Nikki Corvette’s obsession with music began in the middle 1980s in Detroit. There she was born, and there she spent a childhood and her younger years.
The first Nikki and the Corvettes' album, which was simply named 'Nikki and the Corvettes' (1980), has inspired many girls for creation of new girls bands.
Perhaps for that many rock journalists in the West have named and they name Nicky as the Power-pop princess.
Today we want to introduce all our readers with real queen Nikki Corvette, which has kindly agreed to answer our questions.
Powerpop.Ru:If you will have a lot of gigs this year, where would you want to play?
Nikki Corvette: We have already played in LA and will play the Wild Weekend Powerpop festival in Austin, Texas with Paul Collins Beat, 20/20, The Boys (UK), Pointed Sticks and many new bands. Probably some other US shows like Detroit, New York and Minneapolis. If I could work it out to make money, I would play everywhere possible. We will probably tour Spain and Italy in the fall and then back to Japan. I would especially love to play a big festival anywhere and tour all over the US then Europe again. I love to tour and see new places so if we can make money or at least break even, I will go anywhere!
Powerpop.Ru:What countries have you visited? Where you have not been yet and which countries you want to visit?
N.C.: The band has played in all over the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Spain, France and 3 tours of Japan. I would most love to play Australia, then the UK and South America. Also China, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Poland and someplace warm and tropical (Hawaii, Jamaica, Tahiti, I don't even know if they have rock shows like us but it would be a great vacation!!!). I want to visit everywhere in the whole world!!!!
Powerpop.Ru:I searched on the internet but unfortunately have not found the information about your visiting Russia. I know you were in Moscow. I wish to ask what year it was? Was it a tourist trip or you had gig in the capital of Russia? What are your impressions about Russia? Have you visited any other cities except Moscow?
N.C.: My visit to Russia was I think 1993. My sister was there studying Russian language and literature for her Masters degree, she speaks fluent Russian and has been to Russia 3 times. My trip was awesome. I got to see so much but only in Moscow. I even went to a small Punk Rock record store and a members only rock'n'roll club Sextonfozd! I saw many famous sites including Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral, Arbat, Gorky's house and Lenin's tomb. I also took a sightseeing trip by myself to the Kremlin, where I got to see the fabulous Faberge eggs. I don't speak any Russian but people were very helpful, I would point to my guidebook and they would point me in the right direction! I did this every few blocks and successfully arrived. I was very excited to go to a Russian McDonald's, I visit them in every country I go to. I also went with my sister to the Russian State University of the Humanities, where she was teaching English to Russian children. Many of her friends were kind enough to invite us into their homes for lunches, teas and dinners of very traditional Russian fare. Many people gave me samples of their families homemade vodka. We also went shopping at a giant outdoor market in the snow because my visit was in December!!!! I saw many statues and parks and famous old houses and the wall of graffitti for a well known Russian musician (I'm sorry I don't remember his name, it was very long time ago). I hope to come back someday and at least go to St Petersburg and visit your country to play music, hopefully in Moscow!
Powerpop.Ru:You have started creative activity in the middle of '70s. In my opinion, it was great time for a rock music. What artists inspired you most?
N.C.: Growing up in Detroit is one of the best music cities in the world! There are so very many influences on my music but The New York Dolls were probably the biggest for me. Not only was David Johansen the perfect model for a lead singer stylewise/attitudewise and his stage persona and showmanship everything I wanted to be, the Dolls had the many of the same musical influences. Beyond that The MC5!!!, The Stooges, The Faces, The ShangriLas, Ramones, Blondie and the whole late 70's/early 80's NY scene as well as Rockabilly (especially Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis), girl groups, Punk Rock, Bubblegum, any dirty guitars and Motown.
Powerpop.Ru:Do you frequently remember the young years? At that time, I think, you had an active musical life. Where were your best gig and the most surprising evening with friends which now recall with pleasure?
N.C.: It was about 1971 or 1972 when I started going to see bands and I was hooked immediately! I saw every concert that came to Detroit for years and met almost everyone, I was a true fan but seeing The NY Dolls for the first times was one of the best shows I ever saw. It was New Years eve 1972/73 at The Michigan Palace and it changed my life. I stood in line all day to get a front row seat and then met the band after the show. I was extremely lucky to have met many, many of my idols and musicians I admired and made enduring friendships. I learned firsthand about the joys and downside of rock'n'roll and had wonderful people take me under their wings, helping and sometimes protecting me. Whether it was playing pratical jokes on Greg Shaw with Stiv Bators or toy shopping with Johnny Ramone or jumping into the van on the spur of the moment to go on tour with the Dolls. The night Rob Tyner and Fred Smith of The MC5 asked to be introduced to me! Having a singalong with Nick Lowe or forming a band with my best friend. Although I may not have the fame and fortune of bands that I actually inspired (like The Go Gos or The Donnas) my life has been truly blessed!
