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Krasnaia knigaRock band
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
- The Rise of the Krivoluchenskaya Wave
- The Punks of the Proletariat
- Key Figures and the First Release
- From Punk to Dark Folk
- Tragedy and New Collaborations
The Rise of the Krivoluchenskaya Wave
In the midst of the experimental musical underground that flourished in the former Soviet Union, a little-known band from the city of Tula emerged: CHORNOYE SOLNTSE (Black Sun). However, the band never materialized for a performance during the iconic four-day rock festival of 1992.
As various nightclubs and concert venues proliferated and quickly faded, Tula's underground scene also experienced a sharp decline. Clubs either closed down or transformed into taverns, while punk and post-punk bands played their final gigs. Amidst this gloomy backdrop, a peculiar phenomenon known as the "Krivoluchenskaya Wave" emerged from one of Tula's less affluent neighborhoods.
The Punks of the Proletariat
Undeterred by the problems of the underground elite, the working-class youth of Tula organized concerts in technical schools and trade colleges. They recorded albums on home audio equipment, published their own zines, and cultivated a loyal fan base. Their approach echoed the uninhibited spirit of the untouched 1980s.
Key Figures and the First Release
Among the central figures of this counter-cultural movement were Anatoly Prokopets (the leader of the boisterous punk-metal band DENIKIN SPIRT), Roma Leonov (a poet-harmonist known for his house-party sessions), Dima Komendant (a former bartender and aspiring hairstylist who penned witty acoustic punk anthems), Andrei "Solntse" Afontsev (an artist and showman who transformed his apartment into a squat), and Sergey Sher (the sole permanent member of the art-music collective KRASNAYA KNIGA (Red Book) and editor of the punk zine "Stalin").
After experimenting with various bands, former KIM guitarist Alexey Ivaninsky became the second permanent member of KRASNAYA KNIGA. The band recorded their first full-length album, "Eto Tvoy Ugolok" (This Is Your Corner), and released it on cassette independently. The album's most popular tracks included "Artistka Tsirka" (Circus Artist), "Ugolok" (Corner), and "U Khrista Prostudia" (Christ Has a Cold).
From Punk to Dark Folk
With a new electric lineup, KRASNAYA KNIGA gradually shifted from punk rock to reggae, actively performing in clubs around Tula and the surrounding areas. They gained popularity through appearances on the popular TV show "Katapulta," a New Year's concert, a biker show, and their first tour to Rostov-on-Don.
Their second album, "Artur," emerged on cassette with an impressive circulation by Tula's standards. The result of a year's worth of sound engineering endeavors by Alexey Ivaninsky, "Artur" marked a departure from reggae, embracing a darker folk sound inspired by bands like CURRENT 93 and DEATH IN JUNE. Notable tracks included the title track "Artur" (a song about a friend of Sher's who lost his memory in a car accident), "Prevrashchayus (Khlebnikov)" (Featuring Roma Leonov on the accordion), "President," and "Kupanie Krasnogo Konya" (Bathing of the Red Horse).
Tragedy and New Collaborations
The tragic death of Roma Leonov, a de facto third permanent member of KRASNA
