“The point is not only that the girl, who had had health problems for a long time, lost it there completely. It's about the forever crippled soul. No one will return a few months to a person locked up on an absurd charge.” Nun Evgenia (Senchukova) - about why she calls to pray for Anya Pavlikova.

How Christ was lost in the liturgical and production process, what are the advantages of "godless" Europe, how we solve our problems without God, and what to do if it is impossible to change the world and the country - says the rector of the house church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, Archpriest Georgy Mitrofanov.

The famous Russian director Alexander Sokurov gave Sofiko Shevardnadze a long interview and spoke about his vision of history. Screenwriter who created the series cult films, answered questions about the attitude towards Joseph Stalin, perestroika, the Bolsheviks and the Soviet regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin compared communism with Christianity, and Vladimir Lenin's mausoleum with the veneration of the relics of saints. The author of the book "On the Scales of Faith: From the Communist Religion to the New "Saints" of Post-Communist Russia", doctor of historical sciences, professor of St.

For the first time, the name of Archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyaev was heard in 1995. Then the priest, having learned about the Russian pilots who ended up in an Indian prison and that they face the death penalty, turned to the head of the DECR MP (then Metropolitan) Kirill (Gundyaev) and to human rights activists. Father Dionysius baptized the pilots right in prison, and in 2000, thanks to common efforts, they were released.

The Federation Council sent a school history textbook for grades 10-11 for examination, since when describing the events in Ukraine in 2014, the authors made formulations that did not suit the senators. History, that is, they continue to write and rewrite, based on momentary needs or what these needs are considered.

"Communist ideology is very much akin to Christianity," Vladimir Putin said in the film "Valaam," which aired on the Rossiya 1 TV channel last Sunday. The rector of the Moscow Church of the Trinity in Khokhly, Father Alexei Uminsky, at the request of MBKh Media, said what he thinks about this and other statements of the president.

How Church and State Separated 100 Years Ago

2017 was a year of challenging centennials. They remembered the two Russian revolutions, being afraid to say something superfluous: such a large part of our modern life determined by the events of those years, which is sometimes easier to remain silent.

For thirty years, the historian Anatoly Razumov has been looking for the names of the repressed and collecting bit by bit their biographies. He has been doing this for exactly as many years as they generally talk about repressions in recent history Russia - since 1987. His "Leningrad Martyrology" is a collection of 16 volumes, they contain 50 thousand names and biographies of only shot Leningraders. He is one of the creators of the Levashovskaya Pustosh memorial on the site of the former execution site of the NKVD.

Nikita Petrov, a specialist in the history of the Soviet secret services, reads an interview with the head of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, finds in it old myths, rigged figures, non-existent documents, and explains why he should not be taken seriously.

“The revolution that changed the world” - for a long time I saw in this sore Soviet phrase only a figure of propaganda. Now, in the year of the centenary of this revolution, I must admit that what happened in Russia in 1917-18 really changed the world - where more, where less, and here in Russia - completely, as they say - "to the foundation."

about why it is pointless to argue about the translation of prayers

There was “sensational news” in the media: the Pope was going to rewrite the prayer “Our Father”. And instead of “lead us not into temptation,” now he will have “do not let us fall into temptation” in the text.

Has your listener changed in a quarter of a century? Does the energy of today's hall differ from the first "alisomans" in vests and pioneer ties?

Casting glances into the hall, I see practically no changes. This is, like 25 years ago, twenty years old. The old ones are drawn to retrospective events ... Then the police put a lot of pressure on the public - now relations are more tolerant. Apparently, with our long existence, we deserve some kind of indulgence (laughs).

In the 80s, at the time of the Leningrad Rock Club, there was a sense of the unity of Russian rock. And then everything fell apart. Why?

It was a feeling of unity, like in a prison. You know, everyone sits and dreams of freedom. When they receive it, someone takes the path of righteousness and ties up with their criminal past, and someone undermines the nearest store and sits down again. While we were in prison, everyone dreamed. And then, the rock club - it was a public phenomenon. We were in sight. And they got freedom - and everyone went his own way.

Are you sorry?

It's a pity that's what. I recently came across the Nostalgia channel, and the Musical Ring program was just spinning there ... Auction, Center, Sounds of Mu, Jungle, TV - I remember all these groups well, I know and I love. Many of them are not close to me, but each was original, individual. And now everything is averaged by the format, bright and talented is not encouraged. Everyone plays the same.

Have you, as the leader of Alice, changed a lot over the years?

In a professional sense, it is difficult for me to evaluate myself. Because I just live for myself and live, I make a lot of mistakes, I find in myself the need to repent of them.

If we talk about critics, then I agree with them: we have become tougher and more musical. In the texts, I have not abandoned the Aesopian language. So it's more interesting to put words into sentences.

AT Soviet years Aesopian language performed a completely different function ...

Meaning veiled ... But then the communist regime collapsed - and thank God. It became possible to express their thoughts without hesitation. And then many realized that they had nothing special to say.

Do you remember how the texts were encrypted so that they could understand their own, but the authorities did not guess? Were there any collective classes in secret writing?

We acted more clumsily. At the time of the rock club, there was a department that “littered” our texts: they put the stamp “permitted for execution” there. To deceive them, it was necessary to come up with a move. For example, we dedicated the song “My Generation” to the struggle of the oppressed people of some republic against imperialism. They put fake epigraphs. If you delve into the archives of the state security department, then they probably survived there.

There is a stereotype that rock always exists in opposition to something. In the US in the 1960s, that "something" was the consumer society and the Vietnam War. In the USSR - the state system. What does Russian rock need to fight today, and is it necessary?

I would like to answer a question with a question. Do you think that rock is protest music or do you have a different attitude to this genre?

I think rock is music.

Thank you! So I think that this is music and an art form. So, part of our culture with you. There is protest, of course. But this is not the main component of my songs.

And what is the main thing?

And Shakespeare's stories: love, hate, life, death, truth and betrayal - everything is as usual.

Here you are about the eternal, and I'm about the changeable. The rock party no longer has a common enemy. For whom it is pop music, for whom it is power. You are imprinting glamor, the ideology of success in your songs. Do you have ideological enemies?

