The history of the creation of the Blue Berets Ensemble

Military unit 54164-S. Since 1991, behind this alphanumeric letter, an unusual military formation has been hiding. Russian army. It was then, in the 91st, that the amateur vocal and instrumental ensemble "Blue Berets", formed during the Afghan war in the 350th Guards Airborne Regiment, received the status of a professional musical group of the Ministry of Defense.

And for the first time, the entire Soviet Union learned about the Blue Berets group in October 1987. The country saw singing paratroopers on TV screens in the popular All-Union competition "When soldiers sing." I saw it not on the stage of the Dynamo Sports Palace, from where the concert was broadcast, but directly from Kabul. Soviet television organized a live teleconference from Afghanistan. The victory of the guardsmen who performed the song "At the Dangerous Line" was unconditional!

The very first performance in front of his fellow soldiers in the form of a "vocal-instrumental ensemble" took place on November 19, 1985. From that concert to the present day, the permanent artistic director of the group is Sergey Fedorovich Yarovoy. Then a captain, now a colonel. Cavalier of two Orders of the Red Star. Honored Artist of Russia. The number of concerts given by the ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue Berets" by 2014 is approaching three thousand.

For six years, the so-called "amateur" stage of the group's work, more than thirty people appeared on the stage as part of the team. Since the autumn of 1991, the Blue Berets Separate Concert Ensemble of the Russian Airborne Troops has been operating with the same composition. These are Colonels Sergei Yarovoy and Yuri Slatov, senior warrant officers Yegor Serdechny and Denis Platonov, as well as warrant officer Dmitry Vakhrushin. For almost a quarter of a century, they have honorably carried the creative banner of the legendary military group, honoring the traditions established in the early years of the ensemble's existence. This is a song story about the feat of arms of a soldier, the memory of those who did not return from the wars, a bow to mothers who lost their sons. This is a chanting of the heroism and romance of service in the Airborne Forces.

The ensemble has given concerts in all the "hot" spots and war zones that Russian troops have been conducting since the early 90s. The group constantly speaks to servicemen of all branches and branches of the Armed Forces in the far and near garrisons on the territory Russian Federation and beyond. The geography of "civilian" tours of military musicians is wide. This is Russia, the countries of near and far abroad.

The group is constantly developing creatively. Since 1990, seven full-fledged song albums and three video versions have been recorded and released. The musicians of the ensemble participate in various individual projects: release solo albums, write books and music for films, collaborate with radio stations.

For many years of creative activity, the ensemble was awarded the Main National Prize "RUSSIAN NATIONAL OLYMPUS", the Special National Prize "KREMLIN GRAND", was awarded the highest Russian public award - the golden order "PRIDE OF RUSSIA", the highest award of the Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans - the order "FOR MERIT", Orthodox Order "SAINT SOPHIA. FAITH, HOPE, LOVE”, Order of the Agency Homeland Security"FOR HONOR AND Dignity". The ensemble became the Laureate of the Chanson of the Year Award in 2011.

The concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue Berets" is the only musical group in the Armed Forces where all members are Honored Artists of Russia.

The regimental amateur ensemble called "Blue Berets" is known throughout Russia and beyond. Their first concert took place in November 1985. Last year, 2015, this team celebrated a very solid date - 30 years. Today, the Blue Berets, whose permanent leader is Sergey Fedorovich Yarovoy, is the only musical group in Russia under the armed forces, where absolutely all participants have become Honored Artists of the Russian Federation.

The song "Sineva" performed by them has long been an unofficial, but popularly recognized anthem of the Airborne Forces. The person whose creative destiny we will consider, for many years, since 1991, he has been acting as the artistic director of the Blue Berets.

He, concurrently, is the deputy head of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces. Sergei Yarovoy, whose biography will be considered in our article, is a very interesting, colorful personality, definitely deserving special attention.

Brief statements

Yarovoy Sergey Fedorovich, whose biography began in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, was born in April 1957. Little is known about his family, only that his father was a military man. Being already a self-sufficient and well-known person throughout the country, Yarovoy Sergey admits that it was his father who once had a huge influence on him. After leaving school in 1975, the guy was drafted into the army. He served two years in one of the Kirovograd special forces brigades.

After Sergei Yarovoy completed his military service, he, apparently, deciding to continue the path of his father, decided to enter a military school. The guy studied in Novosibirsk, at the landing faculty.

Military career

After graduating from the Yarovoy College, Sergei is sent to Ryazan, where he holds the post of political officer in the 137th parachute regiment. In 1985, one might say, Yarovoy's fateful acquaintance with the 350th parachute regiment, which was stationed in Afghanistan, took place. It was this military unit that participated in almost all operations that were carried out on Afghan territory. In the period from 1985 to 1987, Sergei Yarovoy (whose activity was not limited to landing) participated in almost all regimental operations. In addition, the hero of our article served as secretary of the Komsomol.

