1975
[As part of a documentary series, YWM was asked to interview El Hopper from the band 11. Ordinarily we only interview young women and let their boyfriends watch behind camera, but Miss Hopper was insistent. Her exact words were, "No Mike, no interview." She was very cordial and polite, but very insistent. When I saw the way they looked at each other, my heart was squeezed a bit and we made an exception. We have waited a long time to interview Miss Hopper and did not want to pass on this opportunity. We also agreed not to use makeup on their scars. It's hard to see Mike Wheeler's as he has long shaggy hair, but it's there. They wear them as badges of honour. Miss Hopper assured us that we could ask her anything. We were quite surprised at not only how outspoken she was but how very well spoken she was. This interview was a treat for us.]
YWM: First, thank you for doing the interview Miss Hopper.
EH: [holds up her hand] El, please, this is Mike, my soulmate.
YWM: Soulmate?
EH: I know it sounds trite, but boyfriend sounds juvenile. We are NOT kids anymore. We've been through too much.
YWM: As we previously agreed, we aren't going to ask you a thing about music, so how are you feeling?
EH: We feel great! Putting 11 into hiatus allowed our band mates to spend time with family or on personal projects. It allowed Mike and I to have some alone time without being under the microscope. You are the first magazine to actually ask how we are feeling. Thank you.
YWM: Let me just say that even with the scar, you are one of the prettiest young women, I've had the pleasure to interview. You don't wear makeup at all?
EH: Mike says I don't need to, but I wear a bit of eyeliner sometimes when we go out to make my eyes a bit more noticeable. I try to keep makeup free, but I still take care of my skin. I'm obviously a little bit more conscientious about that now.
YWM: And you have kept the pixie cut, you never considered growing your hair longer to hide the scar?
EH: [She gives me a smile that warms my heart] Mike calls me Pixie. I'm keeping it.
YWM: [I am unable to keep my own smile off my face] What advice would you give to young women who've had a similar experience and were left with a disfiguring scar?
EH: I have been told this countless times by Mike. It is absolutely not how you look on the outside girls, it's how you are on the inside. Be pretty inside. Having said that, I'm lucky. I'm a very lucky girl, Mike found me when I was not a very nice person. But somehow he saw through that and found me. The inside me. Just wait for the right guy, he will come along, don't be fooled by just anybody, a lot of guys will be a******s just to get in your pants. [El immediately puts her hands to her mouth and says.] Oh, sorry, can you cut that out?
YWM: We appreciate your honesty, You feel very strongly about that. It says here that Mike was with you the day your bandages came off. What was his reaction?
EH: He smiled at me, he said 'it's bad, and I'm still here" He also reminded me he had his own scar. That was a humbling moment for me.
YWM: If Mike is your soulmate I assume there are marriage plans in the future?
EH: [Here El becomes very shy at this deliberately awkward question. She gives me a small smile and a quick glance at Mike] He hasn't asked me yet.
YWM: There was some controversy about your being a spokesperson for the organization Ugly Girl which deals with disfigurement in young women. Tell us a bit about that.
EH: They were the only organization that were doing that. I didn't like the name, but I realize that because I'm a high profile person I needed to be involved. I told them, they get a spokesperson if they change the name of the organization.
YWM: and they did?
EH: They did. They asked the band if they could use Pretty Inside and we all agreed it was very appropriate. There is a fine line between being a spokesperson for an organization like that and the poster girl for scarred girls. I do not want to be that. As soon as I feel like I'm being treated like that, the photo sessions stop.
YWM: You also refuse to be photographed or interviewed without Mike. You two are never apart?
EH: [they both look at each other and smile] Never.
YWM: Ok, I'm curious now. Isn't all this going to be awkward talking about once you two split up? Young relationships never last long, and young celebrity relationships shorter than that.
EH: [I have been in a lot of bad interviews and felt the ire from young women. It goes with the territory. But the look El gives me is withering, I try to salvage the interview]
YWM: This is a touchy subject for you.
EH: Yes. I don't know how it happens, but it seems to me that every adult has forgotten what it was like to really love someone when they were younger. It makes me think that they have never felt that way, and that makes me feel sorry very sorry for them.
YWM: I apologize.
EH: There are two guys in my life that I love beyond words. The first is my dad. [El is visibly tearing up when she says that] and the second is Mike. The scar is bad, I won't marginalize that. It's definitely not the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But this [she holds up the hand that is holding Mike Wheeler's] This. Is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
- Young Women Magazine
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"Ok that's the last interview I do for awhile." El said as they walked out of the TV studio.
"The questions weren't that hard. And you were very eloquent Pixie."
"I want to spend alone time with my Paladin. Let's disappear for awhile."
"You don't want to get the rest of the band together and work on another album during the downtime?"
"I do not. Last time was a bit of a disaster."
"Despite the critics the album sold fairly well. Most bands would give their left finger to sell that many albums."
"It was ambitious but it wasn't 11 was it?"
Mike looked down.
"I'm not blaming you Mike."
"It's ok El. I'm over it. Progressive rock fans are really going to like the album if they get to hear it. Your fans, probably not."
El smirked, "probably not. I'm still not working on a new album right now. I have no idea what I want to do."
Once they'd gotten to the cabin Mike said, "I want to play you a song."
He picked up a six string acoustic and played El, Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life) in the style of Terry Jacks.
"I liked Seasons in the Sun better." El said.
"Yes, but listen to the lyrics, El. For us that's the most important part of the song." Mike continued.
"Do you think that's the problem?"
"Music is changing El. You can stomp your feet and protest that newer songs are crap, but you can't stop what people like. Try and put out a protest or anti-war song right now. It won't get any traction at all. Dance music seems to be big at those discotheque places. Not my thing, but even groups like Deep Purple tried to put out slightly funkier stuff. Burn was ok but Stormbringer, not my favourite. And their latest Come Taste the Band. Geez, what a piece of shit that is. Uh sorry El."
El smiled at Mike, he was always embarrassed to swear in front of her.
"So we do something still pop, but funkier?"
Mike held up his hands. "I don't want to get involved."
El laughed and came over took the guitar from him and sat on his lap. She put her arms around him and kissed him. "This time around it's Max, Dustin and my decisions. Mike Wheeler shall not be involved. You're off the hook."
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They got out of the car and walked for a few minutes in the woods.
"What are we doing all the way out here El?" Mike tried to sound like he was whining. The truth was he'd follow El till they both fell of the edge of the earth. The duffel bag he was carrying wasn't heavy enough to drag him down.
"Perseids meteor shower. The peak is tonight." El said.
"When did you become an astronomer?"
"Sara was into space." El said quietly. Mike nodded.
"Ok, here."
"Here. Um, you know what's right over there right?" Mike pointed to the Hawkins lab.
"I know Mike. You'll find it ironic."
Mike had no idea what she was talking about. He pulled the contents out of the duffel bag.
"Sleeping bag?"
"We are going to watch the meteor shower, while being warm. I had this one specially made. Let's get in, doesn't start for a bit yet."
El was snuggled up to Mike.
"Mike?"
"Yes Pixie?"
"All I'm wearing is this skirt, this sweater, and this smile."
Mike was silent while he processed what El had just said.
"Oh!"