Boris Grebenshikov
born 1953-11-26 21:00:00 UTC
vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, tambourine, file, sounds, songwriting
The Dude. Basically, if he's playing with somebody else & he says "Hey, this is Akvarium," it's Akvarium.
Mike Naumenko
guitar, vocals
Anti-Boris #1. Deceased. Main dude in the band Zoopark.
Boris and Maik are credited by many with "inventing" the lyrical style which dominated Soviet underground rock in the 80's.
Ivan Voropayev
viola
Vsyevolod Gakkel'
vocals, cello (including "industrial" cello), sounds, bass guitar
The mystical, perhaps cantankerous, perhaps a bit depressive, wonderful cello player from the original Akvarium. Thank him for the beautiful cello in Ivanov. (Thanks, Gakkel'.) Dzhrew offers: Gakkel' is still a cult figure. Tequila Jazzz thanks him on every album. Fevered shouts of "Seva Gakkel'!" form the bridge to their song "Cocaine." My guardians of Far Eastern Culture like to scream along. Me, too.
Andrei Romanov
born 1956-07-27 21:00:00 UTC
vocals, flute, tin whistle, electric and acoustic guitar, piano
Nickname: Dyusha.
Sergei Kuryokhin
born 1954-07-15 21:00:00 UTC
piano, experimental piano, keyboards, various organs, vocals
In this page, Kuryokhin is best known as the composer of "Mad Nightingales in the Russian Forest" (
The One-Track) and for his performances on the Akvarium I albums listed below.
Outside the BoB world he was an influential sorta guy with a zillion projects--besides his solo projects and a healthy list of soundtrack credits (some acting, even), SK recorded with the Pop Mechanics, Kino and other artists throughout the 80s. In 1997 he died of a rare heart disease a few days before his 43rd birthday.
Yes, ladies, he does look like our own Bodhisattva Dzhrew.
Alexander Kondrashkin
drums, percussion
V. Kozlov
guitar
Olga Pershina
vocals, piano
V. Levi
vocals
A. Tropillo
voice, flute, studio space
Voice of Russian folk poetry on "2-12-85-06," from "Deti Dekabrya." Provided studio for that record.
Evgenii Guberman
drums
Aleksandr Aleksandrov
born 1957-11-27 21:00:00 UTC
bassoon
His nickname, "Phagot," means bassoon in Russian.
Igor' Butman
saxophone
Our dear Igor has nothing to do with the "Butman" series of inexpensive video cassettes. According to Internet scuttlebut (heh) he was cited as possibly the world's greatest jazz sax player by Bill Clinton. How about that.
Aleksandr Lyapin
electric guitar
Aleksandr Titov
bass, vocals
Sasha Titov also played with Kino. May have co-owned a "studio" (probably his apartment) at Fontanka 39 (SPB), where two songs off "Chubchik" were recorded. We call him Art because we are convinced he's really Art Garfunkel. Hey, Art, it's ok to come clean about your real identity!
Vladimir Grischenko
bass
Pyotr Troschenkov
born 1961-11-05 21:00:00 UTC
percussion, drums
Provides "Screams and additional vocals" on track 9 of "Deti Dekabrya." Listed as Pyotr Guberman-Troshenkov on "Aroks i shtyor." Both "gentlemen" play on Radio Africa (but on different tracks).
Mikhail Kordiukov
drums
Aleksandr Kussul'
violin
Separated from Charles Manson at birth? Maybe Sasha Ivanov? Depends on the photo, I guess.
Aleksandr Berenson
trumpet
Mikhail Chyornov
saxophone
Andrei Reshetin
violin
Vyacheslav Yegorov
instruments he played unknown
Sound editor on "Ravnodyenstviye."
Ivan Shumilov
instruments he played unknown
Vyacheslav Kharipov
instruments he played unknown
Dmitrii Kol'tsov
instruments he played unknown
Sergei Schurakov
accordion, harmonica, mandolin, piano
Helped arrange some stuff on "Chubchik."
Oleg Sakmarov
vocals, flute, clarinet, oboe, keyboards, tin whistle, saxophones, English horn, xylophone, recorder, iimb (éèìá, whatever that is), horn, harmonium
Nickname: Ded ("Gramps"). Boris calls him "Ded Vasilii" in some places. Helped arrange stuff on Forelock. Co-arranged strings and winds on Ramses IV with Pavlovich.
Ded is an ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist who has influenced the course of post-kh'America Akvarium heavily. In fact, just as early Akvarium was arguably BG + Dyusha + Gakkel plus whoever else, one might posit that the most recent Akvarium is BG + Ded plus whoever else.
Alas, Ded left the band in '01 to pursue other things. When asked why, Boris said "If you love someone, set them free..." (No, we are not making this up.) Boris Rubekin seems to have taken his place in the pecking order, to the great disgruntlement—not to say horror—of many. Fortunately, we Bodhisattvas are so near to nirvana that we are incapable of disgruntlement.
