Alexander Frumin. Bright memory! Mikhail Krug and Alexander Rosenbaum were robbed by a former merchant from the market


Mikhail Gutseriev returned son-in-law Arkady Severny to the radio

The term "Russian chanson" has replenished our speech relatively recently - only in the mid-90s of the last century. So they began to call a large layer of music that did not fit into the framework of the official stage. This term was introduced into use by a producer from St. Petersburg, Alexander FRUMIN, the creator of the Night Taxi studio and the radio program of the same name, who has been making such music for thirty years.

In fact, I did not come up with anything new, - Alexander Viktorovich admitted. - The concept of "chanson russe" was present at the turn of the 60s and 70s on vinyl records Russian performers who recorded in Paris. I only adapted this name for Russia and contributed to its distribution. The essence of Russian chanson was best formulated by Konstantin Kazansky- French album arranger Vysotsky and accompanist Okudzhava and Alyosha Dmitrievich. In an interview I had with him in Paris, he said: "Chanson is music around words." Song creativity, in which poetry is the basis of what the musician does on stage, came from France. Although in Russia a hundred years ago there were good examples. One of the founders of chanson in Russian, without any doubt, was Alexander Vertinsky. His frivolous songs about the life of Bohemia " silver age”, which dealt with sex and drugs, were banned even under the king. They were believed to corrupt the youth. Then Vertinsky was banned by the communists who came to power. They were not pleased with the romance on the death of the junkers “I don’t know why and who needs it”, which is now remembered with a singsong Boris Grebenshchikov. Vertinsky was even summoned to the Cheka. He got scared and soon went into exile. In the future, Russian chanson as musical style formed from several genre directions. One of them was a traditional author's or, as it was also called, a bard song, performed, as a rule, with a guitar. In the days of the USSR, we had a whole movement KSP (amateur song club – M.F. ), in which, one way or another, Okudzhava took part, Galich, Vysotsky, Rosenbaum.

There were also underground bards - Arkady Severny, Vladimir Shandrikov, Vitaly Krestovsky. Another direction that was part of the Russian chanson was the emigrant romance. But the emigrants were largely based on the songs of Russian singer-songwriters. He composed his own material for himself, perhaps Willy Tokarev. BUT Shufutinsky, Mogilevsky, gulko and others rehearsed the repertoire of the same Rosenbaum and Severny. Only better arranged and recorded these songs. I also always referred to chanson in Russian acoustic part our rock. Agreed with me, in particular, Yura Shevchuk with whom I have been friends for many years. A few years ago, in my Night Taxi radio program, he himself said that when he works not with the DDT group, but solo, with a guitar, or with a small acoustic composition, he performs Russian chanson - songs of streets and courtyards. The same views were expressed Andrey Makarevich and musicians of the ChaiF group. The latter even called their idol Arcadia Severny. All these musical directions, which served as the basis for the Russian chanson, were united by the dominance of the semantic load and non-censorship. This is not a fashionable leg band. This is music to be listened to.

Commercial speculation on freedom

- And how did it happen that you started doing this music?

When I was a boy, this kind of music was listened to in my family. And this passion was passed on to me. One of my idols was Alexander Rosenbaum. At that time, his songs were not officially released on CDs. But I collected all his underground recordings on cassettes and went to all his performances in St. Petersburg. After the concert at the Dzerzhinsky Palace of Culture, I was lucky to meet him personally and get his autograph. In 1984, I followed Rosenbaum to Vorkuta and there recorded his concert at the Miners' Palace of Culture. It was my first solo recording. I was then 18 years old. And in 1985, when he came to power Gorbachev, I created my own studio, which began to cultivate such music. For the first two years, she was based at my house. And in 1987 she moved to a large printing company - a printing house named after Ivan Fedorov. I led the Komsomol committee there, and at the discos and youth evenings that we held, we began, along with pop and rock music, to play the records of Severny, Shufutinsky, Tokarev that I had collected, Assumption. All slow dancing have us invariably went under chanson. Gradually, my studio grew and acquired professional sound recording equipment. We restored archival recordings from old tapes.

And since 1988, they themselves recorded chanson performers. The first was a St. Petersburg bard Anton Dukhovskoy. Then many others began to cooperate with us. Including the idol of my childhood, Alexander Rosenbaum, to whom I suggested in 1994 to record the album “Slow Schizophrenia” with us. Around the same time, we gathered big collection restored archival records of the Northern, "Brothers of Pearl", the same Rosenbaum. I started looking for a publisher who could release them on cassettes and CDs. And met in Moscow with the now deceased Yuri Sevastyanov. At the time of the first cooperatives, he traded cassettes with different music. contributed to the promotion Anatolia Cloth and the Red Mold group. And at the time of our acquaintance, he joined the Russian Supply company, which was the first to start releasing Shufutinsky on CDs, Kalyanova and other chanson performers. Then, when this company was covered, Sevastyanov came under the wing of the created Vitalik Belyakov Studio "Soyuz" and opened his own sublabel "Master Sound" there. We started working with him. Then on the CD "Arkady Severny and the ensemble" Four Brothers and a Shovel "the marking" Series "Russian Chanson" first appeared. This was in the summer of 1994. One more thing was connected with the release of this disc. significant event in my life. Although the Copyright Law in our country had not yet been adopted, I considered it necessary to comply with all the formalities and obtain permission from the relatives of the Northern (the chansonnier himself died in 1980 – M.F. ). Head of the ensemble "Pearl Brothers" Nikolay Rezanov, who worked with Arkady, gave me his old phone from the 70s. His daughter answered him Natasha Zvezdina.

We became friends and soon became husband and wife. In 1997 our son was born. We named him Arkady in honor of his grandfather. And Alexander Rosenbaum became his godfather. So I became related at once with two legends of Russian chanson.

- Yuri Sevastyanov in his interviews claimed that the authorship of the term "Russian chanson" belonged to him.- In fact, he took my permission to call his products that way and, without my consent, registered the corresponding trademark with Rospatent. I did not interfere with him and instead, through the court, I achieved the disclaimer of the term "chanson" - its recognition as unprotected so that everyone, and not just Sevastyanov, could use it. This allowed me, together with my partners, to register, in particular, the trademarks "Chanson" and "Radio Chanson", which were used to create the radio station. Unfortunately, Sevastyanov distorted the meaning of the term I introduced and reduced it to a cheap thug. Of course, songs about prison have always occupied a significant place in Russian chanson. But these were the right songs, reflecting the terrible prison reality and making you think about life. And Sevastyanov filled the market with “pop thugs” - commercial speculation on the topic of freedom and lack of freedom, such as the singer Mafik or the Vorovayki group with their “Hop, trash can, don’t sew my time.” And Russian chanson in the eyes of many has become associated with this crap. And then the actions of Sevastyanov became completely inadequate.

In 1998, my studio, under the general power of attorney issued to me by Alexander Rosenbaum, was preparing for publication his "Golden Series", which included 21 albums. We have already agreed with Sevastyanov. They gave him the master disks. And suddenly he announced that he had no funds for publication. Rosenbaum, through me, asked him to return all the materials. But Sevastyanov decided to deceive us and, without our knowledge, resold Rosenbaum's "Golden Series" to two other companies - RISE-LIS'S and "Quadro-disk", which printed a circulation and put it on sale. For me it was a huge blow. “I have been releasing your records for five years and have earned the moral right to do so,” Yuri told me. "I'm not going to apologize to anyone." Then he fled abroad.

After some time, we found him with the help of the prosecutor's office and achieved the initiation of a criminal case against him under article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Infringement of copyright and related rights." Its consideration in Moscow dragged on intermittently for six years and ended in 2005 with our complete victory. Tagansky court awarded Rosenbaum and me as victims of compensation from Sevastyanov in the amount of 400 thousand rubles of the time. However, we never received any money. The statute of limitations on the criminal case has already expired. A year later, Sevastyanov died with his death into another world. But for us it was important that we defended our reputation.

Arkady FRUMIN, grandson of Arkady Severny. Photo: arkadiy-severny.ru

I had to face similar problems and Misha Krug. I once told Sevastyanov that there is such a wonderful singer-songwriter in Tver. One of the listeners of my radio program "Night Taxi" brought me Misha's cassette and said: "You must like this guy." At my request, Sevastyanov found Krug and in February 1995 came with him to St. Petersburg to me on the air. This was Misha's first radio appearance. Then we became friends. We did 3-4 more programs with him. Recorded in our studio. And Sevastyanov, taking advantage of Krug's inexperience in legal subtleties, acquired the rights to his most famous albums almost for free and exploited them without his consent. Misha asked me to help him get these rights back. “Since you are so successful in defending Rosenbaum, come on and defend me too!” he said. But his untimely death on July 1, 2002 prevented this. Ironically, the last radio broadcast of the Circle was also in my program. Then he became the winner of the "Chanson of the Year" award. Listeners honestly voted for him on the Chanson radio website. The award ceremony took place in the Kremlin. But artistic director State Kremlin Palace Shaboltai could not stand Krug and forbade him to enter the stage. Misha was terribly offended. To somehow compensate for this unpleasant situation, I organized the presentation of this award to him at a concert in St. Petersburg concert hall"Giant Hall Conti". After the concert, Krug went with me to the on-air studio of Chanson radio and gave a long interview. This was a few weeks before his assassination.

