Armenian rock
Encyclopedia
Armenian rock describes a wide variety of forms of rock music
made in Armenia or by artists of Armenian descent.
Among the most recognized groups of Soviet era were Arthur Meschian
's Arakyalner, "1+2", "Kaleidoscope", and "Bliki". Following the loosening of state control in the early 1980s, a number of Armenian rock bands gained followers in Western Europe
, such as "Asparez" and Ayas
. Asparez was the only Armenian rock act to release an LP on the iconic Soviet label Melodiya
. The bands Tarerk, Tessilck, 36.6 and Maximum had strong followings at home.
as a Western anti-socialist influence. Yet, by the early 1970s, there were a range of popular bands in the capital city of Yerevan
strong enough to compete with their Soviet counterparts - Arthur Meschian
's Arakyalner, "1+2", "Kaleidoscope" and "Bliki".
By the eighties, combining Armenian folk music with rock, the Armenian folk-rock groups were founded with notable, and popular even in 2000’s, representatives - Bambir
, founded 1978 in Leninakan and Vostan Hayots, founded in 1986 in Yerevan. In 1982 Bambir
won the Folk Music Award at the International Festival in Lida, Belarus
.
As the Soviet rock scene grew larger in the late 1980s, bands like Asparez and Ayas attracted international audiences due to the new popularity of oriental rock these two bands were among original contributors, that was described first time in Melodie und Rhythmus magazine. Ayas
was formed in 1986 by a conservatory graduate Artur Mitinyan, and a year later won Best Song of the Year award at Yerevan's Rock, Rock, Rock Festival. Later they won the Sisian Rock Festival award as well. Elips
was another important band of the era formed in 1986. In summer 1986 “Elips” went on tour to Latvia, were they played together with a Riga based group “Pilligrim”. Simultaneously with the fame, the group gained the hatred of the Soviet Communist party nomenclature and was prohibited as an anti-Soviet group. Their most popular song - "Patkeratsrek" (Imagine) remains as one of the hymns of Armenian rock.
scene developed. Dumbarton Oaks
was one of the first bands trying to combine rock with classical music, an example of this is "Once Upon a Time There Lived a Cadence". The psychedelic side of prog-rock was represented in the much heavier works of MDP. Though only in the 2000s Artsruni
and Oaksenham
released their albums with the leading French label, Musea http://www.musearecords.com, being the pioneers among local bands releasing albums beyond sentimental market. Both bands boast presence of their albums on iTunes
and Allmusic.com. Other popular Armenian rock bands of this era included Breeze, Ambehr, The Kings' Cross, Alter Ego, IF by Hayk F. Gyolchanyan
, Lav Eli and Empyray
. Beerdingungs Lauten was the only representative of grindcore
style. Former "Lav Eli" guitarist Gor Mkhitarian
Official Gor Mkhitarian Web Site. Armenian Singer/Songwriter. Armenian Music. Home. is currently involved with the folk rock
scene in the USA regularly releasing his albums there.
During late 1990s increasing popularity of USA based System of a Down
, consisted of Armenians
, had a considerable impact on popularity of heavier rock in Armenia whereas appearance of Deti Picasso a Russia based folk prog-band consisted of mostly Armenians was noticed and appreciated in Armenia and revived interest towards folk music.
In the same early 1990s the Armenian rock bands got to have a fanzine - Mark's Gazette,
self-published by Arman Padaryan
(aka Mark) for the next 10 years.
.
and Gyumri
. Although "SARD", "Bambir 2", "Vordan Karmir", "Reincarnation" and speed-metal band "Aramazd" started to receive media attention, especially after their videos were televised nationally. "Roxygeen" was heading the scene of cover-bands, while STRYFE and Sworn are prog-metal bands. The revived MDP and Oaksenham
in addition to "Bambir 2", "Blood Covenant", STRYFE, Sworn and Empyray
led the vanguard of quality made native rock in the new millennium
.
Arthur Meschian had sold-out concerts in Yerevan Opera Theatre and Complex Sports and Concerts Complex
.