We are, however, big fans of Ded. We have secret websites devoted to him, but they are very cleverly hidden so you'll never see them unless you too learn to be a multi-instrumentalist with every orifice simultaneously. Good luck.
Alexei Zubarev
guitar, harmonica, cello, sitar, keyboards, stick (ñòèê), mandolin, xylophone, synclavier, piano, strings, plucked instruments, flute
Patronymic: Pavlovich. According to BG, he first "fulfills role of permanent guitarist in the future Akvarium" during the recording sessions that became the first half of "Chubchik." (But he doesn't appear in any of the post-Akvarium 2 bands.) Co-arranged the strings and winds on "Ramses IV" with Ded Vasilii. Seldom mentioned without patronymic.
Andrei Surotdinov
violin, viola, keyboards, piano, synclavier, bells
"Heroic violin" on Chubchik (in the frozen studio of "Pushkinskaya 10, SPB"). He's an excellent guy, by the way.
Kate St. John
Plays no instruments on any Boris's albums. Or does she?
We just mentioned her in the musicians list because of the cute picture of her in Navigator. And her name's cool, like a typical Akvarium character. And Boris sings on her album "Second Sight."
David Mattacks
percussion
Member of Fairport Convention.
Aleksandr Kozhevnikov
guitar
Vladimir Chekasin
saxophone
Valentina Ponomareva
instruments she played are unknown
On Elektroshok.
Yuri Nikolaev
drums, percussion
A. Silutin
bassoon
Pavel Parfenkov
oboe
Vladimir Kudryavtsev
born 2001-06-11 21:00:00 UTC
upright bass, bass
There's a theory among certain Bodhisattvi (well, one anyway) that Mr. Kurdryavtsev is rapidly transforming into David Crosby. Although this remains simply a theory, we're watching closely.
But (and this worries us) who is watching David Crosby?
Oleg Goncharov
born 1961-10-31 21:00:00 UTC
glockenspiel, spoons, etc., remixing, vargan (?), rainstick, khomuz (õîìóç), bass, percussion, poppy stem, sounds
Referred to as "The Indian" and "The Northern Indian" in various places. May actually be.
The Red-headed Devil
harmonica
A.K.A. Dima Gusyev.
The Gift of Heaven
flutes and choir
Credited as such (track 2) in liner notes to "Deti Dekabrya."
Ravil' Martynov
orchestra director
Directs orchestra on the live track, "Okhota na edinorogov," from "History… Tome III."
Ol'ga El'darova
harp
Track 3, "History… Tome III."
Sergei Beryozovoi
born 1965-11-05 21:00:00 UTC
bass guitar, french horn
V. Gayvoronskyi
trumpet
V. Volkov
double bass
Pyotr Akimov
cello
Lord A. Ratsen
drums, cymbals
I. Shineerov
synclavier
V. Tsimbal
trombones
S. Sher
portable organ
P. Chilin
portable organ
S. Naumovich
conducted children's' choir
O. Shubina
violin
In string trio on "Ramses IV"
N. Syromyatnikova
viola
In string trio on "Ramses IV"
P. Korolenko
cello
In string trio on "Ramses IV"
D. Valevin
trumpet
The Sai-baba Center
provided the tambour, sitar
This is some Buddhist center in SPB, we believe.
Andrei Makareivich
guitar, vocals
Anti-Boris #2. Lead dude in the band "Mashina Vremeni." Host of cooking show "Smak!" on Russian TV. Makarevich and Mashina Vremeni achieved fame before Akvarium, and were accepted by the authorities at about the time that Akvarium was at its most unacceptable.
Water
water sounds
Given credit on Akustika.
We have no idea who played on this recording.
And others
Dave Stewart
electric guitar, drums, synclavier
Yes, the Dave Stewart, of Eurythmics.
Olle Romo
drums, synclavier, sounds
Annie Lennox
vocals
Yes, the Annie Lennox, of Eurythmics.
Michael Kamen
oboe
Siobhan Stewart
back vocals
Patrick Seymour
keyboards
Billy McKenzie
haunting vocals
Darryl Way
violin
Chucho Merchan
bass, keyboards
Eurhythmics' percussionist who ruined several songs on KUNSTKAMERA and the entirety of RADIO LONDON with his canned casio beats and fake marimbas. Dave Stewart simply lacked taste and restraint; Merchan, on the other hand, is quite possibly the least talented producer/arranger on the planet.
Harry Dean Stanton
vocals on "Fields …"
Had a big role in Wenders' "Paris, Texas." Played "Bud" in "Repo Man." Also, he dies a painful death in "Alien." Dzhrew's cousin's best friend is his niece.
John Stewart
back vocals
Every Stewart except Al Stewart played on these sessions. Where was Al?
Kenny Smith
back vocals
Ray Cooper
percussion
Derek
megaphone
Chrissie Hynde
vocals
Yes, the Chrissie Hynde, from The Pretenders.
I went back to St. Pete/but my pretty city there/had been divided and sold/by krutoiniki with close-cropped hair...
