When and where was Aquarium band formed?
Aquarium was formed in Leningrad in 1972 by Boris Grebenshchikov and Anatoly Gunitsky. Grebenshchikov was a student of applied mathematics at Leningrad State University at the time.
Questions about Aquarium (band)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who is the only original member of Aquarium still in the band?
Boris Grebenshchikov is the only remaining original member of Aquarium. The band has undergone many lineup changes since its founding in 1972.
What happened to Aquarium at the 1980 Tbilisi Rock Festival?
Aquarium was banned from the 1980 Tbilisi Rock Festival after Grebenshchikov's provocative on-stage performance caused the entire jury to walk out. He was subsequently expelled from the Komsomol and lost his job, but the scandal turned the band into a symbol of Soviet alternative culture.
How many copies did Aquarium's first Melodiya album sell?
Aquarium's first album for the state-owned Melodiya record label, recorded in 1987, sold well over a million copies within a few months of release. Its success was made possible by official distribution following the advent of Glasnost.
What were apartment concerts (kvartirniki) and why did Aquarium play them?
Apartment concerts, or kvartirniki, were private performances held in Soviet citizens' flats, created by underground musicians who could not access official venues. Aquarium relied on them throughout the 1970s and early 1980s because rock music was strictly regulated and only state-approved acts could perform publicly.
What was Aquarium's White Horse album and how was it released?
Loshad' Belaya, or White Horse, is Aquarium's 2008 album. It was offered as a free mp3 download, with listeners choosing how much to pay, in a manner similar to Radiohead's release of In Rainbows in 2007.