Alisa

For the Serbian pop rock band of the same name, see Alisa (Serbian band). For other uses, see Alisa (disambiguation).
Алиса
Alisa

L-R: Romanov, Kinchev, Samoylov, Levin
Background information
Also known as Alisa
Origin Leningrad, Soviet Union
Genres New wave, post-punk, punk rock (early)
Hard rock, heavy metal, Christian rock, Christian metal, folk metal, industrial metal, alternative rock (recent)
Years active 1983-present
Website Official website
Members Konstantin Kinchev
Petr Samoylov
Eugeny Levin
Igor Romanov
Andrey Vdovichenko
Dmitri Parfyonov
Past members Svyatoslav Zadery
Mikhail Nefedov
Andrey Shatalin
Igor Chumychkin

Alisa (Russian: Алиса[1]) is a Russian hard rock band, who are credited as one of the most influential bands in the Russian rock movement.

Biography

Alisa was formed in November 1983 by bassist Svyatoslav Zadery. The band's name originated from Zadery's nickname. The band's lineup was finally completed in 1984, when new vocalist Kostya Kinchev (real name Konstantin Panfilov) and guitarist Petr Samoylov joined. Their debut album Energia was recorded between 1985 and 1986, released by state publishing monopoly Melodiya in 1988 and sold more than a million copies.

But the relations between two leaders, Konstantin and Zadery, were deteriorating, and finally Svyatoslav departed from the band. This occurred just one hour before Alisa was to perform at a concert. Alisa had to ask Kino bassist Igor Tihomirov to replace him for one concert. Later Zadery created his own band Nateh! (Russian: НАТЕ! - "Take that!"). Zadery died on 6 May 2011 due to complications from a stroke at the age of 50.[2]

The growing popularity of the band created a fan community called the Army of Alisa, known for their rough behaviour at concerts. It led to animosity between the band and Soviet officials. In 1987, the newspaper Smena accused Alisa's leader Kinchev of Nazi propaganda and worshiping Hitler. Kinchev filed a suit for calumny and moral loss compensation. After the year-long court process the magazine published the refutation. Alisa's next album was titled Article 206 part 2, a chapter ("Hooliganism") of the USSR Procedural Code, alluding to this process. It was recorded in 1989, but would not be released until 1994 due to the tapes going missing.

Alisa performing at Kavarna Rock Fest 2013

There were more changes in 1988, when guitarist Igor "Chuma" Chumychkin joined the band. This change was followed by the heavier sound of next two albums, Shabash and For those Who Fell From the Moon. Alisa toured through Europe and Israel together with fellow Russian heavy metal band Aria. The album Black Mark, released in 1994, was dedicated to the memory of Chuma, who committed suicide by jumping from a window.

In the new millennium, with albums such as Seychas Pozdnee Chem Ty Dumaesh (It is Later Than You Think, 2003) and Izgoy (Exile, 2005), the sound of Alisa was changed to a heavier one, including elements of nu, industrial and Heavy Metal. Music critics credited Clawfinger as Kinchev's greatest new music influence. This gave Alisa a new fan base among Russian hard rock fans, and three songs from Izgoy continually reached the top of the NASHE radio chart. Follow-up "Stat Severa" and "Puls Hranitelia Dverey Labyrintha" were less alternative-oriented and made a blend of older and newer styles. Alisa shot a video for the Wolfhound fantasy movie, though the song itself was cut from the soundtrack.

According to public polls, Alisa enjoys high popularity in Russia and around, ranking among top ten most popular russian rock bands,[3] and ranked 1st in Komsomolskaya Pravda readers poll.[4]

Lyrics and relations with the Faith

Kinchev was baptized in 1992 after a series of concerts in Jerusalem, and since then Christianity has been the main influence on his direction and his lyrics. Although early Alisa lyrics were typical for Russian rock - social protest and rock 'n' roll hype - since the late 1990s their main theme has been ideas of Christianity, as well as Russian patriotism and nationalism.

Konstantin is in good relations with the priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, especially Andrey Kuraev. The band has participated in many religion-supporting festivals, such as Musicians for the Christ Savior Cathedral.

Kinchev's fairly conservative religious-patriotic shift was viewed unfavourably by some old fans that liked Alisa for their original "rock" message. Still others are put off by his antisemitism – among other things, he has referred to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as a credible source.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Энергия Energiya Energy 1988
Блок Ада Blok Ada Block of Hell / Blockade 1989
Шестой Лесничий Shestoy Lesnichy Sixth Ranger 1989
Для Тех, Кто Свалился с Луны Dlya Tekh, Kto Svalilsya s Luny For Those Who Fell from the Moon 1993
Чёрная Метка Chyornaya Metka Black Mark 1994
Статья 206 часть 2 Statya 206 chast 2 Article 206 part 2 1994
Jazz Jazz Jazz 1996
Кривозеркалье Krivozerkalye Through the Crooked Glass 1997*
Дурень Duren' Stupid 1998
Солнцеворот Solntsevorot Solstice 2000
Танцевать Tantsevat' To Dance 2001
Сейчас Позднее, Чем Ты Думаешь Seychas Pozdnee, Chem Ty Dumayesh It Is Later Than You Think 2003
Изгой Izgoy Exile 2005
Стать Севера Stat Severa Grace of the North 2007
Пульс Хранителя Дверей Лабиринта Puls Khranitelya Dverey Labirinta The Pulse of Labyrinth's Doors Keeper 2008
Ъ Ъ (Tverdii Znak) Ъ ( The Hard Sign - Russian Letter) 2010
20.12 (Двадцать Двенадцать) 20.12 (Dvadtsat Dvenadtsat) 20.12 (Twenty Twelve) 2011
Саботаж Sabotazh Sabotage 2012
Цирк Tsirk Circus 2014
Эксцесс Ekstsess Excess 2016

Live albums

Original title Translation Year and venue Year of release
Шабаш Sabbath 1990, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium 1991
На Шаболовке At Shabolovka 1995, Moscow, Shabolovka 1995
Акустика часть 1 Acoustics vol.1 1988, Perm 1995
Акустика часть 2 Acoustics vol.2 1985, Leningrad 1997
Пляс Сибири на берегах Невы Dance of Siberia on Neva Shores 1997, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny 1998
Акустика часть 3 Acoustics vol.3 1988, Pskov 2000
Акустика часть 4 Acoustics vol.4 1986, Novosibirsk 2002
Мы Вместе XX лет We Are Together XX years 2003, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny 2005
Звезда по имени рок Star Called Rock 2005, Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium 2007

Compilation albums

Original title Translation Year of release
Red Wave: 4 Underground Bands from the USSR 1986
Легенды Русского Рока Legends of Russian Rock 1997
Энциклопедия Русского Рока Encyclopedia of Russian Rock 2000
13 2003

Band members

Current line up

Former members

References

  1. ↑ Russian analogue to the female name Alice
  2. ↑ Святослав Задерий. Биографическая справка (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 7 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Ромир: Цифры и факты
  4. ↑ Группы, которые изменили наш мир — Комсомольская правда
  5. ↑ Kinchev responding on Alisa's website forum

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alisa.
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