Janice Jamison
vocals
Charlie Wilson
vocals
Dave Plews
trumpets
Andrei Vikhoryev
tabla, tambourine, shakers, bells, playboy ? (æóèð, whatever that is), Tibetan drum
Probably the same person as Andrei Vikharev, listed on some albums. BG's got a typo somewhere. We think this is his actual name.
Mick Taylor
guitars
Yes, the Mick Taylor, of The Rolling Stones.
Anthony Thistlethwaite
harmonica
Danny Thomson
double bass
Member of the group Pentacle.
Simone Hagiagg
congas
B. J. Cole
pedal steel guitar
John Miller
Hammond organ
David Coulter
didgeridoo
Teena Lyle
vibes
Wayne McIntyre
clarinet
Caroline LaVelle
cello
John Elliott
tuba
Gillian Tingay
harp
The Wood Green Sax Invaders
saxophones (presumably)
The Thompson Memorial Brass Band
brass instruments (presumably)
Garth Hudson
Hammond B-3 organ
Played with Dylan in the 60s-70s.
Rick Danko
bass
Played on various Dylan albums.
Jim Wieder
guitars, dobro
Randy Charlante
percussion
Harvey Brooks
bass guitar
Played on various Dylan albums.
Ben E. Key
piano
Nick Kaiano
tambourine, other sounds
D. Zorkin
trombone
Boris can't remember who else
The Anna Karenina Quartet
And others (maybe)
The Zeitgeist Trio
A. Zubarev, O. Sakmarov, and A. Vikharev are listed on "Songs of Aleksandr Vertinskii" as providing "Zeitgeist" on "K Mysu Radosti."
The Unified Choir of the Flying Bronze Beast
L. Rakhimova, V. Mironov, and Y. Shmetkov
I. Zalitsailo
cello
L. Ivanova
harp
V. Azov
accordion
Vladimir Boluchevski
saxophone
Vladimir Ermolin
guitar
Yan Nikolyenko
flute
Aleksei Vorob'yov
trumpet
Rustik Poziumskii
viola
Lilia Kol'nikova
viola
Nikitos
bass, percussion, keyboards
Martin Chambers
drums
Akvarium '91
Listed for "Promises of Eden" and "The Angel Calling" on "Radio London." Figure out who they were yourself.
Anatoli (Dzhordzh) Gunitskii
author, co-conspirator in much that is Akvarium
Never really listed as a musician, often as an author. His influence has been enormous.
Oleg Shar
percussion
Joined the band in 1997.
Victor Sologub
samplers, basses, guitars, keyboards, and other weapons of mass electronica
Got his start as a member of "Strange Games," who got their start opening for Akvarium at a show in St. Petersburg in 1982. Split off from "SG" in 1985 to form "Games." Left "Games" in 1990 to form Deadushki with his old partner from "Strange Games," Aleksei Rakhov.
Aleksei Rakhov
samplers, basses, guitars, keyboards, and other weapons of mass electrocution
Got his start as a member of "Strange Games," who got their start opening for Akvarium at a show in St. Petersburg in 1982. Split off from "SG" in 1985 to form "Avia." Left "Avia" in 1990 to form Deadushki with his old partner from "Strange Games," Viktor Sologub.
Mikhail Vasil'ev (Feinstein)
percussion, guitar, bass, harmonica, operation of sensory and extrasensory percussion,
Nickname: "Fan" (as in "Von"). Listed as Vasil'ev, Feinstein, or Vasil'ev-Feinstein. It depends on the mood of the liner-note writer.
Sergei Ryzhenko
violin
Sergei Bugaiev
He is the famous Captain Africa.
Viktor Tsoi
vocals, guitar
Aleksei Ribin
guitar
Boris Rubekin
born 1967-07-13 21:00:00 UTC
Ensoniq programming.
He has been known to wear amazing velvet suits. Apparently, he doesn't smoke.
Alexander Ponomarev
MC Koshken
Dmitri Veselov
Alik Potapkin
born 1968-01-22 21:00:00 UTC
a.k.a. "Sir Albert"
Gabrielle Roth
Gabrielle Roth just may be next in the long line of important Boris collaborators. She first surfaced on the Roth/Boris album "Refuge," a collection of traditional and Boris-penned Buddhist songs. In our eyes, this is totally insane and therefore a good way for Boris to spend his time.
Check out her bio
here.
A. Orlov
Drums
Nicknamed "Drone."
Allauddin Khan
Dilruba
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Ghulam Ali
Sarangi
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Matloob Hussain
Sitar
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Athar Hussain
Tabla
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Parveen
Percussion
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Ajay
flute
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Mahavir
Shennai
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Roshan Ali
Santoor
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Anirudh Kumar
Percussion
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Sajjad Ahmad
Harmonium
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Gagan
Percussion
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Joginder
Swar Mandal
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Gopal
Tanpura
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
Bhupinder (Dony)
Vocal
One of the baker's dozen of Indian session musicians on Songs of the Fisherman.
F. Kuvaytsev
clarinet, saxophone
M. Kostyushkin
saxophone
A. Kanunnikov
trombone