Kino (band) facts for kids

Kino (Russian: Кино, lit. 'cinema, film') was a famous Soviet rock band. It was formed in Leningrad in 1982. Many people think it was one of the greatest rock bands in Russian history.

The band was started by Viktor Tsoi. He wrote almost all of their songs and music. Over eight years, Kino released more than 90 songs. These were on seven studio albums, plus some collections and live albums. Viktor Tsoi sadly died in a car accident in 1990. After his death, the band broke up. They released one final album with songs they were working on.

In 2019, the band announced they would reunite for concerts. These shows were planned for 2020, 30 years after they broke up. However, they were moved to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Story of Kino

How Kino Started (Early Years)

Kino began in 1981. Its first members came from two other groups in Leningrad. At first, they called themselves Garin i giperboloidy. This name came from a novel by Aleksei Tolstoi. The group included Viktor Tsoi, guitarist Aleksei Rybin, and drummer Oleg Valinsky.

They started practicing, but Valinsky had to leave the band. In 1982, they began playing at the Leningrad Rock Club. There, they met a well-known musician named Boris Grebenshchikov. Around this time, they changed their name to Kino. They chose this name because it was short and easy to say in many languages. Tsoi and Rybin said they got the idea from a bright cinema sign.

First Album: 45 (1982)

Kino released their first album, 45, in 1982. Since the band only had two members, Grebenshchikov helped them. Members of his band, Aquarium, played on the album. They used a drum machine because they didn't have a drummer.

The album sounded lively and bright. The songs were poetic and talked about city life. It had thirteen songs and was called 45 because of its length. At first, not many people knew about the band, so the album wasn't a huge hit. Tsoi later felt the album could have been recorded better.

Changes in the Band (1982–1984)

In late 1982, Kino tried to record a second album. However, Tsoi lost interest, and they stopped recording it. In 1983, they played shows in Leningrad and Moscow. Sometimes, the drummer from Aquarium helped them.

Aleksei Rybin left the band. He was replaced by bassist Maksim Kolosov and then guitarist Yuri Kasparyan. At first, Kasparyan wasn't a great guitar player. But he quickly got better and became a very important part of Kino.

Kino logo

Tsoi and Rybin used to share duties. Tsoi wrote the songs, and Rybin handled concerts and recordings. In March 1983, they had a big disagreement. Tsoi didn't like Rybin performing his songs. Rybin didn't like Tsoi being the only leader. They stopped talking, and Rybin left the band.

From this time, there is a recording called 46. It had demos of Tsoi's new songs. These songs were still romantic but also a bit darker. Tsoi called it "only a rehearsal tape." But many fans saw it as Kino's second album. However, the band never officially recognized it.

Becoming Famous with Nachalnik Kamchatki (1984–1985)

In 1984, Kino released their second official album, Nachalnik Kamchatki. The name came from Tsoi's job. He worked as a boiler plant operator, and "Kamchatka" was a nickname for his workplace.

Again, Boris Grebenshchikov helped produce the album. Many of his friends played on it, including Alexander Titov on bass. The album had a simple style with few instruments. Tsoi later said it was "electric and experimental."

After this album, Tsoi formed the electric lineup of Kino. It included Kasparyan on guitar, Titov on bass, and Georgy Guryanov on drums. In May 1984, they started practicing new songs. Kino then played at a festival in Leningrad. They were highly praised and became very popular. The group soon started touring across the Soviet Union. In 1985, Kino released their third album, Eto ne lyubov....

Noch and National Fame (1985–1986)

In early 1985, Kino tried to record another album. But Tsoi didn't like the producer's ideas, so they stopped.

In November 1985, Alexander Titov left Kino to join Aquarium. He was replaced by jazz guitarist Igor Tikhomirov [ru]. Igor stayed with Kino until the band ended.

Viktor Tsoi and Yuri Kasparyan at a concert in Leningrad, 1986.

In January 1986, the producer released the unfinished album. It was called Noch (meaning 'Night'). This album sold two million copies! It made the band famous across the country. However, the band members were not happy about this release. They earned very little money from the sales.

In the spring, the band won a big prize at a festival for their song "Dalshe deystvovat budem my." In the summer, they went to Kiev to make a film. In July, they played a concert in Moscow with Aquarium and Alisa. Later, these three bands released a collection called Red Wave. This album sold 10,000 copies in California. It was the first time Soviet rock music was released in the West.

Gruppa krovi and Huge Success (1986–1988)

From 1986 to 1988, Tsoi acted in more movies and kept writing songs for Kino. The film The Needle, starring Tsoi, made the band even more famous. Their 1988 album Gruppa krovi (meaning 'Blood Type') made them super popular.

Kasparyan's wife, Joanna Stingray, brought them high-quality music equipment from abroad. This meant Kino could record their album much better. It was their first album that sounded as good as European and American recordings. A Russian journalist called Gruppa krovi one of the best Russian music works. He said it took Russian rock to a new level. The album was also liked in the West. It was released in 1989 by Capitol Records.

