"Leonid and Friends" Interview with Tom Caminiti, The Tall Italian! 

Leo is so charming, my favorite maestro.

Love you guys, please come to Orlando Florida

They are all terrific...their talent, their music and their genuine-ness and fun personalities. More music...less war, world.

Did I mention I love this band!❤

By far this has been the best interview I've seen with Leonid and Roman. Great job, Tom! Leonid & Friends is a very talented and special band. One of best concerts I've been to . . extremely talented musicians and all-around good people.

Great interview … I have to see you live when you come to USA-Midwest (I’m in Colorado) … much respect to every member of your band, and listening to Ksenia makes my heart skip a beat.

Their recent cover of EWF’s Fantasy was phenomenal. Epic performance. ❤

Father and Son....such a great team together! Thank you for bringing the music of Chicago and other bands to us with your fabulous musicians. We love you all so much and the joy you all bring to us through your music.

Saw them last night in Charleston. They are superb!!

These guys are magnificent, real class and I cannot stop watching them. Detente par excellence better than the false smiles between politicians , they bring ordinary people together remember "The Russians are Coming" 😂

Heaven on earth = Listening to Leonid and Friends and looking at Ksenia.

Chicago borned and raised, I cannot wait to see you in September in Desplaines. I am not even sure how I found you all, but so glad I did. Looks like I will be close to the stage too! This is like a dream come true.

I first saw this band in 2019 when they did Beginnings. I must have played it 100X. I can honestly say these guys are my favourite band. Amazing talent

Incredible musiciens with very good faces. ❤🎹🎷🎸♥️

As a musician, I LOVE playing with older musicians, and I have since I was in my 20s. The older pros know what they like, they know how to deliver the emotional impact of a song, and they wouldn't be playing at that age if they didn't LOVE it. They have the experience and the passion. It's second nature to them. Leonid & Friends are only a surprise to audiences because US record labels and producers never sign artists who aren't in their 20s. It's a shame really, because the real pros are in their prime when they're a lot older. Leonid & Friends goes one step further though by having musicians of all ages. (I miss Sergey on guitar and vox!) It's something the American music industry has never seen before, and as usual, they don't know what to do, so they stand by and watch while L & F do everything on their own, and they do it better than they would if they had a major US label calling the shots. It's always nice to see that talent still counts for something.

Wonderful to hear you both and to hear you give some background to your lives and stories about the band. Since discovering your music, I am so uplifted, it is wonderful. I have sent for all your CDs so I can listen to you anytime guys. Keep doing what you are doing, we love you all. 😍

My wife and I saw them last night in Southern CA. Our second time seeing them. Leonid & Friends brings more energy , enthusiasm, spirit and talent than most bands we’ve grown up with! It’s so heartwarming to see Leonid living out his musical dreams!! And thanks Tom for mentioning Lighthouses tune One Fine Morning. OMGosh, this band nailed that song last night. Can’t wait to see them a third time down the road!!!

Roman you always do so well at interviews, you are so proud of Ksenia. Enjoy Tour 2023

Had the chance to see them in Feb. of 2020 for FREE at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Was unable to get there and the next month Covid became official and SO many places were getting shut down. SO glad they weathered the storm and are back with a passion.

Excellent interview, Tom. You asked all the questions that I had for them myself and wanted to know! Thank you!

Wow. What a great interview. I love it when an interviewer asks great questions, then gets out of the way for the answer. First time hearing you, Tom. Over the past four or five years, I've devoured everything that's crossed my path related to this band, but still you elicited some great responses from Leonid and Roman. And what great genuine guys they are. I'm really impressed by Roman's fluency in the language and how warmly he (and Leonid) come across. Thanks for this.

Fantastic interview by a seasoned veteran. Tom has a subtle way of targeting his questions in a way that allows the artist to respond in a genuine and authentic way. This particular interview with Leonid and Friends was fantastic. I was blown away by the energy and talent of these artists. It's refreshing to know that real and true talent still exists. Thanks Tom for bringing Leonid and Friends into my home... screen!

Great band, followed them from the beginning. A great interview, these guys work so hard.

Saw them last night Chicago on steroids'!

