Zemlyane
Encyclopedia
Zemlyane, is a Soviet, and later Russia
n rock
band which enjoyed great popularity in the early 1980s. The band was formed in Leningrad
, Soviet Union
in 1979 and remains active to this day.
A key artist in "VIA
" (vocal-instrumental ensemble) wave of Soviet music, it was one of the first officially state-recognized bands to feature elements of rock music
in USSR. Zemlyane used to mix hard rock music with synthpop
, and Zemlyane's frontman Sergey Skachkov plays keytar
. Most of their lyrics deal with risk, courage, and masculinity. They sang about cosmonauts, stunts, pilots
, and sailors
.
, Iron Butterfly
, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer
, they played mainly cover versions of these bands' music until 1974 when they started creating compositions of their own.
In 1978 Zemlyane stopped performing on stage for several months for reasons of reorganization and rest.
Their former administrator Andrey Bolshev and April rock band drummer Vladimir Kiselev decided to take advantage of this situation. They put together totally different musicians passing them off as real Zemlyane. Protests from original Zemlyane rock band were abruptly ignored. (The accession of the Soviet Union to the Universal Copyright Convention
, which became effective on May 27 was formal and no one dared to sue for copyright violation or infringement.)
So in 1979 two groups of musicians were on stage bearing the same name 'Zemlyane': Zemlyane led by Myasnikov (keyborads) and Zemlyane promoted by Kiselev and Bolshev.
In 1980 original Zemlyane together with Kronverk and Aquarium rock bands represented Leningrad Rock Club
at Tbilisi
Spring Rhythms 80 music festival.
The original lineup was Sergey Skachkov (keytar, vocals), Igor Romanov (guitar, vocals), Boris Aksenov (bass guitar) and Vladimir Kiselev (drums), usually accompanied by session members as well. Kiselev was also Zemlyane's sound producer and manager ('artistic director', in terms of the time). In early 1980 the band released several hits such as 'Trava u doma', 'Kaskadery', 'Vzletnaya polosa', among others. 'Trava u doma' featured in soundtrack of popular cartoon series Nu, pogodi!
.
In 1987, Zemlyane performed at Olimpiyski Sport Complex accompanied by Uriah Heep
.
The band went on hiatus by the beginning of the next decade, but was revived by Sergey Skachkov in 1994 with relatively new lineup. Another former Zemlyane member, Igor Romanov, now plays in Alisa
. A copyright dispute between Skachkov and Kiselev arose when Kiselev (as producer) created a band of young musicians, unrelated to old Zemlyane, which used Zemlyane's name and performed its old hits. The dispute was eventually solved in 2009 in favor of Skachkov.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n rock
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...
band which enjoyed great popularity in the early 1980s. The band was formed in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1979 and remains active to this day.
A key artist in "VIA
VIA music
VIA music or Vokalno-instrumentalny ansambl , was the official name applied to pop and rock bands in the Soviet Union...
" (vocal-instrumental ensemble) wave of Soviet music, it was one of the first officially state-recognized bands to feature elements of rock music
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...
in USSR. Zemlyane used to mix hard rock music with synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, and Zemlyane's frontman Sergey Skachkov plays keytar
Keytar
A keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
. Most of their lyrics deal with risk, courage, and masculinity. They sang about cosmonauts, stunts, pilots
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, and sailors
Sailors
Sailors is the plural form of Sailor, or mariner.Sailors may also refer to:*Sailors , a 1964 Swedish film*Ken Sailors , American basketball playerSports teams*Erie Sailors, baseball teams in Pennsylvania, USA...
.
Biography
Zemlyane was formed in 1968 by students of Leningrad Radiopolytechnical College. Followers of bands such as Deep PurpleDeep 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...
, Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
, they played mainly cover versions of these bands' music until 1974 when they started creating compositions of their own.
In 1978 Zemlyane stopped performing on stage for several months for reasons of reorganization and rest.
Their former administrator Andrey Bolshev and April rock band drummer Vladimir Kiselev decided to take advantage of this situation. They put together totally different musicians passing them off as real Zemlyane. Protests from original Zemlyane rock band were abruptly ignored. (The accession of the Soviet Union to the Universal Copyright Convention
Universal Copyright Convention
The Universal Copyright Convention , adopted at Geneva in 1952, is one of the two principal international conventions protecting copyright; the other is the Berne Convention....
, which became effective on May 27 was formal and no one dared to sue for copyright violation or infringement.)
So in 1979 two groups of musicians were on stage bearing the same name 'Zemlyane': Zemlyane led by Myasnikov (keyborads) and Zemlyane promoted by Kiselev and Bolshev.
In 1980 original Zemlyane together with Kronverk and Aquarium rock bands represented Leningrad Rock Club
Leningrad Rock Club
The Leningrad Rock Club was a historic music venue of the 1980s in Leningrad, situated on Rubinstein Street in the city center. Opened in 1981 and overseen by the KGB, it became the first legal rock music venue in Leningrad...
at Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
Spring Rhythms 80 music festival.
The original lineup was Sergey Skachkov (keytar, vocals), Igor Romanov (guitar, vocals), Boris Aksenov (bass guitar) and Vladimir Kiselev (drums), usually accompanied by session members as well. Kiselev was also Zemlyane's sound producer and manager ('artistic director', in terms of the time). In early 1980 the band released several hits such as 'Trava u doma', 'Kaskadery', 'Vzletnaya polosa', among others. 'Trava u doma' featured in soundtrack of popular cartoon series Nu, pogodi!
Nu, pogodi!
Nu, pogodi! is a Soviet/Russian animated series produced by Soyuzmultfilm. The series was created in 1969 and became a popular cartoon of the Soviet Union. Additional episodes have been produced in Russia since 2006...
.
In 1987, Zemlyane performed at Olimpiyski Sport Complex accompanied by 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...
.
The band went on hiatus by the beginning of the next decade, but was revived by Sergey Skachkov in 1994 with relatively new lineup. Another former Zemlyane member, Igor Romanov, now plays in Alisa
Alisa
Alisa is a Russian hard rock band, who are credited as one of the most influential bands in the Russian rock movement.-Biography:Alisa was formed in November 1983 by bassist Svyatoslav Zadery. The band's name originated from Zadery nickname...
. A copyright dispute between Skachkov and Kiselev arose when Kiselev (as producer) created a band of young musicians, unrelated to old Zemlyane, which used Zemlyane's name and performed its old hits. The dispute was eventually solved in 2009 in favor of Skachkov.
Studio albums
- 1979 — VIA Zemlyane
- 1980 — Singles
- 1981 — Vladimir Migulya and Zemlyane
- 1982 — Kaskadyori
- 1982 — Deltaplan
- 1982 — Karate
- 1983 — Magnitalbom 1
- 1984 — Magnitalbom 2
- 1985 — Vzlyotnaya polosa
- 1986 — Pesni V. Dobrinina
- 1986 — Dimkoyu maya
- 1987 — Den' rozhden'ya Zemli
- 1995 — Mi ludi
- 2000 — S.O.S.
- 2008 — Holod dushi