Modern Russian rock bands list. The best rock bands in Russia: list, names. Reasons for choosing "Big City"
In the new Internet reality of battles, rappers, shows on how to marry a star, and endless stories; it's hard to find music where the meaning outweighs the "trendy sound". Songs that you memorize by heart - so words dig into the heart - you find more and more often in the bygone romance of the 80s, 90s, 2000s. We present a selection of Russian rock legends according to the version.
Even if you have never been fond of Russian rock, have not gone to the Invasion, or are so young that you did not find a disc player, you still heard or watched the films "Brother" and "Brother-2". Here it is - a cult soundtrack, songs of struggle, love, pain and a new world.
And this is the whole point of Russian rock - it is in words, not in music. If American rock bands have been sold in millions of copies around the world for almost 70 years, then Russian rock originated as underground in the apartment houses of the 80s. If you want to understand the feeling of "Change!", watch the films "The Needle" and "Assa". The desire to get out from behind the Iron Curtain, to become free, to find oneself, moved the young guys when they created a new musical language. Guitar music has become the main mediator of the generation - you can shout it under the guitar, and now - and under the video on YouTube.
CINEMA
"Tsoi is alive". The phrase will soon be 30 years old, and posthumous concerts with songs by Viktor Tsoi are still held every year. The man is a legend, the group is a symbol, the songs scattered into quotes. From unknown Leningrad boys, the group turned into a cult of worship, they were compared with the "new romantics" of British pop rock. Download any album - from the teenage and awkward "45" to the posthumous "Black Album" - and listen with your heart.
AQUARIUM
"Aquarium" and the permanent Boris Grebenshchikov are even ancient "Cinema". Grebenshchikov is often compared with classical poets, his songs are filled with mantras, and the “Golden City” was even recently mentioned in an interview with Yuri Dudya.
ALICE
Alisa, led by Konstantin Kinchev, is called the most influential group of Russian rock. During their existence since the early 80s, they seem to have played all directions, from rock and roll and punk rock to heavy and folk metal, and in recent years the soloist has led the group's sound to Christian rock. And you must have heard the E95 Highway.
AGATHA CHRISTIE
Do you want to get into a gothic romance where there is a bit of a horror story, a bit of a dark fairy tale, a romantic ballad and even a tantrum? Agatha Christie, which appeared in the late 80s, is perhaps the most suitable of all. The leaders of the group, brothers Vadim and Gleb Samoilov, directed the sound from symphonic, almost operetta to rhythmic electronic. The album "Opium" is considered a classic and a model of their work. Tightens like a web.
KING AND THE CLOWN
If “Agatha Christie” is still theatricality, then for the most real tavern tales, you should go to “The King and the Jester”. The two brothers Gorshok and Knyaz called their style "fables". Mikhail Gorshenev, who tragically died in 2013, was the leader of a group that lost its meaning without him. But the songs remained, so "make yourself at home, traveler."
DDT
The founder and the only permanent member of the group, Yuri Shevchuk, is the author of almost all hits. Confess, sing along "What is autumn?".
NAUTILUS POMPLIUS
Butusov's almost lulling vocals are 90% of the soundtrack to the film "Brother". By the way, Butusov himself played the role of a cameo in the episode at the apartment house, when Danila went to work. Butusov is his idol, Danila is trying to get his new discs. The group performs the song "The Beast" with a dedication to the deceased Sergei Bodrov, who, in a sense, in the minds of the generation became Tsoi's double, because it was he who hosted the TV program "The Last Hero".
PICNIC
"Picnic" - real bison. Soloist Edmund Shklyarsky has a unique timbre, and the combination of rock with a symphony orchestra and exotic folk instruments makes the group the most outlandish of the list.
B2
Well, no one writes to the colonel? Where are you, Barbara? Leva and Shura may not have an answer, but they have been one of the most popular Russian groups for many years now. They continue to experiment, making concerts with symphony orchestras and reflecting on the theme of the fall of the empire in the new single "Black Sun". The old duet with Chicherina "My Rock and Roll" is a separate love.
ZEMFIRA
The only woman on the list is here not for the sake of gender equality, but because it is impossible to imagine the rock scene without Zemfira. She was great to scream at 15, listen to the words at 20, and finally feel the full power of the combination of music and words at 25.
