Natasha Shneider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Natasha Shneider
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Shneider performing with Queens of the Stone Age, 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Natalia Mikhailovna Schneiderman |
| Also known as | Natasha Kapustin |
| Born | May 22, 1956 Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union (now Latvia) |
| Died | July 2, 2008 (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, alternative rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, singer, musician, actress |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, piano, bass |
| Years active | early 1970s–2008 |
| Associated acts | Eleven, Alain Johannes, Chris Cornell, Queens of the Stone Age, Black Russian |
Natasha Shneider (born Natalia Mikhailovna Schneiderman; May 22, 1956 – July 2, 2008) was a talented musician and actress. She was born in Latvia, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time. Later, she became an American citizen.
Natasha was best known as the keyboard player and singer for the band Eleven. She played alongside her music partner, Alain Johannes. Natasha also worked with famous artists like Chris Cornell and Queens of the Stone Age. She toured with Chris Cornell in 1999 and with Queens of the Stone Age in 2005. Natasha Shneider sadly passed away from cancer in 2008.
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Natasha's Early Life and Music Career
Natalia Mikhailovna Schneiderman was born in Riga, Latvia. Her family was Jewish, and both of her parents were musicians. Natasha showed a gift for music from a very young age.
In the early 1970s, Natasha joined a pop orchestra called 'Sovremennik'. She sang and played the piano in this group. Her first husband, Serge Kapustin, played guitar and percussion with her. Her brother, Vladimir Shneider, was also a musician. He produced music and played piano for 'Singing Hearts', a popular Russian band.
The Soviet government controlled the music very strictly. Vladimir Shneider once said they had to sing many songs praising the Communist Party. Only then could they sometimes play a softer song. Rock music was not allowed.
Moving to the West and Black Russian
In May 1976, Natasha, her brother, and Serge Kapustin moved to the West. They arrived in New York City without much money or connections. Natasha and Serge's son, Robin, was born soon after they arrived. They worked day jobs and played music gigs in the evenings.
In 1978, they moved to Hollywood. There, they met Guy Costa, who worked for Motown Records. He introduced them to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown. As a result, they signed with Motown, becoming one of the first Russian bands on a major record label.
In June 1980, their new band, Black Russian, released an album. It featured R&B-style pop music. The album received good reviews from Billboard magazine. However, it was not a big commercial success, and the band Black Russian did not continue. After this, Natasha Shneider and Serge Kapustin divorced.
Forming the Band Eleven
In 1987, Natasha married her second husband, Alain Johannes. They released an album together called Walk the Moon. In 1990, they formed a new band called Eleven with drummer Jack Irons. Their first album, Awake in a Dream, came out in 1991.
Eleven released four more albums over the next two decades. Jack Irons left the band for a while in 1995 to play with Pearl Jam. He later returned for their fifth album, Howling Book, in 2003.
Collaborations with Other Artists
Natasha and Alain also worked with Josh Homme and other musicians on a project called The Desert Sessions. They also helped create the 2002 Queens of the Stone Age album Songs for the Deaf. In 2005, they joined Queens of the Stone Age for their tour supporting the album Lullabies to Paralyze.
They also wrote, performed, and produced music with Chris Cornell for his 1999 solo album, Euphoria Morning. Natasha and Alain then toured as part of Chris Cornell's band. Natasha helped write the song "Someone to Die For" with Chris Cornell and Alain Johannes. This song was featured in the movie Spider-Man 2 (2004). It was performed by Jimmy Gnecco and Brian May.
Natasha's Acting Roles
Besides music, Natasha Shneider also had an acting career. She appeared in two movies. In the 1984 film 2010, she played a Soviet cosmonaut named Irina Yakunina. In the 1986 film Spiker, she played a Polish exchange student named Wanda Yakubovska.
She also had roles in popular TV shows like Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues. Natasha wrote and performed the song "Who's in Control" for the 2004 movie Catwoman.
Natasha's Passing
Natasha Shneider passed away from cancer on July 2, 2008. She is buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Natasha's Musical Legacy
On August 16, 2008, the band Queens of the Stone Age held a special concert. It was a celebration of Natasha Shneider's life. The concert took place at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Many musicians joined them on stage, including Alain Johannes, Jack Black and Kyle Gass from Tenacious D, Matt Cameron, Brody Dalle, Jesse Hughes, Chris Goss, and PJ Harvey. They played songs by Queens of the Stone Age and other artists. The money raised from the concert helped cover the costs of Natasha's illness.
In late 2009, a song Natasha co-wrote with Alain Johannes, "Time for Miracles", was recorded by Adam Lambert. This song was used in the movie 2012. In 2010, another song co-written by Natasha, Alain, and Natalie Imbruglia appeared on Imbruglia's album Come to Life.
Between 2011 and 2016, Chris Cornell often honored Natasha during his solo tours. He would play the song "When I'm Down" from his album Euphoria Morning. Natasha had produced this song and played the original piano part. Chris Cornell would play along with a recording of her piano track.
See also
In Spanish: Natasha Shneider para niños