The enemies within me are all concentrated. I fight with the help of the weapons that the Lord gave me - I write songs about what is not good in me and what I would like to deal with. Well, in life I try to match the song. Just don't lie, no matter how pathetic it sounds.

Recently, rockers have again been actively talking about their political beliefs. Is this a return to the public stage?

If we talk about Shevchuk's concerts, then this is a vague position and clean water populism. "Do not shoot!" - to whom is he addressing?

To the people.

That's it. To the people in general. And this people accepts everything with glee. He does not see that this is pure conjuncture.

And fate should not perform the function of public conscience?

Rock musicians must play and sing their songs well. And the business of the state is to listen or not to notice.

Do you have old acquaintances whom you will not shake hands with because of the difference in views?

Perhaps there are none. Everyone is entitled to their own outlook on life. I respect this right, although I may consider the position of a person a delusion that is harmful to my country. And this is a field for discussion, which can turn into a scuffle.

Outgrows?

Depends on how much you drink. Since I am a non-drinker, I do not outgrow.

But is it necessary to convince the erring one?

No, let him make his own mistakes. Who are you to force a person to live in his own image and likeness? You yourself can be wrong. I am not a destroyer in spirit.

Speaking of spirit. You were baptized in 1992. What was the most difficult test for you after that?

People who do not embark on this path do not see the temptations. It seems to them that they live wonderfully and deserve a better fate in another world. And many even consider this life the final phase of existence. But as soon as you embark on this path, you see your imperfection. The further you go, the clearer you see. A huge field for work opens up.

Things like creative block, pride, despondency, depression - they go out of life. All sins are registered, and they all live in you. Remember and fight - that's all, that's enough. And as Elder Seraphim said, acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit, and thousands will be saved around. That is, make yourself better and through yourself - the world around.

In 2006, you, Yuri Shevchuk and Roman Neumoev visited Metropolitan Kirill. Did this meeting give you something?

To be honest, I didn’t understand at all why we went: well, we just met and parted ways. Although then Shevchuk, together with his father Andrei Kuraev, went to Ukraine and traveled to 20 cities. This is a useful action, given the situation there - the pressure of sectarians, attempts to split the Russian Orthodox Church. Another thing is whether it finds some kind of response in the hearts of the listeners.

So far, the response from Ukrainian listeners has been caused by your statement that Crimea will be Russian. Are you getting angry emails?

Yes, not yet.

Your radical views and statements in general are rejected by many. Since the Orthodox and, let's say, patriotic vocabulary appeared in your songs, they simply began to be removed from radio broadcasts.

My ideological position has always been rather rigid. Of course, the liberal public bristled, and a campaign of defamation began: I became a fascist, an obscurantist, an old drug addict who had lost his mind. The Internet was full of these statements in the early 2000s. I knew it would. But I don't care who says what. I know that I'm going my own way. The dogs around are barking, and my car is moving. I am not used to the label “fascist” at all: I was a “fascist” even in 1985, under Soviet rule. I won't make excuses, and I don't want to. Let's leave these statements on the conscience of the liberal public.

I don't like liberals.

What do you think: should Russia always have some kind of “enemy” or should it be tolerant?

You see, the thing is - it's very easy to wave your saber and express indignation when you don't have the slightest responsibility, when your cross is a farce in the kitchen or at gang meetings. I saw how there were 200 people on the "march of dissent" and 500 TV cameras around. My neighbor in the village says: it would be great if St. Petersburg joined Finland! And liberals have a billion such opinions. Every cook knows how to run the state. And she herself can only chat and cook dumplings and cabbage soup. It is very easy to find fault - it is much more difficult to build. And the state has assumed this responsibility. And he understands that we would be glad not to quarrel with anyone, but the geopolitical situation is such that we are threatened. Because we are rich natural resources, we occupy a vast territory, and our population is negligible in comparison with the territory. We are a tasty morsel! Therefore, either we will defend our land and leave to our descendants what our ancestors conquered, or we will gradually turn into an unnecessary Luxembourg. It's easy for Luxembourg to be tolerant!

Do you think that we have obvious enemies?

It is absolutely clear to me that America considers us an enemy. We spent 16 years trying to please her. We really wanted to be loved ... No one will love us. Pragmatic rationalism is what guides them in dealing with us. It is more profitable, as our leadership says, to have a weak partner: it is convenient to manipulate them. And when we become stronger, this causes resentment among the overseas partner.

That is, in your opinion, “the bipolar world is preserved,” as Soviet announcers used to say.

We wanted to join NATO at the dawn of our reforms, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But they didn't take us. And if they did, it is not clear who NATO could resist. And they left the status of potential enemies to us, and not to some kind of international terrorism.

And you seem to have disagreed with Shevchuk in your views on what happened in Ossetia?

My position is as follows: we have protected the Ossetian people, for which, I hope, they will be grateful to us for centuries. We did not leave our friends in trouble. And for this act, apart from gratitude to my country, my state, I have no other feelings. I just, unlike the Ufa rockers - this applies to both Shevchuk and the Lumen group - do not oppose the country to the state. I like my state in its current state. I don't like the economic crisis, but it's a global problem. We'll survive it too.

How do you feel about globalization?

This is the building of Babylon, which was destroyed by the Lord God. We are again stepping on the same rake. I am for the exuberant color of national sovereignties. I want all nationalities to live within the limits that the Lord indicated to them, and not assimilate.

And then what about migrants from the former Soviet republics - should they assimilate in Russia or not?

Keep in mind that I am now thinking like that young lady in the kitchen: this is not my business. But if you look at the problem seriously, there is no escape from the shortage of labor. Therefore, labor migration is inevitable. And if it exists, there is also the movement of peoples back and forth in search of a better life. We have all of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the Caucasus now working and living. But it is important that they learn the Russian language, become familiar with our culture, and eventually be able to assimilate as soon as they crossed the borders of their territory. And if that doesn't happen, we plant a time bomb. At the end of the century before last, the Albanians began to populate the primordially Serbian territory - and what did it come to?