Text // Anastasia Dorogova
Russian rock is an ambiguous cultural phenomenon, but at the same time this genre remains interesting, rich in talents. In addition, it is dynamic. Fans are delighted with new and already loved songs by numerous rock bands in Russia. The list of them is constantly updated. Let's talk about the most talented and popular musicians. Let's recall the best rock bands in Russia, trace the main milestones of their work, and also deal with genre affiliation.
The origin of Russian rock
It all started in the 1960s. Then domestic bands began to appear, playing in the manner of the foreign Beatles, Rolling Stones and Beach Boys. Rock and roll was born, albeit different from the canonical one, adjusted to Soviet realities, but already real, our own, domestic.
Rock was banned. But the first alternative musical groups tried by all means to convey to the fans the motives of their work. These were the groups "Slavs", "Buffoons", "Falcon". A little later, the Integral team arose, which became widely known in the 70s. In 1968, the group The Kids was formed - the future famous "Time Machine".
1970s: rock under the yoke
This decade was perhaps the most difficult in the history of the genre. Officially, heavy music was banned, the leadership did not favor it during this period, they tried in every possible way not to stand out, many chose the path of least resistance - education and work within the limits of what was allowed.
But even then, many groups were not afraid to work according to the canons of the chosen genre, although they were forced to be in the "underground". "Time Machine" during these years records music on the sly, at night, in the speech studio of GITIS. But the new group "Resurrection", due to its lighter sound, sometimes performs at concerts, and "Leap Summer" is working on recording the first magnetic album.
In the early 70s, Aquarium appeared. At the end of the decade, groups such as the Magnetic Band, Picnic and Autograph emerged.
"Thaw" and persecution of the 80s
In 1981, the first rock club opened in St. Petersburg. This event meant a lot for the music of those years, because now alternative bands could come out of the "underground". However, freedom did not last long: two years later, heavy music was again banned. This time the rockers were called parasites, real persecution began.
Two years later, rock again became legal. A rock laboratory was then opened in Moscow - a special organization designed to regulate the activities of groups and performers playing heavy music. By this time, "Kino", "Alisa", "Auktyon", "Bravo", "Nautilus Pompilius", "DDT" were formed.
90s: truly Russian rock
The last decade of the twentieth century was the beginning of freedom. In the 90s, the first rock bands in Russia entered the scene. The list of bands of the new state playing exceptionally heavy music was truly impressive: Agatha Christie, Nogu cramped!, Semantic hallucinations, Mumiy Troll, 7B, Spleen, Zemfira and many others.
This decade was also significant in terms of style. Russian music has been enriched by punk, alternative, power and symphonic metal, grunge, emo and rapcore. Representatives of each of these trends worked within the framework of the chosen style, their music was typical in many respects, and new trends always came to Russia from the West.
Heavy music in the new millennium
Almost all the styles that existed in the 90s of the last century have passed into the current century. Many bands that formed already in the new millennium returned to the sound of metal and the alternative of the 80s. This does not mean that they play outdated music, it can only be regarded as nostalgia for the lost romance of a bygone era. Perhaps the musicians' desire to return the ability to protest to rock, to make it as rebellious as it was at the very beginning of its history, also plays its role.
To date, there are a huge number of bands and performers who have chosen the path of heavy music for themselves. The modern public likes Jane Air, Animal Jazz, Murakami, Pilot, Louna and other Russian rock bands. This list can be replenished indefinitely, because each fan of the genre has his own favorites. In addition, mastodons, masters of the Russian alternative movement, still exist, to this day they delight fans with new albums. And we can only wish them longevity, strength and creative inspiration.
Russia: list
It is always very difficult to make ratings objectively. And it's not even that one fan of the genre likes one thing, and another - completely different. Just how to evaluate the contribution of a particular group to the musical heritage? How to determine that one has done more and the other less? What is considered a standard?
That is why we have compiled a simple list, not a ranking or top 10. It lists the most famous rock bands in Russia. These musicians have done a lot for the development of alternative culture, which earned them the love of their devoted listeners. There are no best ones on this list, and no one squeezed into it with a scratch. Everyone here really matters. And if someone is not mentioned in it, you can sin on the limited time, volume of the article and the resources of human memory.
So, the most popular rock bands in Russia, the list:
- "Time Machine";
- "Picnic";
- "Nautilus Pompilius";
- "Agatha Christie";
- "Alice";
- "B2";
- "Spleen";
- "Mummy Troll";
- "DDT";
- "Civil defense";
- "Cinema";
- "Leningrad";
- "Crematorium";
- "Gaza Strip";
- "King and the Clown";
- "Moral code";
- "Aria";
- "Naive";
- "The leg cramped!";
- "Kipelov";
- "Kukryniksy";
- "Gorky Park";
- "Night snipers";
- "Pilot";
- "Earring";
- "Cockroaches!";
- "Chizh and Co";
- "Chayf";
- "Lyapis Trubetskoy".
