The best rock bands in Russia: a list, names

Russian rock is an ambiguous cultural phenomenon, but this genre remains interesting, rich in talents. In addition, it is dynamic. Fans are pleased with the new and already loved songs of numerous rock bands in Russia. The list of them is constantly updated. Let's talk about the most talented and popular musicians. Let's remember the best rock bands in Russia, we will trace the main milestones of their creativity, and also we will understand with a genre accessory.

The birth of Russian rock

Everything began in the 60s of the twentieth century. Then began to appear domestic teams playing in the manner of foreign Beatles, "Rolling Stones" and "Beach Boys". Rock'n'roll originated, albeit different from the canonical one, fitted for Soviet realities, but already real, its own, domestic.

Rock was forbidden. But the first alternative musical groups tried at all costs to convey the motives of their creativity to the fans. They were groups "Slavs", "Skomorokhs", "Falcon". A little later the collective "Integral" appeared, which became widely known in the 70s. In 1968 the group The Kids was formed - the future famous "Time Machine".

1970s: rock under the yoke

This decade was, perhaps, the most difficult in the history of the genre. Officially heavy music was banned, it was not supported by the leadership of the Soviet Union. Creative teams during this period did their best not to stand out, many chose the path of least resistance - the formation of vocal-instrumental ensembles (VIA) and work within the allowed.

But even then, many groups were not afraid to work on the canons of the chosen genre, although they had to be in the "underground". "Time Machine" in these years, recorded music on the sly, at night, in the speech studio GITIS. But the new group "Resurrection", due to its easier sounding, sometimes performs at concerts, and "Leap Year" is working on recording the first magnetoalbum.

In the early 70's appeared "Aquarium". At the end of the decade, groups such as "Magnetic Band", "Picnic" and "Autograph" arose.

"Thaw" and the persecution of the 80s

In 1981, the first rock club was opened in St. Petersburg. This event meant a lot to the music of those years, because now alternative collectives could come out of the "underground". However, freedom did not last long: in two years the heavy music again turned out to be banned. This time the rockers were called parasites, real persecution began.

Two years later, rock became allowed again. In Moscow, then, a rock laboratory opened - a special organization designed to regulate the activities of collectives and performers who play heavy music. By this time "Kino", "Alisa", "Auktsion", "Bravo", "Nautilus Pompilius", "DDT" were formed.

90s: a truly Russian rock

The last decade of the twentieth century was the beginning of freedom. In the 90's, the first rock bands of Russia appeared on the stage. The list of the new state's teams playing exceptionally heavy music was truly impressive: "Agatha Christie", "Nogu svelo!", "Semantic hallucinations", "Mumiy Troll", "7B", "Spleen", "Zemfira" and many others.

This decade was also a landmark in terms of freedom of choice of style. Russian music was enriched with punk, alternative, power and symphonic metal, grunge, emo and rapcore. Representatives of each of these areas worked within the chosen style, their music was in many respects typical, and new trends always came to Russia from the West.

Heavy music in the new millennium

Almost all the styles that existed in the 90s of the last century have passed into the present century. Many of the teams formed in the new millennium have returned to the sound of metal and the alternative of the 80's. This does not mean that they play out-of-date music, it can be regarded only as nostalgia for the lost romance of the past era. Perhaps its role is played by the desire of musicians to return rock the ability to protest, to make it as rebellious as it was at the very beginning of its history.

To date, there is a huge number of teams and performers who have chosen the path of heavy music for themselves. The modern public likes Jane Air, Animal Jazz, Murakami, Pilot, Louna and other rock bands in Russia. This list can be replenished infinitely long, because every fan of the genre has its favorites. In addition, mastodons, masters of the Russian alternative movement, exist until now, to this day they please fans with new albums. And we can only wish them long life, strength and creative inspiration.

The best rock bands in Russia: the list

It is always very difficult to make ratings objectively. And it's not even that one fan of the genre likes one thing, and the other - quite different. Just how do you evaluate the contribution of this or that collective to the musical heritage? How to determine that one has done more and the other less? What is the standard?

That's why we made a simple list, not a rating or a top-10 list. It lists the most famous rock bands in Russia. These musicians have done a lot to develop an alternative culture, and they have earned the love of their devoted listeners. There are no best in this list, and no one squeezed into it with a squeak. Everything here is really significant. And if someone does not mention it, you can sin on the limited time, the volume of the article and the resources of human memory.

So, the most popular rock bands in Russia, the list:

• "Time Machine";
• "Picnic";
• Nautilus Pompilius;
• "Agatha Christie";
• "Alice";
• "B2";
• "Spleen";
• "Mummy Troll";
• "DDT";
• "Civil defense";
• "Cinema";
• "Leningrad";
• "Crematorium";
• "Gaza Strip";
• "King and the Clown";
• "The moral code";
• "Aria";
• "Naive";
• "The leg has come down!";
• "Kipelov";
• "Kukryniksy";
• "Gorky Park";
• "Night snipers";
• "Pilot";
• "Earring";
• "Cockroaches!";
• "Chizh and Co";
• "Chaif";
• "Lyapis Trubetskoy".