Meeting with the "Blue Berets" and the beginning of creativity

When Sergei Yarovoy arrived at the famous 350th regiment, a certain amateur group had already been created on its basis. Its first founder was Oleg Gontsov.

Yarovoy joined this group, and, as eyewitnesses of those events now recall, the first line-up of the Blue Berets performed their songs in the supply room, on two guitars, in between military operations.

The fatal dispute of Yarovoy regarding equipment

The local ensemble had songs that one of their founders, Oleg Gontsov, wrote for them. But one of the main problems was the lack of professional equipment. At the same time, representatives of the Belarusian Komsomol presented the Soviet fighters with such long-awaited equipment, but nominally the gift belonged to an artillery regiment. Since the paratroopers really wanted to play this equipment too, Yarovoy Sergey suggested that his comrades make a kind of bet with the gunners: those of them who manage to prepare a full-fledged concert in a week will receive full ownership of musical instruments. And, of course, the paratroopers won in this dispute.

The first success and all-Union glory

As a result of the dispute in November 1985, the first concert of the legendary ensemble took place. Its original line-up included:

• O. Gontsov - ensign;
• S. Isakov - squad leader;
• T. Lysov - private;
• S. Yarovoy - captain, secretary of the Komsomol;
• I. Ivanchenko - the driver of the combat vehicle.

During the first performance, the guys covered the hits of the then famous performers, and a little later they had their own, author's songs. Basically, of course, they all related to the Afghan theme, and since this issue was very painful for the Soviet Union in those years, the guys quickly became popular. Throughout Afghanistan, cassettes with recordings of their songs began to be passed from hand to hand.

Touring and the likelihood of the group breaking up

Between 1985 and 1987, the Blue Berets performed in front of a huge number of units based on Afghan territory. And everywhere, without exception, they were received with great joy and warmth, because what they sang about was close to all who served in this place.

It should be noted that the members of the team not only sang and performed. It would be more correct to say that their original tours took place exclusively in between military operations. For such selfless work, all members of the first composition of this amateur group were awarded state awards.

But still, the national, all-Union glory to the team was brought by their victory in the popular competition "When the soldiers sing." The concert was broadcast on the First Central Channel, and the guys performed their song from Kabul, thanks to a teleconference. For the Soviet Union, this was a real sensation, and the victory of the Blue Berets was truly triumphant.

Organization by Yarov of the second composition

In 1987, the group had already recorded the first disc, which became platinum, the group came to Moscow several times and gave their concerts at the most prestigious at that time concert venues. But in 1988, the fate of the Blue Berets was in jeopardy. Their ideological leader, Sergei Yarovoy, receives a new appointment. Other members of the group are also coming to the end of their lives. Of the entire first composition of the Blue Berets, only O. Gontsov wanted to stay in Afghanistan.

When the ensemble, beloved by hundreds of thousands of Soviet listeners, is under direct threat of disintegration, the political department of the Airborne Forces understands that this cannot be allowed. A decision is made that the territorial ensemble will now be based in one of the Moscow Region units of the Airborne Forces. Yarovoy is instructed to pick up new composition.

He immediately recalls his classmate - Yuri Slatov, who also served in Afghanistan at one time, was engaged in amateur performances and sang author's songs. He invites a friend to his new line-up, and for the Blue Berets the new era. Gradually, the second composition of the group is being formed, which, in addition to Yarovoy and Slatov, included not professional musicians, but ordinary military men:

• D. Platonov - senior warrant officer;
• D Vakhrushin - ensign;
• E. Heart - Senior Ensign.

Their success has been astonishing. They performed at a huge number of festivals, with their concerts they traveled almost the entire Soviet Union. In the history of the "Blue Berets" there are tours to terrible hot spots. They performed for soldiers in Kabul, Kosovo, Bosnia, Chechnya, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The team took part in the filming of many television programs, and many Soviet citizens knew the words to their songs by heart. It may seem that the members of the group should have become millionaires, but this conclusion, alas, is fundamentally wrong. Throughout its history, the group has been non-profit. All the money collected for their concerts went to local organizations of internationalist warriors.

To date, Sergei Yarovoy has been awarded several awards. At the same time, he lives with his faithful wife a simple life, not overshadowed by huge material wealth.