Life's work

- How did you manage to promote Russian chanson on the radio?

In the early 90s, there was the only music FM radio station in Russia - Europe Plus, which was opened by the French. Head of Aeroflot Bank Volodya Sipachev I wanted to have the same station of my own, broadcasting English-language rock music. Found young talented managers Serezha Arkhipov and Styopa Stroeva and financed the creation of radio "ROKS". That was the name of Sipachev's company. But this name had nothing to do with rock music. It stands for "Russian Association of Commerce and Construction". The new station was allocated frequencies in several cities, including St. Petersburg. They needed a regional partner. And through the directorate of the St. Petersburg Radio and Television Center they found me. I bought a franchise from them, opened the Radio ROKS St. Petersburg company and got the right to make my own programs. And since I was never interested in Western music, I began to broadcast my favorite chanson at night. The Moscow administration was horrified. But, according to the contract, I had to broadcast and serve their broadcast with some news, concerts on demand and advertising only until 12 o'clock at night. And after midnight he could carry out local broadcasting at his own discretion. And so my author's program "Night Taxi" appeared. It first aired in September 1993. And from February 18, 1994, it began to appear constantly. After a couple of years, the night air on ROX became not enough for me. I wanted a station to appear that would play music in Russian in the FM band around the clock. New frequencies for broadcasting were then opened by the Deputy Minister of Communications without any competition Mikhail Abramovich Elizarov. And his son Igor was just planning to create a new station at a frequency of 105.7. I was introduced to him. And we agreed on cooperation in the same way that I worked with ROKS. True, Igor had no time to engage in radio himself. He was busy launching the MuzTV channel. And he put his business partner in charge of the new station Volodya Maslov with whom he once studied together. Since Volodya had no experience in the field of radio, Elizarov sent him to St. Petersburg to study with me. And I convinced him to take an unusual step for those times - to make a completely Russian-language music station and call it "Russian Radio". “Yes, who needs it? Maslov was doubtful at first. Russians don't really know how to sing. And there is not enough Russian music on CDs.” “You will see, you will collect all the advertising,” I insisted. “And this radio will feed you for decades.” As a result, Maslov agreed with me and began to offer me to move to Moscow in order to implement this project myself. "No, no shit! I refused. - Where I was born, I came in handy there. I have everything in St. Petersburg - my family, real estate, and my favorite job. I can only come to visit you and help you in some way.” And Serezha Arkhipov by that time had quarreled with Sipachev, left the "ROKS" and was engaged in some kind of ridiculous project - he arranged races for naked models in inflatable boats in one of the Moscow pools.

I suggested that he take on Russian Radio. “Sasha, what are you, a fool?! he began to shout. “I can’t stand Russian music in general.” But I persuaded him anyway. Arkhipov became general producer"Russian radio". Brought with you Seryoga Kozhevnikov who is still in charge to this day. And pulled the money in the face Vitalik Bogdanova, the current senator, and at that time the owner of the company where I always bought equipment for my studio. Until 2000, I myself provided regional broadcasting of Russian Radio in St. Petersburg. And in parallel, since 1997, he led the local St. Petersburg station "Russian Chanson", which has already completely specialized in my favorite music. Then the original founders Igor Elizarov, Volodya Maslov and Igor Yarkov left Russian Radio after quarreling with Arkhipov and Kozhevnikov. Together with them, we bought radio "ROKS" and on its frequency in 2000 opened radio "Chanson" in Moscow. How individual I had a share in it. And my company "Night Taxi" under the contract managed St. Petersburg air, under which my partners took away the frequency of "Russian Radio" that belonged to them. True, as a shareholder of the Moscow Chanson, I was not paid dividends. It was believed that I should make a profit at the expense of St. Petersburg ether. But it suited me.

- Why did you leave Chanson six years ago?

At some point, I stopped liking the format of the station. Maslov, who became the general director, who owned a blocking stake - a quarter of the shares, dragged a bunch of frankly variety performers, by and large, who had nothing to do with chanson, but were presented as the main chanson stars - Valeria Kuras,Evgenia Rossa, Andrey Bandera, who after the events in Ukraine began to be called by his real name Izmestyev, etc. He explained to shareholders that this was allegedly necessary to attract advertisers. And I have always been against pop music at Chanson. I wanted smart songs to sound on the air, not afraid of conflicts and acute life topics, so that Chanson would not be on a par with stations that drive bullshit varying degrees pop. Perhaps this independent position of mine brought Maslov's displeasure upon me. Or maybe I became objectionable to him because I knew too much about him. One way or another, for some reason, he set out to get me out of the station and came up with a scheme according to which it became technically possible to broadcast to St. Petersburg directly from Moscow, without my participation. It was not interesting for me to remain just a shareholder, not related to music, to programs. As a result, in the summer of 2009, I left Chanson, sold my share and switched from radio to the Internet. Along with Mosfilm, Lenfilm, Russia Today and RIA Novosti, I was among the first to enter into a direct contract with Google and build the largest licensed music channel on its YouTube portal, with over 20 million viewers. And in April 2015, unexpectedly for me and for all of the Chanson radio, Maslov and other shareholders were completely bought out by the structures Mikhail Gutseriev(owner of the RussNeft company and part-time songwriter – M.F. ). Appointed as new CEO Andrey Neklyudov(former director Nikolai Baskov – M.F. ). He turned to me and offered to head the St. Petersburg representative office of the station. From communication with Neklyudov, I got the impression that the new owners share my views on chanson and want to change the station into better side. I gladly accepted their offer. And since July, the broadcasting of radio "Chanson" to St. Petersburg again began to be carried out from my studio. One of the Launch Pad programs I run with my son Arkady Frumin- the grandson of Arkady Severny. With his mother Natasha Zvezdina, in five years we life together broke up. But we are still on friendly terms. And our son lives with me and with my new wife Elvira. I hope he continues the work to which I have devoted my entire life.

FRUMIN ALEXANDER VIKTOROVICH(10/6/1966 - 04/15/2017) - producer, collector, founder of the Night Taxi studio, one of the organizers of the Chanson radio, was born and lived in St. Petersburg.
Father - Viktor Peisakhovich (shipbuilder), mother - Emilia Maksovna (general practitioner).
One of the first professional recordings of Alexander Frumin was a recording of Alexander Rosenbaum's concert in the city of Vorkuta in the House of Culture named after miners in 1984, which many years later was released as a separate disc. In October 1985, Alexander Frumin organized the Night Taxi studio, and since 1988 the studio began not only to restore phonograms, but also to make the first professional recordings of artists of the Russian chanson genre on their own. The first artist who recorded in this studio was the Leningrad singer-songwriter Anton Dukhovskoy.
On August 15, 1993, radio "ROKS" appeared in Leningrad, and in new year's eve from 1993 to 1994, Alexander Frumin's author's program "Night Taxi" was aired on its air, where songs performed by Arkady Severny and other chansonniers were performed. And since the spring of 1994, the program began to appear regularly, and since 2000 it has been broadcast on the waves of Chanson radio throughout the country.
In 1990, Frumin graduated from the Leningrad Publishing and Printing College of the State Press Committee of Russia with a degree in publishing proofreading and editing. Then there was the Moscow Polygraphic Institute, from which he graduated with a degree in chief editor-director of a publishing house. And in 1992 in Jurmala (Latvia) - ABS College with a degree in electronic media supervisor. In 2004 in St. Petersburg - the Academy of Management with a degree in media management.
Since 1994, the Night Taxi studio has released about two hundred numbered albums by performers of the Russian chanson genre, these are: Alexander Rosenbaum, Mikhail Krug, Trofim (Sergey Trofimov), Slava Bobkov, Zinovy ​​Belsky, Vitaly Aksenov, Tatyana Kabanova, Vladimir Asmolov and many -a lot others. It was at the Night Taxi studio in 1994 that Alexander Frumin reassembled the legendary ensemble Zhemchuzhnye Brothers, where the first official album group "10 songs in 20 years". And the members of the team became full-time musicians of the studio for many years. Arkady Severny's concert and guitar albums are also being restored and published, and an album of remixes has been released.
Since 2004, Night Taxi has been recording and releasing video films in the DVD standard, of which there are already over thirty, since 2009. - Blu-ray standard.