We remembered the best teams. Now let's briefly characterize their genre affiliation.
good old heavy metal
The genre originally split off from hard rock in Britain. It happened in the 1970s, and the well-known band Black Sabbath stood at the origins of the style. Heavy entered the USSR a decade later, but due to the illegality of the rock movement in the 80s, it began to develop actively only a few years later. The pioneers were groups such as Black Coffee, Legion, Black Obelisk and Aria. And it was thanks to the last team that heavy metal remained popular for a very long time.
How did the ascent of "Aria" to the star Olympus begin? The idea of creating a team that would play serious heavy music came to Vladimir Kholstinin, who originally played in the Alfa group. The musician found a like-minded person in the person of bass guitarist Alik Granovsky. In fact, the material for recording the album was already ready, but the new band did not have a vocalist. They became a member of the former VIA "Leysya, song" Valery Kipelov. The name "Aria" was proposed spontaneously, but all the members of the group liked it very much. But, as the musicians' managers noted in their time, there was simply no hidden subtext.
The history of the team was in many ways difficult. Like many other well-known rock bands in Russia and abroad, Aria has experienced splits, upheavals and moments of glory. But at the same time, as sung in the song of their famous colleagues Manowar, its members were ready to give their lives for metal and always remained devoted to music.
The most famous punks
Punk split off from rock and roll and garage rock. In the USA and Great Britain, its first representatives were The Ramones and Sex Pistols, and in Russia - the group "Automatic Satisfiers", formed in 1979 in St. Petersburg. By the way, the name appeared precisely under the impression of the work of the British team Sex Pistols and was a simple free translation. It is also interesting that at different times the future members of Kino performed at St. And even Viktor Tsoi himself.
Later, other prominent representatives appeared on the punk scene - Yegor Letov's "Civil Defense" and Yuri Klinsky's "Gaza Strip". These bands have gone through a lot and have remained popular to this day. Today, the style is represented by "Cockroaches!", "Naive", "Elysium" and many other famous punk rock bands in Russia.
Russian alternatives
The alternative direction of rock music is a kind of synthesis of post-punk and garage rock. However, it is difficult to talk about a certain style affiliation, because during the formation of the genre in America in the 80s, each group expressed itself as best it could, which is why there are great differences in the sound of modern groups playing an alternative.
In Russia, the first groups belonging to this genre were Oak Gaai, Chimera and Kirpichi. The soloist of the first mentioned group is Dolphin. In the future, it was his solo project that gained great popularity, by the way, which did not change its musical style.
The alternative is still played by many rock bands in Russia. Popular among them are Slot, Psyche, Tractor Bowling, Lumen.
Folk rock: folk motives in the work of Russian rock bands
Many well-known bands playing heavy music are inspired by folk songs. And then there is folk rock. Representatives of the genre in the US and UK are Simon & Garfunkel, Gentle Giant and Death In June. In Russia, folk rock is played by Melnitsa, Troll oppresses the spruce, Solstice, White Owl.
Interestingly, in fact, the same Soviet VIA that existed in the 70-80s of the last century can be attributed to this genre. These are Pesnyary, Trio Linnik, Good fellows. It is also noteworthy that sometimes folk as a style is attributed to the famous group "Korol i Shut". This is not entirely true, since the "terrible tales" that were set to music, although they contain some folk motifs, still have nothing to do with folk art. Rather, the following genres can characterize the group's stylistic orientation: horror punk, punk rock and, probably, to some extent folk punk.
Metalcore on the modern Russian music scene
This genre originated in the 90s of the last century in American music, and its heyday came in the 2000s. Its origins were Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage and All That Remains. Metalcore came to Russia at the beginning of this century, and it was represented by Rashamba, Stigmata and Access Is Closed.
Today metalcore is played by many young rock bands in Russia. These are Party Animal, Francis, VIA "My Turn", "Lost World" and some others.
In conclusion
Russian rock music is multifaceted. She has an interesting history, she has many faces, and these are talented people who have decided to express their position in creativity. And this is their lifestyle - free and open, the one that the fans of these performers try to choose for themselves.
