The rock group "Avtograf" became popular in the 1980s of the last century, not only at home (during the period of little public interest in progressive rock), but also abroad.
The Avtograf group was lucky enough to take part in the grand concert Live Aid in 1985 with world-famous stars thanks to a teleconference.
In May 1979, the ensemble was created by guitarist Alexander Sitkovetsky (a graduate of Gnesinka) after the collapse of the Leap Summer group. They staked on the creation of a team capable of performing stylistically complex compositions in the spirit of the "kings of British art rock" Yes and Genesis.
Therefore, only strong and competent musicians were invited to the group. Spectacular appearance, ability to stay on stage were welcomed, but they were not focused on. Practical skills and mastery of musical instruments were more important.
Selection of participants in the "Autograph" group
First, Sitkovetsky invited drummer Andrey Morgunov to his project, who brought him together with bass guitarist and bassoonist Leonid Gutkin.
Then the guys found a pianist for the team, who had just graduated from the Moscow Conservatory - Leonid Makarevich. True, Morgunov did not stay in the squad, they took Vladimir Yakushenko instead.
Later than all in the "Autograph" group of the first composition were the keyboard player Chris Kelme and singer, polyglot who studied several foreign languages, Sergey Brutyan.
In this form, in the year of the Moscow Olympics, the group went to the All-Union Rock Festival in Tbilisi. The performance of the team was noted by the jury, according to the results of the competition, the 2nd place was awarded. And for the composition with a political bias “Ireland. Ulster” was awarded a special prize.
After such success, the team received an official status, starting to perform from the Moskontsert organization and releasing an EP at the Melodiya company. The instrumental "Fasten Your Seat Belts" and "Ireland" were included on the first side of the small record. And on the second - "Blues" Caprice "". In the autumn of the same year, Yakushenko and Kelmi left (the latter assembled his own Rock Studio team).
Victor Mikhalin began to work behind the drums for the next 9 years. Makarevich handled the synthesizers alone.
Unexpectedly, in the spring of 1982, vocalist Brutyan left the band. According to rumors, his father, a state security officer, insisted on stopping music lessons. He literally forced his son to continue his scientific activities.
For the vacant place in front of the microphone stand, Sitkovetsky invited a talented 19-year-old boy Artur Mikheev, nicknamed Berkut, from the Magic Twilight group, which later became his creative pseudonym. Thus ended the formation of the classic composition of the Avtograph group.
Gaining group popularity
Having toured the program at the venues in the capital, the Avtograph group went on tour with concerts throughout the Union. Sometimes they gave 10 concerts in large cities. Then they visited abroad.
As a result, the team was recognized as the first Soviet rock band to achieve serious commercial success outside the country. Mostly they performed in the states of the social camp - Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, etc. But the musicians traveled on tour in three dozen countries of the world.
5 years later, in 1984, after the creation of the group, the debut studio magnetic album was released. It was recorded at the Mosfilm studio.
The first official record in the Melodiya company was released in 1986. It contained only 5 compositions, had a modest design and a discreet name, coinciding with the name of the ensemble. In the same year, the public was able to appreciate the double live album in the form of a magnetic album.
In the spring of 1986 (after the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant), the Avtograf group participated in the concert "Account No. 904" in support of the liquidators of the accident.
In the same season, singer, saxophonist Sergey Mazaev and organist Ruslan Valonen joined the group.
A year later, at the stadium in Izmailovo, the Avtograph group performed with Santana, Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt.
Later, the musicians visited various festivals in Western Europe. On one of them, Sitkovetsky managed to get acquainted with the producer of the Chicago band, David Foster. He invited a new acquaintance and his comrades to a rock festival in Quebec (Canada). There, Soviet rockers performed on the same stage with the legendary band Chicago and the local band Glass Tiger.
In early 1988, the Autograph group traveled to the States for the first time, where a year later they signed a contract with Herb Cohen. He collaborated with Western music legend Frank Zappa.
And in 1989, a disc in the style of AOR "Stone Edge" was released. Ostrosotsialnye texts were replaced by love lyrics and soulful ballads. The work turned out to be amazing, but was underestimated by critics and listeners.
Crisis and collapse
In the late 1980s, priorities changed in the domestic music market. The work of the Autograph group has already become uninteresting.
This negatively affected the atmosphere in the group. First, referring to health problems, Leonid Makarevich left the team. Then Sergei Mazaev and Viktor Mikhalin left. Sergei Krinitsyn was invited to replace the former drummer.
In February 1990, at a concert in Saransk, Alexander Sitkovetsky officially announced the closure of the project.
After the breakup, the English-language CD Tear Down the Border, based on the Stone Edge, was released, and a digital re-release of the early material.
In 2005, the Avtograph group reunited in a "golden" line-up with Mazaev, Kelmi and Brutyan to celebrate the group's 25th anniversary on tour.
The tour ended with a grandiose concert in the Olimpiysky Concert Hall, which was recorded on CD and DVD.
Group "Autograph" today
For the first time in 30 years, the Avtograf team presented a new song to fans of their work. The composition was called "Keep". The track was recorded in the "golden" composition. The musicians commented:
“We are at risk. Makar and I have long passed the mark of 65 years, Vitya - 64, Gutkin and Berkut - 60, Mazay recently turned 60. Actually, that's why we decided to create this musical letter ... ".
