Aria (band)

Aria (Russian: Ария) is a popular Russian heavy metal band, which was founded in 1985. They have been called "Russia's Iron Maiden", due to them being a leading band of the genre in Russia, and also because of the similarity in style, seen especially on the "Geroy Asphalta" album.

The idea to create of a band playing uncompromising heavy metal was in Vladimir Holstinin's mind for a long time, even during his cooperation with Sergey Sarychev and the band "Alpha". In "Alpha" Vladimir met Alik Granovskij, who shared his ideas, and they soon began working on their first album. Most of the material was ready to the beginning of 1985, open there was a question on record-studio and the vocalist. At this time they get acquainted with Victor Vekshteyn who, having heard a material, decides to become the manager of the future band and gives guys the studio for record of an album. The vocalist have found quickly enough - to them there was Valery Kipelov. The name to band Vladimir Holstinin has thought up. A word "ARIA", except for brevity and convenience of a spelling, both in Russian, and in English languages, bore in itself rather certain sense: fans and musicians of band at once began to name "aryans". In record of the first album have taken part Alexander L'vov (drums) and Cyrill Pokrovsky (keyboard). Professionally played album has turned out so unlike at all rock executing at that time in the USSR, that band at once have noticed and have estimated admirers of serious heavy music. On an album all sets were recorded by only one guitarist, but the second was necessary for performance at concerts. And Andrey Bol'shakov was them. Igor Molchanov (played with Vladimir and Alik in "Alpha") has replaced Alexander L'vov behind drums. The first concert of ARIA was held February, 5, 1986 in DK MAI. The majority present there were left in opinion, that the band is rather perspective, but enough was also ill-wishers. Pessimistic forecasts were not justified - soon the ARIA becomes the winner of "Rock - Panorama-86", and on festival "Lituanika-86" which was taking place in Vilnius, receives a prize for professionalism. And though the press persistently ignores band, the ARIA promptly continues to go upwards, collecting full halls.

In November, 1986 the band lets out the second album "Whom are you with?". To time of its exit in band has ripened the real split which reasons became both discontent Victor Vekshtejna's politic, and disagreements of musicians in a question of the further style of band. After tour round in January 1987 ARIA leave, having expressed desire to play other music, Alik Granovsky, Andrey Bol'shakov, Igor Molchanov and Cyrill Pokrovsky.

Soon on a place of the bass-guitarist in band there comes Vitaly Dubinin (friend of Vladimir on institute and the colleague on "Magic twilight" ("Volshebnie sumerki"), the second guitarist becomes Sergey Mavrin, and the drummer - Maxim Udalov. The last up to the ARIA played together with "Black Coffee" and "Metallakkord". The first big performance of the updated ARIA was held in April 1987 at a concert opening festival "Melody of friends". This was annual festival passed on capitals and the largest cities of the USSR and last about one month. Concerts have proved, that the ARIA, contrary to hearings, has not died. After festival the ARIA has gone to the concert tour proceeding down to August. During it, in breaks between statements, musicians worked above songs for a new album. In August 1987 band has started record of a new album, having finished it within one month. After an exit of "Hero of asphalt" (initially the album referred to "Serving evil force"), it became clear, that change of structure for collective has was of use. Many characterize an album as one of the best disks of band. Tour round in support proceeded two years with notices at each concert. Issued after one year in circulation more than one million vinyl was sailed instantly, in one year to find it on counters was practically impossible. On a song "Street of Roses" was shooting a clip in which as mass meeting fans of band have taken part. Directors of a clip became Dmitry Mamatov and Sergey Komarov, the clip has appeared on screens in broadcast "The musical lift" and at once has won first place in charts. In winter the ARIA is sent in the first foreign tour, to Berlin. Having given some successful concerts, the band receives the invitation to festival "Days of a wall" in the summer 1988 where addresses to an audience in 120.000 person. All this time relations with management continued to be heated, the next conflict was planned, musicians seriously have reflected on a leaving from Vekshteyn. The first Maxim Udalov has not sustained. In October, 1988 he leaves, and in November on his place accept Alexander Manyakin.

In January, 1989 the band, already without Victor Vekshteyn, starts record of the fourth album - "Play with fire". The manager of band becomes Jury Fishkin (familiar Holstinin and Dubinin on "Magic twilight"). The album leaves in April, 1989. After its release and shootings of a clip on a song "Get it hot!" (director Eugeny Pahomenkov), the band has gone to long tour on Russia and Germany. ARIA has taken part in the Berlin festival "Rock Summer" and has won back rather successful concerts in four large cities. In the spring 1990 Vitaly Dubinin and Sergey Mavrin sign the contract with band "Lion Heart" and leave for Munich, but in August, find an opportunity to break off the contract, come back. ARIA, having noted the five years' anniversary concerts in DK ZIL, starts to prepare for the fifth album for record. "Blood for blood" leaves an autumn of 1991 in firm "Synthesis records". From "Blood for blood" artist Vasily Gavrilov is engaged in registration of albums of band.

