Just when things looked like they were getting way too serious on live TV, it happened. It usually doesn't take very much to bring out Bobby's Monty Python influenced style of humour, we'll leave it to your imagination to figure out exactly what transpired during the next two shots, suffice to say, the crew nearly wet themselves. Good thing there was a few extra cameramen around that night. Kimberly Carroll our hostess with the most-ess was in fine form herself.

And it just wouldn't be complete without a shot of the Emperor Theremin and his trusty accomplice, Darrell in his Sultan of Sticks get-up. It's almost impossible to see him on the right in amongst the posters, shown below.

And as they neared the witching hour, a good time was had by all.

A funny entry [one of many] from when the guys first entered the station quoted Kimberly apparently shrieked "Why didn't you guys tell me you were still going to be in costume, I would've dressed up too!" But as every good theremin player knows, if you want to calm down an irrate gal, let her play with your theremin, works every time. It has to do with the wooooooOOOOO WWWOOOOooo!

We should point out that an additional entry shows assistance with gear and transport to the TV station was generously given by Brad Beauchemin who originally began the night as a spectator, thanks to Kimberly a most gracious hostess, to Mark Elie for keeping the peace and Patrick Iveniuk for the black and white pics. We have noticed that generally there are tons of stage pics showing the theremin, we're told the problem in getting good action shots occurs when the photographers become mesmerized by the sound and forget to snap away, but we did find some pretty good ones. Many will be included in assorted HISTORY link titles on your upper left so that they will be spread out over this site, please feel free to look for more examples.

An added thanks to Zak from the band Stagmummer. About a year & a half prior, he happened by Bobby's warehouse on a rumour that there existed a guy hidden away in Winnipeg's Exchange District warehouses who knew things theremin. Zak wanted a theremin for his group, Bobby offered to build him an inexpensive novelty version, it ended up a huge hit so when the Winnipeg Film group asked Zak if he would play at the opening, Zak most kindly pointed to Bobby as the most logical appropriately experienced choice for such an historic movie opening depicted in the black and white pics at the top of this page. We also found a tape of a radio interview which included Bobby speaking to the theremin movie producer Steven M. Martin through a C.B.C. radio show out of Vancouver shortly after the movie made it's rounds.

Since then, many musicians and artists have sought out Bobby's expertise in things theremin, it's history, playing techniques and where to purchase various models etc..., including Keri McTighe from the band Nathan who today occassionally uses Bobby's recommended Moog Standard Etherwave, in a folk setting. Even prior to that (circa 2004), the very same entire band frequently happened by Bobby's Osborne Village music shop for expert string instrument maintenance. The Nathan band often played prior to Bobby's group at the annual Canada Day Osborne Village Bell Tower stage, so it didn't take long for the Moog Etherwave Standard and Moog Etherwave Pro model theremins to become a common sight once Bobby began using them at these annual Canada Day shows beginning as far back as 1998, of course as well as his meriad shows commencing in 1979 while touring North America with the Guess Who when he first acquired the Maestro Theremin pictured above, which he later had Bob Moog personally modify to Bobby's specs (please see title - PRESS RADIO TELEVISION in the HISTORY pick link section to your top left, for more info) .

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Below - The same year as the theremin movie opening came the final in a series of benefit concerts for the Museum of Man and Nature's proposed new wing [now fully appreciated], we though it might be alright to include a shot from that video featuring a reformation of one Bobby Bilan Band project. In true Monty Python fashion, the museum who's charge is to record history forgot to tape the show, luckily the boys had a backup plan - who knew? Yep, that's the vintage Moog modded Maestro theremin left of Bobby. Hosting this extravaganza was Bobby's old pals comedy team MacLean & MacLean. Gary MacLean and Bobby were old River Heights neighbours no to mention Bobby's sometimes anonymous appearances on their albums. We have tapes of rehearsals and song writing sessions from those days just off Academy Rd. on Campbell. Guests often included Bill Iveniuk [Wild Rice], Burton Cummings, Donnie McDougall, Don Walsh from Toronto's Down Child Blues Band and anyone who showed up in town.

