Kino (band)

Kino was a famous rock band.

They started in a city called Leningrad. Viktor Tsoi was the leader. He wrote almost all the songs. The band made many albums. They had over ninety songs.

Their music was very popular. Many young people loved to hear them. The band even played in big stadiums. It is fun to listen to rock music.

Kino was a famous Russian rock band.

They formed in Leningrad in 1981. Viktor Tsoi was the leader. He wrote most of the music and lyrics. The band name means "Cinema." They chose it because it was short and easy to say.

In the early days, the band was small. Their first album was called 45. It had thirteen songs. Later, the band grew. They added a lead guitarist named Yuri Kasparyan. This group became their classic lineup.

Kino became very popular in the Soviet Union. Their music reached many young people. One album, Gruppa Krovi, was a huge success. It was even praised in the West. The band played in big places like Luzhniki Stadium. They even played in other countries like Denmark and France.

In 1990, Viktor Tsoi died in a car accident. The band broke up shortly after. They released one final album with songs they were working on. In 2019, the band announced a reunion. They began playing concerts again after 30 years. The band is still active today.

Kino was a famous Russian rock band that changed music in the Soviet Union.

They formed in Leningrad, which is now called Saint Petersburg, in 1981. The band was led by Viktor Tsoi. He wrote almost all the music and the lyrics for their songs. The name Kino means "Cinema" in Russian. The members chose it because it was short and easy to say. They liked that it had only two syllables.

In the beginning, the band was very small. Their first album was called 45, released in 1982. It had thirteen songs and used a drum machine for rhythm. At that time, the band only had two members. Other musicians helped them record the songs. These helpers played the flute, the cello, and the bass. This made the music sound bright and lively. Tsoi later said the recording felt a bit crude.

As time passed, the group grew and changed. They added a guitarist named Yuri Kasparyan. He started as a beginner but became a very important member. The band found a steady group of players for their "classic lineup." This included musicians on bass, drums, and percussion. Tsoi and his partner Aleksei Rybin once shared the work. Tsoi handled the creative songs while Rybin did the organizing. However, they had a conflict and Rybin eventually left the band.

Kino soon became huge across the whole country. Their album Noch sold two million copies. This made them famous even outside the rock music world. In 1988, they released an album called Gruppa Krovi. This record was a major success in the West too. It was praised by critics in America. The band even used better equipment from abroad for this album. They played in massive places like Luzhniki Stadium.

The band's journey had both high and low points. They traveled to places like Denmark, France, and New York. They even performed at a charity contest in Denmark. Sadly, Viktor Tsoi died in a car accident in 1990. The band broke up shortly after they finished one last album. This final record used songs they were working on before he died. In 2019, the band announced a reunion. They began playing concerts again after 30 years.

Kino was a highly influential Russian rock band formed in 1981 in Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg. The group was led by Viktor Tsoi, who served as the primary songwriter for nearly all their music. Over eight years, the band produced over ninety songs across seven studio albums. Their music became a defining sound for Soviet youth during the 1980s.

Even during the Soviet era, their work circulated widely through underground distribution called magnitizdat. This allowed their music to reach fans through bootleg recordings despite official restrictions.

The band's early formation involved members from two previous groups, Palata No. 6 and Piligrimy. Initially, they used the name Garin i giperboloidy, taken from a novel by Aleksei Tolstoi. They soon changed their name to Kino, which means "cinema" in Russian. The members chose this name because it was short and synthetic. They liked that it had only two syllables and was easy for global speakers to pronounce. They reportedly found the idea after seeing a bright cinema sign.

Kino's musical development began with their 1982 debut album, 45. This title referred to the album's total length. Because the core band had only two members, they used a drum machine for rhythm. They also worked with musicians from the band Aquarium, including a cellist, a flautist, and a bassist. This combination created a lively, bright sound with poetic, romantic lyrics about city life. Tsoi later felt the recording was somewhat crude and wished he had produced it differently.

As the band grew, the division of labor became a source of tension. Tsoi managed the creative direction, writing the lyrics and music. Aleksei Rybin handled administrative duties, such as organizing rehearsals and recording sessions. In 1983, a serious conflict arose between them regarding leadership and song selection. This disagreement led to Rybin leaving the group. Following this, Yuri Kasparyan joined as a guitarist. Although he was initially a poor player, he became a vital member of the band's "classic lineup."

The band achieved massive success with the release of the album Noch in 1986. Although the band had a negative view of this specific release, it sold two million copies. This massive number helped Kino achieve recognition far beyond the standard rock community. During this period, the group also performed in Kiev for a film called Konets Kanikul. Their music began to reach Western audiences as well. A compilation titled Red Wave sold 10,000 copies in California, marking a milestone for Soviet rock in the West.

Kino reached the pinnacle of their popularity with the 1988 album Gruppa Krovi, or Blood Type. This album was technically superior to their earlier work. Kasparyan's marriage to Joanna Stingray provided the band with high-quality equipment from abroad. This allowed their sound to match European and American recording standards. The album received critical acclaim in the United States from reviewers like Robert Christgau. It elevated Russian rock to a new professional level.

By the late 1980s, Kino was an international act. They performed at a charity contest in Denmark to help earthquake relief in Armenia. They also played at major festivals in France and Italy. In 1989, they released Zvezda po imeni Solntse, an album described as introspective and sad. This period of fame was marked by massive performances, including a show at Luzhniki Stadium. This venue was significant because the Olympic flame was lit there during their performance.

The band's original era ended following the death of Viktor Tsoi in a car accident in 1990. They released one final album consisting of songs Tsoi had been working on before his death. After a long hiatus, the band announced a reunion in 2019. They planned concerts for late 2020, though the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays until 2021. The band remains active today, continuing the legacy they built decades ago.