In the beginning of 90th at ARIA (as well as at many other bands) the quantity of performances is sharply reduced. Concert tour "Blood for blood" in which as the sound producer Maxim Udalov participated, has written down only 9 cities in the luggage. Musicians decide to go on a known way - to creation of own studio of a sound recording. So in middle of 1994 the "ARIA records" appeared. In the same year the ARIA concludes the five years' contract with firm "MOROZ Records", one of which results becomes the edition in the summer 1994 of all of five early albums of band (switching not issued "Megalomania" and "Whom are you with?"). In the summer 1994 band starts record of the following album (the first sketches for it have appeared already at the end of 1992, and the new song recorded in 1993 "Angels dust" has left on the collection "Russian Metal Ballads Vol.1", issued in the beginning of 1994 firm "MOROZ Records"). In September 1994, having written down drum sets, the ARIA in fourth time is sent on fortnight performances on Germany, having given concerts in seven cities and in legendary Berlin Hard Rock Cafe. At the end of tour have arisen serious friction with organizers that has served as the reason of a relations pressure inside the band. After returning to Moscow, Valery Kipelov has never appeared at studio where at full speed there was a work on an album. In one month it became known, that he acts with band "Master". "Aryans" have engaged in searches of the new vocalist, continuing to record instrumental sets to an album. In December on place Kipelov Alexey Bulgakov (the soloist of band "Legion") is tried. Sergey Mavrin has left band in January 1995, having declared, that does not trust in success with the new vocalist. As the sessional musician on Mavrin' place in ARIA takes Sergey Terent'ev, which subsequently staying in band. The problem with the vocalist is solved by Alexander Morozov, the president of firm "MOROZ Records", having threatened with penal sanctions for failure of the contract. In result Valery Kipelov comes back in band and writes down voice parts to an album "Night is shorter than day", issued in September, 1995. After an exit of a new album the clip on a song "Take My Heart" (director Dmitry Velikanov) is removed. In same time the manager of the ARIA becomes Sergey Zadora who, having collected powerful administrative band, organizes a series of concerts in Moscow and other cities. During this tour the double concert album "Made in Russia" was recorded and issued, unexpectedly, but it is strongly and for a long time occupied in charts high places.

In the beginning of 1997 "MOROZ Records" prints the second release of a series "Legends of Russian Rock" on six disks where also the ARIA was included. The collection included the best songs of band, a bonus - track of an album became "Give me a hand", "lost" at release vinyl "Hero of Asphalt". Also the album was supplied with the booklet with the first enough a detailed history of band. All songs for the collection were carefully remake.

In the summer musicians start to work above the next, seventh album, received the name "Generator of evil". The album was issued May, 2, 1998. Soon the ARIA gets sponsor's support on behalf of management of the Russian representation of company Harley-Davidson. Under their patronage the ARIA in August for the first time acts on well-known Moscow bike-show. 13-th birthday the ARIA marks the big concert in DK "Gorbunova". The same year first concert video of band is issued - "Made in Russia" (record is made during performances "Night is short than day"). In February 1999 will start concert round in support of "Generator", behind drums - Maxim Udalov (Alexander Manyakin before tour has broken a hand) who has won back all concerts, except for finishing Moscow.

Specially for Harley-Davidson-Party at the end of April 1999 band writes down the first "Tribute to Harley-Davidson" - on an album besides the new version actually "aryan" songs are present two cover-versions: "Return of the Warlord" bands "Manowar" ("Has punched hour") and "Going to the Run" bands "Golden Earring"("Careless angel"). Thus, the ARIA has added in the arsenal "cover-creativity". Soon "Careless angel" appears on "Nashe radio" and unexpectedly occupies the top lines, and, a clip, which has left almost the year after, for a long time is late on air MTV. The ARIA at last notice, songs of band start to cause interest in representatives of musical MASS-MEDIA. ARIA finally comes back to serious concert platforms. The collection of the best songs of band on two disks leaves at the end of 1999, and in January 2000 ARIA lets out an album "2000 and one night" where, besides the known ballads, two new songs, which have been record anew "alive" in studio, enter also. On one of them - "Lost paradise", is removed a clip. Besides the ARIA for the first time tries the forces in cooperation with a symphonic orchestra. The version of "Lost paradise", written down together with the Presidential orchestra of the Russian Federation, soon leaves on the same single. The band has noted anniversary 2000 (ARIAS it was executed 15 years) the big concert tour. Concerts of April - May have passed together with German band RAGE which represented itself as the invited visitor. Anniversary round by a grandiose concert October, 30 in Moscow, in Luzhniki was finished; all musicians have taken part in this concert ever playing in the ARIA practically. On stage of Luzhniki with salutatory words to students poets of band have risen also.