• 1975-1977 - served in the Kirovograd special forces brigade.
• After graduating from college, he was sent as a company political officer to the 137th Airborne Regiment, the city of Ryazan.
• In 1985, he arrived in Afghanistan as a replacement, in the 350th parachute regiment, as part of the OKSV, as secretary of the Komsomol committee. Participated in almost all combat operations of the regiment from 1985 to 1987.
• In 1985, he organized an amateur ensemble of the Blue Berets regiment, the leader of which is to this day.
• Since October 1991 - artistic director of a separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue Berets". "Blue Berets" is a hobby that has become a life.
• In present time (at the same time) - deputy head of the 47th Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces.

Awards

• 2 Orders of the Red Star
• Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" II degree with swords
• Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
• Sign of the Central Committee of the Komsomol "For military valor"

Family status

• Married, wife Elena; two children - daughter Maria and son Artyom.

Autobiography
The first concert took place in Afghanistan, on the evening of November 19, 1985, in the soldiers' club of the 350th Guards Airborne Regiment. November 19 was the band's birthday.
Added Album 2005 Dedication

First composition:
The head of the ensemble is the secretary of the Komsomol committee of the regiment captain Sergei Yarovoy
Sergeant Sergeant Sergey Isakov
Mechanic - driver of a combat vehicle Private Igor Ivanchenko
Private Tarikh Lyssov, the only one from the regimental band
Company foreman, ensign Oleg Gontsov

All members of the group were awarded orders and medals for their participation in hostilities. From the first concert, which took place on November 19, 1985, the artistic director of the ensemble was then Captain, and now Colonel Sergei Fedorovich Yarovoy.

From November 1985 to February 1987, the group gave concerts in front of many parts of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in the Republic of Afghanistan, at the USSR Embassy, ​​trade mission, in the departments of the Afghan KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as at the Polytechnic Institute of Kabul.

In March 1987, the group participated in the third round of the All-Union television competition "When soldiers sing." The performance of the landing ensemble "Blue Berets" went directly from Kabul through a teleconference and became a sensation. The victory in the competition was unconditional.

In the summer of 1987, the first giant disc was recorded, which in the shortest possible time became "platinum". This record, as shown by a TASS poll, entered the top ten most popular in the country. In October 1987, the ensemble first came to Moscow, participated in concerts at the most prestigious venues in the capital - in the concert hall "Russia", the Kremlin Palace, the Variety Theater, Luzhniki, "Olympic".

In February 1988, the ensemble won the final of the first All-Union television competition "When soldiers sing".

After recording a gigantic vinyl disc and winning the All-Union television competition "When Soldiers Sing" in 1987, the ensemble became widely known among viewers and listeners throughout the Soviet Union.

By the decision of the political department of the Airborne Forces Since 1988, the ensemble was located near Moscow in the military camp of the 196th separate communications regiment of the Airborne Forces (now the 38th separate communications regiment) in the village of Medvezhy Ozera, while remaining amateur, the group successfully tours the cities USSR, giving concerts in far and near military garrisons, fleets, border outposts, becoming one of the most popular army creative team.

In August 1991, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the staffing of a separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue Berets" was approved. In 1994, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army P.S.

Grachev approved the "Regulations on the concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces" Blue Berets "as part of the 47th Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces"

Since 1991, the ensemble has been a professional team of the Ministry of Defense and the Airborne Troops. The composition of the Blue Berets is stabilizing.


Until that time, the following people performed and worked as part of the group: Oleg Gontsov Sergey Isakov Igor Ivanchenko Tarikh Lyssov A. Kozlov (cameraman) Vladimir Turkin Valery Panchenko Stas Ufimtsev Marat Abashev Alexander Rogachev Evgeny Rozhkov Victor Rimsha Gleb Razumov Alim Khamizov Mikhail Gurov Denis Kalmykov (cameraman) Evgeny Borisovich Zolotarev (Director) Konstantin Efremov Sergei Zapuskalov Azat Khairutdinov Konstantin Nesterov Oleg Ivanenko


From October 1991 to the present day as part of the ensemble:

Yarovoy Sergey Fedorovich - artistic director of the ensemble (he is also deputy head of the 47th Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces), Honored Artist of Russia, colonel.

Slatov Yury Alekseevich - Deputy. artistic director (he is also the head (director) of the concert ensemble), Honored Artist of Russia, Colonel.

Platonov Denis Yurievich - concertmaster, arranger, ensemble musician, Honored Artist of Russia, senior warrant officer.

Serdechny Egor Evgenievich - foreman of the ensemble, musician of the group, sound engineer, Honored Artist of Russia, senior warrant officer.

