Gorky Park (international title) or "Парк Горького" (Russian title) was a Soviet (later Russian) glam metal band and was the first Russian band to be aired on MTV
While Gorky Park's fame in the United States was short-lived, they are an important band historically because their success is deeply rooted in the events that took place during the final years of the Cold War. In the U.S. the band quickly made some strong connections in the music business. One of the first people to take notice was guitar legend Frank Zappa. Eventually the group fell under the watchful eyes of Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora, who helped them secure a deal with Mercury Records.
In 1987 guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov, guitarist Jan Ianenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 70's soviet musician, became band's manager. Because Gorbachev lifted the censorship, many of underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to receive more widespread popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for USA in search of a record deal.
In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was famous guitarist Frank Zappa. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora also helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records.
The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials 'GP' stylized as a Hammer & Sickle on the cover. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and a growing interest in Soviets to western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang," received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time," received rotation on mainstream radio stations.
Gorky Park participated on that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional russian style, waving Soviet and American flags. In 1991 the band received scandinavian Grammy award as the best new international act.
As Perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame in America subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990 but Gorky Park remained active and kept releasing albums in the '90s with Minkov taking over as lead vocalist. 1993's Moscow Calling, produced by Fee Waybill, sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, Stare, came out in 1996, released only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998, the band released Protivofazza. In 1999, Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the stage name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but actually inactive since 2001. Belov and Yanenkov continue to perform GP songs under the name "Park Belova" (Belov Park). On September 12, 2007 Gorky Park made a brief re-union and headlined Bridge of Friendship and Warmth festival in Yerevan, Armenia
Gorky Park was mentioned on an episode of Saturday Night Live's skit "Wayne's World." The band ended up on Wayne and Garth's list of the top ten bad things about the fall of the Soviet Union. The duo claimed with the collapse there would be "No more cheesy behind-the-iron-curtain metal bands like Gorky Park."
In 2008, on ceremonies of the presenting the television channel Muz TV (in Russia), Gorky Park received an award for contribution to Rock music and have emerged last composition with single Moscow Calling (with Alexander Minkov)
Band Members
Nikolai Noskov (vocals)
Alexey Belov (guitar)
Alexander Minkov, aka Alexander Marshall (bass, later vocals)
Yan Yanenkov (guitar, ex-Tsvety)
Alexander Lvov (drums, ex-Aria)
Discography
Gorky Park (1989)
Moscow Calling (1992)
Stare (1996)
Legend of Russian Rock Compilation 1996
Protivofazza (1998)
Listen to Gorky Park Music!
Watch Gorky Park Video!
Try To Find Me (Live at Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989)
Moscow Calling
Bang
Stare
Stranger
Within Your Eyes (Live at Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989)
While Gorky Park's fame in the United States was short-lived, they are an important band historically because their success is deeply rooted in the events that took place during the final years of the Cold War. In the U.S. the band quickly made some strong connections in the music business. One of the first people to take notice was guitar legend Frank Zappa. Eventually the group fell under the watchful eyes of Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora, who helped them secure a deal with Mercury Records.
In 1987 guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov, guitarist Jan Ianenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 70's soviet musician, became band's manager. Because Gorbachev lifted the censorship, many of underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to receive more widespread popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for USA in search of a record deal.
In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was famous guitarist Frank Zappa. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora also helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records.
The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials 'GP' stylized as a Hammer & Sickle on the cover. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and a growing interest in Soviets to western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang," received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time," received rotation on mainstream radio stations.
Gorky Park participated on that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional russian style, waving Soviet and American flags. In 1991 the band received scandinavian Grammy award as the best new international act.
As Perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame in America subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990 but Gorky Park remained active and kept releasing albums in the '90s with Minkov taking over as lead vocalist. 1993's Moscow Calling, produced by Fee Waybill, sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, Stare, came out in 1996, released only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998, the band released Protivofazza. In 1999, Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the stage name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but actually inactive since 2001. Belov and Yanenkov continue to perform GP songs under the name "Park Belova" (Belov Park). On September 12, 2007 Gorky Park made a brief re-union and headlined Bridge of Friendship and Warmth festival in Yerevan, Armenia
Gorky Park was mentioned on an episode of Saturday Night Live's skit "Wayne's World." The band ended up on Wayne and Garth's list of the top ten bad things about the fall of the Soviet Union. The duo claimed with the collapse there would be "No more cheesy behind-the-iron-curtain metal bands like Gorky Park."
In 2008, on ceremonies of the presenting the television channel Muz TV (in Russia), Gorky Park received an award for contribution to Rock music and have emerged last composition with single Moscow Calling (with Alexander Minkov)
Band Members
Nikolai Noskov (vocals)
Alexey Belov (guitar)
Alexander Minkov, aka Alexander Marshall (bass, later vocals)
Yan Yanenkov (guitar, ex-Tsvety)
Alexander Lvov (drums, ex-Aria)
Discography
Gorky Park (1989)
Moscow Calling (1992)
Stare (1996)
Legend of Russian Rock Compilation 1996
Protivofazza (1998)
Listen to Gorky Park Music!
Watch Gorky Park Video!
Try To Find Me (Live at Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989)
Moscow Calling
Bang
Stare
Stranger
Within Your Eyes (Live at Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989)
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