INTERVIEW WITH RED ELVISES

On the Occasion of The Red Pages’ 5th Anniversary
December 22 – 23, 2004
By Kayt

Red Elvises appreciate their fans like no other band, there is no doubt of that! And that’s why we have a fanzine, one that has been going strong for five unbelievable years! Each and every one of you should feel very loved and appreciated by this band because Red Elvises do it all for YOU; they truly appreciate your devotion, energy and support. They also love all the good times they have with fans coming to their shows to enjoy their music and camaraderie.

Recently I spoke with each member of the band to get their thoughts on The Red Pages’ fifth anniversary and find out some of their plans for our continued enjoyment in 2005 as well as what they personally would like to say to the people who loyally support them. Oleg’s interview was via cell phone on December 22nd while they were driving home from Northern California and the rest were conducted on December 23rd, face-to-face at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier. I grouped the various conversations together below, even though each interview was done separately, because I asked them some of the same questions. While speaking with Igor we were interrupted several times by fans coming over wanting to buy t-shirts, which was great, because the show hadn’t even started yet and people were already enthusiastic and wanting to wear the band’s name on their chests! So keep up the good fandom, everyone, keep listening to the music, coming to the shows, buying stuff, dancing and loving Red Elvises! Here’s what they had to say:

KO: What do you think about The Red Pages being in existence for five years?
OLEG: It’s a great thing that this fanzine is existing this long, five years! And that there are always new readers to read it too... Congratulations!
IGOR: Congratulations! I don’t believe it’s been five years! It seems like only five minutes... I just want to thank all the fans who have made it possible, and you, Kayt, and Ealasaid, personally for all the support and for sticking with us through everything, through all the transitions.
KO: Aww, thank you!

KO (to Oleg): Do you have a favorite feature? What do you like best about the fanzine?
OLEG: I just like to look at the whole thing...the new issue each month.

KO (to Oleg): What plans do you have for 2005, what can we expect?
OLEG: New touring... probably not a new CD but we’ll have a new DVD.
KO: Ooh, did you say a new DVD?
OLEG: Yes.
KO: Will it have some of that great footage that you’ve been filming for such a long time? (Trust me, everyone, Oleg’s got some extremely funny and cool stuff on video!)
OLEG: Yes, it will.
KO: Oh, good! I’m looking forward to that!

KO (to Igor the following night): So Oleg tells me you guys will release a DVD next year...
IGOR: We’ll have to find a good producer for that, someone who really knows what they’re doing. In the past we’ve had some problems with producers not knowing what they were doing...
KO: Like with the Belly Dance video? (Interviewer's observation/explanation: Although the finished product was great, it took about two years and tons of footage shot by various people to make it finally happen...)
IGOR: Yes, like that. But we’ll find a good producer for a DVD.

KO (to Igor): So I see you’ve got a booking agent now...
IGOR: Yes, I booked the shows for two years and now that we have this agent it will free up a lot more of my time for writing songs and other things.
KO: Well, that should help...should take a tremendous load of work off you.
IGOR: Yes, booking the shows was taking a lot of time, so now it will free up more time for music.

KO: And you’re going to Europe in 2005? That’s exciting!
IGOR: Yes, we found several agents [to book European shows] and are working on that.
(Note: Keep checking the tour schedule for exciting new developments on 2005 touring!)

KO (to Igor): What are you doing for New Year’s Eve this year?
IGOR: Probably hanging out in Bangkok.

KO: What would you like to say to the fans?
IGOR: Thanks for sticking with us for such a long time! Not every band can brag that they’ve had fans that have stuck with them for five years or more, and I’m grateful because without the fans there would be no Red Elvises.
ADAM: I’m happy to see the old fans and newer fans too come out to boogie! The fans are what it’s all about. (And Dawn, Adam’s wife, added: “He’s learned the secret of being a great musician, a great drummer, is being able to make a crowd shake their asses!”)
SCHRAMM: The fans are the people who make this whole thing happen! If it wasn’t for the fans, nothing would be [happening] and I thank the fans for their tremendous support, especially for me...for how they embraced me when I joined the band. Life is good, everything is cool and I’m enjoying the show, enjoying playing. Every place I go, every town, I always look forward to seeing my friends, familiar faces of people I’ve met while traveling with Red Elvises. They are all really cool people, the nicest people in the world. So it’s that kind of support... Every time I play I give them 200% for that support! And I want to thank you all, guys, for your tremendous support!
OLEG: Happy New Year!

Back to Main Page