For the whole country, and even abroad, the group "Earthlings" is known. The composition of the group has repeatedly changed. In this article we will try to trace it, as well as talk about the main events in the history of the team. First, we will briefly talk about Earthlings, and then we will dwell in more detail on the important points associated with them.
A brief history of the group
The history of this collective begins in 1969. Then, however, its name was different - "April". Musicians gained their current name in the late 1970s. At first, their repertoire included only English-language songs. The musicians were widely recognized after they began to perform compositions in their native language. The song "Red Horse" by Mark Fradkin they recorded in 1979.
The popularity of the group grew even more when in 1982 they performed the song L. Derbenev and V. Dobrynin "Forgive me, Earth", as well as the cycle "Stuntmen". But the visiting card of the collective is Grass at Home performed by S. Skachkov. Until now, it is an honorary hit of Russian feasts. This song has become an anthem of immigrants. In addition, many Russian astronauts took a cassette with it into orbit. The total circulation of the collective’s records, issued by the Melody company alone, is about 15 million copies.
What stood out "Earthlings" among other groups
It should be noted that the "Earthlings" stood out among the Soviet performers. They used a lot of pyrotechnic and lighting effects, art and hard rock arrangements, and forced sounding at their concerts. And the very image of the band members reminded the inhabitants of the Soviet Union of foreign rockers of the 1970s. "Earthlings" possessed the best sound and lighting equipment in the country. They managed to achieve the impossible from Soviet censorship: the musicians created arrangements for their songs, which were not inferior in quality to the music performed by famous Western bands of that time, such as Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and even the Rolling Stones.
Peak of popularity
The 1980s saw a peak in the popularity of this group. At that time, the musicians had 30 full houses each month. For one particularly successful year, the group managed to become a laureate of as many as three international competitions: in Dresden, Sopot and Yalta. "Earthlings" in those years were even more popular than such rock monsters as "DDT", "Time Machine", "Alice". And now the famous Andrei Makarevich in the 80s acted as the opening act for the team "Earthlings" (the old composition of the group).
The team in 2000
In November 2006, the members of the team celebrated its 30th anniversary. Anniversary concerts were held in the State Kremlin Palace, in the Luzhniki Stadium and in the St. Petersburg Ice Palace, during which famous Western performers from Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Nazareth and others came on the same stage. And on November 25, 2009 a concert was held festival "This song became the Anthem." It was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the creation of the song Grass at Home. The concert was attended by astronauts, pop stars and public figures. By the decision of Roskosmos on November 25, 2009, the composition Grass at Home, which had long become the unofficial anthem of the Russian cosmonautics, was now granted official status.
Earthlings now
Currently, the group continues touring and concert activities. In addition, musicians perform at various professional and city festive events, as well as on television.
Now we’ll tell you more about the history of this group.
The formation of the team "April"
Vladimir Vladimirovich Kiselev, a well-known future rock businessman and music producer, arrived in Leningrad in the early 70s (he comes from Western Ukraine). Kiselev was first a drummer, performed in various restaurant and amateur ensembles. Then he created his group "April" (in the spring of 1975). Later, Vladimir got a job as a drummer in the VIA "Singing Guitars", but after a while he decided to return to the idea of "April". The team in 1976 was replenished with new musicians from the "Russians", the disintegrated group. It included Oleg Gusev, Boris Aksenov, Igor Romanov, and others.
Two groups "Earthlings"
In September 1978, the group found its base at the Palace of Culture. Dzerzhinsky. According to the documentation, she passed instead of the "Earthlings" who had broken up by then. "Earthlings", that is, Myasnikov's group, which has existed since the 70s, decided to gather at the end of 1978. The musicians took their former name and participated under it at the festival "Spring Rhythms-80". However, the group could not withstand competition with the team of V. Kiselyov, and therefore she had to change her name to Atlas.
Group "Earthlings": the first composition
So, the group of interest to us began its existence with a new name. By that time, the following musicians were included in the composition of "Earthlings" Kiselev:
- V. Kiselev (drums);
- I. Romanov (guitar);
- V. Kudryavtsev (guitar vocals);
- Y. Starchenko (keyboards);
- P. Borisov (bass);
- N. Kudryavtsev (vocals);
- V. Stepanova (vocals).
The group "Earthlings" (1 composition) interested Mark Fradkin, the then famous Soviet composer. He invited the musicians to compose a program from their songs. In addition, Fradkin gave the team the opportunity to record their compositions on a minion record.
The first composition of the group "Earthlings" (surnames were listed above) remained unchanged for not very long, like everyone else. After reading this article, you will see that the history of the team is quite complicated. Many musicians left him, many were part of the group "Earthlings". The photo presented above was taken a few years ago.
Kuzbass
However, relations with the official structures of the city of Leningrad, in spite of this, did not develop among the musicians. "Earthlings", like many other rock bands of the country, found refuge in the Kuzbass. In August 1979 they signed a contract with the Kemerovo Philharmonic. Thus, the group secured legal concerts and earnings. Then the musicians went on a tour of the cities of the Urals and Siberia. It should be noted that the "Earthlings" were a group of "native" LenConcert only from January to November 1985. Before that, they visited the collective operating at the Kaluga Philharmonic, then at the Tashkent Circus (since December 1985). After that, the group "Earthlings" finally moved to Moscow.