Settlers and faith should adopt?

We have a multi-confessional country. We have always managed to live peacefully with Muslims, and peace be with them at home. And God forbid, just continue to live peacefully.

But in our country this peaceful coexistence sometimes turns into severe hatred towards the non-believers.

This is due to the fault of the sectarians. True Islam and our cathedral apostolic church always centered. Only sects that broke away from Christianity and Islam are totalitarian, radical, and profess the destruction of the infidels. It has nothing to do with real religion. But charismatic leaders group around themselves people who are narrow-minded and offended - and off they go. To manipulate this public, one must look for an enemy. The enemy is found - the money went. Immediately, public funds from behind the hillock begin to pour funds into these sects. What is it for? Again, so that the enemy country is weak. These are obvious things. And either a scoundrel or a fool can not see this. Who liberals consider themselves to be is their business.

Do you visit America, with enemies?

I went to the USA for a long time - after the bombing of Serbia, I refused to go there both on tour and just like that. I have no complaints about the people, the Americans, no. People are pretty much the same everywhere. There are good ones, there are bad ones. But there is a system of power.

AT contemporary art there are many precedents with anti-religious themes: lawsuits are underway in cases of insulting the feelings of believers. Can the church forbid or censor the self-expression of the creator?

Here's the thing. We are, of course, for freedom. But when someone else's freedom hurts you, you protest, don't you? This is a normal situation. That's when blasphemous public biennials are allowed, or whatever words they use...

...performances...

Yes, performances! And they, these biennials and performances, hurt a lot of people, including me. It even physically hurts me. The wife believes that they, the artists, know about it. But I don't think they know, I doubt they even think about it. They just express themselves, spitting on everything around. If there were an inner, heart censor, every step of a person would be measured with the will of God, and censorship would not be needed at all.

That is, the state or the church should still intervene?

1

The state has serious tasks without it. Prohibitions can only lead to anger. But it is necessary to put in the place of the presumptuous. And for this we have a fairly radical organization, the Union of Orthodox Citizens, who come to exhibitions and break everything there. And they do it right.

Doesn't pop music cause resentment in you?

None at all. If an artist has an audience, he has the right to exist. Another thing is that pop musicians are mostly busy serving parties, birthdays and weddings. But that's the way it's always been. Restaurant artists have returned to the restaurant, to the service industry. I have nothing to do with this genre.

I only touch the market when I finish an album and sell it to a publisher. The tender starts. Many publishers say that the market is monstrous, terrible, and everything is falling, falling, falling ... Meanwhile, for some reason, queues are lining up to buy our album. And here a simple market mechanism operates: who more money offers, to that we give the album. This is not my task - how to play songs and everything else on the air. The broadcasts appear when the publisher needs to sell the album: he hires a PR agency, makes me give interviews, like you do now. I dutifully fulfill my obligations. And when the album comes out, everyone forgets about my existence. And I'm making music again. Actually, it's always been that way. Even in difficult times, my family and I did not starve - music fed us.

What is the most important thing for you in music?

Energy. I can’t watch concerts on TV: they are all dead, like theatrical performances. Therefore, one must go to the theater and rock concerts. After the final chords, the art of music dissolves into the air, just like the theater, which is why the latter is valuable to me. I don’t like cinema very much ... There are, of course, good films, but only theater can delight me.

Does the feeling of energy go away with age? Or is energy a thing without age?

If I got tired of this business, I assure you, I would stop doing it. I like my job. I read an article about the Rolling Stones here. The author analyzes this phenomenon and comes to the conclusion that rollers are great assholes. If all sorts of cynical speculations are possible about me - why I do music, then Jagger is a rich man, he can do without concerts. But for some reason he plays at his sixty-four years - he likes it! I'm one of those assholes who likes to go on stage. At this moment, time does not exist for me, it dissolves.

Photos: Fedor Savintsev for RR; Alexey Kudenko/Kommersant

Again, rejoicing at the news that the monsters of Russian rock will soon come to us, I remembered the interview with Kinchev. which I wrote. but never published it anywhere. Such an exclusive, though somewhat old - I throw it into the magazine here.

“By the mid-1980s, the main star of the Leningrad Rock Club was Alisa with a new vocalist, Kostya Kinchev. Other bands refused to perform in front of them: who wants to step onto the stage and be pelted with empty bottles?
Fedor Chistyakov, former leader of the group "Zero" in an interview with Ilya StogOFF for the book "Sinners"

Twenty years have passed. The country has changed, rock and roll itself has changed, and Kostya Kinchev has changed. But "Alisa" is alive, and as long as one of the legends of Russian rock exists, we can say that "rock and roll is alive!" So now it is no longer Kostya who thinks so, but Konstantin Evgenievich Kinchev.

- Which city, in your opinion, has the most loyal audience?
- Oddly enough, in St. Petersburg!

The anthem to rock 'n' roll, which you recently created with a lot of rock musicians, contains these lines: “I don't remember exactly, but someone said that rock 'n' roll is it. In complexes, arrogance is born ... No more than that. In whose garden is a pebble anyway?
- Well, if there is no surname there, then I left it a secret, and if I wanted to open it, I would put my surname there.

If you really don’t want to reveal the secret to whom this opus was dedicated, then tell us about the process of creating the song ... Still, almost all the rockers of the country are in one composition ...
- The process went very well ... I am grateful to all those who responded to my proposal to perform this song. The only precedent was during the work on the song. Yuri Yulianovich (Shevchuk - author's note) signed up, but then he called back and said that he did not want to participate after all. He is a man of complex nature, so he was capricious ...

- And no one “fought” for the lines? Or was the distribution carried out by your "iron fist"?
- By my hand, yes. I'm the author.

- Do you support Shevchuk's movement against the dominance of pop music?
- No, I don't. This is a waste of time and effort.

- How do your songs appear? What is involved in writing them?
- Only with my spiritual impulse. All songs that are born are associated with him. In general, it somehow happened that the songs appear ... on their own. Sometimes, when you start writing, you don’t even really understand what you are writing about. It's kind of a rhythmic beat. You catch impulses and immerse yourself in them… What is it? Impulses cannot be touched, it is just like the wind. Everyone knows that he is, but no one has seen him.