Official website of the Night Taxi studio: www.shansonspb.ru

On April 15, 2017 at 1 pm in St. Petersburg at the Military Medical Academy, at the age of 51, one of the founders of Radio Chanson died suddenly, music producer and head of the Night Taxi Studio, author of the program of the same name Alexander Viktorovich Frumin.

He was a friend, like-minded person, a person who devoted himself once and for all to his beloved work - music in the chanson genre in Russian. The Night Taxi studio and the festival in memory of Arkady Severny are his life's work, his favorite brainchild, and, as relatives and friends said today, the work will continue.
The 22nd festival in memory of Arkady Severny, and now in memory of Alexander Frumin, will be held on April 24, 2017 at the A2 nightclub in St. Petersburg.

The Chanson Information Portal website expresses its most sincere condolences to the family of Alexander Frumin, his relatives, friends and staff of the Night Taxi studio.

View biographies.

D. Popov: "This weekend on the Ob Sea took place
7th Author's Song Festival, organized by the Vladimir Vysotsky Memorial Memorial Foundation. I took part in it - the atmosphere is traditionally friendly, warm, which is so close to my heart. That is why I try to take part in these art song festivals."

06/20/2012 Reflection film Doctor Evening

On June 24, when the city of Novosibirsk will celebrate its next birthday, the premiere of the film-reflection "Doctor Evening" will take place. Those who wish to watch the film can now go link.

03/10/2012 New in Favorite artists section

The recently opened section of the site, favorite performers, is replenished: now you can download songs from Alexei Glyzin in it. Also added new albums by other artists.

02/03/2012 New in the Video section

02.02.2012 Favorite performers

09/17/2011 Dedication to classmates


Songs for classmates, songs about classmates, songs about true friends... On the collection presented in the Discography section, Sergey Trofimov, Alexander Rosenbaum, Stas Mikhailov, Vladimir Asmolov and Viktor Petliura sing about everything about it. It is very flattering that Dmitry Popov's song Odnoklassniki also got into the list of songs dedicated to school friends and such an authoritative company.

09/16/2011 New in Video section

07/23/2011 Chanson Day in Novosibirsk

On June 4, the festival of Siberian chanson took place in the Lenin House. Residents of the city met this event with interest - the hall, in which there were practically no empty seats, served as proof of this. Twelve Siberians presented their songs to the court of Vladimir Asmolov, from whose hands they received their diplomas. A new photo album is dedicated to the Siberian chanson holiday.

06/20/2011 Songs of Siberians about the war

"Dedicated to the 66th anniversary of the Victory" - a disc with this name was released by May 9 by the SPTs "Parnassus". The disc includes songs by Novosibirsk authors, including the songs "The Ballad of the Mother" (E. Martynov, A. Dementiev) and "Where does the Motherland begin?" (M. Matusovsky, V. Basner) performed by Dmitry Popov.

06/12/2011 Dmitry Popov at OTS

On May 6, 2011, Dmitry Popov had a special reason to appear in the studio of the OTS TV channel: “In honor of my fiftieth birthday, I decided to perform a song from my childhood. Although this song is dedicated to the war, I have lived with it in my heart all my life.. The video recording of this broadcast can be downloaded in the Video section.
You can also watch and download Dmitry's speech on May 7 as part of the program “Victory Day on UTS”.
But what a gift his friends prepared for Dmitry.

05/20/2011 Siberian chanson festival


June 4 at 18-30 chamber hall The Novosibirsk Philharmonic will host the first festival of Siberian chanson, which will be attended by Nikolai Vasiliev, Igor Malinin, Anatoly Oleinikov, Gennady Torgov, Alexander Tserpyata, Vadim Yuzhny, Dmitry Popov and many other Novosibirsk performers. The guest of honor of the festival will be the legendary Vladimir Asmolov, whose songs will undoubtedly inspire other festival participants to new creative feats. By the way, Vladimir Asmolov's song "Three Pages" was performed by Dmitry Popov in 2010.

23.04.2011 Coming soon May 9

AT this moment Dmitry Popov is preparing to perform on the program dedicated to the 66th anniversary Great Victory. Two well-known and, at the same time, difficult songs have already been recorded - an attempt was made to perform them in a new way - not to sing, but to try to find a new meaning in the songs that lived with me, which I sang back in kindergarten.... This is written in 1961 by A. Dementiev in collaboration with E. Martynov and (words by M. Matusovsky - music by V. Basner), which Mark Bernes performed so superbly.
Where does the Motherland begin? This is a question that has tormented me all my conscious life and to which I have not found a clear answer. It is even more difficult for today's youth to find it, so I decided to sing these songs and try to make them more understandable for young people, although it is difficult to feel them deeper than legendary performers of past years, but I really want these songs to live longer, so I decided to remind them....

04/06/2011 Final preparations


A rehearsal for the concert scheduled for April 8 at the DKZH took place - this event is reflected in the photographs of the new album.

03/09/2011 Garage Syroezhkin


April 8 at 19:00 in the House of Culture of the Railway Worker, as an invited guest, Dmitry Popov will also perform the song loved by the audience

03/07/2011 A.A. Fershalova


On February 5, a concert dedicated to the fiftieth anniversary of the Honored Artist of the Russian Federation A.A. Fershalov, who for 10 years has been the permanent leader of the popular band "White Dew". Passed them recently anniversary concert in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, and on February 5, all Novosibirsk residents had the opportunity to see this team at home. One of the invited guests of this event was , who performed the song .

25.02.2011 Clip >

A new version of this song, recently posted on home page of our site as an announcement of Dmitry Popov's third album, has already found its place in the hearts of the listeners. As a result - a composition that evokes a lot of different emotions.

02/08/2011 Doctor Evening heals the soul..

More than six months have passed since the release of the second album, and its main musical theme- "Doctor Evening" has already managed to catch the fancy of many. Now connoisseurs of Dmitry Popov's work or those who came to this site for the first time will be able to sing the words of this song to the original backing track of the song "Doctor Evening", which can be downloaded in the Backing track section.

06.12.2010 Meeting with Igor Matvienko

Dmitry Popov is not indifferent to creativity and believes that it is possible to educate children and youth on it, teach them to be good and understand life. Many people have already taken place as a person, thanks to the production skills of Igor Matvienko (Igor Matvienko works with the groups "Korni", "Lyube", " Ivanushki International", "Mobile blondes", as well as with Victoria Daineko and Sati Kazanova). Here is what Dmitry himself says about this event: I am little known and any media attention to my person is always pleasing."

10/19/2010 Poems for the third album

At the moment, work is underway on the third album, in the creation of which my old friends and associates take an active part: Yuri Gromov, Sergei Rodygin, Grigory Shatalov. If you write poetry and want to take part in this creative process, send your work to [email protected], I will be glad to use the poems I liked in the new album.
Your Dmitry Popov.

Mikhail Gutseriev returned son-in-law Arkady Severny to the radio

The term "Russian chanson" has replenished our speech relatively recently - only in the mid-90s of the last century. So they began to call a large layer of music that did not fit into the framework of the official stage. This term was introduced into use by a producer from St. Petersburg, Alexander FRUMIN, the creator of the Night Taxi studio and the radio program of the same name, who has been making such music for thirty years.

In fact, I did not come up with anything new, - Alexander Viktorovich admitted. - The concept of "chanson russe" was present at the turn of the 60s and 70s on vinyl records of Russian performers that were recorded in Paris. I only adapted this name for Russia and contributed to its distribution. The essence of Russian chanson was best formulated by Konstantin Kazansky, the arranger of Vysotsky's French albums and the accompanist of Okudzhava and Alyosha Dmitrievich. In an interview I had with him in Paris, he said: "Chanson is music around words." Songwriting, in which poetry is the basis of what the musician does on stage, came from France. Although in Russia a hundred years ago there were good examples. One of the founders of chanson in Russian, without any doubt, was Alexander Vertinsky. His frivolous songs about the life of the bohemia of the "Silver Age", which dealt with sex and drugs, were banned even under the tsar. They were believed to corrupt the youth. Then Vertinsky was banned by the communists who came to power. They were not pleased with the romance for the death of the junkers “I don’t know why and who needs it,” which is now remembered from the tune of Boris Grebenshchikov. Vertinsky was even summoned to the Cheka. He got scared and soon went into exile. In the future, Russian chanson as a musical style was formed from several genre directions. One of them was a traditional author's or, as it was also called, a bard song, performed, as a rule, with a guitar. In Soviet times, we had a whole movement of KSP (amateur song club - M.F.), in which, one way or another, Okudzhava, Galich, Vysotsky, Rosenbaum took part.