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Below - Next we've included a press clipping preceeding the performance of celebrated New York composer David Del Tredici's composition for voice and theremin. David was so thrilled to know there was to be a live thereminist, he flew in from N.Y.C., attended all but one reheasal, re wrote portions of Bobby's personal score and off they went to a wildly enthused packed concert hall. The reason there are no pics - seems the concert hall oddly confiscated Bobby's photographer's camera only during show time, so we instead offer the press clipping from a phone interview during the rehearsals.

The end of the above press clipping refers to a radio show at the University of Manitoba UMFM radio station. This was an annual event that began in 1998 when an analogue collector happened into Bobby's guitar shop, [the shop that sadly burned taking the Maestro theremin along with a life's collection]. After much loftly discussion, Bobby pulled out his theremin. The fellow was so impressed he asked Bobby to guest on his university radio show. It ended up from a simple guest spot, to a live performance with an hour's worth of history from Bobby's archives on the subject. Program director Liz Clayton & Bryce Kushnier [the analogue collector], were the hosts. The initial show was such a hit they did the "Annual Theremin Program" for the next eight years. The final show January 2005 brought the annual series to a screeching halt when all 3 broadcast tapes of that 24 hour period were stolen from the station lock-up, what a scandal indeed, only two people had keys. Not a great mystery but how cool, theremin espionage revisited. The show ran an extra 1/2 hour to include Darrell's dad's polka CD release just for fun. By that time it was Bobby's habit not to leave without a braodcast copy, but it was a cold winter, everyone was tired from a months worth of recording, the station's control room equipment was fouled up, so when Bobby arrived the next evening for his copy, the folly was discovered. The first 1998 audio copy was lost in the fire of 1999, the remaining annual audio copies are in the archives along with many control room pics of all the shows. Lots of good laughs there.

Prior to that famed radio theremin series and above mentioned movie opening, it all started locally when a rather glamorous radio/journalist/local celeb/TV hostess Lisa Best, interviewed Bobby at the legendary Red River Bookstore [her choosing and very apt], for a spur of the moment mid afternoon taped interview for an evening broadcast for her then TV station. Archival entries show that Bobby and Lisa clicked on the humour so well, they all met up later for more laughs at the one time infamous popular local media watering hole and comedy club at the Viscount Gort Hotel.

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Above we have Honest Abe @ Canada Day Lyric Theatre at Assiniboine {City} Park 2000. Pic by Darrell's sister Louella

Above - June 2001 Legislative Buildings. "The Nak" Art Show titled "Metanomacies: Beyond an Individual Name." The highly publicized Winnie the Pooh Painting acquisition ceremony was simultaneously held out back. The city paid somewhere around $280K for it at auction [journal notes quote Kale as saying he found out at the Pan-am Games the quiet money behind it like the Salisbury House deal was Izzy Asper - no surprise to locals anyway who reside in Izzypeg Aspertoba] and left the painting out in the scorching sun all afternoon in full southern exposure? LOL - Another Upper Class Twits Award Monty Python moment. After the painting melted dried and cracked [just kidding, but it had a real good start that day], many familiar political faces from the ever popular [and we mean that] Gary Doer on down, wandered back inside out of the blistering sun to hang with the 'cool' bloods, nipping at the punch [get your own guys, and where's your invitation], high brow catered snacks from Nak's pocket and assorted frippery went on behind the huge panels of art while the theremin sounds echoed and swirled through the virgin Dark Star rotunda, dome, corridors and stairwells for the first time in the history of the Legislative Building. So did everybody have a good time - you bet! The first of these two pics above shows the boys performing some of Bobby's compositions of that period for his now lost but very early model Moog Signature Series Etherwave Theremin [tweaked by Bob Moog and sent back to be re-tweaked] and behind Darrell is famed artist Larry Kissick with Big Mel. That would be the same Larry Kissick who once played guitar with Bobby in Fat Rat Blues Band see HISTORY link for the back story. The second of the two pics above shows the unveiling of the completed "DoubleNak" guitar. See LUTHERY and LINKS for more on this incredible doubleneck guitar story. From left to right Robert "The Nak" Pasternak, Bobby Bilan holding his dually resurrected pride and joy, a healthy happy svelt and friendly Jim Kale [how rare is this pic, certainly the company he was keeping in Darrell and Bobby did Jim years of good - then] and Darrell Oystreck who runs 5-6 miles a day. For those partially able to keep up to Darrell's brisk pace, quickly realize the tan is not so much from the sun as it is windburn. He wouldn't have needed the makeup with the Sultan's outfit at the top of this page had the show been shot in the summer. Pics by Danny Galevich

