Vladimir Vysotsky

• 1. Moscow Birth And Family Roots

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  Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky entered the world on the 25th of January 1938 at the 3rd Meshchanskaya Street maternity hospital in Moscow. His father, Semyon Vladimirovich Vysotsky, was a Jewish man originally from Kiev who served as a reserve officer before being called up to fight in World War II. His mother, Nina Maksimovna Vysotsky, worked as a German translator and supported her son's early theatrical interests with unwavering devotion. The family lived in a communal flat at No. 126, 1st Meshchanskaya Street where young Vladimir would recite poems while standing on a chair. He once sat under the New Year tree at age two and sighed that his guests were freeloaders for asking him to perform more poetry. During the war years, his parents evacuated to Vorontsovka in Orenburg Oblast while he spent six days a week at kindergarten. His mother worked twelve hours daily in a chemical factory during this difficult period. After returning to Moscow in 1943, the boy attended school at the 273rd Moscow Rostokino District School starting in September 1945. When his parents divorced in December 1946, he moved to live with his father and stepmother Yevgenya Stepanovna Liholatova at a military base in Eberswalde, Germany. This new home offered better living conditions than their previous cramped flat, giving Vladimir his first private room. In 1949 they returned to Moscow where he joined the fifth grade of the 128th School. By 1953 he enrolled in drama courses led by Vladimir Bogomolov and received his first guitar as a birthday present from his mother.

• 2. Engineering Dropout And Taganka Rise

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  Vladimir Vysotsky enrolled in the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering in 1955 but dropped out after just one year to pursue acting instead. He joined Boris Vershilov's class at the Moscow Art Theatre School in June 1956 where he met Iza Zhukova who would become his wife four years later. The couple settled into a common room sectioned off by a folding screen at the Meschanskaya flat. At the MAT School he also met Bulat Okudzhava, an already popular underground bard, and Russian literature teacher Andrey Sinyavsky who invited students to his home for improvised concerts. His first professional role came in 1958 as Porfiry Petrovich in Crime and Punishment at the Moscow Art Theatre. In 1959 he appeared in his first cinema role as student Petya in Female Age-Mates. On the 20th of June 1960 he graduated from the MAT School before joining the Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre under Boris Ravenskikh. That theatre experience proved troubled with numerous administrative sanctions for lack of discipline and occasional drunken sprees. He appeared in films like Dima Gorin's Career and 713 Requests Permission to Land during 1961 and 1962, roles that required him to be beaten up on screen. In 1962 he had a short stint at the Moscow Theater of Miniatures which ended when he was fired for total lack of sense of humour. By June 1963 while shooting Penalty Kick he used the Gorky Film Studio to record an hour-long reel-to-reel tape of his own songs. Copies spread quickly through Moscow though many called them anonymous folk music. Chess grandmaster Mikhail Tal praised the author of Bolshoy Karetny only months later. Anna Akhmatova quoted from Ya byl dushoj durnogo obshhestva taking it for brilliant street folklore.

• 3. Underground Tapes And State Backlash

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  In June 1968 a smear campaign launched against Vladimir Vysotsky in the Soviet press. Sovetskaya Rossiya commented on epidemic spread of immoral smutty songs allegedly promoting criminal world values alcoholism vice and immorality. Komsomolskaya Pravda linked him with black market dealers selling tapes in Siberia. Composer Dmitry Kabalevsky criticized Soviet radio for giving ideologically dubious low-life product like Song for a Friend unwarranted airplay at Union of Soviet Composers conference. Playwright Alexander Stein who used several of Vysotsky's songs in Last Parade got chastised by Ministry of Culture official for providing platform for anti-Soviet scum. Two films from 1968 Intervention and Two Comrades Were Serving faced severe censorship with former shelved for almost twenty years. In April 1973 he visited Poland and France after French Communist Party leader Georges Marchais made personal phone call to Leonid Brezhnev. Upon return Vysotsky discovered lawsuit brought regarding unsanctioned concerts in Siberia year before. He wrote defiant letter to Minister of Culture Pyotr Demichev resulting in philharmonic artist status guaranteeing payment of 11.5 roubles per concert. Court still found he had to pay fine of 900 rubles substantial sum given monthly salary at Taganka Theatre was only 110 rubles. That same year he starred alongside Oleg Dahl in Bad Good Man earning Best Actor award at Taormina Film Fest in Italy. In 1974 Melodiya released seven-inch EP featuring four war songs representing tiny portion of creative work owned by millions on tape. September 1974 saw him receive first state award Honorary Diploma of Uzbek SSR following tour there. In 1975 granted membership in Cinematographers Union making him unlikely link between Soviet cinema elite and progressive-thinking artists of West. He made third trip to France visiting former tutor Andrey Sinyavsky then celebrated dissident émigré. Also in 1975 became friends with Paris-based artist Mikhail Shemyakin who recorded Vysotsky in home studio. After brief stay in England traveled to Mexico performing first concerts there April. During this time changes occurred at Taganka Theatre when Lyubimov took contract job with La

• 4. International Tours And Political Struggles

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  Scala Milan replaced by Anatoly Efros.