Vakhrushin Dmitry Alexandrovich - arranger, musician of the ensemble, Honored Artist of Russia, ensign

The Blue Berets Ensemble is the only musical group in the Russian Armed Forces where all members are Honored Artists of the Russian Federation.
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Discography
"So the war is over" 1990

"From war to war" 1994

The desk calendar is sad "1997

"Dedication" 2005

"Minefield" 2009

Interview with the Blue Berets Group
“There was still a good half an hour before the start, and people were already crowding at the Palace of Culture of Oil Workers. Mainly youth. Here are the guys in blue berets, with orders, medals - yesterday's paratroopers. Some are on crutches. With hard work mastering the steps of the main entrance, they walked, walked ... Not to a concert, it seemed, - to a meeting, without which they cannot live today. And not only to them - to everyone who, like a password, collected two words: "Blue berets ..."

These lines are 14 years old.

Newsprint has already turned yellow and has become brittle. And you can’t make out anything on a worn out old cassette ... But memory with enviable persistence builds a bridge in those days: hot June of the 88th, your first “civilian” tour ... We already knew that this war would soon end. We still believed - it will be the last, ... it must be so!

And our hope sounded in your songs.

Now, they say, there is not a single line about Afghanistan in the school textbook. And the very young, like us then, still sing your songs and dream of a beret and a vest, just because you wear them. And this does not seem strange, because the basis of life is the PRESENT that is not subject to the winds of time: honor, loyalty, sincerity and holy brotherhood...

The group was created in Afghanistan, in the 350th regiment of the Vitebsk division. How and when did you end up in Moscow?

At the end of 1987, the group returned from Afghanistan (except for Oleg Gontsov, who decided to stay). Sergei Yarovoy was assigned to the Ryazan Airborne Regiment, and the guys - conscripts, without waiting for any specific proposals from the Airborne Forces Command, quit. The ensemble practically ceased to exist. But only due to the fact that letters and invitations were sent from all over the country, Yarovoy received an order to create, in fact, a new ensemble based on a communications regiment in the Moscow region. In May 1988, the group was resurrected.

I have never seen or heard your second disc, Memory, released in 1988. Why? Too small circulation? What songs were on this disc? Were they included in later collections?

The second album "Memory" was recorded at the recording company "Melody" in 1988. It included 12 songs, in particular, “Sineva” was recorded for the first time. Due to bureaucratic delays, the album was never released on records. It was distributed on cassettes in a very small circulation. Now the company "Russian Hit" is trying to restore and release this album.

How do musicians join a band? For example, how did it happen that a gifted violinist got into the army and now plays the “keys” with you? Who decides whether a particular person will remain in the ensemble at the end of military service?

The current line-up of the group - S. Yarovoy, Yu. Slatov, E. Serdechny, D. Platonov, D. Vakhrushin - has existed for 11 years and is not going to disperse yet, so there is no problem with the musicians now. All came from combat units of the Airborne Forces. How Denis Platonov (professional violinist) ended up in the Airborne Forces remains a happy accident for us. Everyone made the decision to work in the team independently and voluntarily.

During the existence of the ensemble, several generations have changed. Do you get to communicate with the guys from the previous squads, how often? What relationship are you in? How was their fate?


We are happy to keep in touch with those former members groups "Golube berety" (and there are about 30 of them), who support them with us. Everyone has their own life, but the majority remembers the work in the ensemble with great warmth, they come to anniversary concerts. We meet and make friends with families with 4-5 former Berets.

Once the band members emphasized that they are primarily military, and only then musicians. Yes, and the positions were not at all musical - the Komsomol organizer of the regiment, the foreman of the company ... Now you are only engaged in creativity or do you have any other duties in the service?

Since 1991, the ensemble has been a full-time musical group of the Airborne Forces. Creativity is our service. And, believe me, not the easiest ...

Everyone loves and respects you. This is especially evident in the number of viewers, listeners. And how does your direct superiors feel about your work? Isn't he (the boss) annoyed by the presence of such a creative unit, which constantly disappears on tour, concerts, rehearsals?

The command of the Airborne Forces throughout the 17 years of the existence of the ensemble did not interfere with its creative activity. In the Armed Forces, this is already a very big help ...

During your concerts in the late 80's - early 90's, I heard that all the proceeds go to the construction of monuments, to hospitals, to charity ... And how are things now? Is at least part of the money earned during concerts spent on these purposes?


- Indeed, from 1988 to 1991 we transferred more than 1.5 million Soviet rubles to charity. Unfortunately, not all of this money reached the mothers of the dead and the disabled, more often new cars appeared at the then leaders of veteran organizations, where we came with concerts. None of them asked us if we needed help with equipment, tools, and so on. Fortunately, there was the Komsomol, which oversaw us. When the Union collapsed, the Komsomol died, the Army impoverished - we were left with “reinforced concrete” guitars in our hands. Television and printing turned out to be paid, and our charity became a small crumb. But it is and will be.

