Red Wave: An American in the Soviet Music Underground

by Joanna Stingray, Madison Stingray

This is an exotic view of a world Americans could not imagine, an insider/outsider perspective on the Leningrad underground music scene, which American Joanna Stingray witnessed, documented through photos, videos, and interviews, and in which she was also a protagonist.
Red Wave presents the power of youth culture to unite people across the world in the quest for freedom and rights. Rock is a universal music of liberation that carries the winds of change.
Red Wave documents the "Golden Age" of Russian rock, which is a critical part of the history of art triumphing over repressive state control in the 1980s. In the first part of the book, the author tells of her adventures relating to the conception, realization, and consequences of the historic split double album "Red 4 Underground Bands from the USSR," which she produced with the Big Time label in Los Angeles after smuggling the "unofficial" music out of the country in nine successive trips over 1985-1986. The album and scandal it provoked spurred the process of rock music's recognition and legitimization in the USSR, expanded the boundaries of glasnost and heralded the downfall of communism. The book is an easy, captivating and fascinating read; a page-turner full of seamless dialog, filmic scenes, and powerful imagery that reveals a neophyte's curious, passionate, inquisitive glance into a hitherto unknown magic world. Stingray writes in a genuine way about being star-struck, about falling in love (with the lead guitarist of the band Kino), about the amazing cast of characters with whom she spent her life in Russia, and about her own development as a musician. Coauthor and daughter Madison Stingray, a songwriter and musician in her own right, captures her mother's admirable and enthralling adventures and conveys them in a language that is accessible but full of genuine passion and genuine poetry. Joanna's archive has dozens of interviews with musicians, artists, producers, journalists -- all leading figures in the underground movement -- and the authors have used these to round out Joanna's recollections and give authentic voice to the characters in the book. The second part of the book details how the Red Wave album not only revealed Russian rock to the world, but how it was a powerful catalyst for rock's evolution within Russia as a flood of black market dubs made their way around the country after the album's release, launching the four bands to instant stardom, and complicating Joanna's life, her marriage, her friendships, but also boosting her own career and notoriety. Enlightening observations are made about attitudes toward money, work, and art in Soviet society as well as how Russia's transition in the 1990s to a capitalist system forever changed a society long insulated from money's corrupting influence. Through the profound, exhaustive, thoughtful answers of musicians to Joanna's simplest questions comes an elaboration of deeply hidden truths about Soviet life, not only about music. Cultivating her power among the male rockers, Stingray accumulates a fan base of young women and becomes an important female role model, launching her public career in Russia by standing up for the environment and working with Greenpeace. A funny episode is how she becomes famous overnight for her humorous anti-littering campaign/music video. The book is full of inspiration for young rebels but is moderated by Stingray's after many of her closest companions die from substances, suicide, a tragic accident (Victor Tsoi), and AIDS, she realizes she carries their mantle in her memories and extensive archives, and it is for their legacy that she must write the book. It's a real rock 'n' roll ride, full of joy, but underscored by the depth of true sorrow. Included are Joanna's archival correspondence with major labels and David Bowie's management about the release of the Red Wave album; FBI reports; her letters to Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan; and the USSR Copyright Agency Memorandum that settles the copyright infringement dispute around Red Wave, its own fascinating chapter in the book. Legendary personalities like David Bowie and Andy Warhol make their appearance along with Russian stars who figure importantly today, like Boris Grebenshchikov, Victor Tsoi, and Sergei Kuryokhin. Boris, known as 'the Russian Bob Dylan' for his poetic, brooding lyrics, is set to begin touring again as he has just gotten his UK visa. The book includes notes and commentaries. Many names, toponyms, and facts from both Soviet and American realities of the 1980s are unknown to contemporary readers, and their knowledge is crucial for understanding the book's historic context. There was a lot of press coverage about the Red Wave album in 1986, and just recently, about the release of Joanna's book in Russia. She has also been interviewed on the BBC, RT, and for several films and smaller internet media sites. Here are three highlights; her website has more. June 1...

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Research, Russia

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2020

Reviews

[Jim Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story of the rock scene in Russia in the 1980's and one American woman who was determined to expose their music to the world. Eventually these "underground" bands became mainstream Russian rock groups of the 1990's after the fall of Communism. The story would have been better told by a professional writer instead of as an autobiography (too much "Look what I did!), but otherwise worth a read.

[Sharondblk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joanna manages to make what should be an interesting story so very dull. She says near the end of the book "like most things that had happened in my life this far, the opportunity fell in my lap". Things just happening to Joanna does not an interesting story make. Other than that it's endless descriptions of concerts and music videos, her parents paying for things and Joanna making everything about her, including the death of one of her friends. She does not give the reader any reason to like her, or to feel anything at all about her. It would have been nice to understand why Judy, her sister, was also constantly travelling to Russia. While Joanna talks endlessly about feeling at home in Russia, and Russia being her motherland, she doesn't really bother to learn much Russian - even when she marries a Russian man who doesn't speak English. That section of the book really dragged, I think it was meant to read like a great love story, but it felt like maybe they had one thing in common (if you know what I mean...)
Joanna appears as a self-centred American (so very American) nepo baby, romanticising communist Russia, constantly describing it as her "wonderland" while trying to save them through rock music.