The question of understanding the meaning of songs by authors and listeners ... Viktor Tsoi, they say, sang the song "Change!" about school changes, but people understood in a completely different way ...
- Listen, I knew Viktor Robertovich well ... He was a very ironic person, and all these tales are just excuses for journalists. He sang about something completely different.

Konstantin, you are a rocker… Therefore, I will not ask for forgiveness for the question… advise your favorite hangover remedy!
- I don’t drink anymore, probably for nine years, and even beer ... Therefore, I already forgot what a hangover is.

- But it was!
- Well, it used to be. Probably the cabbage pickle helped a lot.

Are you only into music, or are you also interested in business? Where do you invest your earnings?
- Only music and nothing more. I have never been in business and never will. It takes an enormous amount of energy and time. And my time is strictly limited, and I don’t have much of it left at all. It makes no sense to scatter.

A few years ago, in an interview, you admitted that you cut your own hair and do not bother with your image at all. Has the situation changed somehow?
- Well ... I don't seem to have a haircut now! That's how it all remained, from time to time I take scissors and shorten my hair.

- Konstantin, what do you think, what feature should a young growing group have?
- I do not know. I do not pull on a young and growing group.

And if you remember the first performance of the Alisa group? What was your zest that made people listen to you and become a fan ...
- I don't know what the highlight is. I just went on stage and people were happy. It started with dancing back in the city of Krasnogorsk. When we started playing, the respected audience simply stopped fighting and for some reason started dancing.

- "Alice" is not just one of the legends of Russian rock, milestones in its formation, you are now the idol of youth. How do you explain the fact that the younger generation is as big a fan of your songs as their parents?
- First of all, I am infinitely grateful to the "younger generation" for the credit of trust given to me. Apparently, there is something in me and in my songs that warms the hearts of young people.

- How do you feel about the actual problem of piracy in our time?
- Yes, as well as to the fight against pop music. It is useless, in my opinion, to do absolutely anything about it. Anyway, this question is not for me, but for the publisher. I finish work on the album at the moment when signing the contract, I transfer the rights to it to the publisher, but how he will already be promoting it on the market is not my concern. I'm currently working on new songs, maybe the next album. Why should I be interested in the fate of what has already been done?
My philosophy is simple: songs written, songs given. Who wants, he listens. Who does not want, he throws it into the basket. That's all.

- Is rock 'n' roll alive? In your opinion today?
- Subjectively, yes. And objectively, I do not presume to judge. Subjectively... I can transfer this understanding to the Alisa group. "Alice" is alive, so rock and roll is alive!

- Is there a question that you have never been asked, a question that you would not be able to answer?
- There is no such question, everyone has already asked me ... I am ready for any question, and it seems to me that I have already answered all the questions in my long life.

Kinchev, Butusov, Grebenshchikov… Because they are legends, they have nothing to do with our world, even being at arm's length during an interview or a press conference. Kinchev is much closer to me when I’m a hundred meters from the stage, and therefore from him, I sing along: “We are moving along the strings of fate ...”, than when, being at a distance of the same hand, I ask a question about the history of the creation of this song ...

In Luzhniki "Alisa" will perform all the songs from the original disc of 1989, the concert will feature not only eight twenty-year-old songs, but the audience is waiting for a show that will last several hours. November 22 similar anniversary concert will be held in the St. Petersburg SKK.

In anticipation of the speeches, Konstantin Kinchev answered questions from readers of Lenta.Ru and spoke about the history of the creation of the Sixth Forester and the future plans of Alisa. Readers' questions have been abbreviated, Konstantin Kinchev's answers are given in full.

- You, Petr Samoilov, Mikhail Nefedov and Andrey Shatalin can be called the "golden composition". Why are there no last two in the group now?

I consider the current composition, which has been operating for the sixth year, to be optimal. I consider it "golden" on a par with the composition that was in the days of "Sabbat" and "For those who fell from the moon." The composition was: Nefedov, Samoilov, Chumichkin, Shatalin and Korolev. Current line-up I think even, perhaps, stronger than that. I am absolutely satisfied with this line-up, I am not going to change anything, we have been together for six years - God forbid, we will work the same and the same amount more.

The departure of Nefedov and Shatalin was like a bolt from the blue for me, because they informed the administration about their departure, and not me. They took it and left, absolutely not motivating, in principle, strongly substituting the group - our tour was planned.

We got out of the situation because the rehearsal period was long. Thank God that Igor Evgenievich Romanov and Andrei Vdovichenko, the drummer, came. So whatever is done is for the best.

- Why do the wonderful musicians of the AlisA group improvise so little? Is all improvisation limited to Andrey's drum solo and Igor's some touches on the guitar?

We didn't have any special improvisations in the previous period either. And given the fact that we work with a computer, that is, we are in a rigid rhythmic grid, there is still no opportunity to improvise, and no special desire. In the genre in which we work, improvisation is not implied. We don't play jazz.

Best of the day

- Why did you move from punk to metal? Why did you change the style?

I don’t really understand what “style” means, moreover, I think that by declaring that you work in a certain style, you kind of put up some virtual walls, through which it is very difficult to break through later. Therefore, I believe that we play in a style that is unique to "Alice", nothing more and nothing less. That, in fact, is all. Therefore, this "style", as you put it, we once called "burn-and-play the beat", it remains to this day optimal for us, interesting and unpredictable, that is, it allows us to experiment in every possible way.

- How do you feel about art and progressive rock?

I don't quite understand what "progressive rock" is. In general, to be honest, I am poorly oriented in styles and directions.

- In recent albums, you performed songs with your daughter. Can we expect more songs with Vera's parts in the future?

If some song arises in which I need female vocals, naturally, I will turn first of all to my daughter, who sings well, so as not to look for anyone from outside.

- What is the message of the song "Snow fell"? Is it really worth "living for the pain" and why?

Why decipher what is written. All the messages in the songs themselves are concluded. If you listen to these songs thoughtfully, I hope that the answer will come by itself.