Group members updated
By that time, the group included Boris Aksenov (a multi-instrumentalist who had previously played in the Russians, April and the Sun), Y. Dmitrienko (keyboard player) and I. Dembovsky (singer). Leaving N. Kudryavtsev, V. Stepanova and P. Borisov. The conflict situation later leads to the departure of both I. Romanov and I. Dembovsky. They were replaced by A. Titov (bass) and Yu. Ilchenko (guitar, vocals).
However, Kiselev will soon return to the group of Romanov, who in early 1979 brings with him the vocalist and keyboard player Sergei Skachkov. They worked with this musician in the Kakadu band, which was popular at the time. A peculiar timbre of Sergey Skachkov’s voice from this moment defines the inimitable “zemlyanovskoe” sound.
Jumps to the creation of "Cockatoo" (since 1974) participated in the group "April" he created. It turns out that by that time two groups with the same name were performing in Leningrad at the same time. However, the paths of these collectives did not intersect, they were not personally acquainted.
New changes
Many are interested in what the group "Earthlings" was then (composition of 1983). Not surprising, because by this time there have been important changes. The composition of the group "Earthlings" (1983) should be noted separately.
Kiselev decides to concentrate on administrative activities. In addition, A. Kruglov becomes the drummer. Then, Yu. Ilchenko left for Integral, and A. Titov went to August, and then to Aquarium and Kino. Kiselev introduces the team to the composer V. Miguley. So there are very successful in all respects, including commercial, hits "Earthlings" - "Karate", "Grass by the House", "Stuntmen". These songs beat all records of popularity.
Increased popularity and pressure
With inexorable progression, the number of tours and concerts is growing. Collaboration with pop composers and poets, of course, causes a negative attitude towards the group on the part of independent rock apologists. However, the group also experiences no less pressure from the official structures, although outwardly they seem to be loyal to them. The musicians are criticized for their overly cheeky and free behavior on the stage, for the concert sound, which is characterized as a "cosmodrome-loud". Caused by dissatisfaction and the technical pro-Western nature of their image, and spectacular representations, and the special effects used. Despite all these points, the combination of complex ballads with the canons of mass pop attracts a diverse and wide audience to Earthlings.
New composition and image
In October 1985, the band left frontman I. Romanov, because he was a supporter of a heavier sound. Later, Igor created a metal quintet called "Union". Romanov lured V. Brusilovsky to himself, who replaced A. Kruglov a little earlier at the drums.
V. Kiselev in 1986 makes an attempt to radically change the image of musicians. Group members change, a new program is created that is close in style to the weighted boogie-woogie. Finally, by the end of 1986, the team was stabilizing. He becomes the following:
- V. Kiselev, S. Skachkov, S. Vasiliev, B. Aksenov - guitar;
- Yu. Babenko - guitar;
- A. Lobachev - guitar;
- Yu. Zhuchkov - vocals;
- G. Tonkilidi - drums;
- I. Kovalev - bass.
I. Kovalev left the group in the spring of 1987, he was replaced by bassist A. Krivtsov. After this, "Earthlings" are taken again to storm the musical Olympus.
Downgrade, performances with Uriah Heep
However, by this time, the legalization of rock music in the state spills onto the stage a lot of different teams that were previously underground. And the rating of "Earthlings" among young people, despite sold-out concerts, as well as successful performance at the international festival in Dresden ("Shlyager-87"), is gradually falling. Negative assessments of the band’s joint concerts with the Uriah Heep band appear in the press. It was first held in December 1987, when the luminaries of the western rock Uriah Heep first visited the USSR. Gradually, the group "Earthlings" enters the foreign scene.
The composition by this time is changing again. The group left B. Aksenov and A. Lobachev. Disagreements in the collective related to music policy continue.
Foreign tours, "Orient Express" and the end of the group
In 1987, the group took part in the Dresden festival, receiving 2 prizes - "For the best performance of a German song" and "For high professionalism". The team gave the entire prize to the Soviet Peace Fund. After that, V. Kiselev leaves the Zemlyans, who entrusts the management of the group to B. Zosimov.
In foreign trips, the team begins as the Orient Express. And in our country with the name "Earthlings" first performed in September 1989. In 1991, the group returned from foreign tours in the following composition:
- S. Vasiliev (guitar);
- Yu. Zhuchkov (vocals);
- Yu. Tyurin (drums);
- Yu. Babenko (bass);
- team director - S. Protodyakonov.
At home, the musicians for some reason reaffirm themselves as a group of "Earthlings". The composition in 1992 disintegrates as the collective ceases to exist. This happened against the background of general upheavals in our country.
Collective revival
At the end of 1994, the double disc “Best Hits” was released, the group again sought a permanent line-up. By the fall of 1995, the group of Earthlings once again changed its face. The composition of the group is replenished with the following musicians:
- Yu. Levachev, S. Skachkov (bass);
- G. Martov (guitar);
- L. Khaikin (drums).
Later joins M. Ivanov (keyboardist). Once again, "Earthlings" begin to tour, performing new compositions. We briefly talked about the future fate of this team in the first half of the article. In 2000, the group "Earthlings" continued its activities. The composition of the group, as you can see, was not constant, but this did not prevent it from achieving success.