The best rock bands in Russia create more than just music for their fans. Their songs help to find inspiration in simple things, learn to look at life more simply and appreciate the beauty of the world around. And this Russian rock is original and amazing. Well, let's wish creative success to the best and novice bands and performers. And may the Muse be their faithful companion.
Music lovers are still arguing whether there is such a thing in world culture as “Russian rock”, which is so popular with us. No other country pays so much attention to this musical direction. There is no such number of fans anywhere. And in no other subculture do lyrics have such exceptional significance. Russian rock as a separate amazing cultural phenomenon became most widespread in the 90s of the previous century. After all, it was then that the groups "Nautilus Pompilius", "Aquarium", "Sounds of Mu", "Agatha Christie", "DDT", "Chizh and Co" and many others became truly legendary.
How to download 90s rock music selection?
The collection "Russian Rock of the 90s" is a unique selection of the most interesting and recognizable compositions of the end of the last century. This music, as the Nautilus song says, will be eternal. For music lovers who want to return to that bright time, we offer two options for listening to your favorite Russian rock bands of the 90s: you can download a high-quality archive to your PC, laptop or any sound-reproducing gadget for free in just a couple of minutes; there is an opportunity to listen to all the songs of the collection in mp3 format online - together and separately.For 10 years the Big City concert agency has been organizing events with the participation of famous artists from Russia and abroad. We work directly with many idols of the public and offer our customers a transparent payment system and the quality of the celebrations. A large selection of musicians of different genres allows you to choose exactly the one who will provide an atmosphere at your corporate party, birthday or wedding that everyone present will be happy about. From the list of Russian rock bands of the 90s, you can invite such legends of heavy music as Bi-2, Spleen, 7B, Diana Arbenina, Dances Minus. For fans of the alternative, we can organize a concert by Slot, Tracktor Bowling, Amatory or Stigmata.
Personal concert from rock musicians
In the list of Russian rock bands of the 80-90s, presented in our catalog, there are well-known bands whose work is adored, covered and divided into quotes. There has always been a huge demand for quality, meaningful music. Now it is also relevant, so if you want to make a corporate party or anniversary unforgettable, invite a star to your holiday. You can order popular Russian rock bands of the 80s from the list - Zemlyany, Alice, Chaif, Aria, DDT, Time Machine, Mumiy Troll and a host of other musicians whose records diverged in no time.
Which artists can be booked for events
Russian rock bands of the 80s and 90s are represented only by the most famous bands that have earned their authority with powerful music and lyrics. Musicians who have earned their popularity thanks to their talent. You don't know who you want to invite to the event? The Big City concert and holiday agency will help you select popular Russian rock bands of the 90s from the list for your holiday and organize it, taking into account all the wishes and suggestions. Some groups that are worthy of an invitation to a private or corporate holiday:
- The Lyube group and Nikolai Rastorguev will bring solemnity to the atmosphere of your holiday and charge you with patriotic energy.
- The Leningrad group will blow up the public and leave no chance for boredom. Everyone present will be delighted, regardless of gender and age.
- Gorky Park is a cult group of the 80s, whose song Moscow Calling brought them wild popularity in America and Europe.
Of course, the choice of a Russian rock band of the 80s and 90s depends entirely on the musical preferences of the customer, but one thing is obvious - a celebrity is your guest - this is solid, interesting and outstanding. Specialists of the Big City agency are ready to take full responsibility for organizing any holiday.
List of Russian punk rock bands of the 90s
Punk is a subculture, a separate milestone in the history of heavy music, because this genre embodies a critical attitude towards society and generally accepted moral standards. Many people now listen to punk rock of the 80s and 90s with nostalgia, for some the words are important, and someone is interested in the rhythm of the guitar strings, which energizes and drives. Order the best Russian rock bands of the 90s for yourself and your guests and your event will remain in your memory for a long time. Prince, Cockroaches, Brigade Contract, Lumen, Lyapis Trubetskoy - the list of popular Russian rock bands of the 80s can be continued for a long time. Our concert agency cooperates with all famous artists from Russia and abroad, so we provide our clients with a huge selection of musicians who can be invited to private or public events.
Reasons for choosing "Big City"
The high level of professionals of the concert agency "Big City" helps to embody the most daring fantasies of customers. We provide musicians to order and provide a cultural program at the event. Working with us, you will receive a concert of your favorite artists of those years, as well as many benefits, because we:
- On the market since 2008, which means that for 10 years we have been creating a festive mood and inviting celebrities to corporate parties, birthdays, weddings.
