The Six Waves

gamavor · July 28, 2004

First Wave (1968-1975)

Prominent groups like "Mechtateli", "1+2", "Apostles", "Volcano" had been around at that time. In early 70-s Yerevan was a kind of Soviet rock-Mecca. Singer Gradskiy, rock groups "Skomorokhi", "Skiffi" and other Russian very popular rock groups were visiting Yerevan. It is interesting that during the festivals Armenian and Russian rock groups were sharing the same stage. A spirit of competition was in the air and armenian rock groups looked fittingly. Concerts were staged in various concert halls, but the most impressive concert was staged in Dynamo sport hall. Here is how Artyom Troitsky described the concert in the book "Back in the USSR", published in England in 1987, quote: "At that time the first "inter-city" festivals took place. An armenian businessman, a certain Rafik Mkrtchyan, signed contracts with rock groups from Moscow, Leningrad and Baltic republics and organized their tours in Yerevan, and they staged concerts in the "Palace of Heavy Athletics", having capacity of 6000 spectators. According to Gradsky nothing was heard at the hall, because once the first chords were played the crowd started to scream, and the power of voice amplifiers was only 200 watt. The pracitce of these concerts was ceased in 1970, when enterprising Rafik was put into jail for financial scheming". To our knowledge the situation was not like that, yet, anyway it is quite pleasant.It is pleasant because even in England they learned about existence of rock music in Armenia. Yet, it is necessary to mention that the practice of these concerts was ceased not in 1970 but in 1973.

Every time makes own heroes. Old fellows always mention the guitarist Borik from the rock group "1+2" - "he played like Jimmi Hendrix". The favorite group was "Mechtateli" from the Polytechnic Institute where maestro Ervand Erznkyan played. The group "Apostles", leaded by Arthur Meschyan, was notable because of repercussion with Armenian spiritual music, and so unusual for rock music philosophical lyrics, appealing to the tragic destiny of Armena.

Groups: "Apostoles", "1+2", "Mechtateli", "Volcano", "Tayphoon", "Bliki", "Kaleidoscope".

Legend: In early 70-s musicians of rock group "1+2" had the longest hairs among Armenian groups, for what they took deservedly their pride. When the time of festival came the rock group "Skomorokhi" leaded by Alexander Gradsky visited Yerevan and staged on the same day the concert along with group "1+2". Yet, hairs of memerbs of "Skomorokhi" were longer. It was quite strange, but before the concert Armenian rock musicians went to the barber's shop and had their hair cut and appeared on the stage dressed in civilian suits, instead of usual hippy jeans.

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Second Wave (1975-1985)

After few years of oppressions, suppression of the rock movement and exodus of Arthur Meschyan to the USA, there came a crisis time, partially associated with the emerging of disco style. However, groups like "Idea", "Melomans", "Tsitsernak", and "Bambir" were formed at that time and enjoyed a wide popularity. It is worth mentioning that the most popular at that time rock group "Tsvety" ("Flowers") guided by Stas Namin (a grandson of Anastas Mikoyan, a prominent Soviet public figure) was registered at Armconcert (Armenain state-run concert agency). Of notable events it is necessary to mention that an international rock concert, organized through the efforts of Stas Namin, was staged on the cycle-track stadium in 1981 (first in the Soviet Union, whereas participated groups from UK, Holland and Germany). The festival show lasted from 12 PM up to 2 AM and proved to be a great success and got even coverage in "TIME" magazine with some photos, calling it "Yerevan Woodstock". Those who have doubts I would suggest visiting "Rhythm and Blues" club in Moscow (owned by Namin, Makarevich and Meladze near the metro station Lenin's Library), where you can see this article framed on the wall.

Yet, let's go back to the Armenian events. The high profile event in early 80-s was the Student's Spring festival, whereas student's groups were playing in every institute. The most interesting was the group "Design", which played in "Beatles" style and gave to the young its super hit "Ayd ahchike vor jeptats/An Armenian girl that smiled". Another favorite group was the "Olis", where played Youri Mailyan a virtuoso guitar player. Television repeatedly aired concerts of group "Rally", which played high quality instrumental rock and the radio aired very poprock songs of "Ardzagank" group.