  In 1971 drinking spree-related nervous breakdown sent Vladimir Vysotsky to hospital where many songs from period dealt with alcoholism and insanity. Partial recovery owed largely to supportive presence of Marina Vlady before embarking successful Ukrainian concert tour writing cluster new songs. On the 29th of November 1971 Lyubimov's version of Hamlet premiered at Taganka Theatre groundbreaking production with Vysotsky leading role as lone intellectual rebel rising against cruel state machine. That same year invited play lead in The Sannikov Land screen adaptation but dropped at behest Mosfilm general director Nikolai Sizov for being too recognizable popular figure. One song written for film doom-laden epic allegory Koni privedlivye Picky Horses became signature tune. In 1972 starred in The Fourth appearing on Soviet Estonian TV episode Noormees Tagankalt Young Man from Taganka performing songs giving interview. Songs written included Pevetz u mikrofona Singer at Microphone Kanatohodetz Tightrope Walker My vrashaem zemlyu We Turn Earth Cherniye bushlaty Black Pea-Coats Beda Disaster Zhertva televidinya Victim Television Chest shashmatnoj korony Honor Chess Crown Mishka Shifman. April 1973 visit Poland France resolved travel permit difficulties after French Communist Party leader Georges Marchais made personal phone call Leonid Brezhnev who sympathized couple according to Marina Vlady memoirs. Upon return discovered lawsuit brought regarding unsanctioned concerts Siberia year before wrote defiant letter Minister Culture Pyotr Demichev granted philharmonic artist status guaranteeing payment 11.5 roubles concert. Court still found had pay fine 900 rubles substantial sum given monthly salary Taganka Theatre 110 rubles. That same year starred alongside Oleg Dahl Bad Good Man earning Best Actor Male Role award 5th Festival Nations competition Taormina Film Fest Italy. Wrote thirty songs Alice Wonderland audio play voicing several minor roles best-known Chuzhaya koleya Someone Else Rut Prervannyj polet Interrupted Flight Pamyatnik Monument. In 1974 Melodiya released seven-inch EP featuring four war songs On ne vernulsya iz boya He Didn Return From Battle Pesnya o novom vremeni Song About New Times Bratskiye mogily Mass Graves Pesnya o zemle Song Earth representing tiny portion creative work

• 5. Health Decline And Final Years

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  owned millions tape.

  In autumn 1981 Vladimir Vysotsky first collection poetry officially published USSR called The Nerve Nerv its first edition twenty-five thousand copies sold out instantly. Second edition followed 1982 hundred thousand copies third 1988 two hundred thousand copies followed 1990s several more material compiled Robert Rozhdestvensky officially laurelled Soviet poet. Also 1981 Yuri Lyubimov staged at Taganka new music poetry production Vladimir Vysotsky promptly banned officially premiered the 25th of January 1989. In 1982 motion picture Ballad Valiant Knight Ivanhoe produced Soviet Union released public 1983 four songs featured film. 1986 official Vysotsky poetic heritage committee formed Robert Rozhdestvensky helm theater critic Natalya Krymova instigator organizer despite opposition conservatives Yegor Ligachev latter political leader Stanislav Kunyaev Nash Sovremennik represented literary flank. Posthumously rewarded USSR State Prize formula creating character Zheglov artistic achievements singer-songwriter much derided left right. 1988 Selected Works edited N. Krymova compilation preceded I Will Surely Return book fellow actors memoirs verses some published first time. 1990 two volumes extensive Works published financed late poet father Semyon Vysotsky. Even ambitious publication series self-proclaimed first ever academic edition compiled edited Sergey Zhiltsov published Tula 1994-1998 five volumes Germany 1994 seven volumes Moscow 1997 four volumes. 1989 official Vysotsky Museum opened Moscow magazine own called Vagant edited Sergey Zaitsev devoted entirely legacy. 1996 became independent publication closed 2002 years to come grave site pilgrimage several generations fans youngest born after death. Tombstone subject controversy widow wished simple abstract slab parents insisted realistic gilded statue believed full metaphors symbols reminiscent singer life. 1995 Moscow monument officially opened Strastnoy Boulevard Petrovsky Gates present bard parents two sons first wife Iza renowned poets Yevtushenko Voznesensky. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov remarked during speech always telling truth wrong sang one song They will never erect monument square like that by Petrovskiye Vorota. Further monument erected 2014 Rostov-on-Don October 2004 monument Montenegrin capital Podgorica near Millennium Bridge son Nikita attended unveiling designed Russian sculptor Alexander Taratinov also designed monument Alexander Pushkin Podgorica bronze statue shows standing pedestal hand raised other holding

• 6. Posthumous Legacy And Cultural Impact

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  guitar next figure lies bronze skull reference monumental lead performances Shakespeare Hamlet.