NEWSMAKERS

Sitkovetsky (top left) and Autograph: Russian rockers. Photo by R.T. KAHN

Until now, about the best way a Westerner could catch the Soviet Union’s most popular rock group, Autograph, was to infiltrate a concert at the Luzhniki Sports Stadium in Moscow, or maybe bop on by Tbilisi for the All Union Pop and Rock Music Festival. But soon, the Soviet superstars— who say that they play like the British band Genesis and sing about love, philosophy and world problems—could be performing such heavy hits as “Fasten Your Seatbelts” and “Boat” for audiences far out of Kremlin earshot. Autograph has escaped the government’s recent attacks on musical decadence, and members hope this tacit ap- Godunov, Bisset. proval will allow them to tour Finland and other noncommunist countries next year. So far, nobody is predicting that Americans will collect Autograph in the near future. But Autograph has already taken in one American icon— and been less than thrilled. “I have seen Michael Jackson on video,” says the group’s leader, Aleksandr Sitkovetsky, 29. “He’s not interesting for his music, but for his image.”

Newsweek, September 3rd, 1984