Leningrad (band)

Leningrad

Leningrad performing in 2007. Shnurov (left) and Baretsky
Background information
Also known as Gruppirovka Leningrad
Origin Saint Petersburg, Russia
Genres Ska-punk
Ska
Shanson
Punk rock
Years active 1997–2008 2010–
Labels Gala Records
O.G.I. Records
Website Official website
Members Sergei Shnurov
Vyacheslav Antonov
Aleksandr Popov
Andrey Antonenko
Denis Mozhin
Grigoriy Zontov
Roman Parygin
Florida Chanturia
Vasilisa Starshova
Andrey Kurayev
Ilya Rogachevskiy
Konstantin Limonov
Vladislav Aleksandrov
Aleksey Kanev "Lekha"

Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград), also known as Gruppirovka Leningrad (Russian: Группировка "Ленинград") and Bandformirovanie Leningrad (Russian: Бандформирование "Ленинград"), is a popular Russian rock band from Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), led by Sergey "Shnur" Shnurov.

Composed of 14 members, the band was founded in the late 1990s. Leningrad soon became notorious for vulgar lyrics (including lots of Russian mat) and celebration of alcoholism, which were also the main reasons most radio stations initially avoided the band. This did not stop Leningrad's growing popularity, partly because of the rich brass sound. The band eventually made its way to radio and TV (with censored words bleeped out), with Shnurov even presenting some New Year's Eve TV shows.

In 2007 the group began experimenting with female backup vocals, finally choosing jazz singer Yuliya Kogan as a permanent band member.

Disbanded in 2008, Leningrad reunited in 2010. Several new songs and videos have been released since, most of them featuring lead vocals by Kogan rather than Shnur.

Cultural impact

As Shnurov said himself: "Our songs are just about the good sides of life, vodka and girls that is."

The band was so disliked by the then mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov, that he cancelled all of its attempted large-scale events in the city during his term in office.[1] Leningrad's numerous performances in Moscow were therefore limited to privately owned night clubs and bars.

A particular focus of the band's lyrics are mainstream cultural and political clichés. Kandidaty - pidory ("Candidates are faggots"), the refrain of their 2007 song "Vybory", became a widespread post-Soviet meme referring to electoral abstention. The 2010 song I Bolsche Nikovo ("And Nobody Else (That I Love"))[2] addresses Saint Petersburg's intended image as "Russia's cultural capital", ridiculed with the use of mat and references to alcoholism and street crime.

Shnurov is also fond of ridiculing Russian pop music and pop rock by covering the songs of popular performers and then inviting them to appear with Leningrad live on stage.

Soundtracks

Leningrad songs appeared in several popular pulp and crime films, notably DMB and Bimmer. Three songs by Leningrad appeared prominently on the soundtrack to the 2005 film Everything Is Illuminated. "Nikogo Ne Zhalko" is one of the songs used in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.[3] In 2015, Leningrad's song "Lastochka" was featured in the ending credits of the vampire horror comedy "What We Do In The Shadows."

Current line-up

Past members

Discography

Year Title Translation Other information
1999ПуляBullet
1999Мат без электричестваMat without the electricity (idiomatically, "Mat Unplugged" or "Acoustic Mat"
2000ДачникиDacha People
2001Пуля+ (Диск 1)Bullet+ (Disc 1)
2001Пуля+ (Диск 2)Bullet+ (Disc 2)
2001Маде ин жопаMade in the Ass
2002Пираты XXI векаPirates of the 21st Century
2002ТочкаPoint Contains the song "Money"
2003Ленинград уделывает Америку (Диск 1)Leningrad does America (Disc 1)
2003Ленинград уделывает Америку (Диск 2)Leningrad does America (Disc 2)
2003Второй МагаданскийSecond Magadan
2003Для миллионовFor MillionsContains the song "Меня зовут Шнур".
2004БабароботFembot
2004(Не) Полное собрание сочинений(Un) Collected Works Greatest Hits Record
2005ХуйняBullshitCollaboration with The Tiger Lillies.
2006ХлебBreadGerman release of Хлеб
2006Бабье летоIndian Summer
2007АврораAurora
2011ХнаHenna
2011Вечный огоньThe Eternal FireInternet release, wasn't released on CD yet
2012РыбаFish

References

  1. ↑ Запрещенная Лужковым группа «Ленинград» выступит в поддержку его соперника Лебедева
  2. ↑ Official MP3 release, additionally ridiculing Madonna.
  3. ↑ appearing on the set list for a mock Russian-themed radio station in the game called Vladivostok FM.
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