Purgen is a Soviet and later Russian group, which was formed at the end of the 80s of the last century. The musicians of the band "make" music in the style of hardcore punk/crossover thrash.
History of creation and composition of the team
At the origins of the team are Purgen and Chikatilo. The musicians lived in the capital of Russia. After they met, they were fired up with the desire to “put together” their own project.
Ruslan Gvozdev (Purgen) devoted ten years of his life to attending an art school. After graduating from an educational institution, he entered a school that had the most distant relationship to music.
During this period of time, the heyday of rock raged on the territory of the Soviet Union. The youth rubbed rock works to holes. Ruslan was also a fan of heavy music, but the young man wanted to contribute to the development of rock.
Purgen didn't quite like what the Russian rockers were doing. For him, the music of Soviet rock bands seemed too light, deceitful and sugary.
But, one day, punk tracks got into the ears of Purgen and Chikatilo. The guys were hooked by what they heard. They were pleased not only with the sound, but also with the texts of the tracks, in which the musicians tried to tell about the problems of our time in simple words.
The friends went to the Rock Lab. At the same time, they first heard the tracks of the Sex Pistols and The Clash bands. Purgen and Chikatilo recorded the top tracks of the presented groups.
Gradually, the guys had a desire to “make” such tracks on their own. But one "but" - Purgen and Chikatilo never held musical instruments in their hands. Until that time, they drew posters, did choreography and were just "fans" from the sound of heavy music.
Recording of the band's debut LP
The desire to perform on stage intensified every day. The first part of the team included Purgen and Chikatilo. Then the guys performed under the sign "Lenin Samotyk". The duo even managed to record their debut longplay, which was called "Brezhnev is alive." The work did not enjoy great success among fans of heavy music. The quality of the tracks left much to be desired, since the recording of the disc was carried out in conditions close to extreme.
The musicians recorded their debut LP at home. Two guitars, a drum and other kitchen utensils came to the aid of novice rockers.
After some time, the duo's affairs improved significantly. The group was expelled from the educational institution where Purgen studied. The newly minted team was given a "green light" to take the place of the retired group. Since that time, the band's rehearsals have been held with "full stuffing".
Then the composition expanded to a trio. Another musician joined the duet, who was given the "cute" nickname Accumulator. The task of the new participant was to imitate the game on the drum kit. The school not only provided a venue for rehearsals, but also sponsored small purchases.
A couple of months later, another member joined the line-up. We are talking about a classmate of Purgen - Dima Artomonov. He learned to play the drums. Over the next few months, each of the band members mastered playing musical instruments from scratch.
Change of creative nickname
The time has come when the musicians had to think about changing their creative pseudonym. During this period of time, a delegation from the United States was supposed to visit the school, so speaking to important people under the sign "Lenin-Samotyk" was as strange as possible. On this basis, the band members decided to change the creative pseudonym. This is how the name "Purgen" was born. Later, the guys will tell that it took them a day to search for a new creative name.
Ruslan explained to reporters that he chose such a name for his offspring "for fun." In his later interviews, he decided to find some meaning in the name of the group, so he began to assure fans that "Purgen" means purification of consciousness.
But the musicians were still not allowed to speak to the American delegation. The fact is that Ruslan put on a Dead Kennedys T-shirt, and Chikatilo appeared in clothes with the inscription "Brezhnev is alive."
Release of the second full-length album
The children began to miss lectures and practical classes more and more often. They worked closely on the creation of the second studio album. Soon the musicians received the news that they had been expelled from the school. The participants of "Purgen" did not lose heart, because they prepared the disc "Great Stink" for the fans.
During this period of time, Ruslan literally lives in a punk environment. At the same time, Purgen got acquainted with progressive Russian rock groups. During this period of time, Bibis and Iserli joined the team. The musicians recorded three more full-length LPs.
In their tracks, the musicians of "Purgen" did not hesitate to talk about what really worries them. They raised social issues. The compositions of the guys at first looked like psychedelic works. The musicians were strateigers.
In the mid-90s, the premiere of the next LP of the musicians took place. We are talking about the collection "Worldview Transplantation" with new songs. After some time, it turned out that the team was on the verge of collapse. The musicians practically did not tour, and meanwhile, almost everyone had families that needed to be supported by something. The group soon disbanded. At the "helm" was only the "father" of the team.
Resumption of activities of the Purgen group
The frontman of the group began to "depress". Throughout 94, he “killed” himself with alcohol and drugs. Friends came to the rescue, who literally pulled Purgen out of the other world. Ruslan decided to revive the team. Soon, new members joined the line-up, whose names are Panama and Gnomes. For the first six months, the guys did not do anything useful - they drank, smoked and had sex with fans.
In the summer, they nevertheless took up the promotion of the team. Ruslan picked up the microphone, Panama took the bass, and Gnome Maly took the drum set. In the same period of time, the one who stood at its origins, Chikatilo, joins the group. A couple of months will pass and Ruslan will give the go-ahead for Dwarf Senior to join the squad. He took the place of the backing vocalist.
Having prepared a new LP, the musicians began to record it. One "but" - Panama felt like a star. He was often late for rehearsals, drank heavily, used drugs, and robbed apartments. Ruslan understood - it's time to change the composition. The guest musician Robots took part in the recording of the new album, with whom the group learned the entire record “Radiation Activity from the Trash Can”. The guys brought the collection together in a couple of months, right in the basement.
