Alisa
From Unearthing The Music
Alisa (Russian: Алиса[1]) is a Russian hard rock band, who are credited as one of the most influential bands in the Russian rock movement.
Contents
Biography
Alisa was formed in November 1983 by bassist Svyatoslav Zadery. The band's name originated from Zadery's nickname. The band's lineup was finally completed in 1984, when new vocalist Kostya Kinchev (real name Konstantin Panfilov) and guitarist Petr Samoylov joined. Their debut album Energia was recorded between 1985 and 1986, released by state publishing monopoly Melodiya in 1988 and sold more than a million copies.
But the relations between the two leaders, Konstantin and Zadery, were deteriorating, and finally Svyatoslav departed from the band. This occurred just one hour before Alisa was to perform at a concert. Alisa had to ask Kino bassist Igor Tihomirov to replace him for one concert. Later Zadery created his own band Nateh! (Russian: НАТЕ! - "Take that!"). Zadery died on 6 May 2011 due to complications from a stroke at the age of 50.[2]
The growing popularity of the band created a fan community called the Army of Alisa, known for their rough behaviour at concerts. It led to animosity between the band and Soviet officials. In 1987, the newspaper Smena accused Alisa's leader Kinchev of Nazi propaganda and worshiping Hitler. Kinchev filed a suit for calumny and moral loss compensation. After the year-long court process the magazine published the refutation. Alisa's next album was titled Article 206 part 2, a chapter ("Hooliganism") of the USSR Procedural Code, alluding to this process. It was recorded in 1989, but would not be released until 1994 due to the tapes going missing.
Alisa performing at Kavarna Rock Fest 2013
There were more changes in 1988, when guitarist Igor "Chuma" Chumychkin joined the band. This change was followed by the heavier sound of next two albums, Shabash and For those Who Fell From the Moon. Alisa toured through Europe and Israel together with fellow Russian heavy metal band Aria. The album Black Mark, released in 1994, was dedicated to the memory of Chuma, who committed suicide by jumping from a window.
In the new millennium, with albums such as Seychas Pozdnee Chem Ty Dumaesh (It is Later Than You Think, 2003) and Izgoy (Exile, 2005), the sound of Alisa was changed to a heavier one, including elements of nu, industrial and Heavy Metal. Music critics credited Clawfinger as Kinchev's greatest new music influence. This gave Alisa a new fan base among Russian hard rock fans, and three songs from Izgoy continually reached the top of the NASHE radio chart. Follow-up "Stat Severa" and "Puls Hranitelia Dverey Labyrintha" were less alternative-oriented and made a blend of older and newer styles. Alisa shot a video for the Wolfhound fantasy movie, though the song itself was cut from the soundtrack.
According to public polls, Alisa enjoys high popularity in Russia and around, ranking among top ten most popular russian rock bands,[3] and ranked 1st in Komsomolskaya Pravda readers poll.[4]
Lyrical themes
Kinchev was baptized in 1992 after a series of concerts in Jerusalem, and since then Christianity has been the main influence on his direction and his lyrics. Although early Alisa lyrics were typical for Russian rock - social protest and rock 'n' roll hype - since the late 1990s their main theme has been ideas of Christianity, as well as Russian patriotism and nationalism.
Konstantin is in good relations with the priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, especially Andrey Kuraev. The band has participated in many religion-supporting festivals, such as Musicians for the Christ Savior Cathedral.
Kinchev's fairly conservative religious-patriotic shift was viewed unfavourably by some old fans that liked Alisa for their original "rock" message.
