(PSINAKIS + SAKIS) / ZIGOULI = END OF CO – OPERATION

Ilias Psinakis was for Sakis Rouvas for 12 years what colonel Tom
Paouel was for Elvis Presley. Meaning the man who had took it upon
himself to become apart from manager, his family and intermediate
between the star and the world. And while their relationship seemed
solid as rock during the past few months the scenario changed.

Ilias Psinakis was the man responsible for the most successful
singer's management for 12 years. He was the one who managed to keep
Sakis "at the top" without tiring his audience. On the other hand
Sakis was an apt pupil who never protested. The rules were the
follows:

1. Never present the girl you sleep with because you will lose your
fans. 2. Let the rumors run wild, no matter how outrageous they are.
3. Don't speak because you might make a fool of yourself. Sakis
obeyed the rules to the letter until two years ago when he decided
that rules are made to be broken and everything has to go with the
flow.

Sakis first rebellion, that causes the first fractions in his
relationship with Psinakis, was his decision to make his first long
term relationship in 2002. And his choice was not random.

Rebecca Wouang is ideal for the part of Sakis first relationship in
the media. She looks cool and doesn't seem to care about Sakis pop –
idol myth and treats him like an ordinary person without hysterics
or fan's adoration. The fact that she isn't part of the Greek elite
is extremely convenient. Rebecca was the last piece of the puzzle,
with an upbringing that doesn't allow pettiness, financially
independent and mostly without being intimidated towards the wave of
publicity that covers every move that Sakis made. Their relationship
that officially started at a dinner party in 2002 in London, that
was organized by Chrisanthi Laimou, with Sakis as a guest of honor
and Rebecca among those who were invited, became official when Sakis
in their joint appearance at the "In Style" (magazine) party.
Psinakis doesn't agree with the whole thing but Sakis insisted. It
was the first time that Sakis didn't follow his instructions.
Something is changing in their relationship.

The next summer, when Sakis was at the Elounda Hotel for the
shooting of the Vodafone commercial, he becomes acquainted with
Katia Zigouli. The first rumors appear, that say that between them
there was a short but very passionate affair, begin to spread. Until
the moment those rumors reach Rebecca's ears. And then "the perfect"
Rebecca loses her composure and starts to claim Sakis not only for
herself but for her image as well. And when you are not thinking
straight you are bound to make the wrong move. According to sources
from Sakis' social circle, at June 2004 Rebecca and the singer go
out to dinner at Boscetto, with Ilia Psinaki and Ilia Kokoto. During
dinner everyone witnessed Rebecca's unreasonable demand to bring a
photographer to take pictures of them. The more Sakis and Ilias try
to explain that such a demand would spoil their evening, the more
insistent she becomes. Rebecca is determined to stop the rumors that
make her to be the "cheated wife" She wants to become the number one
again. And with her attitude she manages to spoil everything and
make Sakis, who up to that point was feeling guilty, very angry. And
Katia comes back to the picture where she remains until today.

Ilias is watching Rebecca's fall and Katia's rise in Sakis life.
Rebecca re – appears but leaves almost immediately after another
mistaken maneuver that was the definite one. The last act between
them will be played when Rebecca, with her lawyer present, gives an
interview at an English castle in London for a monthly Greek
magazine, tells everything about her relationship with Sakis. Ilias
Psinakis is the messenger who tells her that Sakis doesn't even want
to see her again. Katia Zigouli is now the official relationship of
Sakis.


Sakis is growing up.

At the same time Sakis, apart from going public about his personal
relationships, he starts to form new strategies about his career.

He feels he is growing up, while his friends and associates
constantly remind him that with silly pop songs at the age of 33 he
is in danger of becoming a joke, and that his career will end when
the first lines appear at his face. And he feels that he has to do
something. His attitude towards Ilias is changing. He is turning
from the obedient student who always does as he is being told to an
artist with demands from his manager. He wants to change his
repertoire so in his previous album titled "To Hrono Stamatao" (= I
am stopping the time) he is hand picking all of the songs. He is
looking for more rock, more independent and electronic sound and he
succeeds. Ilias Psinakis insists that "Shake it" is among the
selection but Sakis is not listening. The CD is released on December
2003 but doesn't have the expected success. To be exact, nine weeks
after its release it has sold only 8.000 copies, and on the tenth it
is removed from the ifpi charts.

January of 2004, when Sakis turns 33, is particularly gloomy. The
press has started to make fun of his "international career" that
started and ended in France and everything shows that Sakis has lost
the public's interest. But his lucky star and his personal glam
won't let him down. On February from the lowest low he gets to the
highest high with his participation in Eurovision Song Contest. The
endless but effective marketing of Psinakis has the desirable
results. Sakis is no longer o pop star, he becomes a national symbol
who takes it upon himself the represent the Greek people. Everything
else is forgotten and an entire nation falls in love with him. And
he falls in love with Katia. Success exceeds the wildest
expectations and Sakis is back on the game. He is so sure of himself
that he decides to take charge of his career and public image.

