By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
September 5, 1989
Many musicians say they learned how to rock ‘n’ roll in their garages. But Sidewinders guitarist Rich Hopkins may be the first to have honed his guitar skills during a three-year stint with the Peace Corps.
“When I got out of college in 1981, I went to Paraguay with the Peace Corps,” said Hopkins, a founding member of the band from Tucson, Ariz. “I’d spend the days working the fields with the natives. And at night, I’d relax by going to listen to the country’s best musicians play.”
The Sidewinders, who opened for Charlie Sexton last spring in Chicago, will return to the Cabaret Metro, 3730 N. Clark, for a show at 10 p.m. tomorrow with Johnny Thunders and the Odd Balls. Tickets for the adults-only show are $10 and available at Ticketmaster outlets (559-1212).
Hopkins, who didn’t start playing the guitar until his senior year at New York’s Ithaca College, said Paraguay’s bands opened their arms to him when they learned he was a novice musician. Being an American helped him gain acceptance, Hopkins said, because the Paraguayans were interested in what a U.S. guitarist had to say and play.
“They were so much more talented than I was, so I was thrilled at having access to them,” he said. “I used to sing with them, too, even though I don’t really sing. And the people there thought that was great. They were used to hearing polka music, which, strangely enough, was a passion down there.
“I learned a lot of Latin American songs that sort of served as my foundation when I started writing my own music. It’s odd that I never really thought about becoming a musician until I was in the Peace Corps, but the whole experience really opened up my eyes.”
Hopkins’ influences show up on the Sidewinders’ debut album. An impressive collection of rocking tunes driven by Hopkins’ fervid guitar and Dave Slutes’ passionate vocals, “Witchdoctor” is destined to become a college hit. And that’s just fine with the band.
In their hometown, the Sidewinders are used to playing for crowds aged 21 and older. So when they toured with heartthrob Sexton, the group was surprised by all the young listeners in the audience.
“It’s a good experience playing for people of all ages,” Hopkins said. “But it was so weird at first, seeing 15-year-old girls standing there, bopping up and down.
“With the release of this album, we’ve gotten a wider range of age groups coming to our shows, even when we’re not opening for other people. We think that’s great, because music should never be categorized into age groups.”
After his stint with the Peace Corps, Hopkins, 31, met drummer Andrea Curtis, who urged him to apply his musical talent and form a group.
“She talked me into going down and jamming with a band,” he said. “I was nervous, but when I played with these other people creating these really great sounds, I found I loved making music.”
Hopkins formed the Sidewinders four years ago with Curtis, who by that time had become his wife. Now divorced, Curtis has left the group. The current lineup includes bassist Mark Perrodin and drummer Diane Padilla.
“When the Sidewinders first formed, we sounded pretty hideous,” Hopkins said, laughing. “At the time, I’m sure we thought we sounded wonderful. Ugh! Now, we’re really tight and know exactly how we want to sound in and out of the recording studio.”
For a fledgling band, this know-how is key. Hopkins said their record company, RCA Records, was ecstatic over their economy-minded studio sessions. The band made “Witchdoctor” for $3,000.
