Me & my music

Howdy! My name is Big Beat and I'm a musician and journalist living in New York City. I was born in Moscow, USSR, back when there still was a USSR, and I emigrated to America while Comrade Brezhnev was still in power and rock was still a four letter word behind the Iron Curtain.Why "Big Beat"? I came up with that nickname when I needed a handle for e-mail addresses and internet forums. Big Beat is another name for Rock'n'Roll. In 1950's Russia, as in Europe, it was actually the more common name. The music that Americans knew as the British Invasion in the 1960's was known as Beat music in Britain. That's actually the reason John Lennon named his group "The Beatles". Besides, I'm a big guy, so I could deal with a "Big Bopper" kinda nick. Other than music, vintage guitar repair and Russian culture, my interests include silent film, long conversations over tea, teaching cats to jump through hoops and all things kitsch, antique and retro.

As a musician, I play primarily blues, retro-punk and Russian rock. Basically, if you can visualize a link between the music of Jimmy Reed, the Dead Kennedys and Mike Naumenko, that's where I'm coming from. In the early 1990's, I was in a band called The Hazmats, which made some noise in New York City clubs and had quite a following, but unfortunately never recorded. I'm currently promoting other indie bands through the Russian Rock Club of America, doing occasional solo gigs and working on my second album of original Russian language tunes. This will be a studio recording with a full band. My first album is a solo effort, recorded live, and is available exclusively through this site. The album pays homage to my roots, the underground Russian rock scene of the 70's and 80's and the Russian acoustic guitar poetry tradition. Rock on!

- Big Beat

 

Click HERE to go to the GUEST BOOK and leave your comments about junk guitars and JunkGuitars.com.

Click HERE to see the current Russian Rock Club of America concerts and events listings, including my upcoming gigs.

Click HERE to read all about The Hazmats.

Click HERE to buy my CD.

Big Beat Fan Club!
Win a date with Big Beat! Ladies, I'm currently single and available. Send nude photos, marriage proposals, jokes, death threats or just a note to say "hi" to junkguitars@earthlink.net. She who writes the best 100 word essay on the subject of "Why I want to be Big Beat's girlfriend", wins a date with Big Beat himself. Restrictions apply. Limited time offer.

 

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