- Answers may be different for each listener?

Yes, of course, everyone is allowed to co-create. Not only that, it's just welcome.

- Do you have anything to do with the design of your discs?

Yes, in general, of course, we participate. Moreover, we form the idea itself. Another thing is that I am not very familiar with the Photoshop program, so the artists embody the idea.

- When can we expect a new album?

The new album in the demo version is ready, it remains to be recorded. I hope and think that it will appear next year - most likely in autumn, in September.

- What is your attitude to the construction of the "Gazprom tower" in St. Petersburg?

I stand in solidarity with the entire progressive community – there is no need to build this center. Another thing is that I am a realist and I perfectly understand that my "no" will not be heard. If they decide to build it, they will build it. Well, that's their responsibility, not mine.

- Whose performance of Ricochet's song on "Enter the Dragon" did you like the most? Whose least?

I myself formed the tribute, so all the performers were invited by me meaningfully, consciously. Therefore, I am grateful to everyone who participated in the project, and I am not going to single out anyone, because everyone is great.

- That is, musically, no one disappointed?

Musically, we did everything ourselves. That is, "Alisa" did all the music, and the performers were invited. The only track that stands apart, which is an exception, emphasizing the rule, is Lagutenko's track, which made the musical basis together with "Mumiy Troll", but it fit so subtly and clearly into the canvas of the sound that we formed that, in general, we did not change anything and left the musicians' version of "Mumiy Troll".

- Do you plan to release acoustic or live albums in the near future?

Neither is planned. Why? Because there is no desire. I don't like acoustics. It may be interesting to someone, but it is not interesting to me. That's why we don't play acoustic. As for the live album, this is also a definite waste of time when you can do more important, interesting things for us. More fun to write new album.

- Why such an honor - the jubilee tour - was awarded to the "Sixth Forester", and not to "Blockade" or "Energy", which came out earlier? Will there be a similar anniversary tour dedicated to the release of Sabbat?

It so happened that at some stage I was simply tired of inventing informational occasions for my concerts, which promoters constantly demand from me. I decided to go the easy way for me. Moreover, the group has been around for many years.

And this idea arose a little later than it was possible to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Energia and the twentieth anniversary of the Blockade. If the thought had arisen a little earlier, there would have been a celebration of these albums. And next year we will go under the sign of "Sabbath". In the spring we will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of this album.

- Will there be a DVD release of The Sixth Forest Warden 20 years later?

Concert? No I do not want to. Although there were proposals, but this, again, is a lot of time and work. I want to do a new album.

- Why did you perform more at bike festivals this year?

Just bikers began to invite us. We are a concert band. Why not, if our riders are fulfilled and all conditions are met? Thanks to the bikers, but we can come to some other festivals.

- After the jubilee 25-35-50, the set list at concerts practically did not change (with the exception of 1-2 songs). Even their order hasn't changed!

Because we sing what we think is necessary, and, I think, this is our main achievement in front of the audience - we did what we want, and we continue to do the same. "Atheist" we sang in Moscow in June on concert venue "Green theater"in Gorky Park. In my opinion, this festival was called "Russian Lessons".

- We would very much like to go to the upcoming concert on November 14 at Luzhniki, but after learning that the ticket price is 2420 rubles. on the ground, with all our love for "Alice", they considered - too much. Although in the same St. Petersburg the ticket price is about 800 rubles (in the SKK)?

I also think it's overkill. On Thursday, my administration is meeting with the promoter and will urge them to lower ticket prices. I think that we will lose this battle - accordingly, we will tune in to the fact that we will play in an empty hall.

- Has something like this happened before?

Playing in an empty room? Not yet. Somehow, the room fills up. But I think the ticket prices are too high.

- Where did this combination of colors - "red on black" come from? Very similar to football paraphernalia, your fans are like them.

No, well, of course, I composed all the aesthetics, and then the variations went on. "Roses", for example, the fan movement introduced some other elements into use. And so - no, of course, all aesthetics are my brainchild, as well as the name itself - "Army".

Do you keep in constant contact with your fans? As far as I know, you had a dialogue with them on the official website.

I have already given up on this and do not answer questions. In some periods he answered questions, then I got tired of it, tired of answering. Here I use the services of Lenta.ru to answer questions from Alice fans.

- I was at recent concerts in Donetsk and Kharkov ... I was very surprised and pleased that instead of the police and security guards, alisomans were on duty.

There was one interesting experiment at a concert in Ukraine. The basis of the "exit" groups, that is, this is the basis of the most important Alice groups, which also have their own names (fortunately, they are not at enmity with each other), offered their services in terms of protecting events. In Kharkov, we had the usual incidental concert, when I swore at the guards, left the stage, and so on. After this concert, the foundation just offered to take responsibility for the concert. And in Donetsk, and in Kyiv, we held concerts in the following way- the hired security worked only in the foyer, and the police worked only outside the site. The concert itself was guarded by the Alisomans themselves. Many thanks to them for this, they coped with this with honor, this is really a very big responsibility.

I will now try to convince the promoters that the security inside the hall would be Alice.

- There is a question about the story of the conflict between the fans of "Alisa" and the bikers. Was there something like that?

It was, yes. That is, it seems like all our main groups met with the "Wolves" and the "Wolves" were put down. Thank God the conflict is over.

For me it was a surprise, because such incidents happened in the early 90s.

- Konstantin, now you also communicate closely with the Surgeon and other Night Wolves after the May clashes between your fans and them?

I communicate, of course, we understand each other. Another thing is that these are not the structures that can ensure order at events, because they have their own gangs, we have our own gangs. And why pit gangs when we can keep order at events with our gangs?

- Do you communicate with Sergei "Spider" Troitsky?

From time to time he comes to our concerts. We are not friends, we just know each other. In the same way as with the Surgeon - we are not friends, but we are friends. I speak positively about the surgeon. He does a great job, a creative person. Manages to promote such projects.

- How, for example, in Sevastopol?

Yes, as in Sevastopol, there was such a powerful action.

