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 groups of Russia. The list of them is constantly updated. Let’s talk about the most talented and popular musicians. 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 60s of the twentieth century. Then, domestic bands began to appear, playing in the manner of foreign Beatles, Rolling Stones and Beach Boys. Rock and roll was born, albeit different from the canonical, tailored to Soviet realities, but already real, its own, domestic.
Rock was forbidden. But the first alternative musical groups tried at all costs to convey to fans the motives of their work. These were the groups "Slavs", "Buffoons", "Falcon". A little later, the Integral team appeared, which became widely known in the 70s. In 1968, The Kids was formed - the future famous "Time Machine".
1970s: rock under oppression
This decade was perhaps the most difficult in the history of the genre. Officially, heavy music was banned; the Soviet Union did not favor it . Creative groups in this period tried their best not to stand out, many chose the path of least resistance - the formation of vocal and instrumental ensembles (VIA) and work within the framework of the permitted.
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 quietly, at night, in the GITIS speech studio. But the new group “Resurrection”, due to its lighter sound, sometimes performs at concerts, and “Leap Summer” works on recording the first magneto-album.
In the early 70s, the Aquarium appeared. At the end of the decade, groups such as Magnetic Band, Picnic, and Autograph appeared.
The Thaw and the Persecution of the 80s
In 1981, the first rock club opened in St. Petersburg. This event meant a lot to the music of those years, because now alternative bands could get out of the "underground". However, freedom did not last long: after two years, heavy music was again banned. This time the rockers were called parasites, real persecution began.
Two years later, rock again became legal. At that time, a rock laboratory was opened in Moscow, a special organization designed to regulate the activities of bands and performers playing heavy music. By this time Kino, Alisa, Auktsyon, Bravo, Nautilus Pompilius, DDT had formed.
90s: truly Russian rock
The last decade of the twentieth century was the beginning of freedom. In the 90s, the first Russian rock bands took to the stage. The list of groups of the new state playing extremely heavy music was truly impressive: “Agatha Christie”, “Keeping Your Leg Alone!”, “Semantic Hallucinations”, “Mumiy Troll”, “7B”, “Splin”, “Zemfira” and many others.
This decade was also significant in terms of freedom of choice of style. Russian music was enriched with punk, alternative, power and symphonic metal, grunge, emo and rapcore. Representatives of each of these areas worked within the framework of the chosen style, their music was largely typical, 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, passed into the present century. Many groups, already formed in the new millennium, returned to the sound of metal and an alternative to the 80s. This does not mean that they play non-modern music, it can only be regarded as nostalgia for the lost romance of the past era. Perhaps the role played by musicians and the desire to return to rock the ability to protest, to make him as rebellious as he was at the very beginning of his story, also plays a role.
Today, there are a huge number of bands and performers who have chosen the path of heavy music for themselves. Modern audiences like 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.
The best rock bands in Russia: list
Establishing ratings objectively is always very difficult. 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 collective to a musical heritage? How to determine that one has done more and the other less? What should be considered the standard?
That is why we made a simple list, not a rating or top 10. It lists the most famous rock bands in Russia. These musicians have done a lot to develop an alternative culture, which earned the love of their loyal listeners. There are no better ones on this list, and no one squeezed into it with a creak. Everything is really significant here. And if someone is not mentioned in it, you can sin on the limited time, the volume of the article and the resources of human memory.
So, the most popular rock bands in Russia, 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";
- "Code of Ethics";
- "Aria";
- "Naive";
- "Leg brought down!";
- "Kipelov";
- "Kukryniksy";
- "Gorky Park";
- "Night snipers";
- "Pilot";
- "Earring";
- "Cockroaches!";
- "Chizh and Co";
- "Tea";
- "Lyapis Trubetskoy".
We remembered the best teams. Now briefly describe their genre affiliation.