Yura Slatov once went on stage with Vysotsky's guitar. What is its history and is this guitar “alive” now?

The guitar of V. S. Vysotsky occupies the most honorable place in the Blue Berets Museum.

Does such a museum exist?

Yes, he is in our studio. The museum is quite large and packed with unique exhibits - gifts to "Berets" for many years ...

You tour a lot. Are there points on the map of Russia or, perhaps, neighboring countries, where you always come with a special feeling? How many times a year do you have to go on stage?


- For the last 10 years we have been playing, on average, 160-170 concerts a year. We come with concerts only at the invitation of interested organizations, mainly, of course, veterans. We are very warmly welcomed everywhere. And, conversely, there are only a few cities where we would not want to go anymore. But we will not name them, because the fault is not their inhabitants, but those who organized the concerts.

How is the tour schedule set up? Are there any orders, for example, on the frequency of visiting airborne units, or regions where there are no such units have equal chances with those where airborne formations and units are deployed?

The tour schedule is determined by itself, based on invitations. The concert work is organized by Yu. Slatov. All cities have absolutely equal chances. The main thing is to call in advance and set the time.

In what "hot spots" did you perform?

We performed in all “hot spots”, and not just once. Throughout the USSR since 1988, as well as in Yugoslavia. Now we are preparing for a trip to Israel.

Are your songs based on real stories?

Not a single song of the group, and 99% of them are written by Yu. Slatov, was written “from the ceiling”. All of them have a real plot. Or just thoughts, or just the soul. For example, the song “Alfa Fighters” was written after a joint flight with the peasants to Chechnya. They really asked for a song about them...

You have universal musicians in the group. It is known that Denis Platonov and Dmitry Vakhrushin are also engaged in creativity. Do they have non-military songs?


- Denis Platonov and Dima Vakhrushin. - our main arrangers. In addition, both really have a lot of very diverse songs of their own.

And why are there practically no songs on non-military topics in the band's repertoire?

There are quite a few songs, but we go to a concert, and people are asking more and more about the war and soldiers. The company "Russian Hit", which since 2001 has been replicating the songs of the group, offers us to release a disc in the near future - "Lyrics of the Blue Berets". By the way, it would be very interesting to find out on the Internet how our listeners will react to this.

Have you ever had to write "to order"?

Did not work out. And the orders were...

They say that in Bear Lakes you have a younger generation, a group of conscript soldiers of the same name, is that true?

No, there is no such group. Speaking of the younger generation, we mean our children.

What part does the Ministry of Defense, the command of the Airborne Forces, the AFVA or other veteran associations take in the fate of the group?

I repeat, all the military structures of the Russian Defense Ministry do not interfere with our work and existence. The Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans, personally its leader, Franz Klintsevich, are the only ones who provide us with material assistance from public organizations. Our friends help a lot - "Afghans", brothers - "special forces", former "Alfa" and "Vympel". But there are many more problems - no access to television, no funds for printed materials, for recording a new album, and so on.

What is your attitude to the popularization of "Afghan culture" and, in particular, the Afghan song, on the Internet? It's no secret that most of those to whom it is addressed are practically never online.

With joy and envy, we follow the Internet - everyday life of our fellow colleagues: the ensemble "Contingent", "Black Berets" have their own official sites. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who provides information about us. Any popularization of GOOD MUSIC, in particular the Afghan song, is needed everywhere - on television, radio, and even more so on the net, where, unlike television, this song is still available. After all, this is our history, our life, and not the worst. Unfortunately, “prison romance” is enough everywhere in abundance, and there are simply no better examples of a patriotic, soldier's song.

And at what stage is the creation of a personal site for your group?

Unfortunately, in our work we are significantly behind modern information Internet technologies. We do not have a person in the group who would know and prepare all the materials for the site, although this work, with grief in half, is coming to an end. The proposal to create our site was made by several people. Recently, a legendary man, Father Cyprian, offered help in the creation. We ourselves really want to communicate with everyone. We think it will work...

Where are the band members from?

All of different places: Sergey Yarovoy is from Kamchatka, Yuri Slatov was born in Ordzhonikidze, Yegor Serdechny - in Kharkov, Deniska Platonov - in Saratov, Dima Vakhrushin - in Perm. Now we have been living for many years near Moscow, in the same house, on the same floor.

The theme of your work is not simple, painful ... Surely, after the concerts, emotional unloading is urgently needed. How you spend free time? Where are you going on vacation?

