Russian progressive rock legends “Avtograf”

@ Rock Legends Festival – Moscow 09/01/2012

I don’t cover too many events on this blog, but this one is worth all the press coverage possible.

Formed in 1979, this progressive rock band has always stood out from the Soviet/Russian music scene. In spite of all the political pressure of that time, Avtograf not only toured the USSR gaining the status of “legendary” and influencing a lot of musicians, but also became the first Soviet rock-group to achieve commercial success in the West, having toured more than 30 countries including Canada (with Chicago, Glass Tiger and David Foster), France, Western Germany and USA . The band sold 20 million records in Eastern Europe alone and was the only Russian act to participate in the historic Live Aid concert in July 1985. In 1991 the CD “Tear Down The Border” (Bizarre/Straight Records) was released in the US.

In 2005 the band re-united for an outstanding 25-anniversary tour in Surround Sound 5.1 (check out 25 Years Later – Jubilee Concert live double CD and DVD).

Here is a photo report from Avtograf’s re-union at the the Rock Legends Festival in Moscow organized by TV1. The wall of sound, rare musicianship and music gaining new meaning for today’s listeners. Rock on!

Official website: http://avtograf.com.ru (Russian only)

My interview with Alexander Sitkovetsky and Leonid Goutkin has been published in the Show-Master magazine.
Previous publications about Avtogaf’s re-union in English: MelodicRock.com (14th August 2012) or check out the screenshot of this publication at http://vs-baronin.livejournal.com/384051.html .

by July

Sep 4, 2012
Julyshredder.com