He is tired of being a just a pretty face and decides that he can
express himself. Besides, we don't admire stars simply because of
their success but because of their lifestyles. He decides that
his "untouchable / unreachable" look that Ilias has created for him
had to go. He is tired of irrational stories. People who knew him
said that although Ilias Psinakis had trained Sakis to be patient
towards rumors, not to raise his voice and to be disciplined and
calm even when facing the most surreal stories (like the one that
was published in 14th of July 1994, and said that they were marrying
each other in Amsterdam), it's not a rare occasion when Sakis is
vulnerable in comments that aggravate him. So when he presents Katia
Zigouli, he introduces her as "a very OK girl that isn't chasing
publicity or anything". On the other hand Katia doesn't like Sakis
fiends and she prefers them to be alone. And the feelings are
mutual. And that situation has nothing to do with jealousy but with
lack of patience towards her and her eastern philosophies. And to be
precise Katia who is a follower of reiki (?) and other techniques is
often expressing her opinion, in front of Sakis friends and Ilias
Psinakis that he is a carrier of negative energies. Her opinion is
naturally causing a friction in their relationship (who would like
someone who thinks that he brings bad luck?). Nevertheless Katia is
not backing out and insists on her opinion even to people who are
closely connected to Ilias like the director of Sakis' record
company who is still in shock after their meeting.


Hollywood is opening its doors.

In the summer of 2004 Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson are on
vacation in the Aegean as guests of a Greek shipping tycoon. While
they were socializing with the Greek jet set they are introduced to
Sakis Rouvas. Rita who is a second generation Greek and owner of an
independent studio (who discovered Nia Vardalos and released the
greatest block buster in the history of independent
cinematography "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), has showed some interest
that night that lasted until dinner. It will be renewed later, on a
different city. On September 2004 the festival of Venice starts with
the premier of Steven Spielberg's movie "Terminal" and Tom Hanks who
is starring in this movie and his wife Rita Wilson invite her Greek
friends over. They of course mention Sakis again and on November of
2004, just before Sakis appearance in the club FEVER, Sakis
accompanied by Ilias Kokotos, is paying a professional visit to his
friends in L.A. There the discussions begin again and Rita Wilson
and Tom Hanks throw a dinner party with guests such as agents, Nia
Vardalos and the producer David Geffen (he is the guy who in 1995
united Steven Spielberg and David Gadgenberg and created the company
Dreamwork who is one of the most prominent studios). Sakis is
winning over Rita and her friends.

During his twelve days stay Sakis convinces Rita and her powerful
friends that he deserves their attention. A series of dates is
scheduled then, with acting schools and agents and people who have
influential positions in the movies industry. All these dates will
take place after the end of the season in Greece. Rita Wilson opens
doors for Sakis that other people can't even begin to imagine. And
Sakis is ready and willing to prove that he deserves their
attention.


His return to Greece

At the end of September Sakis is preparing for his appearances in
Fever. His triumph in Eurovision apart from his self – confidence
has boosted his case as well. To be exact it has tripled it. And
Sakis needs that money to support himself during his stay in L.A.
that will last over a year. And suddenly Ilias isn't so important.
On the other hand his relationship with Katia is closer than ever
and the only associates of his circle that can influence him are his
secretary, Erofili Gioni and the business man Ilias Kokotos. Ilias
who is the judge of the Greek Pop Idol, the manager of Giorgos
Tsalikis (another well known Greek star and the star of the Greek
version of Saturday Night Fever) and a model of plastic surgery,
manages to remain in the spotlight without Sakis. Things can't be
different. The official "end" of their partnership comes when Ilias
signs a contract with TIM (one of the largest companies that provide
cell phone services) while Sakis has a contract with Vodafone (TIM's
major competitor). What really puts the final nails to the coffin of
their friendship is the announcement of "the end" over the
phone: "Ilia we have to split up because Vodafone won't allow us to
be partners anymore". His request is reasonable, but Ilias can't
cope with the fact that after 12 years of friendship he is learning
Sakis decisions over the phone or through his interviews. And
although they both claim that they remain close on a personal level,
none of their acquaintances stick by that story. Besides the fact
that Ilias stayed at Sakis party for his new album in Hard Rock café
for about half an hour speaks volumes about the way things are
between them. Sakis in a recent interview for the magazine Down Town
said: "I still talk with Ilias. There is nothing amiss. We have many
things in common like joint experiences; friends etc and we have
gone through a lot together both on the professional and on the
private level. He has played a major part in what I am today.
Without him I would have been someone different. I don't know if
that would have been better or worst but it would definitely be
different. We are no longer working together". There is another
twist to the plot that many people are unaware of, Sakis has hired a
new manager. His name is Kiousis and he was involved with organizing
sport's events and happenings but now with Sakis he is expanding his
horizons.


His days in L.A.

Sakis is in L.A. since April 12th. In the mornings he is taking
lessons in acting and singing and in the evenings he is meeting with
managers and producers.

He has a series of appointments that other people can't make even
after a two year stay there and he has to cope. Ilias Kokotos is
with him and they live at a friend's house until they can find
something of their own. He has also created an internet company that
sells T – shirts, photos and other collectible items with his name.
Katia will visit him in Easter as a tourist because her attempts to
get a temporary working licence have failed. But Sakis is not the
kind of person who would allow his personals to get in the way of
his goal that is the expansion of his career. And you must be very
determined to leave a country where you are a star and go someplace
that nobody knows you, a stranger among strangers. Psinakis will be
there after Easter. And the story goes on. But now we'll be watching
from a different level because people's stories don't get to be re –
written. They just move on.



Article on magazine NITRO – May 2005