Alisa (Russian band)

Alisa (Russian: Алиса[1]) is a Russian hard rock band, which is considered one of the most influential bands in the Russian rock movement.

Алиса
Alisa
L-R: Romanov, Kinchev, Samoylov, Levin
Background information
Also known asAlisa
OriginLeningrad, Soviet Union
GenresNew wave, post-punk (early)
Hard rock, Christian rock (recent)
Years active1983-present
WebsiteOfficial website
MembersKonstantin Kinchev
Petr Samoylov
Eugeny Levin
Igor Romanov
Andrey Vdovichenko
Dmitri Parfyonov
Past membersSvyatoslav Zadery
Mikhail Nefedov
Andrey Shatalin
Igor Chumychkin

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. Energia was released by the state publishing monopoly Melodiya in 1988 and sold more than a million copies.

The relations between Alisa's two leaders, Kinchev and Zadery, deteriorated, and Zadery left the band. This occurred just one hour before Alisa was to perform at a concert. Kino bassist Igor Tihomirov was asked to replace Zadery for one concert. Later, Zadery created his own band Nateh! (Russian: НАТЕ!, lit. 'Take that!'). Zadery died on 6 May 2011 due to complications from a stroke at the age of 50.[2]

Alisa's growing popularity led to the formation of 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 damage compensation. After a year-long court process, the magazine published a 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

In 1988, 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), Alisa's sound became heavier, 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. The follow-up albums Stat' Severa and Puls' Khranitelia Dverey Labyrinta were less alternative-oriented and blended older and newer styles. Alisa shot a music video for the fantasy movie Wolfhound, but their song was not included on the soundtrack.

Alisa ranked among the top ten most popular Russian rock bands according to a Romir survey from 2005,[3] and ranked first in the list of the most influential Russian rock groups according to a Komsomolskaya Pravda readers' poll from 2004.[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
Original titleTransliterated TitleTranslationYear of release
ЭнергияEnergiyaEnergy1988
Блок АдаBlok AdaBlock of Hell / Blockade1989
Шестой ЛесничийShestoy LesnichySixth Ranger1989
Для Тех, Кто Свалился с ЛуныDlya Tekh, Kto Svalilsya s LunyFor Those Who Fell from the Moon1993
Чёрная МеткаChyornaya MetkaBlack Mark1994
Статья 206 часть 2Statya 206 chast 2Article 206 part 21994
JazzJazzJazz1996
КривозеркальеKrivozerkalyeThrough the Crooked Glass1997*
ДуреньDuren'Stupid1998
СолнцеворотSolntsevorotSolstice2000
ТанцеватьTantsevat'To Dance2001
Сейчас Позднее, Чем Ты ДумаешьSeychas Pozdnee, Chem Ty DumayeshIt Is Later Than You Think2003
ИзгойIzgoyExile2005
Стать СевераStat SeveraGrace of the North2007
Пульс Хранителя Дверей ЛабиринтаPuls Khranitelya Dverey LabirintaThe Pulse of Labyrinth's Doors Keeper2008
ЪЪ (Tverdii Znak)Ъ ( The Hard Sign - Russian Letter)2010
20.12 (Двадцать Двенадцать)20.12 (Dvadtsat Dvenadtsat)20.12 (Twenty Twelve)2011
СаботажSabotazhSabotage2012
ЦиркTsirkCircus2014
ЭксцессEkstsessExcess2016
ПосолоньPosolon2019
  • Recorded with Svyatoslav Zadery on vocals, before Kinchev joined

Live albums
Original titleTranslationYear and venueYear of release
ШабашSabbath1990, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium1991
На ШаболовкеAt Shabolovka1995, Moscow, Shabolovka1995
Акустика часть 1Acoustics vol.11988, Perm1995
Акустика часть 2Acoustics vol.21985, Leningrad1997
Пляс Сибири на берегах НевыDance of Siberia on Neva Shores1997, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny1998
Акустика часть 3Acoustics vol.31988, Pskov2000
Акустика часть 4Acoustics vol.41986, Novosibirsk2002
Мы Вместе XX летWe Are Together XX years2003, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny2005
Звезда по имени рокStar Called Rock2005, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium2007

Compilation albums
Original titleTranslationYear of release
Red Wave: 4 Underground Bands from the USSR1986
Легенды Русского РокаLegends of Russian Rock1997
Энциклопедия Русского РокаEncyclopedia of Russian Rock2000
132003

Band members

Current line up

Former members
  • Boris Borisov - vocals, saxophone (1983)
  • Lyudmila "Teri" Kolot - vocals (1986)
  • Svetoslav "Alisa" Zadery - bass, vocals (1983–1986)
  • 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)
  • Andrey Shatalin - guitar (1983–1985, 1986-1988, 1989-2003)
  • Mikhail Nefedov - drums (1983–2003)
  • Igor Romanov - guitar (2003-2018)
  • Evgeniy Lyovin - guitar (1998-2019)

Timeline

References
  1. Russian analogue to the female name Alice
  2. Святослав Задерий. Биографическая справка (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 7 May 2011.
  3. "Ромир: Цифры и факты". Archived from the original on 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  4. Группы, которые изменили наш мир — Комсомольская правда
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