There were also underground bards - Arkady Severny, Vladimir Shandrikov, Vitaly Krestovsky. Another direction that was part of the Russian chanson was the emigrant romance. But the emigrants were largely based on the songs of Russian singer-songwriters. Only Willy Tokarev composed his own material for himself. And Shufutinsky, Mogilevsky, Gulko and others rehearsed the repertoire of the same Rosenbaum and Severny. Only better arranged and recorded these songs. Also, I always attributed the acoustic part of our rock to chanson in Russian. In particular, Yura Shevchuk, with whom I have been friends for many years, agreed with me. A few years ago, in my Night Taxi radio program, he himself said that when he works not with the DDT group, but solo, with a guitar, or with a small acoustic composition, he performs Russian chanson - songs of streets and courtyards. Andrei Makarevich and the musicians of the ChaiF group expressed the same views. The latter even called their idol Arcadia Severny. All these musical directions, which served as the basis for the Russian chanson, were united by the dominance of the semantic load and non-censorship. This is not a fashionable leg band. This is music to be listened to.

Commercial speculation on freedom

How did you get involved in this music?
- When I was a boy, this kind of music was listened to in my family. And this passion was passed on to me. One of my idols was Alexander Rosenbaum. At that time, his songs were not officially released on CDs. But I collected all his underground recordings on cassettes and went to all his performances in St. Petersburg. After the concert at the Dzerzhinsky Palace of Culture, I was lucky to meet him personally and get his autograph. In 1984, I followed Rosenbaum to Vorkuta and there recorded his concert at the Miners' Palace of Culture. It was my first solo recording. I was then 18 years old. And in 1985, when Gorbachev came to power, I created my own studio, which began to cultivate such music. For the first two years, she was based at my house. And in 1987 she moved to a large printing company - the printing house named after Ivan Fedorov. I led the Komsomol committee there, and at the discos and youth evenings that we held, along with pop and rock music, we started playing the records of Severny, Shufutinsky, Tokarev, Uspenskaya that I had collected. All our slow dances invariably went to chanson. Gradually, my studio grew and acquired professional sound recording equipment. We restored archival recordings from old tapes.

And since 1988, they themselves recorded chanson performers. The first was the St. Petersburg bard Anton Dukhovskoy. Then many others began to cooperate with us. Including the idol of my childhood, Alexander Rosenbaum, to whom I suggested in 1994 to record the album “Slow Schizophrenia” with us. Around the same time, we gathered a large collection of restored archival records of the Northern, "Pearl Brothers", the same Rosenbaum. I started looking for a publisher who could release them on cassettes and CDs. And he met in Moscow with the now deceased Yuri Sevastyanov. At the time of the first cooperatives, he traded cassettes with different music on the market. Contributed to the promotion of Anatoly Cloth and the Red Mold group. And at the time of our acquaintance, he joined the Russian Supply company, which was the first to start releasing Shufutinsky, Kalyanov and other chanson performers on CDs. Then, when this company was covered up, Sevastyanov came under the wing of the Soyuz studio created by Vitalik Belyakov and opened his sublabel Master Sound there. We started working with him. Then on the CD "Arkady Severny and the ensemble" Four Brothers and a Shovel "the marking" Series "Russian Chanson" first appeared. This was in the summer of 1994. Another significant event in my life was connected with the release of this disc. Although the Copyright Law in our country has not yet been adopted, I considered it necessary to comply with all the formalities and obtain permission from the relatives of the Northern (the chansonnier himself died in 1980 - M.F.). Nikolai Rezanov, head of the Pearl Brothers ensemble, who worked with Arkady, gave me his old phone from the 70s. His daughter Natasha Zvezdina answered him.

We became friends and soon became husband and wife. In 1997 our son was born. We named him Arkady in honor of his grandfather. And Alexander Rosenbaum became his godfather. So I became related at once with two legends of Russian chanson.
- Yuri Sevastyanov in his interviews claimed that the authorship of the term "Russian chanson" belonged to him.
- In fact, he took my permission to call his products that way and, without my consent, registered the corresponding trademark with Rospatent. I did not interfere with him and instead, through the court, I achieved the disclaimer of the term "chanson" - its recognition as unprotected so that everyone, and not just Sevastyanov, could use it. This allowed me, together with my partners, to register, in particular, the trademarks "Chanson" and "Radio Chanson", which were used to create the radio station. Unfortunately, Sevastyanov distorted the meaning of the term I introduced and reduced it to a cheap thug. Of course, songs about prison have always occupied a significant place in Russian chanson. But these were the right songs, reflecting the terrible prison reality and making you think about life. And Sevastyanov filled the market with “pop thugs” - commercial speculation on the topic of freedom and lack of freedom, such as the singer Mafik or the Vorovayki group with their “Hop, trash can, don’t sew my time.” And Russian chanson in the eyes of many has become associated with this crap. And then the actions of Sevastyanov became completely inadequate.

In 1998, my studio, under the general power of attorney issued to me by Alexander Rosenbaum, was preparing for publication his "Golden Series", which included 21 albums. We have already agreed with Sevastyanov. They gave him the master disks. And suddenly he announced that he had no funds for publication. Rosenbaum, through me, asked him to return all the materials. But Sevastyanov decided to deceive us and, without our knowledge, resold Rosenbaum's "Golden Series" to two other companies - RISE-LIS'S and "Quadro-disk", which printed a circulation and put it on sale. For me it was a huge blow. “I have been releasing your records for five years and have earned the moral right to do so,” Yuri told me. "I'm not going to apologize to anyone." Then he fled abroad.

People who sit in air-conditioned offices, read fashion magazines and listen to high-profile radio stations, probably believe that there is no more popular musician in the country than Zemfira. More sensible people will call Philip Kirkorov. Within the limits of the Garden Ring, this dispute may have some meaning. But in Russia there is only one leader - Mikhail Krug. If you think you don't know him, you are wrong. Suffice it to say: the song "Vladimirsky Central", which is popular with us, like in England - Yesterday, was written by him.
Mikhail Krug was killed 40 days ago.
But the songs remain...

Mikhail Krug could have died in a car accident. Drown. die by heart attack. The only thing that didn't threaten him was violent death. Status of Self People's Artist guarded better than the presidential security service. Everyone thought so.
Perhaps that is why what happened that July night caused such a shock to everyone.
Those who loved Krug, those who did not like him, and even those who only learned his name from the incident column in the newspaper. This is probably why Mikhail's relatives still cannot recover and refuse to communicate with journalists. And the singer's friends and acquaintances talk about him with tears in their eyes.
This is not an exaggeration - it's true.

