Gorky Park (band)

Gorky Park (international title) or Парк Горького (Russian title) is a Russian hard rock band that gained mainstream popularity in the United States during Perestroika. Gorky Park is famous for its kitsch use of western stereotypes of Russians, such as pseudo-traditional clothing, balalaika-like guitar design and the hammer and sickle as their logo. It was the first Russian band to be aired on MTV.

History

In 1987, guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov (both from Moskva band), bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov, guitarist Yan Yanenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 1970s Soviet musician, became the band's manager. Because Mikhail Gorbachev lifted the censorship, many underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to gain wider popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for the United States in search of a record deal.

In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was musician Frank Zappa. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora also helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records.

The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials "GP" stylized as a hammer and sickle on the cover. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and a growing interest in Soviets to western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang", received MTV rotation. Their next two singles "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi "Peace in Our Time" received rotation on mainstream radio stations.

Gorky Park participated in that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. Gorky Park joined the other acts from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in the compilation album ''Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell''. This album included each band performing one song from an artist who died from, or a band who lost a member to, drug problems. Gorky Park's contribution was a cover of The Who's "My Generation".

The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional Russian style, waving Soviet and American flags. In 1991, the band received Scandinavian Grammis award as the best new international act.

As Perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame in America subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990, but Gorky Park remained active and kept releasing albums in the 1990s, with Minkov taking over as lead vocalist. 1992's ''Moscow Calling'', produced by Fee Waybill, sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, ''Stare'', was released in 1996, but only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998, the band released ''Protivofazza''. In 1999, Nikolay Noskov joined for the first time in nine years to sing "Bang", also Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the stage name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but have been inactive since 2001. Belov and Yanenkov continued to perform Gorky Park songs in their bands "Park Belova" (Belov Park) and "Muzykanty gruppy Gorky Park" (Musicians of the Gorky Park band). Line-up of that period: Alexey Belov (vocals, guitars), Yan Yanenkov (guitars), Alexander Bagnov (bass), Alexander Makin (drums).

Since then, Gorky Park made several brief reunions in festivals. In 2008, Gorky Park received Muz-TV award for contribution to Rock music and performed "Moscow Calling" with Alexander Minkov.

On November 18, 2012, the band played a special show in Crocus City Hall in Moscow to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Nikolay Noskov joined the band on stage for the first time since 1999 to sing "Bang".

Members

;Current line-up
* Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov (Aleksandr Marshal) (born June 7, 1957 in Korenovskaya) – lead vocals (1990-1999, 2008, 2009, 2012–present), bass guitar (1987–1999, 2012–present), backing vocals (1987-1990)
* Alexey Belov (born January 24, 1958 in Moscow) – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (1987–2001, 2005–present)
* Yan Yanenkov (born June 16, 1960 in Stupino) – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1987–1999, 2001, 2005–present)
* Alexander "Little Sasha" Lvov (born November 10, 1957 in Moscow) – drums, percussion, backing vocals (studio) (1987–1999, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012–present)

;Past members
* Nikolai Noskov (born January 12, 1956 in Gzhatsk) – lead vocals (1987–1990, 1999, 2012)
* Nikolai Kuzminykh (born December 19, 1957, died January 13, 2011) – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1996–2001)

Discography

Studio albums

"—" – Album did not chart or was not released in country

Singles

Popular culture

* A snippet of "Bang" was used in HBO's ''Barry'' season-one finale. The song was played in the scene where the Chechens were readying their weapons.

References

External links

Official Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorky Park

Glam metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1987
Russian hard rock musical groups
Soviet rock music groups