Powerpop.Ru:Almost all people have difficult periods: the collected weariness, disappointment from glut by the earthly blessings. What methods you use for treatment of soul if it occurs?
N.C.: In general, I am a pretty happy person and have been most of my life. I believe if you're not happy with your life then change it, follow your heart, live your dreams and make the most of everything. If I do get depressed, I just let myself be sad for a day or two, eat something sweet and get over it. Life is never perfect, sometimes it sucks but you just keep going and make it better.
Powerpop.Ru: You have grown up in Detroit, live in Los-Angeles. But I know artists get so warm reception not in native city. What city do you have most grateful listeners, the most devoted fans?
N.C.: It has changed over the years. When I started playing in Detroit, the audience was good and when I moved to LA in 1979 (the first time) it was also good. I moved back to Detroit in 1980 and toured the country alot to great response but after my album came out, Detroit was not as friendly. I moved back to LA again in 1983 and it was so-so until I quit playing. Now its good in both places but Detroit has better audiences in general. For me the best place to play in Japan then Scandinavia and Europe.
Powerpop.Ru: What are your most favorite five albums, created on one breath and never bother you?
N.C.: I'm not sure I can really narrow it down to 5 albums that are my all-time favorite but I'll try:
The New York Dolls (1st LP)
The Stooges (Raw Power)
The MC5 (Maybe 1st, maybe Back In The USA)
The Ramones (1st)
Blondie (Eat To The Beat or Parallel Lines)
Powerpop.Ru:Would Nikki Corvette wants to surprise the admirers with new uncommon album in the future? How do you represent it?
N.C.: The album I released in 2006 was like a new beginning for me. It gave me the chance to show that I was still very much the same person but it showed that I had grown, or I hope it showed that. I have been working with a number of different bands and trying to expand myself musically. I recorded a song for the Greg Shaw tribute record that was one of the first girl bands, The Pleasure Seekers from Detroit, Suzi Quatro's band. It was 'What A Way To Die' with Hell On Heels, recorded by Jack Endino. I also wrote and recorded with Onoching, the awesome guitarist/frontman for one of my favorites, the great Japanese Punk band The Jetboys and the songs are 2 of my very faves. I am currently working on a side band with Amy Gore from The Gore Gore Girls and it is very different from either of our bands. Hopefully I will be writing and recording a new album soon with my other current band The Stingrays. I'm not sure what it will sound like but it will sound like me and I think the old fans will like it and new fans will discover us. Probably Powerpop garage girlgroup Bubblegum Punk Rock!!!
Powerpop.Ru:You did not step on stage for long years. What was your life like during that period of time?
N.C.: I was leading a normal life for many years. Although I wasn't performing, my boyfriend of 12 years was engineer/producer so between him and my own friends, I was still surrounded my musicians constantly. I worked as a waitress at a very infamous, historical Los Angeles restaurant called Barneys Beanery. It is the 2nd oldest in LA and over the years it has been a hangout for movie stars, rock stars and everyone else. It kept me right in the middle of everything happening in LA. I still did singing (mostly backups or special guest appearances) on several records and continued working on writing and recording with friends on different projects. I traveled, wrote my book and just lived life. Although I didn't realize until I started to perform again how much I missed being onstage.
Powerpop.Ru:Did your book dedicated to musicians, who have died, has been written at this time? In this occasion I wish to express my admiration to you because you should take to heart the life and destiny of everyone and you should go through this.
Powerpop.Ru: I started working on the book that would eventually be 'Rock and Roll Heaven' as a hobby in the late 80's/early 90's. Many of my friends along with myself were very interested in how different musicians had died and where they were buried. People who wanted to pay their respects to musicians who had inspired them with their music had no real way to find this information so I decided to find out as much as I could. After doing research for several years My friend Ronnie told an agent about my idea and a short time later I had a book deal. It was quite an overwhelming task and it did not turn out the way I had envisioned it but maybe someday I can do another one that is more 'an encyclopedia of rock death' and a map to the stars graves.
Powerpop.Ru:Do you want to tell our readers something that I forget to ask you?
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N.C.: Just thank you for appreciating my music and listening to me ramble on about my thoughts. I truly wish for someday an opportunity to come back to perform in Russia. Thanks to Iggi for giving me a chance to talk to you and maybe it will somehow help me return to meet you all.
Powerpop.Ru:Thanks a lot, Nikki, for kind and substantial answers. The large russian cities are developing powerfully and changing and I think in the nearest years many musicians from different countries can act more often on concert platforms here.
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