Marina BATURINA, classmate:
- After Mishka's death, I saw him twice in a dream. Alive. I ask: “Misha, how is it? After all, you are dead." And he: “Yes, I played it all.” It's just that those who knew him cannot believe that he is no more. When Misha was not yet such a star, he lived next door to me and we met, respectively, more often, we somehow unearthed notebooks with his poems. He composed poems from school, although then no one took this seriously, of course. He also started playing the guitar and singing at school. Our class was musical: it recruited those who wanted to study music. All applicants were tested for hearing and voice. There was a teacher at the school who taught us. For the first year, we did not approach the instrument at all: solfeggio, choir ... All this, of course, seemed boring to the children, and people began to weed out. Misha, who studied accordion, also dropped out. As a result, eight people graduated from the music school. And in the class there were more than thirty - forty. The teacher said: “Is it possible that one of you will become a singer or a musician?” One became. Misha. Although, probably, no one really counted on him.
Alexander FRUMIN, CEO of the St. Petersburg radio studio "Chanson":
- I collect chanson music, naturally, I am friends with other collectors who record and distribute this music. It was they who offered me to get acquainted with the Tver author. It was in 94. We phoned. Misha was waiting for a call, but he was surprised that I was not just a collector, but with a radio, that we have a professional studio and the Zhemchuzhny Brothers are alive there. They were very funny. Misha was very fond of these musicians and for some reason thought that they were no longer alive. Therefore, he was sincerely glad that he was wrong. We talked on the phone. We agreed that he would come to us in St. Petersburg to participate in the Night Taxi program. By that time, there was neither Chanson radio nor Russian Radio. We worked for Radio Rocks. And it was the first program about Russian chanson. Naturally, she was not heard in Moscow, only in St. Petersburg. I met him at the Moscow railway station. That's exactly how I imagined him. A strong guy, strict, with a military hairstyle. Short, but not prison. Little mustache. He matched his voice, timbre. Misha was very happy about Peter, such an unusual reception for him. There was a concert dedicated to the first year of the release of Night Taxi. Studio, musicians, direct radio and calls from listeners. After all, they didn’t let Misha through anywhere: it’s informal, it’s impossible. And we met him, as we should have met talented person. He was very worried before meeting with Alexander Rosenbaum, who, of course, had not heard anything about him. Misha took a picture with him and then showed everyone this picture. He was very proud to be standing next to Rosenbaum. For him it was a colossal joy, because he idolized him.
Alexander ROSENBAUM, singer:
- Mikhail Krug is sympathetic to me, first of all, purely humanly. It was a real man. A kind-hearted and courageous person, it was a pleasure to communicate with him. We agreed in our views on many things: love, war, sports. And I really like a number of his songs, which brought him a well-deserved popularity.
The circle cannot be attributed to the outstanding poets and composers of our time. But for those who say about his work: “Just think, three thieves' chords,” I will notice this. Stop it, citizens. Take courage and admit that his songs are popular with a huge number of people. And people are not trash. They have a head, and a soul, and a heart. The professors of the conservatory, and taxi drivers, and teachers, and journalists liked it ... And for me, for example, it is much more valuable than the opinion of snobs, than the “great” works of “outstanding” poets and composers, which no one listens to or reads. "Beatles" - the same three thieves' chords. Bulat Shalvovich Okudzhava claimed that he was not a composer, he recited his works with melodies. Galich was generally unfamiliar with music ...
Krug's song "Vladimirsky Central" has already become a classic of the genre. And if you wrote at least one song that will not die, then this is already a great success and a huge victory.
Katya OGONEK, singer:
- He was very worried about how to adequately convey his work to the public. It happened that the sound engineer mixed up the backing tracks, the light was not installed in the right way - it was very upsetting for him, because such trifles form an opinion about the artist. After all, for the viewer it is not “the illuminator (or sound engineer) is to blame”, but “the artist bad concert did". Once it happened, the organizers delayed Mishin's concert very much. I don’t remember exactly, but it seems that something was wrong with the equipment. The people in the hall waited for almost an hour for Misha to come out. And he rushed backstage, cursed, got nervous, several times tried to go to the microphone - they told him: it’s impossible, it’s not ready ... He was very worried. And the people in the hall were worried. But, surprisingly, when he went on stage, he was received perfectly, as if this hour-long wait had not happened.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA, director of concert programs of Mikhail Krug:
- Due to my work, I very often went to concerts, and not only at the Circle. There is such a thing in show business - "take the hall." Many singers did this from the second or third song. And Misha went on stage, said: "Hello." And everything is his hall. He loved the audience. There was such an extraordinary energy coming from him. Many came just to listen to Michael. Don't watch the show, just listen. If after the concert we were in no hurry to the station, then Misha would sign autographs for hours. How many people come up, so many will sign. He considered it disrespectful to refuse.
Leonid, friend:
Most I was the first to hear Misha's songs. He has a chic bathroom in the house, large, with armchairs. I came to him, sit down, have a cup of tea. "Well, let's go," he says. And we went up to this room. He took the guitar and began to sing ... "Well, how?" I didn't remake the songs. Only in one, I remember, the words changed - "We drink vodka, we pour vodka." It had already been recorded, but Misha rewrote it with the Zhemchuzhny Brothers and changed a few words - I was even surprised.
I have a house in the countryside. Quite far from Tver. How many normal songs were born there. Misha came there, rested, took a steam bath, immediately took the guitar, started to sing something.
Once Misha showed me the first lines of Vladimirsky Central. “Mish,” I say, “this is such ... crap” (we both cursed with him). She is! You do not understand anything!". We had a fight. And the song became famous. Then I was present at the studio when she was recording. And then I began to understand it. Even advised something to Misha. It was my idea with backing vocals - so that Timur would register “backings”. After all, I myself am a musician (I don’t say “in the past”, because a person does not exist in the past), played the guitar and sang too. But at first, Vladimirsky Central did not understand. And Misha had a flair for songs. He knew how to build something, he sat in the studio inside and out, he told everyone: here you need to sing like this, play like that ...
Vadim TSYGANOV:
- I can say that Vika has a very warm relationship with Misha. They began to communicate immediately heart to heart, and for me, at first, the commercial side came out on top. At the same time, we formed an interesting alliance with him, because Misha considered himself a producer, just like me. And at first there were powerful differences, because I saw everything a little differently, but still we worked together, it even seems to me that I often yielded to him. If I made any decisions on my own, he met with hostility. Or I could, for example, sharply tell him: Misha, this is not a hit. And he was a touchy person, threw the guitar and said that then he would no longer sing. He was very touchy, but quickly cooled down. So the character was difficult, but at the same time, as an Orthodox person, he knew how to forgive. Even if they quarreled, he said: “Vadka, you know how I feel about you.” He knew how to smile and joke. In fact, he opened up to me just two months before, when I found out that he gave a lot of money for the construction of churches, for schools. This is what shocked me.
TROFIM, singer:
— His songs did not leave anyone indifferent. I have friends for whom the thug language is very close. So they really liked how Misha could express himself in it. They said that they had never heard such a beautiful language. Not a prison Fenya, but an intelligent one. Unique. And Michael did it easily. He was generally a very talented stylist.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
- Some ran into Misha, they say, he was not in prison, therefore he has no right to sing such songs. And at one concert he was asked a question about this. He replied: “Well, I didn’t sit. Yes. And Daniel Defoe, by the way, wrote about the sea, but was not a sailor.
Katya OGONEK:
“There have been many things in my life. Both the prison and the zone. But Mishka never sat. But he sang about it. And, you know, it didn't annoy me at all. Vice versa. I think it's brilliant when a person can sing about something he hasn't seen, and so, what a soul it takes! After all, Vysotsky has wonderful songs about the Great Patriotic War.
Misha and I met when we worked with him at the same concert in St. Petersburg. “It’s time for you, Katya, to meet Misha,” said Sasha Frumin. And he took me to his dressing room before the concert. To be honest, I was even a little scared. She knew: Misha is a man of power, with character. In addition, he was already famous then, and I, one might say, was a beginner. Well, I think now it will. But I did not see any pathos. And I saw a man of culture, correct, benevolent. Misha received me quite cordially. I was surprised. Joyful returned home to Moscow. Everyone wanted to tell: I met Misha Krug.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
- Misha's requirements on tour were minimal. No selfishness. In the room - to hot water there was also a bed. There is no "luxury" - and okay. In the dressing room tea, water without gas. Well, when they went to eat, so that there were no onions and garlic in the dishes. But this is not just some kind of whim, he was allergic to these products, but also to tomatoes and red peppers. As he smells them, so tears from his eyes and began to choke. Once we arrived in the city, and there in a good hotel there was only one room left - all the foreigners occupied it. Misha was settled there, and the rest in a simpler hotel. He was indignant: “I want to be with everyone. Why did you separate me! How to play dominoes? I told him: “Mish, yes, you know, the numbers here are not very good.” - "So what? We'll still play dominoes." And moved to us. He was gambling. Gets crazy when he loses. Throw chips, leave. But quickly departs. We always played in pairs, he said: “Marin, well, look at me! You watch what I do."
Vlad SAVOSIN, accordionist, group "Companion":
Mikhail played dominoes brilliantly. In chess again. During the tour: after concerts or on the way, on the train. The road is long, but Misha did not really like airplanes - not only was he afraid to fly, his pressure was rising. We played charades and games. Misha was a cheerful, cheerful person.
Igor RYBAKOV, classmate:
- We studied with Misha from the first to the eighth grade. Sometimes they sat at the same desk, sometimes they were both expelled from the lesson. Our class was divided in half: "Germans" and "English". So we were "Germans" with him. For some reason, in class German language Misha loved to sing his songs. Silence. The teacher reads a text aloud. Suddenly he whispers: “Do you want to sing a song? I just composed it” - “Come on” And Michael on the rise: “Kirimindyry - kirimindyry. Kirimindyry - kirmanda. The teacher from the textbook so slowly raises her eyes ... The girls look at me, then at Misha. “And now the translation: “The sun rises over the Huanghe country. The Chinese are going to the fields." Everyone: "Ha-ha-ha." Teacher: "Sparrows! (that's his real name) Get out of class!" This is how we learned German. "Four" - the highest rating.
Marina BATURINA:
He was sitting at the desk right in front of me. After school, he constantly remembered: “You didn’t let me write off.” I laughed it off: “Yeah, I didn’t.” Yes, I myself tried to write off someone. Misha, although he did not go to excellent students, was a leader by nature. Was a personality. He could directly, in the face, express everything to his peers and teachers. Once we had a school "light" and we collected money for a tea party, for cakes. And not all money was handed over. And everyone came. And Misha right at the table said: “Why did I hand over the money, but such and such did not hand over, but he still sits at the table and eats?” Bear - he was very fair, did not tolerate injustice.
Vlad SAVOSIN:
— Mikhail was strict in his work. Could be fined. For business. And none of the musicians took offense at him - a normal working moment. There was no despotism. There was discipline. Each of the musicians could advise something in terms of work. And Michael listened. But he made the decisions himself. As a leader who is responsible for the final musical product. There were, of course, creative disputes. But they resolved peacefully. Did you think, as in "Jolly Fellows": "This phrase is played like this"?
Irina Petrovna LYUBIMOVA (worked with Krug in the convoy):
Misha was a hot-tempered person. He liked very much that everything was as he said. He could raise his voice, slam the door, quarrel with the authorities. Never yelled at me. In general, I tried not to swear in front of women. We had such a deputy CEO on traffic safety. Harmful man. And he had three mechanics as his assistants. He constantly forced them to do something for his personal car. Either pump up the wheels, then fix something. And suddenly one fine day a newspaper appears on the board. It shows this boss and three mechanics who are dragging wheels to his car. And so everything looks like. It turned out to be Misha's work. He didn't hide it. This uncle tore off the newspaper, crumpled it up, threw it on my table. Of course, there was no scandal - you can’t punish for this. But after all, not everyone dares to ridicule the authorities. I kept that newspaper for a long time, glued it together in pieces, and then, when we moved, I threw it away. In vain.
He was the soul of the company. Never whined. life optimist. And then he became more and more serious about music. Travel to Moscow. This, of course, was not approved, caused ridicule among others. They even laughed at him openly: “Here, Mishka sang!”
Leonid:
- I knew him well before the army - I walked in the area where he lived. And after the army, in the 90s, we already closely agreed with him. At that time, few people understood that something had to be done, the majority lived by the old, communist views, tried to save their place. Misha worked in a convoy, but he seriously thought about the need to do something creative. From then on, we started talking. And help each other. In creativity and in life. It's no secret that Misha's second album, Zhigan-Lemon, brought fame. I participated in its recording. In the sense that I was already in commerce, and Misha was still working. The album was recorded at a studio in Tver, Misha quit his job, and the tour began quietly.
Anatoly DNEPROV:

- We met Mikhail several years ago, in one of the nightclubs, where many performers working in the chanson genre performed. A guy came up to me backstage, introduced himself as Misha Krug, gave me his cassette and asked me to listen. Many people come up to me who work in this genre, bring cassettes, ask me to give their opinion. Because everyone considers me one of the founders of chanson, but I believe that I am not at all involved in this, that's for sure. My opinion was also important to Michael. At the same time, there was no access to television or radio, young guys were not allowed anywhere at all, but I still had songs somewhere. Misha and I did not communicate very closely, but I did not feel that he was somehow closed, by no means. He was just like me - he was not afraid to say everything he thought in his face. I found something right in this.
Irina Petrovna LYUBIMOVA:
- Few believed that he would succeed. I think it's because of jealousy. He began to do business, for many unusual. As I said, we had a company, it included Mishin's immediate boss. He approached him in a friendly way, asking for time off to go somewhere on his musical business. And he at one point stopped letting him go. And then Misha waved his hand. After all, at that time he received good money - more than 300 rubles, but went nowhere. Made up my mind. His act surprised many then. There was a scandal, they wanted to fire him under the article. Because Misha still left on his own business, and he was given absenteeism for this. But he retired own will. After all, it was convenient for him to work as a driver. not bad permanent income, prospect of growth, respect. How could he know that success awaits him on a new path. Misha took a big risk. And worried about it. But he was an independent man, accustomed to being responsible for his actions. Then his cassettes began to appear. Many were proud that he had risen. Someone, on the contrary, envied. But Misha has not changed with the advent of popularity. Recently, the guys and I recalled how he met the same boss who wanted to fire him under the article near the bakery. Cheerful such, cake bought. Misha approached him himself and told him that his son had been born. But he could come up and recall old grievances, or even pretend that he had not noticed. After all, we were there, far behind. Who are we to him? And he came to the convoy to us. True, less and less often - there was not enough time for everything.
Galina PANKRATOVA, classmate:
Misha hasn't changed at all. As it was 20 years ago, it remains so. The same plump, calm, simple. Once he gave a concert in our school No. 39 (I teach there). As a local teacher, she decided to look into the director's office, to look at a celebrity. And Misha was there waiting for the start of the concert, when the guys in the hall would gather. "Oh, Gal, come in." “Do you recognize me? We haven't seen each other for so long." “You were Galka. Pebbles and remained. Then a movie was made about him. Also in our school. Misha took me in an armful, and while he was being interviewed, I stood next to me - he did not let go. We met on the street: "Hi" - "Hi" And that's it. He left after the eighth grade, and somehow we parted ways with him. I communicated more with those with whom I studied in the ninth or tenth. And when they met with him, they talked about life, like all former classmates, who is where, as in a family, etc.
Alexander FRUMIN:
There are very few people in the world who are strong inside. Here a person has gained popularity, began to earn money, and this makes him different. Let's not say that it corrupts, it just changes. This is especially true for people in public professions: artists, musicians, TV presenters. But Mikhail Vorobyov did not become like that. Immensely appreciated that he was once recognized best author Tver at the author's song contest in the 87th year. The jury was chaired by our St. Petersburg bard Evgeny Klyachkin. By the way, this tragic song “Day Like Day” is dedicated to the memory of Klyachkin. And then in one of the newspapers they wrote that this song became a requiem for Mikhail himself. This is not true.
Mikhail SHELEG, singer, publicist:
- He communicated with us quite calmly without any arrogance, characteristic of many, treated kindly by fame and fans. Very funny talking about filming a movie. He played the part crime boss, thief in law Viktor Petrovich in the film by Konstantin Murzyanko "April". He told me what a dreary task it was: six hours of makeup, twenty minutes of filming. And you only need to say two phrases that for some reason do not climb into your head. We also talked about chanson. Krug said that he organized his own direction in music, which is called the "Russian genre." He said: “Now all albums will be released only in such a series. Moreover, we will accept the artists by a meeting. We must already separate this tinsel, which is rushing into chanson. Let them be chanson players, and we will work in the Russian genre.”
Katya OGONEK:
We were drawn by the similarity of characters. When it comes to work, I'm a tough person. And Michael was like that. He gave himself to work one hundred percent and demanded the same from others. He could not be "tired", "ill", "bad". That is, of course, it happened, you would go to him before the concert, and he: “Oh, Katya, my throat hurts, I don’t know how I will work now” ... But I went on stage - and as if someone waved a magic wand: no sore throat, no fatigue. Due to his poor health, he could not cancel the concert. Because he loved his audience and could not deceive her expectations. Misha was a workaholic. I respect him for that. He lived his work, was proud of it. I'm sure he would never go after a song to sell something, to do business, like others. If not for this tragedy, he would have sung all his life, he would not have changed his profession.
Leonid:
- They came to Misha with different projects: let's invest money there, here. And he was not a businessman, he was well versed in music, but he was not a businessman, and he came to consult me. I said: “Mish, the market has long been divided. And they know those, those and those. If you want to go out, go to them." And he started: “Come on, Lesh, you always start.” I explain: “This project is obviously a dead end, it’s like taking and just throwing money away. Buy equipment, recruit people - and there are not so many good specialists in Tver - and get nothing. He started up even more ... Although, by the way, none of the commercial projects so seriously caught him. All the same, he was closest to music. He took her very seriously.
Vlad SAVOSIN:
- I recorded all the albums with Misha. We met at some musical party. I worked in a restaurant type establishment as an accordion player. And Mikhail came to visit a friend who worked there as a security guard. This acquaintance knew that Mikhail was participating in competitions, in author's song festivals. Well, he introduced us - sort of like colleagues. Mikhail and I played several songs together during the evening, he immediately offered to perform with him at an amateur song contest, which was soon held in Tver. Since this all started. At one time, the three of us performed - the third was Volodya Ovcharov. Then Misha began to bring other musicians. Heard a guitarist - brought. Colleagues advised him a good violinist - Viktor Chilimov. So, gradually, after a year and a half, the group "Companion" was formed - six people. The composition then changed several times, for all the time in the Fellow Traveler twenty people worked. But this happens in many groups.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
— I have been working with Mikhail for 6 years. Yes, he is demanding - I say this as a director, but demanding is fair, logical. I liked the order, so that everything was clear. It used to get angry, quarrel. But he was quick-witted, he did not swear. In the team we had a dry law. At every concert they were invited to sit. Imagine what these gatherings could result in, and the next day a concert, another city. One musician is no longer working for us. Somehow he really wanted a beer. "If you want, drink." The guys warned him that our beer was expensive, but he did not understand. Drunk, no morning. Did a bad job at the concert. And the beer cost him the cost of the concert. So it's really expensive for us. But next time he didn't want to. In general, Misha brought together wonderful guys. Workaholic. No one was late, everyone tried.
Mikhail GULKO, singer:
I remember it was a very interesting moment. I then visited him in Tver. The night is deep. We came home after the concert, had dinner and went to rest. Suddenly a call: "Misha, help me out!" His friends drank a little, and the police stopped them in this state. Well, Misha, let's go to the rescue, and he swears at them, but in a kind, fatherly way. I went with him. Center of Tver. Cars are standing, traffic cops, his men are guilty faces. Suddenly Misha whispers to me: "Uncle Misha, sign records for traffic cops." And I had them with me. I approach them: “I’m here on tour, a singer, let me make gifts,” etc. And Misha was embarrassed to use his name, he didn’t like it when they recognized him. In general, the guys were released. We got to know him in an interesting way. At night in the dining car. We went to a chanson evening in St. Petersburg, in the Gorky Palace of Culture. I then took vodka, dinner. And he: "I don't drink." So we met, I already knew the name Krug. In 1993 he gave a concert in the zone near Krasnoyarsk. Just arrived from New York. And suddenly I hear a voice from some civilian, who was delivering chipboard, from the car. And with some shy anguish he sings. "Who is it?" - "Mikhail Krug". Then I realized who they listen to in Russia. After our nightly acquaintance, we performed together and went by train to Moscow. When he came out in his Tver, for some reason it became dreary. We exchanged phones. At first, his director was such a frivolous boy. Misha, I remember, he constantly said to him: "You are a slob." And then there was Marina.