Kino performed on national television in the Soviet Union. A 1987 film called Assa showed Tsoi singing "Khochu peremen!" (meaning 'I want change!') to a huge crowd. After this, Kino's music became very popular across the country. Their songs captured the hearts of Soviet young people in the 1980s.

Zvezda po imeni Solntse and Global Fame (1989–1990)

After becoming famous in their home country, Kino started getting invitations to play concerts everywhere. They played in Denmark to raise money for earthquake relief in Armenia. They also performed at a big French rock festival and an Italian festival. In 1989, they went to New York. They showed their film The Needle and played a small concert.

In 1989, they released Zvezda po imeni Solntse (meaning 'A Star Called Sun'). This album felt lonely and sad, even though the band was very famous. Kino appeared on a popular Soviet TV show called Vzglyad. They tried to make music videos. Tsoi didn't like them, but they were still shown often on TV.

Around this time, the band thought about creating a separate pop band. This new band would play their lighter songs. This was to balance their popular songs with Tsoi's deeper, more thoughtful music.

In 1990, Kino played at Luzhniki Stadium. The organizers lit the Olympic flame for their concert. This flame had only been lit four times before for major events.

The Black Album and Kino's End (1990–Present)

In June 1990, after a long tour, the band decided to take a break. They planned to record a new album in France. However, on August 15, Viktor Tsoi died in a car crash. This happened near Tukums while he was returning from a fishing trip.

Before Tsoi died, they had recorded some songs in Latvia. The remaining members of Kino finished the album as a tribute to him. It didn't have an official name, but it is often called the Black Album. This is because of its all-black cover. It was released in December 1990. Soon after, Kino and Tsoi's friends announced that the band was ending.

Reunions

In 2012, on what would have been Tsoi's 50th birthday, the band got together briefly. They recorded a song called "Ataman." This song was meant for the Black Album but wasn't included. The only recording of it had low-quality vocals. This was the last song to feature Georgy Guryanov. He passed away on July 20, 2013, at age 52.

In 2019, the band announced another reunion. Concerts were planned for fall 2020, 30 years later. The shows would feature guitarist Yuri Kasparyan and bassists Alexander Titov and Igor Tikhomirov. They would use Viktor Tsoi's voice from old recordings. A special video show would go along with the music. Viktor Tsoi's son, Alexander, became the band's producer. However, the concerts were moved to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, a new live album called Kino in Sevkabel was released.

Kino's Music Style

All of Kino's songs were written by Viktor Tsoi. His lyrics were simple and poetic. Ideas about freedom were often in his songs. However, the band's message was not too political. They mostly sang about people's struggles in life. They also covered big topics like love, war, and wanting freedom. Everyday life was also part of their songs. For example, there's a song about the elektrichka, a common commuter train. Tsoi said his songs were art, not journalism.

Kino's Impact and Legacy

The Tsoi Wall covered with messages from Kino fans.

Kino was one of the first Russian rock bands. They had a huge impact on many bands that came after them. On December 31, 1999, a Russian radio station asked listeners to vote for the 100 best Russian rock songs. Kino had ten songs on the list, more than any other band. Their song "Gruppa Krovi" came in first place.

A Russian newspaper called Kino the second most important Russian band ever. Also, "Gruppa Krovi" was named one of forty songs that changed the world. This was in a 2007 Russian edition of Rolling Stone.

Tsoi's simple songs were easy for people to understand. This helped Kino become popular across the Soviet Union. Their music came out during a time of big changes in Russia. These changes included Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Kino's Western-style music also made Western culture more popular in the Soviet Union.

Kino is still popular in modern Russia. Viktor Tsoi is seen as a hero by many fans. The band's popularity is called "Kinomania." Fans of the group are known as "Kinophiles." In Moscow, there is a Tsoi Wall. Fans leave messages for the musician there. The boiler room where Tsoi once worked is a special place for Russian rock fans to visit.

Band Members

• Viktor Tsoi (Виктор Цой) – lead singer, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar (1981–1990; died 1990)
• Aleksei Rybin (Алексей Рыбин) – lead guitar (1981–1983)
• Oleg Valinsky (Олег Валинский) – drums (1981–1982)
• Yuri Kasparyan (Юрий Каспарян) – lead guitar, backing vocals (1983–1990)
• Aleksandr Titov (Александр Титов) – bass, backing vocals (1983–1986)
• Georgy Guryanov (Георгий Гурьянов) – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1986–1990; died 2013)
• Igor Tikhomirov (Игорь Тихомиров) – bass (1986–1990)

Timeline of Members

Kino's Albums

Studio albums

• 45 (1982)
• 46 (1983)
• Nachalnik Kamchatki (1984)
• Eto ne lyubov... (1985)
• Noch (1986)
• Gruppa krovi (1988)
• Zvezda po imeni Solntse (1989)
• Chyorny albom (1990)

See also

In Spanish: Kinó para niños