Ask any adult from Russia and neighboring countries who Nikolai Rastorguev is, then almost everyone will answer that he is the leader of the popular rock band Lube.
However, few people know that, in addition to music, he was engaged in political activities, sometimes acted in films, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
True, first of all, Nikolai is a singer and musician. Every second song of the Lyube group certainly becomes a hit. In addition, Rastorguev is one of the favorite singers of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Childhood and early years of Nikolai Rastorguev
Nikolai Vyacheslavovich Rastorguev was born on February 21, 1957. Place of birth - the village of Bykovo, which is located in the Moscow region.
At the time of the birth of his son, his father, Vyacheslav Nikolaevich, worked as a driver, and his mother, Maria Kalmykova, worked as a seamstress.
At school, Kolya did not notice any interest in science, writing, history, so the boy studied poorly. His main hobbies were reading and music.
One of the student's favorite performers and musicians were the members of the legendary band from the UK The Beatles, whom he met after watching the famous film A Hard Day's Evening.
After receiving a certificate, in which there were mostly "triples", Kolya's parents persuaded Kolya to enter the Moscow Technological Institute of Light Industry. True, and there he studied no better than at school.
Over time, the young man began to often skip classes, spending his free time with friends. After Nikolai Rastorguev failed all the exams at the session, the dean of the university decided to sign the order of expulsion.
The young man was about to join the army, dreaming of serving in the Airborne Forces, but after passing the medical commission, the verdict was “not fit”.
The beginning of a musical career
The first place of work for the future singer and musician was the Institute of Aviation, where he worked as a mechanic.
Despite the fact that he did not have any musical education (mother even said that her son was deaf), in 1978 he became one of the members of the famous Six Young band.
At their concerts, the group often performed songs by Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky, which helped Nikolai learn stage and musical art.
Thanks to the performance in the Six Young team, Rastorguev began to be recognized - the audience warmly welcomed their concerts, the first fans appeared at Nikolai himself.
As a result, such fame helped the group to receive an invitation from the head of the famous in 1970-1980. of the last century of the Leisya Song ensemble.
The first success of the young musicians was the hit "Wedding Ring", which is still covered by Russian pop stars today. True, in 1985 the group broke up.
Left without a musical group, Rastorguev did not despair and began to attend various auditions. As a result, after several attempts, he was accepted as a bass player in the Rondo band.
A key twist of fate - the creation of the rock group "Lube"
Until 1989, Nikolai played in the Rondo group, until he met the composer Igor Matvienko. In fact, this moment became a turning point in the life of Rastorguev.
Together, the musician and composer decided to create their own team. Nikolai invited Igor to call him "Lube”, remembering that in childhood I often heard this jargon, which means different.
On April 14, 1989, the group was invited to television, where she performed the song "Old Man Makhno", which made the musicians the stars of the Soviet stage a day later.
Nikolai Rastorguev and Alla Borisovna Pugacheva
Actively participated in the development of the stage image Alla Pugacheva. It was her idea to perform at concerts in a tunic and breeches. This image is not accidental, because most of the group's compositions were on a military theme.
After the overwhelming success of the first album, the songs "Atas", "Do not play the fool, America" and others sounded from every radio and tape recorder in the country.
A few years later, the team received the Golden Gramophone award, and in 1997 Nikolai Rastorguev was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia. In 2003 he became a People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
The band still regularly releases new albums. Rastorguev sometimes performs with Russian show business and film stars. Among them: Sofia Rotaru, Lyudmila Sokolova, Sergey Bezrukov, Alexander Marshal, Ekaterina Guseva.
Filmography
Nikolai Rastorguev is a versatile person, thanks to which he was happy to star in several films:
- "Zone Lube";
- "Old songs about the main thing";
- "Check";
- "Lyudmila Gurchenko".
Nikolai Rastorguev: about his personal life
The musician, artist and singer Nikolai Rastorguev had two official spouses. The first wife of a 19-year-old boy was a school friend, 18-year-old Valentina Titova. First, the newlyweds lived with their parents, and later moved to a communal apartment.
The son Pavel was born in the family. The marriage lasted 15 years. It broke up when, at one of the concerts, the artist fell in love with the costume designer Natasha and in 1990 took her to the registry office. Four years later, Natalya gave birth to a son, who was named Kolya, like her father.
Nikolai Rastorguev today
At the end of February 2022, Nikolay Rastorguev, together with his team, presented the LP "Own". The collection consists of lyrical works by the singer and the Lyube group in semi-acoustic arrangements. The disc includes old and new works. The album will be released digitally and on vinyl.
“I decided to give you and myself a present for my birthday. One of these days, a double vinyl of Lyube's lyrical songs will be released, ”said the leader of the group.
Recall that on February 22 and 23, in honor of the band's anniversary, the guys will perform at the Crocus City Hall.