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- We have a huge database of artists, we work with them on an ongoing basis. We guarantee high-quality sound and a spectacular show at your holiday.
- We carry out a cycle of work on the creation and organization of celebrations of various scales - from small private to public, accessible to the general public.
Rock lived, Rock is alive, Rock will live, never losing its relevance and which will always have a place on the player of a real music fan. If it's not a problem to decide, they are on everyone's lips, and albums are sold in millions of copies from America to Japan, then with the Russian rock scene, not everything is so definite. Firstly, Russian rock is quite young, having actively begun to develop only in the eighties of the last century. Secondly, in thirty years, not so many really cool bands have appeared that can be called legendary, there are more one-day bands that release a couple of hit albums that disappear after a few years from the big stage. Nevertheless, there are several dozen groups that have cult status forever inscribed their name in golden letters in the hall of fame of Russian rock. Meet ten best Russian rock bands.
10. Zemfira
Zemfira is one of the most successful performers of the Russian music scene, who has become a living symbol of female rock. The singer likes to experiment, mixing classic rock with other musical styles and trends. All six of Zemfira's studio albums were wildly popular, and hits occupied the top of the charts for months.
9. Aria
"Aria" is one of the few Russian heavy metal bands that has been able to achieve popular love. The team appeared back in 1982 as VIA "Singing Hearts", starting to experiment with different musical styles. As a result, they began to imitate Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Deep Purple and Iron Maiden and transformed into one of the best rock bands, the tracks of which began to be dominated by long guitar cuts, the piercing voice of the soloist with a bias towards rock ballads.
8. Chaif
Chaif appeared back in 1985 in Sverdlovsk and has been delighting listeners for almost 30 years. A group of many hits forever inscribed in golden letters in the hall of fame of Russian rock with a deep philosophical overtones, quite cheerful and energizing people. Chaif cannot be turned on simply as background music, but you need to listen to every word and feel the rhythm in order to “understand” the song.
7. Aquarium
"Aquarium" are real dinosaurs of Russian rock, having appeared in the St. Petersburg underground in the early 70s. Until the mid-1980s, the group was actually in the "underground", often performing outdoors, at indoor concerts or in basements. A few performances at festivals usually ended in big scandals. The real recognition and popularity of the group comes in 1986 in the wake of perestroika, becoming a real legend. Although the composition of Aquarium changed several times, Boris Grebenshchikov always remained the permanent leader of the group. The group's songs have become real classics, which other musicians are happy to quote and rehash.
6. Agatha Christie
"Agatha Christie" appeared in the late 80s, on the wave of ever-growing popularity of rock, in just a few years they became the favorites of the younger generation. From album to album, the band's performance style changed, but it was always cool mixed guitars, synthesizers, drums, electronic basses and a little symphony. The lyrics of Agatha Christie's songs are rather gloomy with deep overtones.
5. Time Machine
"Time Machine" are the real grandfathers of Russian rock on the songs that several generations of people have grown up, in fact, forming the modern rock scene. The group was created by Andrei Makarevich with friends in 1969, remaining its permanent leader for more than 40 years. The group, like a sponge, has absorbed many musical styles and trends, but in the songs of which rock motives have always prevailed.
4. Alice
Hard rock and heavy metal, that's what the rock band "Alice" is, which appeared back in 1983 in St. Petersburg. True, since the beginning of the 2000s, the frontman of the group, Konstantin Kinchev, has gone deep into Orthodox topics and is increasingly taking part in political life.
3. Nautilus Pompilius
"Nautilus Pompilius" is another one of the Russian rock legends from the 80s. The group has always paid a lot of attention to socially significant topics, where each verse of the songs makes you think, get out of the shell of your closed world and pay attention to the problems of society. The group manages to organically combine rock and symphonic music.
2. DDT
"DDT" is a real Russian legend, at the helm of which for more than 30 years is Yuri Shevchuk, who wrote most of the group's songs that became hits. The team plays unobtrusive rock with blues and jazz motives. The group has always paid a lot of attention to socially and socially important topics, although there are several very successful ironic, love and philosophical singles.
1. Cinema
For fans of Russian rock, Kino and Viktor Tsoi are practically synonymous, who became a real legend during his lifetime. For eight years, from a group of unknown amateurs, they turned into rock monsters, gathering stadiums of fans, each song of which became a real hit that you can listen to endlessly. Kino departed from the classic traditions of Russian rock of the 80s, actively starting to use drum machines, which added some pop to the songs.