Monday, March 2, 2009
Reminescenses
I posted this originally in response to someone’s question here.
There were no hard rock or metal groups in the USSR until early 1980s. At least not officially. Of course, there were groups that played rock (mostly softer, more melodic varieties) before that, but they were either underground, or called themselves something else. By 1980 (or perhaps a little bit earlier) something changed. Rock was semi-officially acknowledged as a progressive music genre and a manifistation of protest against imperialism, and some radio programs (especially those targeting younger audiences) started to air fairly hard music of foreign rock groups (mostly with socially-oriented lyrics). As a result, the Soviet rock scene revived. More groups started openly define themselves as rock groups, more rock groups started playing heavier varieties of rock, etc. During that period (early 80s) a few heavy metal groups sprung, but, if my memory serves me correctly, they were semi-underground. They mostly played in small dancing places, or at parties, rock festivals and such. They were never given time on central TV or radio stations.
It was not until Gorbachov’s time (late 80s) that it became possible to play heavy metal openly. During that period, several metal groups (including Ария (spelled in English as Aria or Ariya) and Чёрный Кофе (Cherniy Kofe (Black Coffee)) became really, really popular among fans of rock music, mostly young people. Still rare guests on central TV stations, they were at least allowed to officially play commercial concerts before public, tour the country with their music, and publish their records. And I think Ария was the single most popular [Russian] metal group of that period.