Red Elvises

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Red Elvises is an indie rock band that started in California in the mid 1990s. The members are all originally from former Soviet states except for the drummer. Oleg Bernov is from Vologda near Moscow, Russia and plays a large red triangular bass balalaika.) Guitarist and lead vocalist Igor Yuzov was born in East Germany and grew up in the Ukraine. Adam Gust, the band's current drummer, is from "sunny" Minnesota. Oleg "Schramm" Gorbunov, originally from Kazakhstan, frequently plays keyboard but beginning in the Summer of 2006 Elena Shemankova from Moscow, the first female to ever play with Red Elvises, toured with the band playing keyboards and was very well received. The band specializes in a danceable, fun mixture of classic rock'n'roll and surf music tunes, many of which (especially the earlier songs) are flavored with traditional Russian melodies. Not a novelty act at all; Red Elvises write and perform (in authentic Russian accents) all original music, some of which contains humorous lyrics and references to subjects dear to the hearts of many Americans: drinking, girls, food and good times. An example from Closet Disco Dancer (from Better Than Sex) reads "Remember 1985/You gave me records by Police/You didn't know that next day/I traded them for new Bee Gees." And as they state themselves: "Strong musical influences include Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla, Chuck Berry, Spice Girls and speeches by Comrade Fidel Castro."

The band's previous lineup consisted of Igor Yuzov on vocals and guitar, Oleg Bernov on the bass balalaika, Zhenya Kolykhanov (who legally changed his last name to "Rock") on lead guitar and Avi Sills on drums. The first drummer was Andrey Baranov, but he left very soon after the band's inception. Before forming Red Elvises, Igor Yuzov and Oleg Bernov were members of a Russian folk band called Limpopo. Since 2003 Red Elvises' touring lineup has been comprised of Bernov and Yuzov with the addition of Gust on drums and either Gorbunov or Shemankova on keyboards. They tour all across America several times a year and usually Russia at least once per year. In the past two years they have also begun touring very successfully throughout Europe. When in Russia and/or Europe, Igor and Oleg, the constant band members who founded Red Elvises, are joined by other musicians, many locally recruited, to form a road band.

Red Elvises composed the sound track for the 1998 film Six-String Samurai and 2003 film Mail Order Bride and appeared briefly in each movie. They also appeared on a 1999 episode of Melrose Place, guested on Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular appeared, along with their colorful touring van, in an episode of the short-lived TV series Fastlane and numerous other television appearances. In July 2005, while on tour in Russia, the band was proud to perform as a part of the Live8 concert in Moscow.

Based in Venice Beach, California, Red Elvises continue to pursue musical, television and film opportunities.

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