Group "Earth": the composition of the group, photo

For the whole country, and even abroad, the "Zemlyane" group is known. The composition of the group has changed many times. In this article we will try to trace it, and also tell about the main events of the history of the collective. First, we briefly talk about "Earthlings", and then we will dwell in greater detail on the important points associated with them.

A Brief History of the Group

The history of this collective begins in 1969. Then still, however, his name was different - "April". The musicians acquired their current name in the late 1970s. At first, their repertoire contained only English-language songs. Musicians were widely recognized after they began to perform songs in their native language. They wrote the song "Red horse" Mark Fradkin in 1979.

The popularity of the band increased even more when in 1982 they performed the song "Forgive the Earth" by L. Derbenev and V. Dobrynin, as well as the "Stuntmen" cycle. But the visiting card of the collective is "Grass near the house" performed by S. Skachkov. Until now, it is an honorable hit of Russian feasts. This song became a hymn of emigrants. In addition, many Russian astronauts took a cassette with it into orbit. The total circulation of the records of the band, produced by Melodiya alone, is about 15 million copies.

What were the "Zemlyans" distinguished among other collectives

It should be noted that the "Earthmen" favorably stood out among the Soviet performers. They used at their concerts a lot of pyrotechnic and lighting effects, art and hardcore arrangements, forced sound. And the image of the group's members reminded the residents of the Soviet Union of foreign rockers of the 1970s. "Earthlings" had the best sound and light equipment in the country. They were able to achieve the impossible from the Soviet censorship: the musicians created arrangements of their songs, which were not inferior in quality to music performed by well-known western bands of the time, such as Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and even the Rolling Stones.

Peak of popularity

For the 1980s, the peak of popularity of this group. At that time, musicians used to have 30 outlets monthly. For one especially successful year the group managed to become a laureate as many as three international competitions: in Dresden, Sopot and Yalta. "Earthlings" were in those years even more popular than rock monsters like "DDT", "Time Machine", "Alice". And now the famous Andrei Makarevich in the 80's acted as the opening act for the band "Zemlyane" (the old band).

Collective in 2000

In November 2006, the band celebrated its 30th anniversary. The State Kremlin Palace, Luzhniki Stadium and the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg hosted jubilee concerts, during which famous Western performers from Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Nazareth and others appeared on stage with musicians. On November 25, 2009, a concert- Festival "This song became the Hymn". It was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the song "Grass Near the House". The concert was held with the participation of cosmonauts, pop stars and public figures. By the decision of Roskosmos on November 25, 2009, the composition "Grass at Home", which has long become an unofficial hymn of Russian cosmonautics, has now been granted official status.

"Earthlings" now

Currently, the group continues touring and concert activity. In addition, musicians perform at various professional and city festive events, as well as on television.

Now let's talk more about the history of this group.

Education of the collective "April"

Vladimir Vladimirovich Kiselev, a well-known rock-businessman and music producer, arrived in Leningrad in the early 1970s (he comes from Western Ukraine). Kiselev first was a drummer, performed in various restaurant and amateur ensembles. Then he created his own group "April" (in the spring of 1975). Later Vladimir settled himself as a drummer in VIA "Singing Guitars", but after a while decided to return to the idea of "April". In 1976 the collective was replenished with new musicians from Rossians, a disbanded group. It included Oleg Gusev, Boris Aksenov, Igor Romanov and others.

Two groups of "Earthmen"

In September 1978, the group found its base at the Palace of Culture. Dzerzhinsky. According to the documentation, it was held instead of "Earthmen", disintegrated by that time. "Earthlings," that is, the group Myasnikov, which existed since the 70's, decided to meet in late 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. Kiselev, and therefore she had to change her name to "Atlas".

Group "Earth": the first composition

So, the group of interest to us began its existence with a new name. By that time, the following musicians were listed in the "Earthmen" Kiselev:

• V. Kiselev (drums);
• I. Romanov (guitar);
• V. Kudryavtsev (guitar-vocals);
• Yu. Starchenko (keyboards);
• P. Borisov (bass);
• N. Kudryavtsev (vocals);
• V. Stepanova (vocals).

Group "Earth" (1 composition) interested Mark Fradkin, known at the time of the 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-plate.

The first lineup of the "Zemlyane" group (the surnames were listed above) remained unchanged for a very short time, like all the rest. After reading this article, you will see that the history of the collective is quite complicated. Many musicians left him, many were members of the "Zemlyane" group. The photo presented above was done several years ago.

Kuzbass

However, the relationship with the official structures of the city of Leningrad, despite this, the musicians did not add up. "Earthlings", like many other rock groups in the country, found shelter in the Kuzbass. In August 1979 they signed a contract with the Kemerovo Philharmonic. Thus, the group secured for itself legal concert performances and earnings. Then the musicians went on tour to the cities of the Urals and Siberia. It should be noted that the "Earthmen" were a group of "native" LenKontsert only from January to November 1985. Prior to that, they visited the team that operated at the Kaluga Philharmonic, then at the Tashkent circus (since December 1985). After that the group "Zemlyane" finally moved to Moscow.

