Boris Grebenshikov
b. 1953, Russia. With the advent of perestroika, singer and songwriter Grebenshikov became the first Russian rock artist to record and perform in the West. At school in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), he translated western songs and performed them with a beat group. In 1972 he formed Aquarium, which became the most famous of Russian rock groups. Among its members were Sasha Titov (bass), Seva Gakkel (cello) and Diusha Romanov. Grebenshikov's early writing method was to adapt foreign material to the Russian language. Thus Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heaven's Door became Knocking On The Doors Of Grass, and George Harrison was honoured in In The Temple Of Radjah Krishnu and a David Bowie tune became Song Of The Silent Days. Aquarium also had hippie and reggae phases in its musical evolution. By the mid-80s, however, Grebenshikov had achieved a personal voice, best heard on his biggest Russian hit, This Train's On Fire (1988). In the same year, he was signed by CBS and travelled to the UK and the USA to record an album with David A. Stewart of the Eurythmics. Grebenshikov returned to St. Petersburg in 1989 and rejoined Aquarium. His decision to record in the West was fiercely attacked in songs by rival Russian bands Alissa and Brigada S.