Rose Redbirdi Singer/Songwriter
G.L.O.W. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
and P.O.W.W.
Check out photos from my days of wrestling
and some current promos too!
Click on the arrow to view the gallery photos!
Noelle Rose -aka Rose Redbirdi -aka Major Tanya of GLOW
I, Noelle Rose, an aspiring actress and director in the mid 80’s did my best to live a bit of my music fantasy as a singer/songwriter with a garage band. I kept it real and busy as a working a photographer and make-up artist in the movie industry.
When becoming friends with a GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) cast member from the first seasons, Michelle Duze’, we shared a fitness enthusiasm and began working out. As she showed me some wrestling moves, it reminded me of the acrobatics and gymnastics I enjoyed in my youth. Before long, we began sparring just for fun.
The timing was ideal for becoming a part of the David McLane’s spin-off show WOWW –Wild Women of Wrestling. They needed the Soviet Russian to carry on as the current (inherited from the end of GLOW) Crown Champion. So I pulled out my acting chops and developed an authentic Russian character. With accent and back-story in tack, I dropped everything and boarded a plane east and stepped into the new show.
The WOWW/POWW –Powerful Women of Wrestling, promotion toured and only lasted one full season (for me), as Natasha The Russian. The excitement was undeniable and intoxicating. It was a bit dull returning to my life in California.
The director and writer of GLOW saw Natasha at a live event for WOWW. Knowing they (the GLOW producers and writers) planned a storyline for the defection of the current Russian character, Col. Ninotchka, they asked me to join the new seasons of GLOW and carry on the Soviet Super Heel. Major Tanya was soon born and took the role all too seriously -as the intensity of the cold war (this was the mid 80’s) fed the fever. Fans loved to hate her - Da!
When GLOW had wrapped the TV taping and National Tour, only a year later, it was back to Los Angeles and the community of the Film Industry. Surprisingly my acting and commercial modeling pursuits did not welcome the fringe experience of a GLOW wrestler and I struggled to get the kind of parts I used to. Fortunately I had my behind-the-scenes skills to sustain me, and I returned to the artistic pursuit of music as well. Success is fleeting thing and life distracts us from the things we most want to do.
Fast forward to the present, I developed new musical skills with guitar and embraced my new stage name, Rose Redbirdi. I continue pouring all my energy into this life long journey as a singer/songwriter/performer. As Rose Redbirdi, I now gig locally in the South Bay of Los Angeles and look for the right producer to record an EP and Album of my original music.
I keep the memories of GLOW alive and visual -with a collection of photography and thanks to the Internet, social media and all its opportunities for sharing. https://www.facebook.com/GLOWTanya
With the renewed interest and awareness of GLOW (thanks in part to the Netflix series), Noelle/Rose Redbirdi has written an original song “Pretty Pain” and debuted it on YouTube in a video -with an exclusive collection of photos (and some show video) from GLOW.
I enjoy meeting new fans interested in both GLOW history and my music. I am always open to an opportunity to combine both, like at the Comic Com convention. It was so much fun to share my song live and participate in the GLOW panel, answer questions and meet the attending fans.
What did fans of both shows - GLOW and Netflix GLOW want to know about?
Check out the Q & A from an extensive post on Reddit. –click on image or title below-
(This went on for over a week or more, so browse through and see if you have similar questions.)
You can also ask me YOUR question in my contact box … Say Hello
"I'm noticing that a high percentage of the new Netflix GLOW series fans, DO NOT realize this was an actual show in the mid and late 80's. It seems to me that if you are enjoying this series you may enjoy learning about, talking to and following one or more of the original ladies of GLOW! I'd love to find out, so please comment and let's start a conversation. Thanks."
A couple examples here:
AnthropophagousKat •5 yr. ago What was it like to be in GLOW? What part of the Netflix show resembles the real life GLOW? Redbirdi A lot of the Netflix GLOW resembles the feel and oddness of it. The dirty gym/wharehouse; out-of-work young women; variety of personalities and shapes and sizes; no prior wrestling experience. They of course have fictionalized the characters and placed it in the San Fernando Valley. It was directly a part of the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, and that creatates a completely different set of problems and interactions. This is too general a question. 'Cause the experience was filled with surprises.
nefariousclockking •5 yr. ago Do you recall a time you were happy to be recognized by a fan in the streets and a time you were sad to be recognized? Redbirdi Oh this is a fun question. I just did a LOL. You realize I was the Russian Heel? I had a surprising experience on tour in the Deep South. They took their wrestling very serious in the late 80’s. I thought the director was joking when it suggested I stay in the hotel in this town. “There are threats to take out the Russian so she can’t win her match.” (Paraphrased all these years later.) But I had to get out, stretch my legs and found out I really was in danger. A pick-up truck with a group of young men (rednecks?) Blocked the street where I was walking and pulled out their shotguns from the truck bed. They said something to the extent of “you had better not be winin’ any match in our town...” I had the main event match with the American sweethearts in the live GLOW tour. Happier times in Las Vegas, where the regulars had a cheering section and signs for Major Tanya. :)
This original song and LIVE performance video of “Pretty Pain” received the -Song of the Day Award- from Periscope Musicians and Friends group on FaceBook!
Congratulations!!
You are the winner of 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 Song of the Day Award for January 9, 2023 your winning video will be featured and pinned in Periscope for the entire day.
Rose you are an amazing singer, songwriter, and guitarist your original song “Pretty Pain” from your G.L.O.W. wrestling days is awesome. Rose you are very deserving of the song of the day award.
Congrats and thank you for sharing your music with us. -Mike Alford, Administrator