The most typical representatives of the Petrograd rockabilly scene are the CADILLACS. In August, 1996 in a squat near the Moscow railway station the quartet with the lineup was gathering: 
Sergey Shornikov - vocal/ acoustic rhythm guitar
Michael Lavit - double bass 
Kirill Poddoobny - a leader - guitar 
Pavel Petrov - drums 
After 4 and a half of months of rehearsals the guys have decided to start performing. And as all of them had tatoos with Cadillacs of various kind, they thought it was a good name. They were not raking their brains about it then. The consequences of this decision thappeared… later.

The first show was done in some technical school of an unclear industry. The whole year CADILLACS played as a quartet, but soon they parted with the drummer, who played rockabilly with BARBULATORS, and later jive in SHOOBY DOOBY. By then a Money Honey saloon, a stronghold of Petrograd rockabilly already had opened (even Moscow can not boast one), and the fresh-baked rockabillies dreamed to be engaged there. But … One of the club officials - who is now not there - said that to play without drums is impossible and sent them to play their "farm club" Fireball, which also is now defunct. The trial period in "Fireballs" went OK - both played and sang well - they began to perform in Money Honey for money. As well as with many rockabilly bands due to the lack of a commercial component, the CADILLACS were shaking with lineup problems. As the leader of an mobile trio Sergey Shornikov told, 13 men went through the band. The bass player Lavit left to play jazz, now playing ska in FROG LEGS. For short time Alex Ryabokon (SWINDLERS) played the guitar, but in 1999 left for Denmark - according to some rumours his occupation is showbiz in Europe, but we shall not repeat what we not sure of.

Now CADILLACS look like this: 
Sergey Shornikov - vocal/ acoustic rhythm guitar
Alexander Loginov - double bass/back vocals
Andrew Androsenko - lead guitar.

Loginov used to play a bass guitar: punk in BRIGADNY PODRYAD, jive in BARRACUDA and psychobilly in ATTRACARS and VERTS. Androsenko is the most musically educated and skilled member of a trio. He's got a music school behind his back plus 18-year's experience of playing the instrument, including rhythm guitar with the local rockabillies BIG LIVERS. And you can hear it at CADILLACS shows. Modelling their sound on such outfits as Elvis (Hillbilly Cat& BLUE MOON BOYS), Buddy Holly (CRICKETS) and HIGH NOON from neorockabillies, Petersburg rockers proved that it is possible to play even without drums. The point is the singer playing 2nd beat on an acoustic guitar substitutes a drum. The double bass slapping the same 2nd beat adds density to the overall sound.

Besides club performances in Petrograd and Moscow, CADILLACS sometimes managed to land more commercial dates, one of which was a corporate party of the tobacco giant Phillip Morris in a governmental summer residence, where the president Putin receives guests. When free this country club on a coast of Small Neva is let to the monsters of big business. Every 30 meters there would standa girl with trays, full of vodka glasses. The CADDIES shared stage that evening with Russian super-duper synth popsters VISITORS FROM THE FUTURE. They remembered free beer automatic devices. A bass player Loginov accepted that evening up to 15 units of lager. Beer positively told and he expressed his profound wish to remain in "this paradise".

What the rockabillies from coast of Neva have recorded? The name CADILLACS could be traced on several compilations. 2 concert recordings "Pick a bail of cotton" and "Feel like rockin'" on "Rockabilly Fever" (Micadox, 1998). "Splendid Seven" (Micadox, 1999) sponsored by the Americans also turned on radio in the States. On it have came out "Vampire boogie" and "Flipsville", and one of the songs spent 2 weeks in a radio chart station playing the compilation. On a more known "Rockabilly Girl" (Auto sound, 2001) came out "Stolen Cadillac boogie" è "Stop the midnight train" (English cover version of a Soviet movie hit "Stop the steam engine"). The musicians made little demoes for Moscow clubs: in 1998 "Rock With Us" and 5 tunes with an accordion in a vein of 30s guitar swing a la Jango Reinhardt. 
At the end of 2000 a trio has recorded 12 songs. The musicians ordered to cut 100 compact discs and a printed sleeve. It's hard to call it an album - just a few dozen admirers in Petrograd. The record is not sold in Russia, however.

Other achievements? In March, 2001 CADILLACS visited England - a festival "Rockabilly Rave" and got good reception: nobody could believe, that it was a band from Russia. The only problem with the organizers was the band name. The festival producer suggested they change CADILLACS for SPOOTNIKS. There was nothing to do, and the guys agreed. (The experts shall remind, that the name sounds too common to the taste of the Englishmen/Americans, and 50 years ago there was a vocal group with the same name in USA, who had a hit single). The details of the trip can be read in the interview with the CADILLACS' leader Sergey Shornikov.

The first Russian rockabilly band to play in England.