Above - Canada Day 2001 at Osborne Village Street Fest. Bell Tower every year from 1998-2005, Suzanne Mariani and her chorus were special guests one year to do the song "Travellin' " as a birthday surprise to Jim and because Kim "Ziggy" Sigurdson, a long time supporter, hounded for it. It was Bobby's idea to liven up the King's Head Pub w/"Night of the Leos" starting 1999 and have everybody's B.day together, being the first rock band to ever play the King's Head, opened the door for more than just Celtic bands to use the venue. Another year the band did a double header at Bell Tower and The Forks Canada Day while managed by Michelle Harrison. Once again Bobby's redition of "Travellin' " was so well received The Forks Committee decided to resurrect writers and remaining original members of Scrubbaloe Caine to perform a one-off show at Spirit Fest at the Forks grounds. That band included stellar vocalist Henry Small and founder/guitarist Paul Dean. Paul not only founded the local band Streetheart (prior to this), but went on to found the very successful Vancouver based band Loverboy. (see; HISTORY button link subsection DINKBOY for more info. on the above pictured group)

Thanks to Danny Galevich and Cash for pics and while we're at it, thanks to Bob Brookes who hasn't missed a live [local show- he ain't that rich but he's solid] BB performance yet.

Above - First of it's kind live mixed movie soundtrack with live theremin accompaniment to original 35mm reels done at several venues 2002-4, became very popular in European. Bobby has scored many compositions for film, live theatre, performance art, etc... since the early '80s here in Canada and in the late '80s while living in California.

This has got to be another first! Below - (around the same time as the above soundtrack), Bobby held a day long clinic for Theremin and guitar at the New Dale Hutterite Colony. It actually began as a morning clinic for the children and early teens but the kids, teachers and principal Mrs. Marilyn Ross, were so taken by the Theremin that they asked Bobby to stay the afternoon to continue for the young and old adults as well. The letter directly below is one of many heartfelt responses which included a wonderful art book later presented to Bobby in thanks for his most inspiring visit. Pics follow thanks to Principal Ross' daughter Maggie Ross of MRI Imaging. Maggie Ross thereafter became one of several regular photographer at many live performance events so our thanks go out to her, you will find many of Maggie's pics throughout these pages. A journal entry tells of how profoundly taken Bobby was of the humble warm and friendly ways of everyone at the New Dale Colony, a day he "will always remember" and would "visit again in a heartbeat". It's interesting to note the coincidence that the hard working peace loving Hutterite Brethren came to Canada in 1918 to firstly colonize in the province of Manitoba approximately the same time as Prof. Lev Termin developed his "device" later named the theremin.

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The New Dale colony children collectively wrote very touching letters and did artistic renderings of this clinic - for them a profound life altering experience, all put in a very nice binder which Mrs. Ross later presented to Bobby who in repeated journal entries cherishes re-reading it to this day. Particularly amusing are the many references the children made to the now renamed "two necked guitar"!

The above letter refers to a song titled "No More Tears" a yet to be released composition penned by Bobby and old Northend friend Dennis Weiss.

