me knowing, causing them to come out to the patio later and tie balloons to me, bring me cake and sing "Happy Birthday!" This was something I had never let anyone do to me before, but Avi managed it completely by surprise, and sat there laughing while they sang to me....I was touched, actually, and since the other tables on the patio were mostly empty, it wasn't even too terribly humiliating, just funny.

Every time I saw him at a show was a treat, he was always happy to see me as well as everyone else in the place, always in a good mood, always appreciative, like the other guys, of people coming to the shows. I have loved all four of these guys since I first saw them in late October 1998, to me the four of them together have BEEN the Red Elvises and it feels strange to have that change. I feel sad to think of not seeing Avi at the shows any more...he sure will be missed.
Love, Kayt

Love, Your Fans

a song by Mary Martin

I've never met someone else like you
Your kindness
The sweet, funny, person you are
Every single word is true
Even when you're afar.

I'll never forget the dreams you had
I'll never forget the smiles you put on people's faces
I'll never forget the good taste you treated each fan.
Now since you're going we're all sad
But we'll never forget you.

CHORUS:
No matter where you go, whenever you feel low
Just remember your greatest fans
We'll light a candle to show you your way home.
With fire shining so bright,
We'll shine up your darkest nights.
You have put a smile on our face with music that no
one can beat or erase.

I'll never forget the sweet talks and road trips I made just to see your eyes
Each time I saw you made the trip wild.
Someone so beautiful and sweet, was always a pleasure to meet.

CHORUS:
No matter where you go, whenever you feel low
Just remember your greatest fans
We'll light a candle to show you your way home.
With fire shining so bright,
We'll shine up your darkest nights.
You have put a smile on our face with music that no
one can beat or erase.

Why do you have to go?
We'll never really know.
You put a song in our hearts, a smile upon our face.
The heaven's cloud up above, we hope will send you a dove.
To watch you along your journey, and remind you....
your fans love you.

CHORUS:
No matter where you go, whenever you feel low
Just remember your greatest fans
We'll light a candle to show you your way home.
With fire shining so bright,
We'll shine up your darkest nights.
You have put a smile on our face with music that no
one can beat or erase.

Dear Avi,
I have written you a song, but no tune yet. I'm giving you these lyrics I wrote, so you remember your fans love you! I hope this time will give you a better chance to do things you'd like to do and hopefully we can see you in Vancouver. Who knows, maybe you can start your own band, or just make a single. I hope you can use this song to help your journey. Remember we'll never forget you and we'll always support you in what you do.
Love always: one of your greatest fans forever,
Mary L. Martin

And so we bid Avi a fond farewell, with the hope that if he takes but one memory with him, it will be the memory of the legions of fans that came to see the band; some dancing, some screaming, and others simply looking up at him with shining eyes.

Love always,
YOUR FANS

P.S. Confidential to Avi: I'm very, very sorry for this.