Unfortunately both awards has not gained authority, and are often boycotted by more intransigent Armenian rock musicians.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, festivals organized by the ACCEA (Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art) signaled a rebirth of the Armenian rock music scene, with many new bands and musicians coming from the heartland region of Vanadzor
. Among the most popular bands at that time there were "Vostan Hayots", "Angels", and punk rockers "Ass Kissers". There was a splash of interest in very heavy acts such as "Beerdigungs Läuten" playing quality grindcore metal.
In September 2007 Rock4Peace festival concerts organized with participation of Germans from Kultur Aktiv e.V. and Vibrographus were held in Yerevan, Gyumri and Stepanakert.
The reunion of Ayas took place after the meeting of the band's core musicians in Moscow,
whilst Vostan Hayots continued irregularly appear with club concerts in Yerevan. Armenian rock started to live another wave of revival and yet local rock music does not have an industrial sense, though Armenian rock musicians started to participate in the commercially and politically biased projects such as two "Rock-and-Dram" festivals were held, on April 13 and November 23, 2007.
Tigran Mousoian, president of The Armenian Musicians & Artists Center, organized two festivals in Yerevan, and planned Armenian Rock Festival in Glendale, California
.
, Uriah Heep
, John McLaughlin
and Deep Purple
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
made in Armenia or by artists of Armenian descent.
Among the most recognized groups of Soviet era were Arthur Meschian
Arthur Meschian
Arthur Meschian is an Armenian rock musician, singer, composer, artist and architect. He is also known as one of the founders of Armenian rock...
's Arakyalner, "1+2", "Kaleidoscope", and "Bliki". Following the loosening of state control in the early 1980s, a number of Armenian rock bands gained followers in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, such as "Asparez" and Ayas
Ayas (band)
Ayas was a heavy metal band established in 1987. Led by the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory graduate Artur Mitinian, the band was the first in the history of Armenian heavy-music to play its works using also the scores...
. Asparez was the only Armenian rock act to release an LP on the iconic Soviet label Melodiya
Melodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
. The bands Tarerk, Tessilck, 36.6 and Maximum had strong followings at home.
Soviet Era
Rock was greatly restricted for most of the period Armenia was under Soviet rule, being viewed by the CPSUCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
as a Western anti-socialist influence. Yet, by the early 1970s, there were a range of popular bands in the capital city of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
strong enough to compete with their Soviet counterparts - Arthur Meschian
Arthur Meschian
Arthur Meschian is an Armenian rock musician, singer, composer, artist and architect. He is also known as one of the founders of Armenian rock...
's Arakyalner, "1+2", "Kaleidoscope" and "Bliki".
By the eighties, combining Armenian folk music with rock, the Armenian folk-rock groups were founded with notable, and popular even in 2000’s, representatives - Bambir
Bambir
Bambir is an Armenian folk-rock band, formed in 1978 in Gyumri, who have gained acknowledgement in Armenia and abroad. They have performed in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and the United States. Their repertoire also includes traditional Armenian songs, modern arrangements of Komitas and...
, founded 1978 in Leninakan and Vostan Hayots, founded in 1986 in Yerevan. In 1982 Bambir
Bambir
Bambir is an Armenian folk-rock band, formed in 1978 in Gyumri, who have gained acknowledgement in Armenia and abroad. They have performed in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and the United States. Their repertoire also includes traditional Armenian songs, modern arrangements of Komitas and...
won the Folk Music Award at the International Festival in Lida, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.
