Boris Grebenshchikov (“BG” is a pseudonym) is a talented guitarist, composer and performer of popular music, the founder of the famous Russian rock band, organized back in the Soviet Union.
Until now, the musician enjoys phenomenal popularity and unprecedented recognition among domestic and foreign pop stars. And all thanks to his incredible abilities and bright unforgettable charisma.
What is remarkable about the biography of Boris Grebenshchikov? What is the story of his take-off and what is the secret of genius? This article provides answers to these and many other questions. And also posted photographs of Boris Grebenshchikov in his youth, in adulthood and at the moment.
Come from childhood
Little Borya was born in the late autumn of 1953, in the large and beautiful city of Leningrad. The parents of the future rock singer were educated and intelligent people. Mom Boris Grebenshchikov - Lyudmila Kharitonovna, held a responsible position in the research institute, father - Boris Alexandrovich, worked as a scientific engineer.
Subsequently, the renowned guitarist more than once claimed that he owed much to his mother in his life. It was she who introduced him to theater, music and literature, it was she who instilled in him a love of art and self-expression.
Lyudmila Kharitonovna taught her son to appreciate the beautiful, in whatever new, extraordinary form it may be. She introduced the boy to rock music, encouraged her not to be afraid to follow her talent, defended her father and believed in his lucky star.
Talented mathematician
Young Boris did not immediately realize his musical vocation. At first, he wanted to choose another life path - the path of a gifted hardworking scientist.
At school, the biography of Boris Grebenshchikov was associated with mathematics. The first years he studied at an elite city school. Then he moved to a secondary educational institution specializing in the deep study of mathematical sciences. The success of the guy was amazing.
The young Grebenshchikov decided to get higher education at a reputable university, choosing the specialty “applied mathematics”. It would seem that all of his fate is planned for several decades in advance: honors, research, academic titles ...
But life decreed otherwise.
The emergence of talent
In higher education, a talented mathematician became interested in music. And not the usual classics, but western rock and roll. He was fluent in English, so he could freely play foreign compositions, imitating foreign musicians in a manner and style of performance.
Passion for music turned out to be serious - the young Grebenshchikov created his own team, whose systematic rehearsals were constantly held in the university assembly hall.
Together with Anatoly Gunitsky (a school friend and creative ally), young Boris plunged into the creative search for his direction. At first, the guys wrote poetry in English, writing music in a Western manner. A little later, young people decided on their own style - they wanted to perform the repertoire only in their native language.
What was the name of the rock band created by Boris Grebenshchikov? "Aquarium". It was a modern ensemble, which had about half a year to carry out semi-underground activities, winning the hearts of hundreds and even thousands of listeners.
First record
Since the activities of “Aquarium” were illegal, Boris Grebenshchikov and the guys in his group performed rarely and in secret, and the records were recorded underground, by their own efforts and skills, without the necessary equipment and apparatus.
The first track of the group was the album “The Temptation of the Holy Aquarium”, which the musicians released in 1973. This disc was original and unlike the popular Russian rock of the Soviet period. The leader of the ensemble, putting his whole soul into this work, confidently declared himself as an exemplary and talented representative of world rock, harmoniously combined with Russian traditions and values.
This was followed by no less interesting albums “Minuet to the Farmer” and “Proverbs of the Count of Diffuser”, which are currently considered lost.
Around this period, new faces appeared in the group: Romanov, Feinstein, Groshevsky. They write and put on the student stage grotesque productions, more and more delving into artistic art. Against this background, a split occurred in the young rock band, and Grebenshchikov was almost alone.
New round
However, this situation did not affect his enthusiasm. The young man was full of energy and enthusiasm. He strenuously searched for new like-minded people, who turned out to be Alexandrov and Gakkel.
Together with them, the novice musician begins to purposefully achieve vocation. The guys are actively conducting concert activities, performing wherever there are people: in squares, parks, institutes. Of all the acoustic musical instruments and devices they had only a guitar, a cello, a flute and ... youthful enthusiasm.
In 1976, Boris Grebenshchikov's “Aquarium” boldly declares itself at a pop festival in Tallinn, where he is bold and uninvited. However, such an act pleased those present - the group was awarded a prize for the most interesting performance. Since then, the team began to often go on tour, and record companies began to allow semi-legal musicians to record their records.
Take-off and recovery
Thanks to this, such bright and unforgettable albums as “On the Other Side of the Mirror Glass”, “All Brothers-Sisters”, “Triangle”, “Children of December” and “Silver Day”, which differed from the previous ones with better sound recordings, saw the light.