I was given an audio copy in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. The narrator was very good, so that's something.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

really interesting story but it fell flat for me. another review said that it was too much of “look what i did” and i agree with that. joanna stingray & her story are amazing but this book lacked tension and was filled with details that bogged it down and quickly skipped over anecdotes that deserved more depth

[Alex Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna is my hero. I can’t stop researching, listening and watching all things she did for Russian music. I couldn’t recommend this book enough. It’s fun, it’s edgy, it gives brilliant insight into Russian and American relations in the 80s and you just fall completely in love with the people.

[Nikoletta Massie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this, because like Joanna, I too was mesmerized and curious about her amazing group of friends, namely Viktor Tsoi and Boris Grebenshchikov. Not only was this very informative, but I really was sucked into her "Wonderland". It was magical, funny, beautiful, and sometimes painful, but an incredible tribute to all of the wonderful artists. Joanna and Madison: you are the coolest ladies ever, thank you so much for this.

[Benjamin Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's easy to see why the FBI might have suspected Joanna Stingray was a Russian spy. Her memoirs read like a Cold War espionage thriller: clandestine meetings, tapped phone lines, interrogations, smuggled tapes, and shadowy KGB agents hiding around every corner. That said, her story features way more screaming Stratocasters than your average John le Carré novel. Our main focus is a vibrant cast of eccentric Russian musicians and artists operating under the radar of the Soviet Union - a hidden world of rebellious creative expression in which our protagonist finds herself utterly enraptured. When she realises the underground treasure trove of culture she's stumbled upon, it becomes Joanna's mission to bring this music to the West and unite the world in rock and roll.

Red Wave is a beautifully written account of Russian rock history, as well as a fascinating revelation of Cold War politics through the eyes of a twenty-something valley girl who saw it all. It's also a deeply personal story, filled with highs, lows, and very-very lows. But in the end I was left with a new Youtube playlist of Kino, Stingray, and Aquarium that I'd cobbled together as I read it - and I feel like that was the whole point.

But yeah, if I'd been the FBI agent assigned to her case, I would've totally thought she was a spy.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you care at all for music, diplomacy, history and creativity - it would be saddening to miss out on this autobiographical journey of a well to do American girl who does anything but fit the profile of the image that may already be developing in your mind. Rather than putz around shopping in LA, Joanna Stingray takes a stab at smuggling underground Russian music to the US on several occasions and basically acting as a conduit for the spread of a variety of music regardless of the law in an act to expose Russian life and engage both countries. I’m still in awe of this woman since finishing, but moreso regretful that I never once heard of her until now. She is a music pioneer and her own music and creativity in making music videos still stands today. I spent the majority of this book looking up songs and videos and photos and news of her. She paints a vibrant cast of characters that greatly impacted her life and we hear some familiar names like Molly Ringwald, David Bowie and MTV along the way. Make sure you get to know the most important name in this novel, though, Joanna Stingray.

[Trey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not for everyone... but if you’re into the Soviet-era rock scene in Leningrad circa 1984, you’ll delight in Joanna’s tale of going behind the Iron Curtain to discover the underground rock and roll scene bubbling up between the cracks of a fracturing Soviet system.

Little did any of them know but they were contributing to the fall of the USSR... and Joanna had a front row seat for the rollercoaster.

Throughout, I sensed a disconnect in how the story was being told... like sensing the fingerprint of a ghost writer. That mystery comes clear in the end and forgives some of the clunkier bits. What this book lacks in sheer artistry it more than makes up in authenticity and a clear, deep love for the Russian people you meet along the way.

I laughed. I cried. I am not ashamed.

[Tina Machado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Stingray is an awesome person who has lived an amazing and absolutely fascinating life.

Though, her book was too long and took me a really really long time to get through. She described underground Russian rock concerts in SO much detail (and there were many of them). This book would have 5 stars if it was a bit shorter and more of a memoir of the MOST important moments rather than sooo many memories with so many people. Was confusing for a while because lots of people had the same first name. Also in general it bothered me that Joanna took so long to learn Russian when she was there all the time and marrying someone who only spoke Russian …

[Mark K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the history of rock music in USSR and Russia would get a properly researched write up, it would be fascinating. This book provides a glimpse into it, but it is first and foremost a memoir by someone who was there. The focus is on Joanna's experience much more than on the broader history and in my opinion gives her too much attention and credit. But again, this is her memoir and she is fully within her rights to do that.
Also it should be noted this is co-written with her daughter, so the writing quality is not at a very high level. Anyway, it is still a fascinating worthwhile read.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting time in history and interesting story. However, the protagonist is the Beverly Hills Brat who seems to coast on nepotism, the work of others, and has gotten extraordinarily lucky working as a middleman for true artists. I get the feeling a lot was left out of this story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

some minor quibbles wrt the writing style but the content is EVERYTHING

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joanna Stingray's story is very interesting and unique. It's a fascinating window into the Russian Rock and Roll origins. My interest in her story faded as it got to more current events, but her story is certainly worth a look.