We remembered the best bands. Now let us briefly characterize their genre affiliation.

Old Kind Heavy Metal

Initially, this genre separated from heavy rock in Britain. It happened in the 1970s, and the origins of the style were the famous band Black Sabbath. In the USSR heavy penetrated a decade later, but due to the illegality of the rock movement in the 80's, it began to develop actively only after several years. Pioneers were such groups as "Black Coffee", "Legion", "Black Obelisk" and "Aria". And it is thanks to the last team of heavy metal that has remained popular for a very long time.

How did the ascent of "Aria" begin on the starry Olympus? The idea of creating a team that would play serious heavy music, came to Vladimir Holstinin, who originally played in the group "Alpha". The musician found a like-minded person in the person of bass guitarist Alik Granovsky. In fact, the material for recording the album was already ready, but there was no singer in the new band. They became a member of the former VIA "Leisya, song" Valery Kipelov. The name "Aria" was offered spontaneously, but all members of the group liked it very much. But, as noted at one time by the managers of musicians, there was simply no hidden implied sense.

The history of the team was in many ways difficult. Like many other well-known rock bands in Russia and abroad, Aria experienced schisms, shocks and moments of glory. But at the same time, as the song of their famous colleagues Manowar sings, the participants were ready to give their lives for metal and remained faithful to music always.

The most famous punks

Punk separated from rock and roll and garage rock. In the US and Great Britain, his first representatives were The Ramones and Sex Pistols, and in Russia - the group "Automatic Satisfactors", formed in 1979 in St. Petersburg. By the way, the name appeared just under the impression of the creativity of the British team Sex Pistols and was a simple free translation. It is also interesting that the future participants of "Kino" performed at the St. Petersburg apartment with the group "Automatic Satisfactors" at different times. And even Viktor Tsoi himself.

Later, other bright representatives appeared on the punk scene - Yegor Letov's Civil Defense and Yuri Klinsky's Gaza Strip. These collectives have survived a lot and remained popular until our days. Today the style is represented by "Cockroaches!", "Naive", "Elysium" and many other famous punk rock bands of Russia.

Russian alternatives

The alternative direction of rock music is a kind of synthesis of post-punk and garage rock. However, it is difficult to talk about a certain style of accessories, because during the formation of the genre in America in the 80's, each collective expressed itself as best as possible, that is why the differences in the sound of modern groups playing an alternative are great.

In Russia, the first collectives belonging to this genre were "Oak Gaia", "Chimera" and "Bricks". The soloist of the first mentioned group is Dolphin. Later, his solo project became very popular, by the way, he did not change his stylistic musical orientation.

Alternatively, many Russian rock bands are playing now. Popular among them are Slot, Psyche, Tractor Bowling, Lumen.

Folk-rock: folk motives in the work of Russian rock bands

Inspiration for many famous bands playing heavy music, gives a folk song. And then there is folk-rock. Representatives of the genre in the US and Britain are Simon & Garfunkel, Gentle Giant and Death In June. In Russia, folk-rock is played by "Mill", "Troll oppresses fir", "Solntsevorot", White Owl.

Interestingly, in fact, this genre can be attributed to the very same Soviet VIA, which existed in the 70-80s of the last century. These are "Pesnyary", "Linnik Trio", "Good fellows". It is also remarkable that sometimes folk as a style is attributed to the famous band "The King and the Jester". This is not entirely true, since the "terrible tales" that Mikhail Gorshenev and Andrei Knyazev put on music, although they contain some folk motifs, still do not have any relation to folk-creation. Rather, the style of the group can be characterized by the following genres: horror punk, punk rock and, probably, to some extent folk punk.

Metalcore on the contemporary music scene in Russia

This genre originated in the 90s of the last century in American music, and its flowering occurred in the 2000s. At the sources of it stood Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage and All That Remains. In Russia, metalcore came at the beginning of this century, and it was represented by Rashamba, Stigmat and Access is closed.

Today metalcore is played by many young rock bands in Russia. This is Party Animal, Francis, VIA "My turn", "The Lost World" and some others.

In conclusion

Russian rock music is multifaceted. She has an interesting story, she has many faces, and these are talented people who have decided to express their position in the work. And this is their lifestyle - free and open, one that the fans of these performers try to choose for themselves.

The best rock bands in Russia create not only music for their fans. Their songs help to find inspiration in simple things, learn to look at life easier and appreciate the beauty of the world around them. And this Russian rock is original and amazing. Well, we wish creative successes to the best and beginning teams and performers. And let them be a loyal companion Muza.