Fan of the Month!
Interviewed by Kayt
Our March Fan of the Month is our newest Red Pages Staff member Rick who lives far away from
the sunny shores of Red Elvises' beloved southern California even though he grew up in America's
heartland. You've read his posts on the Forum, you've sent your fanzine articles to him, now let's
get to know Rick better!
For the record, what is your name?
Richard “Rick” Vaughn
Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
Born: Joliet, Illinois (yeah, like Joliet Jake from the Blues Brothers, Igor’s fave movie).
I grew up in Chicago, on the north side and am a diehard Cubs fan (so long Sammy, we’ll
miss you… NOT!!!!  ).
What were your main interests, entertainment and otherwise, growing up? Any
obsessions you don’t mind people knowing about?
Always wanted to be a rock star (who didn’t?); I would practice for hours on end in front of
the bedroom wall, pretending it was a stadium full of cheering fans. I had an obsession with
Christian pop singer Amy Grant when I was in my early teens (go figure…). I like good coffee,
walks along the beach at sunset, Chinese food - and not the stuff you get out of paper cartons
either, but the real, down-home stuff, like what my Chinese girlfriend and her friends cook up.
I hope to visit Shanghai this year and a couple other parts of China as well.
Tell us about your musical endeavors and any musical instruments you play…
I don’t really play anything professionally, but I was in a couple of garage bands in high
school (guitar/vocals) and occasionally put out a CD of original compositions. I play
everything on the CDs and do all the vocals too. At my first Red Elvises show I was at the
front of the crowd and sang along so loud to every one of their songs that Igor picked up
the mike stand and lowered the mike, boom-style right over me! I was sort of an honorary
background (or foreground) singer, I guess.
What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in your life?
Having traveled to a lot of countries, meeting interesting people along the way: England,
Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Russia,
Thailand, Singapore, Philippines (and a few others)…
What are your favorite movies?
Best movies I’ve seen recently: "I Am Sam," "Stuck On You," "The Incredibles." Favorites: "Blues
Brothers," "Leningrad Cowboys Go America" (Oleg says: “Our real life story, seriously!”), "Pulp
Fiction," "Reservoir Dogs," "True Romance," "Catch Me If You Can," "Radio Days," :Bullets Over Broadway,"
"The Sweet & Lowdown," "Raising Arizona," "Pee Wee’s Big Adventure," "Donnie Brasco," "Goodfellas,"
"Raging Bull," "Dancer In The Dark," "The Blair Witch Project," "Ghost World," "Lost In Translation,"
"Boogie Nights," "Punch Drunk Love."
Do you have any favorite books?
Just finished reading "Snow Falling on Cedars" and started reading "The Bob Dylan Chronicles"
(excellent!)… Also love "1984," "Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy," "The Narnia Chronicles"
(by C.S. Lewis), "Good Omens," and have been working intermittently on reading "A Journey Into
Russia" (written in the early 1960s by a South African journalist in London). I read a lot of
Michener (check out "Caravans," good background on Afghanistan) and lots of stuff by Studs
Terkel and Garrison Keillor.
What music are you into, in addition to Red Elvises?
Violent Femmes, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Bjork, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Larry Norman,
Brian Wilson/Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Oasis, Blur, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, The Choir,
77s, Lost Dogs, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, Old Crow Medicine Show and anything else I can
get my hands on.
When, where, how, etc. did you first hear and experience Red Elvises?
I first heard of them through the "Six-String Samurai" movie, but didn’t know too much about
them. I was working at a Borders in downtown Chicago one night and needed some tunes to keep me
awake- there was a still shrink-wrapped promo of “Belly Dance” (including “Suzanna”) so I
snagged it, thinking this should be good for a laugh. That was 1999 and I haven’t stopped
playing that same disc, over and over again.
About how many times have you seen them?
Only 3 or 4 times, actually! I discovered them not too long before I moved to a small island in
the Pacific… Hope they can play here someday, or I can see them next time I visit the mainland
U.S.
What is it about Red Elvises that draws you to them, that you like the most?
Adventure, excitement, and really wild things! But mostly the music and the “anything goes”
atmosphere that surrounds them.
What’s the farthest you’ve traveled to see them? And do you have a good story around
that?
Traveled from Chicago to Berwyn to see them at Fitzgerald’s (twice). Kind of a long jaunt if
like me you rely on public transportation… the interesting story involves taking the city bus
back into the city at 2 a.m. through a rough section of Chicago and people throwing bricks at
the bus.
Which show is your favorite of the RE shows you've seen?
The first one I saw at Fitzgerald’s, in Berwyn. Great evening, excellent playing, still the
original lineup of Igor-Oleg-Zhenya-Avi. Good memories.
Any other standout, all time great memories of shows you’ve seen so far?
The next time I saw them after that, they were a 3-piece; they played at a basement club in
Chicago, the Elbo Room. I got off work at 10:00 pm (at Virgin Megastore) and made it just in
time for the 2nd set. Afterwards we rode in the RE van up to the Green Mill (named after the
Moulin Rouge, or Red Mill, in Paris) but we all got kicked out by the doorman because Z’s lady
friend didn’t have ID proving she was drinking age.
What are your favorite Red Elvises songs?
In no particular order: “Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings,” “Joint Was Jumping,” “Closet
Disco Dancer,” “Juliet,” “Suzanna,” “Harriet,” “Strip Joint Is Closed,” “Gypsy Heart,” “200
Flying Girls,” “San Antone” and the list could go on and on and on…
What would you like to see them do in the future? Any ideas? Anything you’d like to say
to the band?
Put out a live anthology DVD (best of the past 10 years), play Red Square (like McCartney),
keep on rockin’ in the free world!
Okay, last question… Do you have anything you’d especially like to say to
all the fans?
Don’t forget to keep sending in those fanzine submissions!
Wondering how YOU can become a future Fan of the Month? It's very easy!
Just write to: redelvisesfotm@yahoo.com
to nominate yourself or a friend.
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