It was 1979, and I happened to be located in Sämstad, which is a very small spot on the map on the west coast of Sweden. It is also a place where my family and several other Estonian families traditionally spend a couple of weeks each summer.

Anyway, I was four years old, and quite liked Elvis. In fact, I'd occasionally sing something Elvis-y; so maybe it wasn't real English, but it sounded close enough for a four-year-old.

A couple of other kids saw the obvious star potential and decided to set up a band, using whatever instruments were available there. So we performed once, in front of an enchanted audience. As I recall, I got nervous and sang the same thing over and over. Oh well. They had already paid the entrance fee.

Actually, the payment is another thing that bugs me. The other band members, who were older than I, took all the money - and I, the star, never got a penny. Nor did I get an öre, which is the Swedish equivalent.

Traumatic experiences like this have shaped me into the bitter person I am today.

Below, you'll find the poster that some gifted individual created to attract attention to this once-in-a-lifetime event. For some reason, he decided to write the first half of the sign is in Swedish, and the second half in Estonian.

Translation of the sign:

           ROCK
               by
   Elvis      Martin Rebas
   Drums      Kristian Männik
   Mandoline  Johan Rebas

   Entrance fee 1 SEK.
   No fee for children under 12.

As a note, the mandoline player (who is also my cousin) now plays in the ska band Stiff Breeze.