Bobby may be world renown for playing the Star Spangled Banner live on the theremin for the big stage, he also has to date a very impressive catalogue of approx 36 different non-guitar sounds he mystifyingly produces on the guitar that range from car horns, various police or ambulance sirens (that would include European as well as North American versions and both old types and modern types), WWII air rade sirens, fog horns, steam engine trains including whistles and complete with the doppler effect, chickens, ducks, cows, gobbling turkeys, apes, horses whinnying/neighing or stampeding, ricocheting bullets, elephants charging, whales, even the chilling sound of a circling mosquito. We further found suitcases full of old reel to reel tapes, 2 inch masters, 1 inch masters, 1/4 inch pancakes and another case with 4 track cassette tapes with these sound effects scattered throughout, one that had a hilarious comedy parody of the Capt. Kirk/Spock/Scotty original Star Trek series complete with all those silly background sounds when the crew was on the bridge of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, yes all done on the guitar. The contents of many of these recordings are experimental and definitely far ahead of their time, rehearsals worth hearing, tons of gut wrenchingly funny comedy takes such as a version of the French Folk classic "Alouette, gentille Alouette" guaranteed to make you cry with laughter if you have a well developed adult sense of humour, stunning arrangements of all sorts of classic songs from all time periods/countries and very unusual original compositions that defy description - they simply must be heard. Then there's a clog solo, drum case drum solo, the world's first 'unplugged' live performances from 1985, layers of spine chilling satori voices, tons of music concrete, even an original song solely comprised of 5 minutes of endings. A veritable goldmine of untapped ideas and all un-released to date. Journal entries show that these are only a small part of what was recorded. Apparently when Bobby returned to Canada in the early '90s, he engaged in the daunting task of condensing 7,000 (yes 7 thousand) hours of his yet to be released life's recordings to that point into these remaining suitcases, still estimated at 1,000 thousand hours that he claims needs another going through. Then of course remaining a fan of voraciously recording everything, he has amassed another 15+ years since then of additional recordings likely enough to sustain another throng of groups through their entire careers. You can literally pick a genre, and the song catalogue is waiting there complete with dozens of never before heard sounds for the guitar. Then there's a whole other batch of sounds for instruments with or without strings. And then there's videos. It's staggering to think one person accomplished this AND built more luthier shops than anyone in the history of this country. (see; LUTHERY button link top left of this page). Yes when we say exhausting, we truely mean it. Until 2005, Bobby's average day consisted of going to his music shop until 6PM, going to his studio until whatever time he left, then home to continue other work there, and found time to sleep and do it all over again. A serious lesson in time management and dedication to your craft. Of course going on tour in between was considered a pleasant rest time in comparison. (see; HISTORY button link subcategories EARLY EXPERIMENTS AND RECORDINGS and BOBBY BILAN BANDS and THEE OUTPATIENTS and WORLD FINAL for more info. regarding these recordings)

Below - Next we have a more recent day long Theremin/Guitar clinic held late spring of 2007 at the Millshof Hutterite Colony, the first of it's kind there as well. So for those who may think the Hutterites are somewhat behind the times, think again. The Millshof Colony also boasts of broadcasting internet classes as well as being huge fans of the Theremin, at least in this part of the world, so don't be surprised if the next crop of Theremin virtuosi, Guitar wizards or contemporary composers are from the colonies. Bobby would like to especially thank James Harlton for guitar accompaniment and thanks to principal James Wollman (seen directly below) who spotted Bobby at a festival in St.Claude, Manitoba the previous summer and earnestly recruited him for the Millshof Colony school. Many may know the Millshof colony broadcasts school classes to other colonies from their own station located in this very building.

Below - we have some technical/research notes from the Bilan journals which show that Bobby was in direct communication with Bob Moog concerning his theremins and other inventions, (see PRESS RADIO TELEVISION subsection for newpaper writeups for this), and many notes and references to conversations with Clara Rockmore concerning mom B's childhood history with her and of course conversations pertaining directly to the theremin. At one point Bobby had contemplated moving to New York City to study with Clara.

(also see; HISTORY button link subsection PRESS RADIO TELEVISION for many more related items of interest pertaining to this page)

FirstFi