At the spring rhythms in Tbilisi in 1980, the performances of Grebenshchikov and his company were marked by a huge scandal. Being representatives of Russian rock, the guys gave their best on stage that they stunned the audience with their shocking and eccentricity. They were accused of promoting homosexuality, incest and obscenity. And when the soloist, enthusiastically playing the guitar, lay on the stage, the refereeing committee defiantly left its seats.
The rumor about this speech caused a lot of speculation. Rock lovers turned their attention to a talented developing group, while critical authorities decided to punish the rock leader. He was fired from his job (at that time Grebenshchikov had worked as a junior research fellow at a research institute for several years).
To earn money and continue concert activity, a talented musician got a job as a janitor. At this time, for his concerts, he began to use a new kind of premises.
Tenants
In those days, children were often invited to listeners to the apartment, where they performed very quietly and carefully.
Since the group was banned throughout the USSR, attending such musical evenings was very dangerous not only for performers, but also for spectators. However, unlawful music was in unprecedented demand, so the “Aquarium” often went on an “apartment” tour.
In one of these sorties, an enterprising soloist met Sergei Kurekhin. Since then, the biography of Boris Grebenshchikov has changed dramatically.
The television
Thanks to the patronage of Kurekhin, “Aquarium” was invited to the broadcast of “Merry Guys”, where the musicians performed a song that was popular in those years about two tractor drivers.
After that, the team received more invitations to participate in television programs and broadcasts, which increased its all-Union popularity.
1980s
During this period, Grebenshchikov, together with his group, began to conduct open concert activities. He performed mainly in the capital and Leningrad, simultaneously publishing English-language records, recording music for popular films, producing Viktor Tsoi and working on his own projects.
In the late 1980s, Grebenshchikov performed several times in concerts in the West (both his own and with the group).
Search for yourself
The troubled mood of the 1990s affected the rock group Grebenshchikov. March 1991 was marked by the last month of the team, but a few weeks later it was announced the creation of a new group, where familiar faces flashed - “BG Band”.
The newly created team continued the idea of ​​Russian rock, marked by an unusual repertoire. In the group’s performances, religious images of the Orthodox Church began to appear, which was considered relevant and topical for the era of that time.
“BG-Band” conducted an active exit activity. Having visited the largest cities of Russia and Ukraine, he held about two hundred bright and unforgettable concerts.
However, the ensemble did not last long. He was replaced by another team with the old name - “Aquarium”, which after that several times changed the composition and repertoire.
Album list
Below is the most outstanding discography of Boris Grebenshchikov of that time:
- 1983 - Radio Africa.
- 1984 - Silver Day.
- 1986 - "Children of December."
- 1988 - The Equinox.
- 1990 - The Black Rose.
- 1992 - The Archive.
- 1993 - The Library of Babylon.
- 1994 - "Sands of Petersburg".
- 1995 - The Navigator.
- 1996 - The Snow Lion.
- 1997 - Hyperborea.
- 2000 - "Territory".
- 2002 - "Sister Chaos".
- 2003 - "Fisherman's Songs".
- 2005 - "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM".
- 2006 - "Carefree Russian tramp."
- 2007 - Feudalism.
- 2008 - The White Horse.
- 2009 - "Pushkinskaya 10".
- 2010 - "Day of joy."
- 2010 - "Our life in terms of trees."
- 2010 - Notes on Flora and Fauna.
- 2011 - Arkhangelsk.
- 2012 - The Secret History of Beekeeping.
- 2012 - "Ballooning in the company of the Sphinxes."
- 2013 - "Aquarium +".
- 2016 - "Songs of the Unloved EP".
In addition, the singer released several solo albums, impressive with their extraordinary originality, courage and straightforwardness.
What is the remarkable biography of Boris Grebenshchikov now?
Modern activity
Currently, an outstanding musician takes an active life position in relation to the musical life of the country. He often gives concerts, appears on television and radio programs, writes books and starred in films.
A lot is known about the past and modern personal lives of Boris Grebenshchikov.
Personal life
The rock musician was married several times. His first wife was Natalia Kozlovskaya, an engineer-economist by profession. The daughter of Boris Grebenshchikov from his first marriage, Alice is now a famous actress.
The second marriage was with Lyudmila Shurygina, an artist by education. From this union, the couple gave birth to a son, Gleb, who is currently working with his father in his famous group.
The third wife of Grebenshchikov, with whom he has been living for more than twenty years, is Irina Titova. Her children from their first marriage became adopted children of a rock musician.
As you can see, each member of this large family is united by a love of music and art. And this is not surprising, because the father of the family is the famous and talented Boris Grebenshchikov!