The following album - "Chimera" - leaves April, 12, 2001. An album makes out Moscow artist Leo Hao, cooperation with which proceeds till now. In same time to band the offer acts to write down a sound-track to computer game "Rig'N'Roll-2". That instrumental versions of songs sounded also well as their originals, musicians seriously had to work above them. 12 compositions have come in a track-list, 10 of which - old songs of band, and two - from new, just the left album. In concert round in support of an album "Chimera" has taken part as invited visitor Udo Dirkschneider (band U.D.O.,ex-Accept). For the second "Tribute to Harley-Davidson" the version songs "Calm" was performed by Udo Dirkschneider and Valery Kipelov (the album in sale did not act, was issued by the limited circulation and raprostranjalsja only on Harley-Davidson-Party). To this time Jury Sokolov, with whom the ARIA already repeatedly cooperated, officially becomes productor of band. He offers to continue begun by "Lost paradise" a symphonic line. The feeler was thrown on festival "Invasion - 2001" where the band has executed some songs together with orchestra "Globalis" (conductor Konstantin Krimets), for an orchestra Cyrill Umansky was engaged in arrangement of songs. Experiment has passed more than successfully: ARIA becomes the brightest event of festival. Soon the band gives out on court of public the first serious stagement concert, past December, 1-st, 2001 in Luzhniki.

In the beginning of 2002 Valery Kipelov informs about the desire to leave band to engage in solo creativity. Despite of it in middle of May, 2002 will start the project "Classical Aria". Concerts in the largest cities of Russia pass together with local symphonic collectives, finishes round grandiose (by amount of the used art receptions and special effects) concert in Moscow. June, 1 at Green theatre of Gorkiy-park, ARIA together with orchestra "Globalis" has executed the best songs. Last number of a concert became first display of a new clip of band on a song "Splinter of ice". ARIA takes part in festival "Invasion - 2002" in August. The final tour which has received the name "Green mile", was finished by the big concert in Moscow, past August, 31 in Luzhniki. After "Judgement-day" the band was left by Valery Kipelov, Sergey Terent'ev and Alexander Manjakin. Following "kipelovs'" structure November, 22 "MOROZ Records" lets out the collection of rare songs "Calm" where the versions which have not got on number albums of known compositions enter, cover-versions with "Tribute to Harley-Davidson" and one earlier anywhere not issued song; and in February 2003 in firm "Classic Company" the second concert album "In searches of a new victim..." (record of performance December, 1-st in Luzhniki) leaves.

In the meantime the ARIA in the beginning of November 2002 declares new structure of band: for drums sits Maxim Udalov playing in the ARIA already once, the new guitarist becomes Sergey Popov (ex-"Master"), the vocalist - Artur Berkut (ex-"Autograph"). Musicians at once start to work above a new album. Soon the band represents attention of listeners a new song "Coliseum" on the same single which leaves December, 5. Besides "Coliseum" on a single two old compositions which anew have been written down by updated cast of band are submitted: "Deceit" and instrumental "Antichrist", executed together with symphonic orchestra "Globalis". Debut of new cast of ARIA was held December, 7 in city of Tver' on action "The Tver' Tribute to ARIA", and next day in Moscow club B-2 the presentation of a single has passed. Before performance musicians and poets of band gave press conference to the accredited journalists, having told about the nearest creative plans. ARIA takes part in festival "Friday 13", past in the Palace of Sports "Luzhniki", December, 13, for the first time having appeared in new structure before general public. And February, 8 2003 band acts head-lines on festival "Charts Dozen". At the end of March the ARIA starts data of a new album, and in the beginning of April at studio name of Gorkiy pass shootings a clip on a song "Coliseum". In shootings take part as mass meeting fans of band. In same time the band starts to prepare for tour round in support of a new album, having lead the first concerts still up to official release.

"MOROZ Records" May, 20 lets out the second collection of Aria's songs in a series "Legends of Russian rock".

And the ninth Aryan album "Christening by fire" leaves May, 29. Day before on "Nashe Radio" has passed the radiopresentation of an album, on air have sounded 6 of 9 songs, musicians have told some words about creation of each. After release an album concert tour "Christening by fire" has proceeded. The next page of history of band "ARIA" has opened.

Rammstein has covered an Aria song, Shtil.

Line-up

• Arthur Berkut (Артур Беркут) - Vocals
• Vladimir Hoslstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
• Sergei Popov (Сергей Попов) - Guitar
• Vitalii Dubinin (Виталий Дубинин) - Bass Guitar
• Maxim Udalov (Максим Удалов) - Drums

Discography

• 1985 Maniya velichiya(Megalomania) Мания величия
• 1986 S kem ty? (Whom are You With?) С кем ты?
• 1987 Geroi asfalta (Hero of the Asphalt) Герой асфальта
• 1989 Igra s ognyom (Play with Fire) Игра с огнём
• 1995 Noch koroche dnya (Night is Shorter than Day) Ночь короче дня
• 1998 Generator zla (Generator of Evil) Генератор зла
• 1991 Krov za krov (Blood for Blood) Кровь за кровь
• 2001 Khimera (Chimera) Химера
• 2003 Kreshchenie ognyom (Baptism by Fire) Крещение огнём

External links

• Aria's official site (In Russian)