A year will pass - and the line-up, according to the good old tradition, will again undergo changes. Ruslan picked up the guitar, and Johansen began to play the bass guitar, and after a while - Cologne. At that time, Chikatilo's personal life "settled down" - he married a charming girl and went to learn a serious profession.
During this period of time, the musicians recorded one side of the "Philosophy of Urban Timelessness" and Chikatilo finally left the band. A year later, the guys recorded the second part of the collection.
Purgen: Changes in the group
After the presentation of the LP, some changes again took place in the group. The bass was entrusted to the musician Crazy, the Gnome sat down at the drums, and Purgen played the guitar. The frontman of the band was categorically not satisfied with the fact that he performs the function of a guitarist. His true purpose, he considered singing. In this composition, the guys skated a tour of Germany. Then the team left the Gnome.
At the sunset of the 90s, the presentation of the disc "Toxidermists of Urban Madness" took place. After the release of the LP, Crazy left the group, and Martin was taken in his place.
At the beginning of the so-called "zero" years, a young musician Diagen joins the line-up. This is one of the few participants who managed to settle down in Purgen. Diagen is still listed as part of the group. During this period of time, Ruslan is working on the creation of a new project - Toxigen. In 2002, the premiere of the album took place, which is filled with electronic music. We are talking about the collection Carmaoke.
Band discography
In 2003, the group's discography increased by one more LP. This year the premiere of the compilation Destroy for Creation took place. This collection was different from the works that fans used to listen to earlier. The tracks have an electronic sound and a lot of drums. Ruslan recorded the record almost completely on his own, and the style of the collection was as close to hardcore as possible.
During this period of time, Martin leaves the team. His place was not empty for long, as a new member named Mox joined the line-up. In 2004, the composition changed again. Mox and Bai left the project, and Krok and Crazy came in their place. At the same time, the premiere of the next collection "Purgena" took place. We are talking about the record “Mechanism Parts Protest”.
Fans appreciated the high-quality punk hardcore and the updated sound of old tracks. By the way, music critics attribute the disc to the last successful work of the Purgen group. In support of the presented LP, the guys went on another tour, after which the band left Crazy. Soon his place was taken by a new member, whose name is Plato. For about two years, the composition has not changed.
Purgen: Longplay
In 2005, the band's discography became richer by one more LP. This year saw the release of Reincarnation. Fans and music critics were divided. Most did not appreciate the new sound of the tracks. In almost every song of the new collection, the musicians raised the themes of progress and reincarnation. In the same 2005, a tribute to the Purgen collective was released in honor of the 15th anniversary. The record was topped by 31 tracks.
Throughout the entire existence of the group, the musicians regularly replenished the discography of the group. The year 2007 was not without musical novelties. This year, the premiere of the LP "Transformation of Ideals" took place. The collection did not sell well, and entered the list of the most disastrous LPs of musicians.
They held a large-scale tour of Germany. At the end of the tour, it became known about the departure of Krok and Plato. After the departure of the guys, session musicians played in the line-up for some time.
A couple of years later, the premiere of a new album took place. The record was called "30 Years of Punk Hardcore". The collection consists of several CD+DVD discs.
Anniversary concert of Purgen group
At the beginning of September 2010, the anniversary concert of the group took place in the Moscow nightclub Tochka, in which all the members of Purgen took part. As part of the anniversary concert dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the band, the musicians presented a new LP, which was called "God of Slaves".
A few years later, Alexander Pronin left the team. His place was taken by S. Platonov. The updated line-up was warmly received by the fans. In this composition, the team again went on a big tour. A year later, the musician of the Russian team took part in European festivals.
In 2015, in the Moscow club "Mona" in honor of the 25th anniversary of the group, the guys played a concert. In the same year, the guys rolled back a tour of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Then the band members switched and continued the tour already in Russia. In the same year, the premiere of the new musical composition "Purgena" took place. The track "Third World Gavwah" was incredibly warmly received not only by fans, but also by music critics.
New musician in Purgen group
In 2016, a new musician joins the group. They became Daniil Yakovlev. The drummer already had impressive stage experience. But, after some time, information about his departure appeared on the network. It turns out that Daniel was not satisfied with the terms of cooperation. He was replaced by Yegor Kuvshinov, who had previously played in Purgen.
In the same year, another track of the group was released. The musical work "Betrayal of the Elites" was presented by the musicians during their performance at the Moscow club "Mona".
A year later, it became known about the death of Alexander "Gnome the Elder". The musicians decided that fans should definitely know this news, since the Gnome contributed to the development of the band. As it turned out, the musician died of cancer of the larynx.
In 2018, the Purgen repertoire became richer by one more track. The musical work “17-97-17” made a proper impression not only on loyal fans, but also on authoritative music critics.
At the same time, the musicians said that a new LP would be released soon. In mid-autumn 2018, the release of the disc "Reptology of the lunar ship" took place. The compilation was topped by 11 new and 2 re-recorded old tracks.
Purgen team: Our days
2020 began with the fact that the composition of Purgen again underwent changes. The fact is that Dmitry Mikhailov left the squad. His place was vacant for a short time. Soon it became known that Yegor Kuvshinov joined the group.
A year later, several participants left the team at once: Rytukhin, Kuvshinov and Kuzmin. It turned out that the guys are quite mature in order to form their own musical project.
In 2021, new members joined the band: Alexey, bassist - Sergey, and Dmitry Mikhailov sat on the drums.