There is little free time. Yarovoy and Slatov love fishing, Serdechny is learning new musical techniques, Vakhrushin is happy to tinker with the car, and Platonov ... new apartment, does not let anyone sleep! We try to spend holidays with families, this year everyone went south (to different places).

On the anniversary concert it was said about the military dynasties of Yuri Slatov and Sergei Yarovoy. Is it possible to find out more about it, because the concert was broadcast at an inconvenient time, and, unfortunately, not everyone was able to watch it.

Yes, the band's 15th anniversary evening was broadcast at 7am. This is also an indicator of the attitude of our television to patriotism. In the evening they showed an American film .... But, okay, these are emotions. Indeed, in the families of Yarovoy and Slatov, all the military: grandfathers, fathers and children. Sergei has a daughter - a lieutenant of the FPS, and his son studies at the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Slatov has one son at the Military Institute of Radio Electronics of the Space Forces, and the youngest one is graduating from the Ulyanovsk Suvorov Institute, he will enter the Novosibirsk Higher School.

How do you rate media coverage of military creativity?

I don't think there is any lighting. Solid darkness.

- But one of the modern pop performers, screen regulars, inspires your respect? How are relations with representatives of show business developing in general? Have you had to live the "life of the stars"? Go to parties, participate in "star" concerts?

Of course, for 12 years of concert activity on a professional basis, we met many famous Russian performers. We often participate in “combined” concerts dedicated to certain dates. We are friends with some and rejoice in this friendship - with Yura Shevchuk, Anastasia, Oleg Gazmanov. We have never considered ourselves representatives of show business, our “Afghan” festival parties are much more pleasant for us. Many well-bred (there are few) “stars” treat us very well, while others we ourselves try not to notice. After all, Yarovoy and Slatov are also Honored Artists of Russia.

Are there plans to release new albums? When will we see them, and how many new songs will there be?

New material is always being prepared. Registration is subject to availability of funds. Already now there are six new songs.

You had the opportunity to address simultaneously thousands of people who know and love your songs all over the country and beyond. What would you like to say to them?

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone! For love and interest in the work of the ensemble, for support when it is difficult and you want to quit everything, for your questions. Like everything around: people, country, nature - we are changing too. It happens that our “Afghans” take offense at us. For the fact that we sing little old “Afghan” songs, veterans are offended - we don’t sing about Patriotic War, women are offended - we don’t sing about love ... and so on. Do not be angry, because, in my opinion, the main thing is that we sing about us - ordinary people who are ready to defend their country, about its soldiers. Let us sing with our heart, which is in tune with the hearts of thousands of people. Thank you for this consonance!

Marine and landing

Concert Ensemble of the Airborne Troops as part of the 47th Song and Dance Ensemble of the Airborne Forces.

AMATEUR TEAM

The first concert of the group took place on the evening of November 19, 1985 in the Republic of Afghanistan in the soldiers' club of the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment, which pressed against the runway of the Kabul airport, with a full house.

And this was not surprising, because their comrades from their native regiment, with whom they went to "combat" more than once, came on the stage:

• Foreman of the company of the 350th RAP Ensign Oleg Gontsov (founder of the ensemble)
• Secretary of the Komsomol Committee of the Regiment Captain Sergei Yarovoy (leader of the ensemble)
• Sergeant Sergey Isakov (squad leader)
• Private Igor Ivanchenko (combat vehicle driver)
• Private Tarikh Lyssov (member of the regimental band)

This was the first composition of the group, and November 19 was the birthday of the ensemble "Blue berets".

Then, at the first concert, a variety of songs sounded from the stage: from Alla Pugacheva to "Time Machine", and the concert itself was a kind of result of one dispute. The fact is that the musical equipment donated to the paratroopers by the Belarusian Komsomol was nominally owned by an artillery regiment, and everyone wanted to play. Then Sergei Yarovoy put forward a proposal - whoever prepares a concert in a week gets the instruments and equipment.

With the support of the commander of the regiment, lieutenant colonel Gennady Sergeevich Borisov and his deputy for political affairs, lieutenant colonel Vladimir Alexandrovich Kazantsev, who met the desire of the guys to organize their own group, and, by the way, forever remained devoted fans of the work of their native team, the competition was won by the ensemble of the 350th RAP. Rehearsing mainly at night, in between military operations, the ensemble began to write and perform their own songs.

Soon cassettes with recordings began to "circulate" all over Afghanistan "Blue Berets". Many of them have become the best examples of the so-called "Afghan" song. These are “Memory” by Oleg Gontsov, “At the Dangerous Line” and “Landing goes into a breakthrough” by Sergei Yarovoy and dozens and dozens of other songs that have become immensely dear to everyone who served on Afghan soil.