Of course yes. All brothers. And the Belarusians, and (the reader may be surprised) I also consider the Kazakhs to be brothers. Why not? And the Tatars are brothers.

- That is, living together for many years is stronger than recent political events?

So what do people have to do with it, it's politicians who swear, but what do people have to do with it?

- Tell us about your friendship with Alexander Bashlachev. Why do you think such an amazing person, such great songs are undeservedly forgotten?

As for Bashlachev, we were friends with him. His death left an unhealed wound. This is, perhaps, one of the first losses in my life, that is, I lost friends, and I lost a person close in arms for the first time. Therefore, in "The Sixth Forester" there is a song that I dedicated to him in order to somehow try to get him out of the depression he got into. The song is called "Sun for us". Failed. He decided as he decided, so for more than twenty years he has not been with us.

- There is someone whom you can rightly call successors creative ideas Alice group? Other than Pilot?

- "Pilot" does not continue the tradition, they are doing their job. Ilya Chert is just such a person that he always wants to be like someone, such a trait of character. I, too, am not deprived of this temptation, from time to time I cannot resist the temptation and drag someone's musical forms to myself. I do not assign, but so, I give the development of the topic that shook me, at least I would like to believe in it. Well, Ilyusha is probably the same. When he likes "Alice", he gets something similar to "Alice", when he likes DDT, he starts to look like DDT, when he likes "Kino" - to "Kino".

- How do you feel about the work of the group "Depeche Mode"?

Depeche Mode- good band always looking forward to their new album.

- Konstantin, how do you feel about the Kalinov Most group?

- "Kalinov Bridge" - my brothers, Dima Revyakin - brother, that says it all.

- Is it true that the first recordings of gr. Did Sektor Gaza leave Voronezh for the capitals through you? In general, what is your attitude to the work of Yuri Klinsky?

Collective-farm punk "Gas Sector" is not a genre close to me. Hoy has reached certain peaks, it is a pity that he died early.

Yes, the story of their first recordings is true. He brought me the notes and asked me to take them to Mike Naumenko. I took.

- You perfectly sang Mike's song "Old Wounds". Maybe you should sometimes perform it at concerts?

Thank you. We performed it for some time, it was in our repertoire, now it is gone. Perhaps it will happen again.

- The women's ensemble "Fedorino Gora" performs "Sky of the Slavs", the video is on youtube. Did you see how you liked it?

I saw them once on the Internet, I just didn’t know what it was called. I think it's pretty cute.

- Do you keep in touch with Shevchuk?

We have never been friends. We have an even relationship, as it used to be and remains so. When we meet, we bow and that's it.

- A question about Mikhail Borzykin - what are the relations between you, what do you think about him as a person, a musician, about his attitude to religion and citizenship.

Borzykin - talented person. social form his protest is absolutely clear, understandable. It's another matter that I don't share his ideological positions, because I'm still for space, and not for chaos. Bad world, but peace. I am for such positions. And so, I think that he is a talented person.

- How can you comment on the events in the "Agatha Christie" group related to the announced termination of the group's existence?

- "Agatha Christie" - talented people, good musicians. They do what they think is right.

Apparently, they are tired of each other ... This is their inner kitchen, how do I know what's the matter. Maybe so. Maybe some kind of PR move. I don't know, they know better.

- You used to say that the song " Good Night"You will always perform Viktor Tsoi ... In connection with what sometimes she does not sound at concerts?

If it sometimes does not sound, it means that sometimes I am not responsible for my words. Let me consider this the main sin of my life, the main inconsistency with the dropped word. I would be happy if that were the case. Although we play it almost all the time.

- Do you agree with the phrase "Patriotism - last resort scoundrel"?

- Why did you redo the tattoo on your left arm? Was the theme of a Russian fairy tale with a hut on chicken legs filled with an oriental dragon?

Nothing of the kind, the Serpent Gorynych was added there - also a representative of the Russians folk tales. And with slanted eyes. Obviously drunk. The Serpent Gorynych is not an oriental character. He is three-headed. And very kind, because drunk, so, the smoke from his mouth comes out a little bit.

You look surprisingly young for your age! Even better than Kovalev from Pilgrim. What is your secret?

I feel like I look my age.

- With whom would you like to perform on the same stage from Western performers?

With no one. I don't want to share the stage with anyone, because it's always a headache to rebuild the apparatus. I love playing solo. If you have to play with someone, these are forced measures.

- What are your favorite writers?

From the last I read, not a single book had any impact. Truth, last years I actually read a little.

- No time?

Yes, and there is no desire to read fiction. And so, from the representatives of the genre fiction with a capital letter, I love to reread Dovlatov. It does not oblige you to anything and builds a very good state of mind.

- How accidental was the brilliant boom of Russian rock in the 80s? And why did everything disappear at once, giving way to commercial projects like "rockopops"?

There is a book by Hermann Hesse "Pilgrimage to the Land of the East". There, too, one character lamented very much that the pilgrimage had disappeared somewhere, not realizing that he himself had simply already left this movement. Nothing is going anywhere, you are just in another dimension.

- How important and powerful family values For you? How do they get along with the image of a rebel?

The image of a rebel is not for me. I am generally a non-image person. I just live my own life, where the family takes more place than the profession.

- It is known that you are a big fan of football (not as big as fishing, of course). Are you rooting for Zenit (like last year) or for CSKA?

I support CSKA and Zenit.

What do you think is the most important thing in raising a child?

Do no harm.

- That is, in fact, the child must decide for himself?

In choosing a vocation, it is worth prompting, but in choosing a profession - no, this is not so important. Because if a person has caught a vocation, then it is absolutely natural for him to associate a vocation with a profession. The main thing is to remain human. Didn't eat other people.

- I would like to know about your gastronomic preferences.

My gastronomic passions are as follows: to have food, so that you can support life.

- So you're not a gourmet?

I am content that my wife cooks for me, and she cooks well.

- Your parents... what do they think about your creative activity?

My dad died a long time ago, ten years ago. Mom is alive and well, God bless her years life. I am already at the age when parents are extremely proud of their children.

- What is faith and betrayal for you?

Faith is the most valuable thing in a person. Without faith, a person is like an animal.