Good old heavy metal
Initially, this genre separated from hard rock in Britain. It happened in the 1970s, and the famous Black Sabbath band 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 only a few years later. Pioneers were such groups as Black Coffee, Legion, Black Obelisk and Aria. And it was thanks to the latest heavy metal band that remained popular for a very long time.
How did the ascension of Aria to the star Olympus begin? The idea of ​​creating a collective that would play serious heavy music came to Vladimir Holstinin, who originally played in the Alpha group. The musician found a like-minded person in the person of bass player Alik Granovsky. In fact, the material for recording the album was already ready, but there was no vocalist in the new team. They became a member of the former VIA "Leisya, song" Valery Kipelov. The name "Aria" was suggested spontaneously, but all members of the group really liked it. But, as managers of musicians noted in their time, there was simply no hidden implication.
The history of the team was in many ways difficult. Like many other famous rock bands in Russia and abroad, Aria experienced splits, shocks and moments of glory. But at the same time, as the song of their famous colleagues Manowar sings, its participants were ready to give their lives for metal and always remained loyal to music.
The most famous punks
Punk separated from rock and roll and garage rock. Its first representatives in the USA and Great Britain were The Ramones and Sex Pistols, and in Russia - the Automatic Satisfactors group, formed in 1979 in St. Petersburg. By the way, the name appeared precisely under the impression of the creativity of the British team Sex Pistols and was a simple free translation. It is also interesting that at the St. Petersburg apartment blocks together with the “Automatic Satisfactors” group at different times future participants of the “Cinema” performed. And even Viktor Tsoi himself.
Later, other prominent representatives appeared on the punk scene - “Civil Defense” by Yegor Letov and “Gaza” by Yuri Klinsky. These groups have survived 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 of Russia.
Russian alternatives
An alternative direction of rock music is a kind of synthesis of post-punk and garage rock. However, it’s difficult to talk about a certain style, because during the formation of the genre in America in the 80s, each team expressed themselves as best they could, which is why the differences in the sound of modern bands playing the alternative are great.
In Russia, the first bands belonging to this genre were Oak Gaai, Chimera and Bricks. The soloist of the first mentioned group is Dolphin. In the future, it was his solo project that became very popular, by the way, which did not change its style of music.
An alternative is still played by many rock bands in Russia. Popular among them are “Slot”, “Psyche”, Tractor Bowling, Lumen.
Folk rock: folk motifs in the work of Russian rock bands
An inspiration to many famous bands playing heavy music gives a folk song. And then there is folk rock. Representatives of the genre in the USA and Great Britain are Simon & Garfunkel, Gentle Giant and Death In June. In Russia, folk rock is played by Mill, Troll Bends Spruce, Solstice, White Owl.
It is interesting that, in fact, the very Soviet VIAs that existed in the 70-80s of the last century can be attributed to this genre. These are “Songs”, “Trio Linnik”, “Good fellows”. It is also noteworthy that sometimes folk as a style is attributed to the famous group “King and the Jester”. This is not entirely true, since the “terrible tales” that Mikhail Gorshenev and Andrei Knyazev put to music, although they contain some folk motifs, still have no relation to folk art. Rather, the following genres can characterize the style of the group: horror punk, punk rock and, probably, to some extent folk punk.
Metalcore on the modern music scene in Russia
This genre arose in the 90s of the last century in American music, and its heyday fell on the 2000s. Its origins were Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage and All That Remains. The metalcore came to Russia at the beginning of this century, and was represented by Rashamba, Stigmata and Access denied.
Today, many young rock bands in Russia play metalcore. 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 decided to express their position in the work. And this is their lifestyle - free and open, one that fans of these artists try to choose for themselves.
The best rock bands in Russia create not only music for their fans. Their songs help to find inspiration in simple things, learn how to look at life easier and appreciate the beauty of the world. And this Russian rock is original and amazing. Well, we wish creative success to the best and beginner groups and performers. And let Muse be their faithful companion.