Groups: "Idea", "Melomans", "Tsitsernak", "Bambir", "Olis", "Design", "36,6", "Asparez", "Parus".

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Third Wave (1985-1991)

In late 80-s festivals and concerts were staged regularly and not only in the halls of the institutes but also at the Velotreck (cycle-track stadium), Youth Palace, Sport and Concert Center. Armenia gave to the world a new (not so popular unfortunately) ramification of heavy music - oriental rock. Through the efforts of rock groups "Asparez", "Ayas" this style reached the audience and critics.

Few articles were published in DDR's icon magazines like "Melodie und Rhythmus" and "Neues Leben", which was considered to be a sign of global recognition. Groups "Asparez" took part at the Moscow's "Rock-Panorama-87" and "Heavy Summer" festivals in Tallinn. According to David Ohandjanjan and Armen Toroyan: "Girls were ecstatic and had thrown their lingerie to the stage", which was indicative of serious success. While talking seriously "Asparez" was the only Armenian rock group, which released own long-play disc on Soviet record company "Melodiya".

Group "Ayas" played more heavy, but very interesting music, but later on bogged down in the formal music and their performance potential had not been fulfilled. Rock group "36,6", the propagators of "Beatles", became a laureate of "Rock-panorama" held in Sport and Concert Center and all-Union TV festival "Song-friend". Groups like "Vostan Hayots" sucesfully incorporated ethnic elements, both Armenian and Celtic music. Sounding varied from folklore to extremely metal music. They were working successfully up to the late 90-s. It is necessary to mention Arthur Meetinyan, the leader of "Ayas", nicknamed Beethoven, for his conservatory education and minor deafness. He was the founder and chairman of the first Armenian rock club.

Groups: "Asparez", "Ayas", "Van", "Autopilot", "Tesilk", "Bambir", "Maximum", "36,6", "Vostan Hayots", "Tarerk", "Soma", "Dashink", "Universal", Ellips", "Olis".

Legend:

An interesting fact: in 1988 the most popular and stylish group in the USSR was the rock group "Secret" from Leningrad, with glittering Maxim Leonidov and Nikolay Fomenko (currently the highest-paid showman in Russia). The group participated in recording of the popular TV show in Sport and Concert Center. Arthur Meetinyan contacted them in hotel "Armenia" and asked them to stage a concert for the members of rock club for free. The concert was staged in small hall of the House of Actor located on Pushkin Street.

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Fourth wave (1991-1997)

Times when the problems with power supply, bread and water were endemic in Armenia and immigration reached a level of few thousand people per month; practicing music was a tough occupation. Yet, hope did not abandon people. Motley in styles new generation gave birth to the interesting groups like psychedelic "MDP", refined and intellectual "Dumbarton Oaks", "Breeze", rowdy "NATO", punks "Ro the U", metallic "Sparapet", "Aspet", and "Empyray". Later on came to stage "Beerdigungs Lauten", and emerged "Credo", "Strangers" (Yerevan) "Smith & Wesson" and "Ass Kissers".

In 1993 Vahan Artsruni revealed his managerial capacities; he founded and organized festivals "Music for Students" and "Gaudeamus". After a long period of absence Arthur Meschyan, along with "Apostoles", gave some concerts in Armenia, and later on Moscow's group "Crematorium" staged its concert. Groups "Vostan Hayots", "Empyray", and "Strangers" got together within the frames of the festival "Gaudeamus-3". In summer 1997 two rock operas were staged in Yerevan i.e. "Jesus Christ Superstar", whereas main American team was joined by the Armenian colleagues and "This Motley World" written by a bard Eduard Zorikyan.