As the Soviet rock scene grew larger in the late 1980s, bands like Asparez and Ayas attracted international audiences due to the new popularity of oriental rock these two bands were among original contributors, that was described first time in Melodie und Rhythmus magazine. Ayas
Ayas (band)
Ayas was a heavy metal band established in 1987. Led by the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory graduate Artur Mitinian, the band was the first in the history of Armenian heavy-music to play its works using also the scores...
was formed in 1986 by a conservatory graduate Artur Mitinyan, and a year later won Best Song of the Year award at Yerevan's Rock, Rock, Rock Festival. Later they won the Sisian Rock Festival award as well. Elips
Elips
The group “Elips” was formed in 1986. The first concert was held in March, 1986. The first members were:Soon Vardan Mamikonyan left the group and Aram Petrosyan became the drummer of the group. In a short period of time the group gained popularity in Armenia and gave numerous concerts...
was another important band of the era formed in 1986. In summer 1986 “Elips” went on tour to Latvia, were they played together with a Riga based group “Pilligrim”. Simultaneously with the fame, the group gained the hatred of the Soviet Communist party nomenclature and was prohibited as an anti-Soviet group. Their most popular song - "Patkeratsrek" (Imagine) remains as one of the hymns of Armenian rock.
Post-Soviet Era
In the early 1990s, an Armenian progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
scene developed. Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks is the conventional name for the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, situated on a historic property in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The institution is administered by the Trustees for Harvard University. Its founders, Robert Woods Bliss and his wife...
was one of the first bands trying to combine rock with classical music, an example of this is "Once Upon a Time There Lived a Cadence". The psychedelic side of prog-rock was represented in the much heavier works of MDP. Though only in the 2000s Artsruni
Artsruni
Artsruni was an ancient Armenian noble family that claimed descent from Sennacherib, King of Assyria . Although it mirrors the Bagratuni claim of Davidic descent and the Mamikonian claim of descent from the royal Han Dynasty, it is usually interpreted as a piece of genealogical mythology...
and Oaksenham
Oaksenham
Established in 2001 Oaksenham’s core consists of experienced musicians that played in a range of influential Armenian rock bands: Vahagn Papayan and Ashot Korganyan from the same progressive band very popular in 90s in Armenia Established in 2001 Oaksenham’s core consists of experienced musicians...
released their albums with the leading French label, Musea http://www.musearecords.com, being the pioneers among local bands releasing albums beyond sentimental market. Both bands boast presence of their albums on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Allmusic.com. Other popular Armenian rock bands of this era included Breeze, Ambehr, The Kings' Cross, Alter Ego, IF by Hayk F. Gyolchanyan
Hayk F. Gyolchanyan
Hayk F. Gyolchanyan is a russian record producer, sound director, musician and songwriter, works with many representatives of russian show business. He is best known as the chief sound director of the TVARMRU and the founder of RedPoint Records studio in Moscow...
, Lav Eli and Empyray
Empyray
Empyray is an Armenian rock group, working in heavy rock, hard rock genres. Their works are characterized by imposing vocal, surprising melody transitions, thoughtful lyrics in Armenian and English languages and complete, harmonic musical forms. The group was formed in 1993 on initiative of...
. Beerdingungs Lauten was the only representative of grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
style. Former "Lav Eli" guitarist Gor Mkhitarian
Gor Mkhitarian
Gor Mkhitarian , , is an Armenian singer and songwriter living in Los Angeles. He started his solo career in 2001 with the album Yeraz.- Biography :...
Official Gor Mkhitarian Web Site. Armenian Singer/Songwriter. Armenian Music. Home. is currently involved with the folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
scene in the USA regularly releasing his albums there.
During late 1990s increasing popularity of USA based System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
, consisted of Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, had a considerable impact on popularity of heavier rock in Armenia whereas appearance of Deti Picasso a Russia based folk prog-band consisted of mostly Armenians was noticed and appreciated in Armenia and revived interest towards folk music.
In the same early 1990s the Armenian rock bands got to have a fanzine - Mark's Gazette,
self-published by Arman Padaryan
Arman Padaryan
General Manager of Hover Chamber Choir, and since 2011 Producer, Country Armenia Director of , Deputy Director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and since 2011 General Producer, General Manager of the Komitas Quartet in 2002-2011. One of few Armenian specialists in Arts Management. Currently...
(aka Mark) for the next 10 years.
