For April we feature a long-time well-known Red Elvises fan, a very classy lady who never wanted any
recognition for herself. Then I made a special request when it looked like we might not have a Fan
of the Month for April, and Heidi agreed to accept the honor and share her happy memories with us.
>From the midwest to California and back, she has seen some great Red Elvises shows. Read on
for details! |
Fan of the Month!
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For the record, what is your name?
Heidi
Where were you born,and where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Milwaukee. I have an older brother and sister that were born in Germany and lived through WWII over there. That is a major part of my addiction to Igor, Oleg & Zhenya, actually.
What were your main interests, entertainment and otherwise, growing up? Any obsessions you don’t mind people knowing about?
Since my sister and brother were already in high school when I was born, it was almost like being an only child. My mom and dad came to Milwaukee in the 50’s and knew very little English. They worked hard and bought a house. My mom had a very good friend that lived down the street and she had two little boys and they were Russian. They used to have get togethers and the father would sing Russian songs. Maybe that’s where my addiction began. I just LOVE Russian music. The Balalaika and Mandolin are my favorite instruments.
Tell us about your musical endeavors and any musical instruments you play…
Well, I learned to play the piano. I had a wonderful teacher that didn’t look at the clock. I was supposed to take half hour lessons once a week, but I would be there two hours, in her home, soaking everything in and then we would realize what time it was. She was a wonderful teacher and musician. After she died, I never found another teacher I liked. Now, I don’t have/make the time to play.
What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in your life?
That I am a good mother and wife.
What are your favorite movies?
I guess I would have to say -- "The Sound of Music."
Do you have any favorite books?
Growing up I enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder and now, I don’t have much time to read either, but I think the Bible is very important to read daily.
What music are you into, in addition to Red Elvises?
I love Dean Martin. And since I have a teenage daughter, I have to listen to her music in the car….I enjoy Smash Mouth. Two of Zhenya’s new songs on his “Flashback” CD have a Smash Mouth flavor. I mostly listen to the Classical station WFMR, here in Milwaukee. I love Beethoven, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov. I can’t stand Bach.
When, where, how, etc. did you first hear and experience Red Elvises?
It was a blistering hot summer day in 1999. I saw an ad in the paper for “Rainbow Summer” -- free concerts downtown at lunchtime by the Milwaukee River. The ad said “Siberian Surf Rock ’n Rollers from LA” or something strange like that and I HAD to check it out! I’ve always had a fascination with Russian things. My dad was a prisoner of war in Siberia…and Russian soldiers actually saved the lives of my mom and brother and sister when they were in Germany. That’s a long story.
So, on that hot summer day my daughter and I picked up some subs and drove downtown. We got two seats in the back row (that’s all that was left) of the open-air stage. Well, the guys did what they do so well. I could swear Igor sang a whole song like Louis Armstrong, and I got tears in my eyes. (I always cry when I hear Louis). There was a real Russian Orthodox man sitting in front of us, and he had his arms crossed and kept shaking his head slowly like he was disappointed in the guys’ Russian entertainment. Then, Zhenya started playing the intro to Scorchi Chorniye and the man started really getting into it. “Music from the old country,” he probably thought. But, then the tempo changed and Oleg started singing “Let’s take a Greyhound bus to Califor--nia” and the man started shaking his head again. That brings a smile to my face whenever I think about it.
I bought two cassettes that day and drove away with the music blaring out the window as we drove past the crowd still there eating lunch. I was immediately addicted to the Red Elvises.
About how many times have you seen them?
Lots and not enough!
What is it about Red Elvises that draws you to them, that you like the most?
The fact that they are Russian was what made me go to the first show. They are so talented -- musically and comically. The Surf Rock tunes with the Russian accents singing -- it’s just a fun show to go to. If you don’t have a good time it’s your own fault.
What’s the furthest you’ve traveled to see them? And do you have a good story around that?
We flew to California twice to see them. We saw them at the Sawdust Festival, which was an awesome experience. We drove to Berwyn, Illinois to see them twice. But, the very best place we ever saw them perform was at Rusty’s on the Santa Monica Pier. That show was like being in a dream. It was the Red Elvises’ 6th anniversary and we didn’t tell them we were coming. The look on Vladimir’s face when he looked over at us from the next table, before the show, was worth the whole trip. The crowd was like one big happy family. There was a little 3-year-old girl and the man next to me must have been in his 70’s. Sometimes I just closed my eyes and felt the energy and fun that was in that room. It was unbelievable! After the show, Igor invited us to his place for a little get together. But, we already were whipped with the time zone change and the show didn’t start till 11:00 to begin with and we had an hour drive back to our friend’s house…so we didn’t go.
Which show is your favorite out of all the Red Elvises shows you've seen?
Oh -- The Rusty’s 6th Anniversary, but they all come in close behind. The memories are what make it fun. The next craziest time we had was when nine of us dressed up in nine tail jackets that I had made and went to the infamous “Globe” hole in the wall -- awesome sounding -- bar. We had on red hats and red feather boas…We all congregated at our house first and had all kinds of food and drinks and fun and vodka frozen into an hunk of ice… We were expecting that maybe the guys would even show up, since they had to drive right past our house from their hotel to get to the Globe. But, then Igor called and said sorry, they couldn’t come…that was an unforgettable night. It was one of the last performances at the Globe also -- it closed that very week.
Any other standout, all time great memories of shows you’ve seen so far?
I think we have too many good times we shared with the guys. On August 22, 2001 -- our 20th anniversary, the guys also played at the Globe. Just my husband and I went -- it was a Wednesday and all our friends had to work, so it was only the two of us It was how I had wanted to spend our 20th anniversary, with the guys playing for us. Just me and my four guys -- Mike, Zhenya, Igor & Oleg. But, I also wanted to have a big party. The next day the guys played at Rainbow Summer again and a few of our family and friends that didn’t have to work or took the day off, joined us, and after the show, we all had a catered lunch by the river. That was a most memorable day. Oleg took a video and interviewed everyone about “Heidi’s Obsession with the Red Elvises.” “What do you know about Heidi?” he would ask everyone…. I wish I could get a copy of that video -- hint hint!
What are your favorite Red Elvises songs?
My favorites are still the “classics” -- back when Avi and Zhenya were part of the Red Elvises. And now, I am pretty much addicted to “I’ve got a Vitamin in my Pocket” (You figure it out). That song should be banned --it is tooo addicting! I can’t get it out of my head for three days after hearing it at a show. And now it’s on the new Lunatics & Poets CD. (Everybody order it, ok?)
What would you like to see them do in the future? Any ideas? Anything you’d like to say to the band?
I want them to be happy and enjoy what they are doing. A big part of what makes them special and unique is the way they treat their fans before and after the shows. That can’t always be easy -- they may be tired or cranky or sick or whatever, but, one, if not all, always make the effort to say hello to their loyal Red Head fans and they make new fans feel special as well.
I love these guys and they know it. There will be a “road cake ” in the mail soon -- have a good Lunatic tour! And -- maybe there will be a care package waiting for you at the Hurricane Bar down in Marathon! Too bad we couldn’t go on some sunset cruises together!!!! You schnarks !!!! Love -- Heidi.
Okay, last question… Do you have anything you’d especially like to say to all the fans?
Thanks for listening to my jibberisch. I never wanted to be a fan of the month -- because who cares about me? The fans want to know about their Red Elvises. But, thanks for having me, Kayt!
Interviewer’s Note: You’re welcome! And a great big RED Thank you to you, Heidi, for being a trooper and agreeing to be the April Fan of the Month at the last minute (after someone else disappeared). We couldn’t have had a Fan of the Month this month without you!!