Alisa

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Not to be confused with former Yugoslav rock band Alisa
Алиса
Also known as Alisa
Origin USSR, Russia
Genre(s) Hard rock
Years active 1983–present
Website http://www.alisa.net
Members
Konstantin Kinchev (vocal)
Petr Samoylov (bass)
Eugeny Levin (guitar)
Igor Romanov (guitar)
Andrey Vdovichenko (drums)
Dmitry Parfenov (keyboard)

Alisa (Russian: Алиса, Russian analogue to the female name Alice) is a Russian hard rock band, which is credited as one of the most influential bands in the Russian rock movement.


Contents

[edit] Biography

Alisa was founded in November 1983 by Svetoslav Zadery (bass). The name he gave to his band was his call, connected to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The band's lineup was finally completed in 1984, when new vocalist Kostya Kinchev (real name Konstantin Panfilov) and guitarist Petr Samoylov joined Alisa. Their debut album Energia was released by state publishing monopoly Melodiya and was sold in numbers of more than one million.

But the relations between two leaders - Konstantin and Zadery - were bad, and finally Svetoslav 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 'Nate!' ('Take it!').

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 Kinchev of Nazi propaganda and worshipping Hitler. Alisa's leader 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.

There were new lineup changes in 1988, when guitarist Igor 'Chuma' Chumykin joined Alisa. This change was followed by the heavier sound of next albums Shabash and For those Who Fell From the Moon. Alisa toured through Europe and Israel together with Aria. The album Black Mark, 1994, was dedicated to the memory of Chuma, who committed suicide by jumping from the 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 "Kluch Hranitelia Dverey Labyrintha" were less alternative-oriented and made a blend of older and newer styles. Alisa shot a video for Wolfhound fantasy movie, though the song itself was cut from the soundtrack.

[edit] Lyrics and relations with the Faith

Kinchev was baptised in 1990, and since then Christianity has been the main influence on his alignment and his lyrics. Although early Alisa lyrics were typical for Russian rock - the social protest and rock 'n' roll hype - since the late 1990's their main theme has been ideas of Christianity, Russian patriotism, and Slavic unity.

Konstantin is in good relations with the priests of the Russian Orthodox Church, especially Andrey Kuraev. Alisa 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 with some old fans that liked Alisa for their original "rock" message.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Кривозеркалье Krivozerkalye Through the Crooked Glass 1984
Поколение Х Pokolenie X Generation X 1985
Энергия Energiya Energy 1985
Блок Ада Blok Ada Block of Hell 1987
Шестой Лесничий Shestoy Lesnichy Sixth Ranger 1989
Статья 206 часть 2 Statya 206 chast 2 Article 206 part 2 1989
Шабаш Shabash Sabbath 1991*
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
Jazz Jazz Jazz 1996
Дурень Duren Stupid 1998
Солнцеворот Solntsevorot Equinoxe 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 Trait of North 2007
Пульс Хранителя Дверей Лабиринта Puls Khranitelya Dverey Labirinta The Pulse of Labyrinth's Doors Keeper 2008

Shabash was recorded live, and may also be counted as a live album.

[edit] Live albums

Original title Translation Year and venue
Акустика часть 1 Acoustics vol.1 1988, Perm
Акустика часть 2 Acoustics vol.2 1985, Leningrad
Акустика часть 3 Acoustics vol.3 1988, Pskov
Акустика часть 4 Acoustics vol.4 1986, Novosibirsk
Шабаш Sabbath 1990, Moscow,
На Шаболовке At Shabolovka 1995, Moscow, Shabolovka
Пляс Сибири на берегах Невы Dance of Siberia on Neva Shores 1997, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny
Мы Вместе XX лет We Are Together XX years 2003, St-Petersburg, Jubileiny

[edit] 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 13 2003

[edit] Band members

Current:

  • Konstantin Kinchev (vocals) - since 1985
  • Petr Samoylov (bass) - since 1984
  • Evgeny Levin (guitar) - since 1998
  • Igor Romanov (guitar) - since 2003
  • Dmitry Parfenov (keyboard) - since 2000
  • Andrey Vdovichenko (drums) - since 2003

Former:

  • Svetoslav "Alisa" Zadery (bass, vocal) - 1983-1985
  • Andrey Shatalin (guitar) - 1983-2003
  • Mikhail Nefedov (drums) - 1983-2003
  • Pavel "Pol Khan" Kondratenko (keyboard) - 1983-1987
  • Alexander Zhuravlev (saxophone) - during 1987-1988
  • Igor "Chuma" Chumykin (guitar) - 1989-1993
  • Andrey Korolev (keyboard) - 1989-1993
  • Alexander Ponomarev (guitar) - 1996-1998
  • Alisa Trewartha (accordion) - 1990-2000
  • Boris Borisov (vocals, saxophone) - 1983
  • Teri (vocals) - 1985

[edit] External references

Languages