Expatriate Armenian rock
Expatriate Armenian rock musicians in the US during 1990s were few, with fewer venues for them to perform. Tigran Mousoian, president of The Armenian Musicians & Artists Center, had organized two festivals in Yerevan, and then planned Armenian Rock Festival in Glendale, CaliforniaGlendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Audience in Armenia
The audience in Armenia remains exceedingly small for local rock groups, playing in local clubs in YerevanYerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
. Although "SARD", "Bambir 2", "Vordan Karmir", "Reincarnation" and speed-metal band "Aramazd" started to receive media attention, especially after their videos were televised nationally. "Roxygeen" was heading the scene of cover-bands, while STRYFE and Sworn are prog-metal bands. The revived MDP and Oaksenham
Oaksenham
Established in 2001 Oaksenham’s core consists of experienced musicians that played in a range of influential Armenian rock bands: Vahagn Papayan and Ashot Korganyan from the same progressive band very popular in 90s in Armenia Established in 2001 Oaksenham’s core consists of experienced musicians...
in addition to "Bambir 2", "Blood Covenant", STRYFE, Sworn and Empyray
Empyray
Empyray is an Armenian rock group, working in heavy rock, hard rock genres. Their works are characterized by imposing vocal, surprising melody transitions, thoughtful lyrics in Armenian and English languages and complete, harmonic musical forms. The group was formed in 1993 on initiative of...
led the vanguard of quality made native rock in the new millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
.
Arthur Meschian had sold-out concerts in Yerevan Opera Theatre and Complex Sports and Concerts Complex
Karen Demirchyan
Karen Demirchyan was a Soviet Armenian communist, First Secretary of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1974 to 1988 and later independent politician...
.
Music Awards
Since 2004 International Armenian Music Award announces winners in various rock categories. Among laureates and nominees there were Bambir 2, Empyray, Oaksenham, Hexen, Gor Mkhitaryan, Red Snow and others. In 2009 Lebanese Armenian, Eileen Khatchadourian's album Midan received the award of the Best Rock Album of the year. Another controversial ceremony is Armenia’s National Music Awards showcase of the Armenian Television 1st Channel, which claims best performers of the year in Armenia. At the 6th ceremony, which took place on March 27, 2010 the best rock group was announced Dorians, a group featuring a singer Gor Sujyan.Unfortunately both awards has not gained authority, and are often boycotted by more intransigent Armenian rock musicians.
Rock Festivals
On May 5, 1986, a first-of-its-kind Rock Festival was organized at the Youth Palace night club in Yerevan. The following year a second Rock Festival was held on October 18 and 19 at the Velotrack in Yerevan, Armenia. These events are considered as the most memorable events of that time.In the late 1990s and early 2000s, festivals organized by the ACCEA (Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art) signaled a rebirth of the Armenian rock music scene, with many new bands and musicians coming from the heartland region of Vanadzor
Vanadzor
-Industry:Vanadzor is dominated by large chemical plants which include: "Prometey-Khimprom", "Vanadzor Chemical Plant", "Vanadzor Khimprom" and "Vanadzor Chemical Fiber Plant". Another big enterprise is the "Vanadzor Thermal Power Plant....
. Among the most popular bands at that time there were "Vostan Hayots", "Angels", and punk rockers "Ass Kissers". There was a splash of interest in very heavy acts such as "Beerdigungs Läuten" playing quality grindcore metal.
In September 2007 Rock4Peace festival concerts organized with participation of Germans from Kultur Aktiv e.V. and Vibrographus were held in Yerevan, Gyumri and Stepanakert.
The reunion of Ayas took place after the meeting of the band's core musicians in Moscow,
whilst Vostan Hayots continued irregularly appear with club concerts in Yerevan. Armenian rock started to live another wave of revival and yet local rock music does not have an industrial sense, though Armenian rock musicians started to participate in the commercially and politically biased projects such as two "Rock-and-Dram" festivals were held, on April 13 and November 23, 2007.
Tigran Mousoian, president of The Armenian Musicians & Artists Center, organized two festivals in Yerevan, and planned Armenian Rock Festival in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Concerts by outside groups
A range of top-class concerts featuring legendary rock groups has been organized in Armenia by Vibrgraphus in 2009 and 2010 including visits of Jethro TullJethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
, Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
, John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
and Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
.