From November 1985 to February 1987, the group gave concerts in front of many parts of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in the Republic of Afghanistan, at the USSR Embassy, ​​Trade Representation, at the Central Committee of the HOUSE, the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the DRA, at the Polytechnic Institute of Kabul.

Performing a concert at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute, "Blue berets" met the only one in Afghanistan musical group Gulsor (1987).

However, the concerts were just pleasant moments, although the results of hard work at rehearsals, in the hard combat work of paratroopers. All members of the ensemble were awarded state awards for fulfilling their international duty: Sergey Yarovoy - two orders of the Red Star, Oleg Gontsov - two orders of the Red Star, Igor Ivanchenko - the Order of the Red Star, Sergey Isakov - the medal "For Courage".

For two years the group was in Afghanistan as part of the Blue Berets, S. Ufimtsev, M. Abashev, A. Rogachev appeared on the stage; V. Turkin, V. Panchenko, A. Pikulik, V. Belous took an active part in the work of the group. Specially for "Blue Berets" Combat General Viktor Pavlovich Kutsenko wrote the song.

In March 1987, the group takes part in the third round of the All-Union Television Competition "When the Soldiers Sing". This competition and its television version, aired on the 1st channel of the Central Television, were very popular among viewers. The performance of the landing ensemble "Blue Berets", and even directly from Kabul through a teleconference, became a sensation. Thousands of young soldiers who returned from the war, but who managed to turn gray, thousands of mothers whose sons still served in Afghanistan, millions of ordinary Soviet people who worry about their children, forever gave their hearts to the Blue Berets ensemble. The victory in the competition was unconditional!

In September 1987, the group recorded the first giant disc, which in as soon as possible went platinum. This record was included in the top ten most popular in the country according to a TASS survey.

In October 1987, the ensemble first came to Moscow and took part in concerts at the most prestigious venues in the capital: the Rossiya State Concert Hall, the Kremlin Palace, the Variety Theatre, the Olympic, Luzhniki - this is not a complete list concert halls who applauded the paratroopers. Hundreds of applications from all over the country come to the Headquarters of the Airborne Forces for the group to perform "Blue berets". There is only one answer: "The ensemble is amateur. The members serve in the Republic of Afghanistan."

In February 1988, the ensemble became the winner of the final of the First All-Union Television Competition "When the Soldiers Sing". Crowded 15-thousandth "Olympic" standing applauds the guards-paratroopers. Being a laureate of a prestigious competition "Blue berets" make a monthly tour of the formations and units of the Airborne Forces. The ensemble becomes a cult group of the Airborne Forces.

However, there are problems with the further fate of the group. Returning from Afghanistan and receiving a new appointment, the head of the group, captain Sergei Yarovoy, ensign Oleg Gontsov, decides to remain in the DRA, the term of military service for other members of the team ends. The ensemble is on the verge of ending its existence.

In the political department of the Airborne Forces, headed by Lieutenant General S.M. Smirnov, they are well aware that the ensemble needs to be preserved, because. he became a powerful force patriotic education youth. Officers E. Zolotarev, E. Karataev, A. Reshetnikov are doing everything possible to ensure that the ensemble continues to work. Captain S. Yarovoy is instructed to select new members of the team.

A compromise decision is made: the ensemble will be based in the Moscow region (the village of Medvezhye Ozera) in one of the units of the Airborne Forces (the 196th separate communications regiment of the Airborne Forces, now the 38th separate communications regiment). But until the issue with the staffing structure is resolved, all participants will be engaged not only in creativity, but also in fulfilling their official duties.

Back in October 1987, on the set of a TV show "When the Soldiers Sing", Sergey Yarovoy met his "classmate" at the Novosibirsk Higher Political School Senior Lieutenant Yuri Slatov. The latter then performed his song "Orders are not for sale" and took first place among the songwriters. After serving in Afghanistan, Yuri returned to the Union in 1986 and was assigned to the city of Maykop as assistant to the head of the political department of the division for Komsomol work. Many who served in Afghanistan still have Yuri Slatov's songs on cassettes - "At the plane's ladder", "Password - Afghan", "Demobilization flew away" and others. Sergei Yarovoy suggested that his friend go to the Airborne Forces and connect his life with creativity.

In May 1988, a new political officer of the battalion, Captain Sergei Yarovoy, and a new propagandist of the regiment, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Slatov, appeared in the communications regiment in the Bear Lakes near Moscow, they are also Laureates of the All-Union Competition. Has begun new stage in the life of the ensemble "Blue berets".

