Fan of the Month!
Interviewed by Kayt

This month we get two Fans of the Month for the price (free, of course, what a bargain!) of one! A Rokenrol-ing married couple with children, whose pre-teen daughter, upon seeing Red Elvises for the first time several years ago, liked them so much that she was heard to say, “Bye bye, Britney Spears!”

For the record, what are your names?

Dave and Diane

Where were each of you born, and where did you each grow up?
Dave was born in western Michigan, that bastion of Dutch heritage. Diane was born in Illinois, but wandered about the US, from Lompoc, CA to Albuquerque to Virginia during her formative years. Apparently, she was trying to keep up with her family. They kept moving about as her father was reassigned from one place to another by the Air Force.

What were your main interests, entertainment and otherwise, growing up? Any obsessions either of you don’t mind people knowing about?

In her young and tender years, Diane was obsessed with the Rocky Horror Picture Show (but who wasn't?). She spent her free time (and then some) playing cruise director (organizing activities) and generally having fun with friends. One of Dave's earliest memories was watching the Apollo missions to the moon. That's why he's obsessed with songs like “Rocket Man,” “Two Hundred Flying Girls,” “Space Cowboy,” etc.

Tell us about your musical endeavors and any musical instruments either of you play…
Dave's best musical instrument is the CD player. He's really quite proficient at it. Before that he mastered the tape deck and the turntable (some of your readers may remember those -- we still have one!). When Dave was really young, he played the violin. Although I'm not sure that his dad and sister would have used the word "played" -- they probably would have said "tortured."

Dave: “Not true! My technique was really quite advanced for my young age. Fact is, my violin was possessed and screamed of it's own accord. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyhow, it was after that that I moved on to the electronic instruments that I use to this day.”

Diane's musical talents become evident when she tried the piano. After a short time she advanced to the turntable and reel-to-reel tape and never looked back.

What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in your lives?
I, Dave, survived college (summa cum laude!) and went on to marry a beautiful chick and have two beautiful kids! However, I'm not sure I'm going to survive their adolescent years.

I, Diane, am most proud of being a mom and a wife and being able to take care of a family. I love that we have an open, inviting home with a constant flux of people. Right now we have seven people living here and friends constantly coming and going.

What are your favorite movies?
Diane's favorites are "The Grinch" (cartoon version) and "Gone with the Wind" (Dave gags, Diane gives the look-that-could-kill). Dave thinks the "The Right Stuff" has all the right stuff. Together we catch every James Bond movie, Star Trek movie and anything that Sara Michelle Geller does.

Do you have any favorite books?
The Bible for both of us. Diane loves everything by Louisa May Alcott, Lori Wick, and the "The Milford" series. As for Dave, add the "Mouse That Roared," "The Forge of God" (sci fi by Greg Bear), and everything Tolkien.

What music are you into, in addition to Red Elvises?
Dave really likes Dick Dale, Boston. Bruce Springsteen, and Celtic and classical. Diane is into Marian Faithful, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, REM, Tim Curry and Todd Rundgren. Diane's musical tastes vary with the mood for the day.

When, where, how, etc. did you first hear and experience Red Elvises?
We were living in Cleveland Ohio and a friend sent me (Dave) "Surfing in Siberia" for Christmas. Having never heard of the Red Elvises it got put on the shelf for a couple weeks. Finally out of curiosity I played it. I didn't know whether to laugh to the lyrics or just enjoy the music, but settled on both and decided I had to see these guys. They finally came to Cleveland a few months later and I got there early just to make sure I got in. It was a great concert! The guys really got the place hopping!

How many times have you seen them?
Lost count after a couple a dozen. I guess real fans would have kept count. Sorry.

What is it about Red Elvises that draws you to them, that you like the most?
They're fun. We like to have fun. Hey, it doesn't have to be complicated.

What’s the furthest you’ve traveled to see them? And do you have good story around that?
Dave has flown from Cleveland where we used to live to LA to see them at Rusty's. That’s a few thousand miles. I caught five shows in a row when Diane began to wonder if we should move to LA so we could see them together. The rest is history. By the way, we live in LA now.

Any other standout, all time great memories of shows you’ve seen so far?
The September 1999 show at Rusty's rocked. The crowd was especially great and the guys had everyone rocking non-stop from the first song. I remember Avi in a wig singing that funky beat. The New Year's show at Rusty's, should I say New Millennium show was right up there. The show in Erie Pennsylvania was memorable because the show was interrupted by one of those great summer downpours you can get in the Midwest.

What are your favorite Red Elvises songs?
How many favorites can we have? There are several on every CD they've done. But to pick just a couple: Dave's favorites include the ever-popular "Love Pipe" and of course "Rocket Man." Diane's tops are "My Love is Killing Me," "Romantic Junk" and "Romeo."

What would you like to see them do in the future? Any ideas?
More surf music because it really shows off Zhenya's guitar skills. And more of Igor's lyrics cause we love irony and love to laugh. And more songs with Oleg as lead vocal, cause he really rocks. And more songs about space because Dave's a rocket scientist (what you think we joke?).

Okay, last question…Do you have anything you’d especially like to say to all the fans?
Go to every concert within flying distance, and bring all your friends --- because good times roll when these guys play! And life is meant to be good!