As for betrayal, the person is simply crossed off the list of the living, and I move on.

- Could you forgive betrayal?

And this is willpower, strength of mind must be ... I don't know. Thank God, the Lord did not send me such tests.

- What is your attitude towards such personalities in history as generals Vlasov and Krasnov?

My attitude? First of all, thank God, I am neither one nor the other. Already good. God grant that I do not have the same choice that life has put before them. I don't know how I would behave in their place. But I hope that I would remain true to my land. As if my conscience prompted me, I would do so. I will not judge these historical characters, because I have no right, not knowing their life and inner motivation.

- What is your attitude to the collapse of the USSR?

I like my country within the boundaries in which it existed. I am content with the boundaries within which it exists, and I would like it to remain within these boundaries.

- Is the "popularity" of Orthodoxy a tribute to fashion, or do many people in Russia really come to faith?

Here for someone how, how do I know. I can't look into the soul of every person. Someone like. A greater degree of responsibility is needed to answer to the Creator and the Creator.

- Which of the holy places in Russia are especially close to you?

Where there is a temple, there it is good.

I don’t go to church for emotions, but to make my soul feel better. And the emotional component - this is important for those who enter the temple to light a candle - it rolled there, but not there. And it is actually everywhere even and good.

- Uncle Kostya, if a person does not go to church every Sunday, but once a month, for example. But at the same time, a person daily reads prayers and keeps fasts .. Is this very bad? I am ashamed to ask this question to the priest, I will be grateful if you answer.

You can try and ask a question and get an answer. And try to somehow build life on this answer. Then you look - and the embarrassment will pass. And so - well, what can I advise you? For me, do not eat another person - it means that you are already well done, already good.

- What boat do you currently use for fishing and what motor do you use (on the pictures of your fishing on the Onega in 2006, the 15th Yamaha was visible)? Do you carry with you in the boat, as it should be according to the rules, a hook, life jackets, or, where there is no water police, "give it up"?

Now I go to the "XT 540", the engine I have is "Suzuki" 115th. Will I change? Yes, in general, there are thoughts, there are simply no funds. If there is free money, I will change it for a more serious vessel. But as for the GIMS, everything that the GIMS requires is present on board my ship. Even the rocket launcher, which was not there, is now.

- How was the fishing this year?

It went well, I caught fifty pieces for fishing. The largest: salmon - six kilograms, pike perch - five kilograms.

- Where did you fish?

I will give you a reservoir! It's all in the north.

- How relevant is the cliche of "great victories fed by the ashes" for the modern Russian society? And in what ideology can one find a way out to shake off this ashes that prevent Russia from moving forward?

Shake off and forget.

Until we bury Lenin according to Orthodox canons, we will feed on this ashes. Let's bury Lukich - you look, and forget about the ashes of great victories.

- I would like to know your attitude to the media. Do you get the impression that they want to think for the people?

I absolutely agree with you. Any mass media is biased and not free. Therefore, if they are not controlled by one structure, then they will be controlled by many. That, in fact, is the whole difference between the nineties and the two thousandths.

- Do those in power put pressure on you?

Not for me, but for someone for sure. Who positions themselves.

- That is, in principle, the degree of personal freedom does not depend on whether you live in Russia or somewhere else?

It's all about how a person feels. If he feels free, he will be free even in prison. He feels like in a prison - so no matter how much you give him will, he will still be not free. Everything is inside the person.

- Recently, a monument to Lenin was demolished in our city - one of a good two dozen ... How do you feel about the revision Soviet history? Is it possible (and is it necessary) to eliminate the monuments to Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, etc.?

I don't like these monuments. If this is an artistic value, which is very controversial for me, then let them stand. If it is a symbol, then it is better to remove it.

- Concerts in China - were, are, will be?

No, it hasn't, and probably won't.

- This is not an ideological issue, but a purely organizational one?

Of course. I would love to go to China if they called me. Another thing is how the Chinese know about the existence of our group "Alisa"?

- Regarding the recent tour in Ukraine: tell me the cancellation of the concert in Dnepropetrovsk - is it the fault of the organizers or are there other motives?

There is one banal reason: as I understand it, the organizers were afraid of the sale that was on that day, and decided to cancel the concert. Their right.

I think the promoter is playing it safe. Considering how many people were in Kharkov, Donetsk and Kyiv, there would have been the same number in Dnepropetrovsk. But he considered that there would be no concert.

- Is it possible to hold solo concerts in St. Petersburg more often than twice a year?

I think twice is too much.

- In Ukraine, you are a frequent guest, and Belarus is rarely happy.

We rarely go to Belarus. All these questions are not for us. We are ready to go anywhere if the rider is observed and there is a 100% prepayment. Because otherwise we do not move.

- The last time each of your new program begins with a tour of Ukraine. Is this some kind of mystical coincidence or a good new tradition?

This is not a mystical coincidence and not a good tradition, it's just that the promoter with whom we work in Ukraine suggests, as soon as one tour ends: "When will we go next time?" - "When you say". Now we have agreed that we will go when the new album comes out. That is, in the autumn we will be with you again.

- What is your attitude to the Baltic countries - and is it realistic to wait for your concerts?

The Baltic States - it's like that ... It stands on the sea, there are pine trees, dunes, sand. And dairy products, they say, are not bad. And fish. That's all I know about the Baltic countries.

- So there are no plans to go there?

This summer we were in Narva for a bike festival.

- How many people of technical personnel travel with Alice around the cities?

There are twelve of us in total.

- Together with the musicians?

Yes. Of these, two guitar technicians, they are loaders.

- Do you have a place (city, country) where you have never performed, but would like to?

There must have been some cities left. Let's say we didn't play in Vorkuta.

- Bit I'd like?

Why not? Of course. We are ready to play anywhere. If only there was a platform and equipment.

- BUT Far East?

We travel to the Far East all the time. There was even a period two years ago, when they went twice a year. Didn't go this year. They will probably call again next year.

- After the US bombed Serbia, you said that you would not go to this country. Tell me, has your attitude towards touring in the USA changed and will your fans in America be able to get to your live concert?