The concert hall and club "Gloriya", headed by Arthur Sahakyan existed few years. A prize-awarding ceremony to the best groups and singers of the year took place in 1995. In addition, in early 90-s, the so-called samizdat newspaper "Mark", edited by Arman Padaryan was published in Yerevan. Perhaps it is the only paper, which provided overall picture of development of Armenian rock in 90-s.

Groups: "Hayas", "Vostan Haytos" "MDP", "Dumbarton Oaks",", "Breeze", "NATO", "Ro the U", "Sparapet", "Aspet", Vahan Artsruni, "Empyray", "Beerdigungs Lauten", "Credo", "Strangers" (Yerevan), "Smith & Wesson" and "Ass Kissers".

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Fifth Wave (1997-2002)

The so called transition period is over. A new economic order was taking a shaping influence. However, the process of adaptation to these conditions leads to the conclusion that it is impossible to make a business on the rock music in Armenia. Underground is an underground indeed. The old groups disintegrated and new ones started to learn playing anew. First appeared "The Kings Cross", "Alter Ego", and "Pegasus". Then for a short while appeared projects of first super groups i.e. projects with prominent musicians. Among them were "Clan", and "El Pop". In 1998 the festival of paramount importance took place in the NPAK center of contemporary art, where particiapted groups like "Vostan Hayots", "NASS", "Empyray", "Hieronimus Bosch", "Alter Ego", "Art D'Artist" (Sevada Petrosyan) and punk group "Ass Kissers". An indisputable favourite of the audience was a folk-rock group "Lav Eli" from Vanadzor. It was the only group which succeeded in mastering rock'n roll school and interpreted it into perfect Armenian language with attractive melodies. The year 2001 distinguished with the festival "Love Summer", during which the condoms were distributed, and staging the rock-opera "Gregor the Illuminator", dated for 1700 anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Armenia.

Groups: "The Kings Cross", "Alter Ego", "Pegasus", "Clan", "El Pop", "Ass Kissers", "NASS", "Force Major" "Empyray", "Hieronimus Bosch", Vahan Artsruni, "Ro the U", "Alk", "Angels", "Lav Eli".

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Sixth Wave (2002 - to present)

All started with the art-rock, to put it more precisely а progressive and the group "ARTSRUNI", which was presented by "Cadans" center in abroad in 2001-2002. It proved to be a geat success. There were contracts for three albums with French company "Musea", and invitation to the joint Finnish-French proejct "Kalevala-prog", with particiaption of 28 members from 14 countries, and numerous artciles published throughout Europe, America and Brazil.

The group "Oaksenham" also reached success on the interantional level - articles published in "Classic Rock Society" (UK), "Expose" (USA) and studio album released on "Musea". Gor Mkhitaryan from "Lav Eli" achieved success and started a solo career from releasing the album "Yeraz" on American-Armenain music lable "Pomegranate Music". His first solo concerts took place in England in December 2002, and from 2003 he is actively giving concerts in the USA. The group "MDP" released a compilation of albums and a new single, which caused large international response.

New groups also emerged. The groups from Vanadzor like "Delis", "J.E.M.", "Push", "Senexes", "Guizack", "Strangers" inspired by success fellows from "Lav Eli". Childs of Bambirs formed very attractive folk-rock'n-roll team, and named it "Bambir-2". Together with "Bambir-2" and "The Kings' Cross" young group "Sard" is playing in rock club (owned by Vostan Hayots's exvocalist).

Groups: "ARTSRUNI", "Oaksenham", "MDP", "Lav Eli", Gor Mkhitaryan, "Push", "J.E.M.", "Senexes", "Guizack", "Strangers", "Sard", "Bambir-2", " Aramazd ", "No One", "Empyray".

http://www.arminrock.am/

http://thekingscross.wizard.am/eng/86-93.html

Check out also The Armnian Rock Zone:

http://www.port.am/rock-zone/

and yet another Armenian Rock

http://www.arminco.com/hayknet/naskal.htm

Enjoy!