Kirpichi

Kirpichi
Origin	Saint Petersburg
Genres	Rapcore Funk
Labels	SHOCK-Records Gala Records
Associated acts	Spermadonarz Won James Won
Website
Members	Vasiliy Vasin - MC, guitar Danila Smirnov - MC, DJ, bass guitar Vadim Latyshev - MC, drums
Past members	Evgeniy Nazarov (deceased) - MC, drums, Ivan Ludevig - guitar

Kirpichi (translated as 'Bricks') is one of the most influential alternative groups in Russia, which formed in 1995 as "Bricks Are Heavy".

History

Early years and rise to fame

Date of group's birth is 15 May 1995, when founder of the group Vasya V. (Vasiliy Vasin) with Stas Sytnik and Kirill Solovyev played first concert in the Peterburg's House Of Pioneers. All songs were in English. Up to 1996 group has written concert album "Live in Polygon", which is rarity now. Same time with "Bricks Are Heavy" in Saint Petersburg was formed the group "Numb Paramour", which further became a star in underground. It consists from Danny Boy (Danila Smirnov), Jay (Evgeniy Nazarov), Ilya Petrovsky and man called Nils. Because of heavily member's rotation they disbanded in 1996.
Then two groups united to give concerts and wrote some songs in incorporated lineup, but in short times many people left the group to another project, and remained trio (Vasya, Danila and Evgeniy) renamed group to Kirpichi. In May 1996 Vasya's father gave them money to record some stracks and then he made a deal with SHOCK-Records label, and soon they published album "Kirpichi tyazhely" ('Bricks are heavy'), which compiled from translated versions of previous songs. Presentation concert earn them a popularity both at public, and famous artists like Tequilajazzz, and guys fixed they fame with "Bajka" video, which was in heavy rotation on air and on TV. Fuzz magazine, very authoritative that time, awarded them as "Best new artist of the year".
In 1997 and 1998 group was heavily toured, played on many festivals and made an opening show for Biohazard. That's why, new album "Smert' na reive" ('Death at the party') was published only in 1999, under the Gala Records label. From this recording began a hip-hop era in their history. Vasya and Danila hosted a program about hip-hop culture on the Rekord radio, which helped to grow a popularity of hip-hop in country. But old fans of group was satisfied too, because at the live shows group played both hip-hop and hard music. Recording of the third album was fast in spite of the heavy alcohol and drugs using by the members of group. Tragedy happened week before the release, on February 18, 2000, when drummer Evgeniy Nazarov died from overdose. New album "Kapitalizm 00" ('Capitalism-2000') contained songs with simply, but very deep lyrics over hip-hop beats. Also album contained a tribute song to Jay.

New millennium

Fourth album of group "Sila Uma" ('Power of mind'), by critics' and crew members' opinions, is the best album of group. It contains songs in different styles, mostly in hip-hop, with catchy and clever lyrics (Vasya consider them like best that he wrote). Album also contains most famous song by group, "Dzedai" ('Jedis'). After this recording Kirpichi was considered as flagships of Russian rapcore, but next album, 2004 "Let's Rock!" broke all stereotypes because of its hardcore style. Next record, 2005 "Tsarsky albom" ('Tzar's album') consisted from love ballads in alternative rock style. The most recent album to date, 2006 "Seven" is group's traditional mix of styles. It recorded quite fast to leave Gala Records label (according to the deal, Kirpichi must have wrote 7 albums for label). In the early 2008, in Moscow club "Tochka" Kirpichi made a big show by their 13th birthday, where were played some tracks from upcoming album.

Discography