The composition of the group is updated

By that time, Boris Aksenov (a multi-instrumentalist who had previously played in the Rossians, April and the Sun), Yuri Dmitrienko (keyboard player) and I. Dembovsky (singer) joined the team. Leave N. Kudryavtsev, V. Stepanova and P. Borisov. The conflict situation later leads to the departure of I. Romanov and I. Dembowski. They were replaced by A. Titov (bass) and Yu. Ilchenko (guitar, vocals).

However, Kiselev soon returns to the group of Romanov, who in early 1979 brings with him the vocalist and keyboard player Sergei Skachkov. With this musician they worked in the band "Kakadu", popular at that time. From this moment, the peculiar timbre of Sergei Skachkov's voice determines the inimitable "earthen" sound.

Skachkov before the creation of "Cockatoo" (since 1974) participated in the group created by him "April". It turns out that by that time two groups with the same name were performing in Leningrad simultaneously. However, the paths of these collectives did not overlap, they were not personally acquainted.

New Changes

Many are interested in what was then the group "Zemlyane" (composition of 1983). It is no wonder, because by this time important changes have occurred. The composition of the group "Zemlyane" (1983) should be noted separately.

Kiselev decides to concentrate on administrative activities. In addition, A. Kruglov becomes a drummer. Then in "Integral" goes Yu Ilchenko, and A. Titov - in "August", and then in "Aquarium" and "Cinema". Kiselev introduces the team to the composer V. Miguley. So there are very successful in all respects, including in commercial, hits "Earthmen" - "Karate", "Grass at home", "Stuntmen". These songs beat all records of popularity.

Increased popularity and pressure

With the inexorable progression, the number of tours and concerts is growing. Cooperation with variety composers and poets, of course, causes a negative attitude towards the group from the side of independent rock apologists. However, the group is experiencing no less pressure from official structures, although outwardly they seem to be loyal to them. The musicians are criticized for their overly free and free behavior on stage, for a concert sound that is described as "cosmodrome-loud". The technical pro-westernness of their image, the spectacle of the performances, and the special effects used are also displeasing. Despite all these moments, the combination of complex ballads with canons of mass variety attracts a diverse and wide audience to "Earthers".

New composition and image

In October 1985, the collective left the frontman I. Romanov, because he was a supporter of a heavier sound. Later Igor created a metal quintet called "Soyuz". Romanov lured to himself and V. Brusilovsky, who a little earlier replaced A. Kruglov behind the drums.

V. Kiselev in 1986 makes an attempt to radically change the image of musicians. The members of the group are changing, a new program is being created that is close in style to the weighted boogie-woogie. Finally, by the end of 1986, the composition of the collective was stabilizing. It becomes:

• V. Kiselev, S. Skachkov, S. Vasiliev, B. Aksenov - guitar;
• Yu. Babenko - guitar;
• A. Lobachev - guitar;
• Yu. Zhuchkov - vocals;
• G. Tonkilidi - percussion;
• I. Kovalev - the bass.

I. Kovalev in the spring of 1987 leaves the band, he is replaced by bass player A. Krivtsov. After that, "Earthmen" are again taken to storm the musical Olympus.

Decrease in rating, performances with Uriah Heep

However, by this time the legalization of rock music in the state splashes out on the stage a lot of different teams that used to be underground. And the rating of "Zemlyan" among young people, despite sold-out concerts, as well as a successful performance at the international festival in Dresden ("Shlyager-87"), is gradually falling. In the press there are negative assessments of joint concerts of the band with the band Uriah Heep. It was first held in December 1987, when the corsairs of the western rock Uriah Heep first visited the USSR. Gradually, the band "Zemlyane" is leaving for the foreign scene.

The composition is again changing by this time. The group left B. Aksenov and A. Lobachev. Disagreements continue in the team related to the music policy.

Foreign tours, "Orient Express" and the end of the group's existence

In 1987 the band took part in the Dresden festival, receiving two prizes - "For the best performance of the German song" and "For high professionalism". All the prize was given to the Soviet Peace Fund. After that, V. Kiselev leaves Zemlyans, who entrusts the management of the group to Boris Zosimov.

In foreign trips the collective begins as "Orient Express". And in our country with this name "Earthlings" first performed in September 1989. In 1991 the band returned from foreign tours in the following composition:

• S. Vasiliev (guitar);
• Yu. Zhuchkov (vocals);
• Yu Tyurin (drums);
• Yu. Babenko (bass);
• Director of the team - S. Protodyakonov.

At home the musicians for some reason once again declare themselves as a group of "Earthmen". The composition in 1992 disintegrates, as the collective ceases to exist. This happened against the background of general shocks in our country.

Revival of the collective

At the end of 1994 there was a double disc "Best hits", the group again looking for a permanent composition. By the fall of 1995, the group "Zemlyane" changed its face again. The composition of the group is replenished by the following musicians:

• Yu. Levachev, S. Skachkov (bass);
• G. Martov (guitar);
• L. Khaikin (drums).

Later joins M. Ivanov (keyboardist). Again, "Earthmen" start touring, performing new compositions. About the further destiny of this collective we have briefly told in the first half of the article. In 2000 the group "Zemlyane" continued its activity. The composition of the group, as you can see, was not permanent, but this did not prevent it from succeeding.