Akvarium

Akvarium formed in Leningrad in the early 1970s, with Boris Grebenshchikov and Anatoly Gunitsky starting what became a long-running Russian rock band. They worked in the city's underground scene, playing shows that mixed folk, rock, and jazz at a time when such music faced official disapproval. Their 1983 song "212-85-06" became widely known, capturing a particular mood among Soviet youth with its spare, haunting arrangement.

Grebeshchikov has been the constant frontman, writing most of the material and singing lead. The lineup has changed around him over the decades, with musicians like guitarist Georgy Kasparyan and bassist Oleg Nikolaev appearing in various periods. Their catalog includes songs like "Burlak," "Navigator," and "Tanets," which have stayed in rotation for fans who first heard them on bootleg tapes.

They recorded more than twenty albums, often shifting styles from record to record. While they were criticized by Soviet authorities early on, their music circulated widely outside official channels. Akvarium kept playing and recording through the Soviet period and after, maintaining a presence without becoming a mainstream pop act.