There are very few good drummers. Their names are known in narrow circles, and almost all of them collaborate with top groups. Andrey Kotov became known for his long career in the Agatha Christie group (he has been performing with this team for 18 years). Now Andrey continues to improve his technique and gives drum lessons to young musicians.
Childhood
Andrey Kotov was born in Yekaterinburg (then he was her Sverdlovsk) in 1963. His family was simple - mom worked as an accountant in a factory, and dad worked as a locksmith. After the eighth grade, Andrei wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and get a working specialty, so he entered the assembly college. At the same time, he began to work at a factory that produced
penknives.As a child, Andrei Kotov attended all kinds of circles and sections. Most of all he liked to design and draw. In his interviews, he often talks about the boomerang he created, which he did with high accuracy (during the childhood of Andrei, all children were fond of westerns and played "Indians"). Later, while working at the factory, he independently made a knife from high alloy steel. However, after a small incident, interest in making knives fell away.
First steps in music
It was at this moment that Andrei Kotov became interested in music. First, he was shown three chords on the guitar by friends from the yard, and later he himself mastered this instrument by accidentally falling into the hands of a book. The first acquaintance with the drum took place at school. He played it in a pioneer squad at the moment when they carried the banner. Later, while studying at a technical school, the whole group was divided into three ensembles, which first performed at events inside the school.
Kotov Andrey Nikolaevich did not begin to sing, after he heard his voice from the side. At first, he played guitar in a band, and later sat down at the drums (when another member of the band couldn’t play his part correctly). It was with the technical school that Andrei's career began. Later he was selected in a jazz rock ensemble. There he met many beginner Sverdlovsk musicians.
Andrei entered the music school by chance. He helped a familiar guitarist pass the creative contest and was so liked by the head of the pop department that he invited him to study. The drummer entered immediately on the second year, but due to the lack of musical literacy he had to attend classes at once two years of training at the same time.
"Track"
Andrei met this group even before studying at a music school. The drummer of this group became a real teacher for Andrew. He explained the basics of
drumming to him. Yevgeny Dimov began training the young musician right away, as he was looking for a replacement and saw a talented young drummer who would be able to become a full member of the Track group.
The new group received Andrei coldly, but after the first rehearsals the team played. During this period, the musician realized that daily work on himself is important. After the army, he wanted to return to the "Track", but at that time the team almost broke up.
"Urfin Djus"
After the army, Andrei had to recover for a long time. For two years, he lost his form and could not immediately continue his studies at the school. To practice daily at home, Andrei buys drums (takes money from relatives). All summer the musician put his hands in order, practicing every other day. In parallel, he worked as a loader to return the money taken to the drums.
Later, Andrei managed to get to know the soloist of the group “Urfin Djus”. With this team, he went on his first tour of the country. There he first tried himself as a songwriter. The musician liked the new experience, he began to express his opinion and make corrections to the compositions more often.
"Agatha Christie"
Vadim Samoilov recalls that he was introduced to Andrey by the soloist Alexander Pantykin (he worked with Kotov in the groups “Cabinet” and “Urfin Djus”). Then the Samoilov brothers were looking for a permanent concert drummer for their group and made an offer to Kotov. At that time, he played in the April March group, where he actively worked on changing the musical sound of the band.
Drummer Kotov from Agatha Christie has firmly entered the history of Russian rock music. He experimented a lot with the team and survived, together with the Samoilov brothers, the rise of their career. The only thing that Andrei did not like was the scarcity of drum parts. He often tried to solo at performances, add something new.
In 2008, he leaves the group, having played 18 years in it. Andrei Kotov (Agatha Christie) did not give reasons for leaving for a long time. In several interviews, he mentioned that the team had simply outgrown. This can be considered true, since the Samoilov brothers at the end of 2008 (after they found new musicians) repeatedly said in the press that Kotov did not like the music he played. The musicians did not feel spiritual unity with him and very painfully accepted comments about the improvement of guitar parts.
In the place of Kotov Dmitry Khakimov (previously playing in the Naive group) came to the team, but soon the Agatha Christie group itself broke up. Now the Samoilov brothers have their own solo projects and practically do not communicate with each other.
Light shows and club projects
Kotov is currently involved in his own drum projects. He gives private lessons to young musicians and improves his own technique. His main projects are related to the symbiosis of drums and electronic music. Compositions in this style are suitable for club parties.
One of Andrei’s main achievements in recent years is his own light show. He sold it for the Bi-2 group on the Foreign cars tour and for the young Sugarfrey team from Estonia. For the first time, a light show was used during performances with “Agatha Christie” - at an anniversary concert in “Luzhniki”. Its peculiarity is that the work of strobe lights is synchronized with music and beat. The light control can be controlled from the scene. Now Andrei often experiments in this area and prepares his own show.
After successful experiments with stroboscopes, Andrei was asked to write a series of articles for professionals in the journal Empire of Light. Many young musicians are still consulting with Kotov about preparing unusual lighting accents for the show.