Very quickly, new members were found and invited to the group: from the Pskov Airborne Forces - private V. Rimsha, at home, in Bear Lakes - privates E. Hearty and E. Rozhkov. Why soldiers and not professional musicians? The answer to this question has become the principle of completing the ensemble from the very birth of the group. Only real paratroopers who know the service not from songs should perform on stage.

During the period from September 1988 to June 1990, the group repeatedly participated in the filming of various television programs, in competitions and festivals, toured the entire Soviet Union with concerts. The ensemble gathered full stadiums and Sports Palaces, successfully competed in terms of the number of spectators with the then incredibly popular "Tender May". The entire money collection from the concerts was transferred to local organizations of soldiers-internationalists for the construction of monuments, assistance to the disabled and the families of the victims. More than a million rubles were transferred.

Unfortunately, this money does not always reach the needy. Let this now remain on the conscience of some former leaders of veteran organizations. But even then, the first business trips to "hot spots" appeared in the ensemble's tour schedule. Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Vilnius. Whatever is said today about the mission of the Soviet Armed Forces in these cities and regions, "Blue berets" have always been close to ordinary soldiers and officers who carry out the order of their country.

STATE ENSEMBLE OF THE VDV

The songs of the ensemble helped people in uniform, who were under the constant pressure of human misunderstanding, to survive spiritually. It was in those years that the real persecution of the army began. But "Blue berets" did not break, they were always true to their principles - to sing only the truth. By 1990, the ensemble's repertoire had changed significantly. Along with the songs written in Afghanistan by Sergey Yarov and Oleg Gontsov, new ones appeared - Yuri Slatov. These were tough and angry compositions about what the guys saw during their tour: the collapse of the country and the army, the attitude of people towards the "Afghans", national wars and much more.

And again, the "berets" found their audience, the halls were full, people, with bated breath, listened to the song truth about life. It was then that the songs appeared - “You sent us there”, “I don’t believe”, “Shoulder straps of Russia”, “Philosopher” and others. The result of the work of the third generation of the ensemble was the release at the Melodiya company of the giant disc “So the war ended”.

In June 1991, the amateur ensemble of the regiment finally received the status of "professional", and in August, the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR approved the staffing of a separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue berets". From now on, the group became known as the Concert Ensemble of the Russian Airborne Troops. Prior to this event, G. Razumov, A. Khamizov, M. Gurov, D. Kalmykov managed to play in the group. So, since June 1991, it is creativity that has become at the forefront of the life of the ensemble members. "Blue berets».

The political officer of the battalion, Major Sergei Yarovoy, becomes a full-time Artistic director collective, the propagandist of the regiment - Captain Yuri Slatov as his deputy. The group comes Denis Platonov and Dmitry Vakhrushin, finishing military service in the Svir Airborne Forces, Yegor Serdechny, now an old-timer of the ensemble, remains on extra-long service.

Almost immediately, work began on new program, but did not stop and active tour activity. The group repeatedly visited Germany, Poland, the former republics of Yugoslavia, gave concerts to the US Army, "discovered" the regions of the Arctic, the Far North, the Far East. And everywhere "Blue Berets" met with a warm welcome from the audience, real people's love. The once great Soviet Union was collapsing, but for the landing ensemble, born in the Afghan war, there were no borders, just as there are none now - applications for concerts come from all the former republics of the USSR.

Unfortunately, the list of "hot spots" that the guys have visited is constantly growing: Pridnestrovie and Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Chechnya, Bosnia and Kosovo. Coming to war "Blue berets" they try to give as many concerts as possible in front of the soldiers at the outposts, and sometimes right in the battle formations. They often perform in front of residents, sometimes of warring parties, performing a peacekeeping mission. It is no coincidence that the military Orders for the war in Afghanistan were supplemented with awards for bravery during their stay in "hot spots".

In 1994, the band recorded their fourth album entitled "From War to War", and in December 1995 a CD of the same name was released. Everything experienced during his business trips to "hot spots" was reflected in the songs that were included in the fifth album, recorded in 1996 and called "Oh, share ...". In March 1997, in response to numerous requests from veterans different wars, former paratroopers, the ensemble is recording the sixth album with old songs called "The desk calendar is sad."

In November 2015, the Concert Ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue Berets" turned 30 years old. This is a significant date for any musical group, and even more so for the military. All members of the ensemble have long been awarded the title "Honored Artist of Russia".

But the history of the legendary "Afghan" ensemble is far from over. Plane tickets have long been bought in order to fly to the next tour, the schedule of which is scheduled six months in advance, everyday creative work is going on.

This means that more than once people will hear piercing, truthful songs about their children - the defenders of the Russian Land performed by the ensemble "Blue berets"!

GROUP "BLUE BERETS" - 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the ensemble in the Central Academic Theater Russian Army.