Alisa

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

• Recorded with Svetoslav Zaderii on vocals, before Kinchev joined

Live albums

Compilation albums

Band members

Current line up

• Konstantin Kinchev - vocals (1985–present)
• Evgeny Lyovin - guitar (1998–present), ex - N.E.P.
• Igor Romanov - guitar (2003–present) ex - Zemlyane, N.E.P.
• Petr Samoylov - bass (1984–present)
• Andrey Vdovichenko - drums (2003–present), ex - N.E.P.
• Dmitri Parfyonov - keyboards (2000–present)

Former members

• Svetoslav "Alisa" Zadery - bass, vocals (1983–1985)
• Andrey Shatalin - guitar (1983–2003)
• Mikhail Nefedov - drums (1983–2003)
• Pavel "Pol Khan" Kondratenko - keyboards (1983–1988)
• Alexander Zhuravlev - saxophone (1987–1988)
• Igor "Chuma" Chumychkin - guitar (1988–1993)
• Andrey Korolev - keyboards (1989–1993)
• Alexander Ponomarev - guitar (1996–1998)
• Boris Borisov - vocals, saxophone (1983)
• Lyudmila "Teri" Kolot - vocals (1986)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alisa.

• Official Alisa website, in Russian
• Fan website, in Russian
• Alisa pictures, in Russian
• Russian Rock. Alisa Band at the Wayback Machine (archived July 6, 2007), short history in English
• "Do Rock and Orthodoxy Have Anything in Common?". Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2005.  CS1 maint: Unfit url (link) Pravda 17 December 2003, in English
• Alisa discography at MusicBrainz
• Alisa on RussMus.Net: English translations to lyrics and more, in English