Discography
Studio albums
Studio albums
| Original title | Transliterated Title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Lang | Energiya | Energy | 1988 |
| Template:Lang | Blok Ada | Block of Hell / Blockade | 1989 |
| Template:Lang | Shestoy Lesnichy | Sixth Ranger | 1989 |
| Template:Lang | Dlya Tekh, Kto Svalilsya s Luny | For Those Who Fell from the Moon | 1993 |
| Template:Lang | Chyornaya Metka | Black Mark | 1994 |
| Template:Lang | Statya 206 chast 2 | Article 206 part 2 | 1994 |
| Jazz | Jazz | Jazz | 1996 |
| Template:Lang | Krivozerkalye | Through the Crooked Glass | 1997* |
| Template:Lang | Duren' | Stupid | 1998 |
| Template:Lang | Solntsevorot | Solstice | 2000 |
| Template:Lang | Tantsevat' | To Dance | 2001 |
| Template:Lang | Seychas Pozdnee, Chem Ty Dumayesh | It Is Later Than You Think | 2003 |
| Template:Lang | Izgoy | Exile | 2005 |
| Template:Lang | Stat Severa | Grace of the North | 2007 |
| Template:Lang | Puls Khranitelya Dverey Labirinta | The Pulse of Labyrinth's Doors Keeper | 2008 |
| Template:Lang | Ъ (Tverdii Znak) | Ъ ( The Hard Sign - Russian Letter) | 2010 |
| Template:Lang | 20.12 (Dvadtsat Dvenadtsat) | 20.12 (Twenty Twelve) | 2011 |
| Template:Lang | Sabotazh | Sabotage | 2012 |
| Template:Lang | Tsirk | Circus | 2014 |
| Template:Lang | Ekstsess | Excess | 2016 |
| Template:Lang | Posolon | 2019 |
- Recorded with Svetoslav Zaderii on vocals, before Kinchev joined
Live albums
| Original title | Translation | Year and venue | Year of release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Lang | Sabbath | 1990, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium | 1991 |
| Template:Lang | At Shabolovka | Shabolovka | 1995 |
| Template:Lang | Acoustics vol.1 | 1988, Perm | 1995 |
| Template:Lang | Acoustics vol.2 | 1985, Leningrad | 1997 |
| Template:Lang | Dance of Siberia on Neva Shores | 1997, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny | 1998 |
| Template:Lang | Acoustics vol.3 | 1988, Pskov | 2000 |
| Template:Lang | Acoustics vol.4 | 1986, Novosibirsk | 2002 |
| Template:Lang | We Are Together XX years | 2003, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny | 2005 |
| Template:Lang | Star Called Rock | 2005, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium | 2007 |
Compilation albums
| Original title | Translation | Year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Red Wave Red Wave: 4 Underground Bands from the USSR | 1986 | |
| Template:Lang | Legends of Russian Rock | 1997 |
| Template:Lang | Encyclopedia of Russian Rock | 2000 |
| 13 | 2003 | |
Band members
Current line up
- Konstantin Kinchev - vocals (1985–present)
- Evgeny Lyovin - guitar (1998–present), ex - N.E.P.
- Pavel Zelitskiy - guitar (2018–present)
- Petr Samoylov - bass (1984–present)
- Andrey Vdovichenko - drums (2003–present), ex - N.E.P.
- Dmitri Parfyonov - keyboards (2000–present)
Former members
- Svetoslav "Alisa" Zadery - bass, vocals (1983–1985)
- Andrey Shatalin - guitar (1983–2003)
- Mikhail Nefedov - drums (1983–2003)
- Pavel "Pol Khan" Kondratenko - keyboards (1983–1988)
- Alexander Zhuravlev - saxophone (1987–1988)
- Igor "Chuma" Chumychkin - guitar (1988–1993)
- Andrey Korolev - keyboards (1989–1993)
- Alexander Ponomarev - guitar (1996–1998)
- Boris Borisov - vocals, saxophone (1983)
- Lyudmila "Teri" Kolot - vocals (1986)
- Igor Romanov - guitar (2003-2018)
References
- Russian analogue to the female name Alice
- Святослав Задерий. Биографическая справка (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 7 May 2011.
- "Ромир: Цифры и факты". Archived from the original on 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
- Группы, которые изменили наш мир — Комсомольская правда
External links
- Official Alisa website, in Russian
- Fan website, in Russian
- Alisa pictures, in Russian
- "Russian Rock. Alisa Band". Archived from the original on July 6, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2005., short history in English
- "Do Rock and Orthodoxy Have Anything in Common?". Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2005. Pravda 17 December 2003, in English
- Alisa discography at MusicBrainz
- Alisa on RussMus.Net: English translations to lyrics and more, in English
Text adapted from Wikipedia