I remember hearing that during the Soviet era, many musicians had difficulty getting electric guitars so they built their own. They would take the mouthpiece from public telephones to use as a pickup for the guitar. Great story. Great band! I've been following them for a couple years now and I hope to see them in concert someday.

TYVM for posting this interview. Some great insights. It also evokes fond memories of the relationship I had with my dad, musical and otherwise. My father was a Double Bass player since he was a teen taking music classes in Miami Beach. He helped to support his family during the great depression by playing in a jazz band that traveled the southern states. When i was 15 he was the manager of the high school rock and roll band that i played electric bass in, and he even drove us to all of our gigs because we were too young to drive. 😊 later in life, we worked together on the road in the family business, like Leonid and Roman are doing now. Whenever I see Leonid and Roman collaborating, especially live in concert, it not only takes me back to the music of my youth, but my deep connection with my father, and what that means. They are not only father and son; they are partners and best of friends. It’s just another great level of enjoyment I get from being a fan and following the band. The old memories and the new. My father would have appreciated the musicianship and the level of dedication, but most importantly, the swing of it and always being in the pocket. I think for so many of the older fans, the band transports us to a time when we were young and free, and the music was the soundtrack to our lives. That connection is always a good one when you hear it. ☮❤🙏

Father and son are glowing w/ love for music, and perhaps for human potential in general. Can't fake that, though there are currently many who try.

Wonderful interview! This band is fantastic and I play their music all the time. It’s great to hear a high quality, precision band in this day and time.

Excellent interview, MOST excellent band!! Thanks

Loved the interview. We have been following the band for about 2 1/2 years. Never thought we would get to see them in person. We were fortunate enough to see them when they performed in The Villages.

Saw them last year in Altoona Pa. Great show 28:09

Great to learn like that the background of these talented and accomplished musicians ! Thanks a lot for this amazing and beautiful interview !!!

Hi Tom , We might be related since my name is John Caminiti . This band is great do some more Tower Of Power

great interview …. Awesome

I’d love to hear you guys cover Ambrosia, England Dan & JFC. Also Steely Dan “Babylon Sisters.”

Awesome interview Tom! I first heard of them about 5 years ago in comments posted on Chicago's RU-vid videos. Didn't pay any attention to the comments for a long time, but finally decided to check them out. And boy, am I glad I did! Saw them live last year, and can't wait until they hit the west coast again this fall. What a story they are!

Saw them at the Villages In Florida very recently. One of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. Sold out shows and oh, what a wonderful experience!!

French Fries! Who would have thought.. 😊

aka "Mad Dad" You will find it very hard to find a better cover band than Leonid & Friends. They do an outstanding job on every tune they perform.

Very much enjoyed lead vocals of Serge Tiagnyriadno. Can you give an update on his participation?

Tom, was there any desire to ask about Serg. Was that topic off limits?

Men retire at 60 and women at 55 in Russia

I know Leonid said this was a 60th birthday gift, but what year was that since we didn't hear his current age during this interview?

Only 130 likes? Only 3K views?

Leony?

Nice interview except he's got the guy's first name wrong. There's a pronounced "d" at the end.

Are you calling him Leoni ??

Why not ask about Serge - their bandmate/vocalist still living in Kyiv? I'm not sure how you can interview a Russian band without discussing the status of one of their bandmates - who has openly stated that he's a bit resentful that Leonid and Friends tours the world with nearly no accountability for the actions of their native country. Music is surely a salve to temper the wounds of the fractures we otherwise impose. But one of their bandmates lives under threat of the Russian invasion. That shouldn't go unrecognized.

Tom it sounds like your Daughter doesn't understand her talent yet. Sometimes its necessary that she spends time chasing other arts in order to combine them with her musical talents. Some young minds need more input.

Why did you call Leonid, “Leoni”? You sounded like you couldn’t read as his name ends in the letter “D”. I met him and had a long discussion at their meet and greet after a show, and his name is not Leoni. Didn’t you do any research before your interview?

The best band. It feels like you’re hanging out with good friends. They have beautiful energy. Leonid & Friends love their fans by playing their best, which is incomparable! Tom and I feel like we’re with people we’ve known for years. They’re wonderful in all ways. Leonid, you learned the English language amazingly fast! A consummate pro in so many ways!🩵