After what they did in Serbia, I swore off going to the USA. After Obama decided not to deploy his missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland, I will look and, maybe, so be it, I will visit this country that I hate ...

- How do you feel about the idea of ​​pan-Slavism? Do you visit Serbia, or is everything limited to concerts?

Earlier, I said that I also consider Tatars and Kazakhs to be fraternal peoples. I somehow look at it more broadly, although it may seem that I am such a dense, stubborn nationalist. No, it's not. Enough mobile, but a nationalist.

Interview of Konstantin Kinchev for the newspaper AiF.

The interview was taken over the Internet and reproduced here in its original form. It should be noted that this version "slightly" differs from that printed in the newspaper.

1) The album "Dance" is light in form (it is somewhat similar to "Jazz"). Does this mean that with age, one tends to be simpler? Tired of playing heavy music?
Kinchev: If we consider that a year after the release of "Solstice" I strongly "passed" and I was suddenly drawn to "simplicity", then, of course, yes ... And if we add to this that most of the songs from the album "Dance" are already more than fifteen years, then a logical conclusion follows - I was a "tired old man" almost from birth ...

2) You have repeatedly admitted that you live in the village from April to November, in general, lately you have been very poetic and idealizing life in the village. But in the new album the word "city" sounds often, but I didn't find any songs about life in the countryside???
Kinchev: I recommend listening to the album more carefully - suddenly something will open up ...

3) You say that you have not been drinking for the second year. And even after a bath, a shot of vodka or a glass of beer - no, no? After what incident did you quit?
Kinchev: If a person says that he doesn't drink, it means that he doesn't drink AT ALL! As Shemyakin said: "For me, a glass of vodka is like a drop of blood for a shark." And as for the "case", there were so many of these "cases" that it is not a sin to stop drinking.

4) You have marching songs in several albums. It seemed to me that the song "Way towards the forest" is also (despite the lyrical text) musical form marching. Are you indifferent to this form? If yes, then why?
Kinchev: It seemed to me that "The Way to the Forest" was made in the style of the good old boogie-woogie. If boogie-woogie in my performance seems like a march to you, then I’m even scared to imagine what a composition that I could call a march will seem to you?! For me, the standard of the march is "The Theme of the Enemy" from Shestakovich's 7th Symphony.

5) In general, the whole album "Dance" is not quite topical. It is timeless both in sound and content (lyrical). Does it become difficult to keep up with the spirit of the times with age? Are you trying to do it or do you not care at all? It still seems to me that any musician (whether a believer or not) is trying to keep up with the times, to catch musical trends, to be, if not fashionable, then at least in demand. But you work for the very audience that just needs a feeling of today.
Kinchev: Amazing! On the one hand, having recorded a global work such as "Sabbath" or "Solstice", I constantly hear accusations of being too "topical" or that rock as "protest music" (a well-known journalistic cliché) has already got everyone! On the other hand, it's worth making a lyrical album, whether it's "Jazz" or "Dance", I run into accusations of "timelessness", although this is rather a compliment. And then, what is "to keep pace with the times"? It seems to me that the movement in time has a different direction for everyone ... And as for the audience of "Alice", I can't help but
notice that throughout the life of the group, and she is almost 20 years old, the age limit does not increase in the direction of "aging", but is only replenished with children, for which I am also constantly reproached (!), like " adult, and you have crazy underage fans!". In connection with all this, I have
the question arises - why am I not satisfied with someone all the time? Probably in my old age, I should write a song about Alice, in order to pass for a harmonious personality that keeps up with the times ???

6) Speaking of fans. Alisa has the most devoted fans. Why do you think they are so dedicated (or so it seems to me)?
Kinchev: Probably my fans don't like to "keep up with the times" either, so they walk with me, confirming the well-known thesis "We are together!", which makes me very happy.

7) Can you remember the craziest fan antics and how you try to fight it?
Kinchev: The most insane act of late was committed by two people - Trout and Ham - they followed us to Khabarovsk, Ussuriysk and Vladivostok, while spending a huge pile of money they themselves earned! I do not in any way fight against the movement called "departure", but on the contrary, I welcome it in every possible way, because I myself love to travel ... And if I were 17-20 years old now, I would go on tour with pleasure ... for the group "ALICE"! But I am deprived of this opportunity, since I am already 42 years old, and I play in this group ...

8) Do you think your relatives and friends (wife, children) experience some inconvenience associated with your fame. If possible - examples, episodes?
Kinchev: They don't experience any "inconveniences", and I provide them with "conveniences".

9) What do you think is happening today with the generation of rock musicians, your peers (I mean Chaif, Aquarium, DDT, Sukachev, Butusov and others like them).
Kinchev: ...Growing old, grumbling, getting fat... What I can't say about myself - the most beautiful rocker of the Fatherland (just kidding), and about Boris Borisovich Grebenshchikov - the most elegant and profound person on our rock scene.

Polupanov: I asked this question to Shakhrin. He gave a very interesting answer. Specifically about you, he said that they say Kinchev is in search of himself, this did not make him less talented, it's just that Kostya is now at a crossroads. But about Shevchuk, he did not respond very kindly, they say, I don’t understand what’s wrong with
Yura happens, he suddenly began to teach everyone how to live.
Kinchev: I'm glad for Volodya Shakhrin, who, despite being permanently in an orange mood, does not lose his clarity of thought.

10) Although the new album is called like that, but it is naturally not "dance" (the name, by the way, misleads many). Are you interested in dancing? I mean not when you are on stage, but at home for something, maybe for Kirkorov or Pugachev?
Kinchev: Perhaps I don’t keep up with the times, but for some reason it seems to me that they dance to Kirkorov and Pugacheva only in the restaurants near the railway stations of the regional centers (may Alla Borisovna forgive me)!

11) What do you do in your free time...?
Kinchev: I don't really understand what " free time"? Is this the time for which I "can't catch up" in any way? Or something else? The fact is that, in my understanding, the freest and most joyful time is the time of the concert. It is to him (the concert) that I dedicate it ( time).

Interviewed by Vladimir Polupanov