Katya OGONEK:
Misha's character, of course, is not easy ... He was. He could get angry, shout. But this is a creative person. Personality! Primarily. If he were without character, would he become Misha Krug? .. And, for example, it was easy for me to communicate with him. Although, of course, we quarreled and were offended, it happened, at each other ... There was such a case. Misha and I both hate onions. He didn't even eat garlic. In restaurants, he and I were seated at a separate table, fed separately from the rest. So, once in Israel, when we were on tour, we argued with him because of something in the supermarket. Because of some nonsense, a price tag, or something ... So at the last concert, in Tel Aviv, when everyone was joking with each other, I took Mishin's microphone and polished it with a bow. When he came on stage and walked up to him, he had SUCH a face! He dropped the microphone, he was nervous - the people would not understand what was happening. And the hall was so good. Sveta - Misha had such a backing vocalist - understood what was happening, and began to laugh out loud right on the stage ... When Misha went backstage, he thought of another person and poured a bottle of sweet water on him. And I stayed away. And then for a long time she did not admit to him. No, I think we’d better get to Moscow - I’ll say there, Misha was quick-tempered, but quick-tempered. The fact that I did it, someone else told him before me. He only: “Katka, what are you, Katya” ... Then he couldn’t forget it for a long time, he told me: “Well, Katya, wait, I’ll arrange something for you too.” Did not arrange. Because I didn't have time. But, probably, he would come up with something funny. With his rather stern appearance, he liked to joke, possessed wonderful feeling humor. For example, he played me, frightened me a little. For example, we have concerts with him in the same city. He calls me on the phone or comes backstage: “Kat, your concert has been cancelled.” Or: “Your business is bad, I interrupted everything for you, there are two people sitting in the hall.” And I started to get scared.
Vlad SAVOSIN:
Misha was very worried if the hall was not full. We were constantly sold out. But the organizer overdoes it and makes four concerts in one city in a year. And you need one or two. When we come for the fourth time in a year, of course, there was not a full hall. So in Chelyabinsk once, for example, it happened. Mikhail was very upset, did not understand: “The city seems to be good, what’s the matter?”. But I survived the day, and the next - a different city. Not to frustration. There could be 20-25 concerts per month. Once, during a long and difficult tour, on one of recent concerts, Mikhail on stage forgot a few lines in the song and sang according to the melody, according to the rhythm: “And then I just forgot. And something else, I don't remember. The people were stunned. But he applauded.
Igor RYBAKOV:
When Misha began to go on tour, he changed a lot. Time began to appreciate. Nimble, businesslike, he counted seconds. He also lived with his mother on Green Drive. She says something to him. And he: "Mom, that's it, there's no time." And he ran away. That's who the military had to become. I would definitely have risen to the rank of general. We had a conversation with him about this. I wanted to leave the army and decided to consult with him. And he told me this: “You don’t have to go anywhere. You are a soldier, and be one. It's very hard in civilian life."
Katya OGONEK:
We always tried to help each other out. Not with money, no… Somehow there was no need for that. I don't remember any critical situation either. But we have always supported each other. When Misha had a birthday, I would definitely come to him. If a concert was scheduled for that day, it was rescheduled. And Misha came to my birthday party. Artists in general are often invited to the holidays. They asked me: “How much money did you give to Krug so that he would come?” I was indignant: “Why? What does it mean: how much did you give? We are friends. Misha came to me as a friend. Do you think it's all about money?
Marina BATURINA:
Misha was always ready to help his friends. Twice he really helped out my son Vovka. When he failed the exams at the institute - the first time when he entered, the second time - already during his studies, I called Misha. He responded immediately: “Marin, well, of course, I will help you.” And helped. Financially, I needed money then.
Leonid:
How we got together, the whole city was surprised. I have been asked so many times: how can you communicate with Mishka, he is such an explosive, he can break loose, but you don’t seem to swear and are always together everywhere. I said: I don’t know why it is so ... Because he is explosive, and I am like water. It caught fire and - psh, cooled down. I did not only help Misha. But those in whom I put my soul into, got up and then walked past me so distant: hello, Lech, that's all. And Mishka - that's where I did not expect - was ready to lay down his head for me. I happened to help him, so after the very first concert that brought him money, he came to me: “Here, Lesha. This is for you". I say: “Stop, I have money, you let's develop. I won't take anything." He then: "Well, become my director, my producer." It's true, Misha was sharp, impudent, but there was still more soul in him.
Mikhail GULKO:
Misha knew the value of people. Whom he did not love, he did not love. Didn't get close. And he did good unnoticed. He did not have any show-offs. And on stage - like a child. Lips biting, mustache. If you look closely when he sings, you can see how his upper lip twitches ... I can’t speak in the past tense ... Misha and Irochka (second wife) stayed with me here in New York. I didn’t know then that he didn’t eat onions and garlic, I prepared everything for the meeting. But the food went into the bin. Misha asked me for sausages with cabbage. And he had very tasty borscht at home - this is the main dish, which is well drunk. Irochka cooks well for him. He is very broad soul human. In his house, the front door was not closed for 24 hours. He made friends with all segments of the population. When I visited him in Tver, he always sent a car to Moscow for me. I asked friends to take me. And we always got there so fast. And they did joint concerts there and just celebrated some holidays. Misha did not have many friends, and I am very glad that I got into the circle of close associates. It was not closed, but, as people say, you can’t drive up to it. Not everyone tried to find a common language.
Mikhail SHELEG:
- With the Circle, we often crossed paths at national concerts, various festivals and in recording studio on Ryazansky avenue. It was impossible to call our communication friendship, it was just comradely relations.
Mikhail is a closed person, quite self-sufficient, self-confident, proud and did not get in touch with everyone. Near famous person always curls a lot different personalities both fans and adventurers. Therefore, Mikhail treated everyone rather cautiously, but since we were old acquaintances, he invited me to his studio in Tver. It was June 13, he took us to a restaurant where we talked. They took ice cream, coffee, he was dressed so at home in a T-shirt and sweatpants. Misha accidentally dropped a piece of ice cream on a T-shirt and then, when I photographed him, he covered the stained place with a saucer.
Igor RYBAKOV:
- It so happened that Mishka lived in the last houses of Zeleny Proezd, and I lived in the middle. And we hardly crossed paths after school. Their company gathered in the yard, with guitars. The best "brotherhood" of the school. They didn’t touch me, because I went in for sports, and I wasn’t considered a “nerd”. They gathered, decided by advice: “We are touching this one, this one is not there.” When I was indignant, Mishka said in a friendly way: “You, Igor, be silent. It's not your business. Be quiet." In general, the usual boyish life. First, high school students threw us out of the queue in the cafeteria, then we, when we grew up. Normal military school. Misha, starting from the first grade, was very serious boy. He liked to be listened to.
Leonid:
- I saw him differently. I saw evil. Just this summer we went with him to swim in the quarry. They took a scale of vodka, a can of beer. General mood! He says: “Lech, how well they bathed! Let's go to my place, let's go." We arrive, and Irina cooked borscht. And I forgot to put one thing in there. Misha lifted the lid of the pot, and I saw it was boiling. “That’s it, Lech, we won’t eat!” And dropped the lid. I told him: "Yes, stop it." And he was already wound up with nothing: “Again, she didn’t put it down!”. Me: "Misha, okay, let's warm up, eat, I'm hungry." He left: that's it, I need to be fed. We went with him, dragged a table outside, put chairs, ate borscht. And it blossomed again - as if nothing had happened. He always left within two minutes.
Vlad SAVOSIN:
- Mikhail was quick-tempered, but quick-tempered. It used to be that he would scold a person, and then immediately begin to praise him in order to charge him with optimism and kindness. For example, I had an organizational failure. Alcohol related. Mikhail sent me on vacation for a month - something between a vacation and a dismissal. And when I returned a month later, I began to patronize my work. Come on, he says, you will sing your song or two in the middle of the concert.
Alexander FRUMIN:
- Misha really appreciated people, respected his musicians. He had a very strict discipline in the group. All the musicians knew that they came to work and had to do it very thoroughly. Misha appreciated each of the guys. He could scold, but not in front of strangers. If he came to St. Petersburg alone, then he stayed with me, if with a group, then only with them, in a hotel. Misha knew my parents well. And at concerts he dedicated a song to my mother and father. We were actually family friends. Each time he brought us Tver gifts. Usually drinks. Me - their local beer. And for my wife some kind of liqueur, very peculiar. Sometimes he stayed with us even after concerts. Somehow I stayed for a day to watch a football match between Spartak and Zenit. He called me twice a year. For my birthday and New Year. Although in fact our meetings happened more often, but in these two days he called the train. I even found it abroad. I considered it my duty to congratulate you. All eight years of our communication. And the conversation always ended the same way: "End of communication."
Marina BATURINA:
- He always congratulated Irinka (classmate) on his birthday. This year I also invited him, but I almost certainly knew that he would not be able to come - in recent times Misha was very busy. And exactly. He said, "I'm sorry, but I'm on tour." And he had tours in Krasnodar, where another one of our classmates lives. Misha later said: “After the concert, I heard someone shouting from the crowd, because of the guards: “Let me go to him, I studied with him.” “Oh,” I say, “who studied there with me?” It turned out to be Vika. We sat and talked for a long time. She began to ask: “How are the girls?” And then I felt so ashamed that I did not congratulate you on Ira. And on Valentine's Day, February 14, Misha came to work with me with flowers, with cognac. Didn't catch me. He went to my house, I quickly fried a chicken, sat ...
I really miss talking to him. Misha had an interesting speech - such turns! And you could talk to him about everything. About personal. He supported me emotionally and with advice. I worried in a friendly way that I did not have a reliable wealthy fiancé. And once he even introduced me to a man. I had a birthday. Misha came with flowers, with a gift, and with his former director. With whom we then really even communicated for some time. There was also a funny incident. One very well-known company in our city celebrated the day of its foundation. There was a concert, and Misha participated in it. And he took me and two other girls from my work to this concert. We were in his dressing room when they suddenly came to Misha from television. He immediately grabbed us in an armful and is worth an interview. I thought one was being removed. They ask: “What do you expect from this company?” He says something about gasoline, about the fact that he always refuels at the gas stations of this company. And then suddenly a microphone is handed to me: "What do you expect from this company." I got lost. The bear whispers: "Grooms, suitors" ... I automatically repeat: "And I expect suitors from such and such a company." They showed it all over Tver (laughs). Mishka prompted in a friendly way.
In general, he somehow treated women with understanding, felt sorry for us. He took great care of his mother. And his mother was proud of him: after all, from a simple family, and what a son he turned out to be. I bought a car for my sister Olya for her birthday - a brand new "six", a good apartment.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
- When they were on tour in Germany, he was a huge suitcase for his mother bed linen brought hand embroidery. And it's expensive there. "Mommy". For him, his mother was everything. And Irishka got pregnant - in every city he asked me: “Marin, let's go together. We will choose booties, diapers. He brought suitcases. I asked him: “Why do you need so much?” - "Nothing. Irochka will choose.
Marina BATURINA:
- Misha had a very coherent theory about the relationship between a man and a woman. Slim and correct. There was no looseness in him. Another would be - money would be wound up, there is fame - and let's shoot the girls right and left. And Misha dreamed of meeting true love, dreamed of a family, so that there would be another child - after a divorce from his first wife, he left his son Dimka to himself. We talked about personal things with him. I asked: “Mish, how do you feel that this is real?” He answered: “But you will feel: you will hug, snuggle up and understand that nothing more is needed.” And then he met Irina, and we were all so happy for him, Sashenka was born to them ...
I don’t remember that at school Misha somehow especially liked the girls. In our class, another boy was the first "groom". And he had a childhood love for a girl with whom they lived in different entrances of the same house. Of course, this is how it was: pull the pigtail, bring the briefcase ... She did not like him. She kicked him, pushed him away.
After he left school after finishing the eighth grade, we somehow celebrated the New Year together. I was with a friend, and he came with a girl. And it was so interesting, we are 15-16 years old, and he is an adult: “This is my girlfriend. Marina". They stood up and kissed. Marina was a pretty girl, tall. But for some reason we didn't like it. When Misha went to the army, she did not wait for him, she got married. He was very worried. A few years later, there was a moment - they got back together. But nothing good came of it.
Irina Petrovna LYUBIMOVA:
He had an unhappy love. The girl from the army did not wait for him. He suffered. He said: "I feel bad." Worried. Then Sveta - his first wife - met. I remember coming with her for the evening. Such a proud one. Their son, Dima, was born. But something didn't work out for them. First, Sveta with her mother-in-law common language I didn’t find it, and she and Misha moved to the hostel. And then for some reason she decided that Misha and Dimochka "eat" her aura. I don't know what happened to her. In general, Misha and his son moved in with their mother.
Igor RYBAKOV:
- Misha and I began to communicate more actively after school. We somehow formed a company of classmates by itself, and we periodically got together. True, the girls - Ira Frolova, Marina Baturina - saw him more often, they visited his mother, Zoya Petrovna. And our meetings can be called phased. After school, I entered a military school and went to North Ossetia for 4 years, then to the Far East. I arrived in Tver already as a lieutenant, somewhere in the 86th year. We crossed paths with Misha near shopping center. "Where are you from?" - "FROM Far East". “And today I have a holiday - my son was born. He called Dima. - “I also have Dimka. This should be noted." - "Of course". We stood for 1.5-2 hours. We talked about life. Purely symbolically drank and said goodbye.
The next time we met was in 1991. Then everything was on coupons. The bear worked on the car, delivered milk to shops. Even then, he began to seriously study music, he performed at the chemical institute. I asked how he was with the money. "As you can see, I'm making money."
Irina Petrovna LYUBIMOVA:
- I was the chairman of the trade union committee when Misha came to us. He was a competent, enterprising worker and literally a month later he became a driver on the GAZ-52. He carried milk. And after some time he was appointed head of the column, but he did not like to command, so of his own free will he again became a driver, a foreman. Misha in those years was my most important and faithful assistant. We have developed small company, and we often went to the camp site or just got out into nature. Misha was our fireman and was responsible for the barbecue, since he did not eat onions and garlic, he made the marinade according to his own recipe. You have no idea what it's like to lead a brigade of milkmen. He had 20 people under his command. I had to get up early, around 4 in the morning. Medical control is daily, if someone did not come, it was necessary to find a replacement. Often he went on a flight instead of someone. A very responsible job. By 6 in the morning to the dairy kitchen, then to the shops. But you could rely on him. There is such a backbone of drivers, of whom you know that they will not get drunk, they will definitely go to work. After all, already in the evening all sorts of applications were drawn up, plans were signed, and it was very difficult to find a replacement in the morning. He also repaired the car himself. A self-respecting driver would never give it to a locksmith who doesn't know it like he does. Since I was a union worker, I was responsible for everything recreational activities. Misha helped me with this. Once we came up with a number - "dance of the little swans." Imagine several guys (and they were all big, like Misha) in ballet tutus dancing. The tutu was specially made for them. Misha bared one shoulder so coquettishly...
Galina PANKRATOVA:
- If we knew that he would become a celebrity ... Just a couple of years ago, I did not even imagine that our Mishka was Mikhail Krug. I am not fond of such music, therefore, when I heard his songs out of the corner of my ear, I could not even think that it was him. And somehow I met girls, classmates, and they told me about our celebrity. Then she went to a neighbor specifically to ask for a cassette of Mikhail Krug. I listened - exactly, his timbre. I didn't even know he could play the guitar.
Igor RYBAKOV:
- I was finishing my last year at the Zhukov Military Academy. There is a lesson. Suddenly there is a knock on the door, and a person I know appears in the doorway: “Does Major Rybakov study with you?” I asked to go out: “What are you doing here?” “I met the foreman from your course. He asked us to graduation party you have played. Listen, do you have a smoke? I shot a cigarette from my comrades. We stood and talked. “You know, there was one price for the performance. Now another. We perform almost for free. He rehearsed with us several times with the Fellow Traveler group. He has already become so solid, he has grown stout. That evening, for the first time, I saw Mishka performing. Even then people from Moscow came to listen to him. In general, he slowly began to rise. The money has gone.
Alexander FRUMIN:
- For the first time Misha went abroad with us. November 97th. Together with the "Pearl Brothers" with a 10-day concert tour in Germany. He was very afraid, did not want to fly. Misha did not like airplanes and preferred to travel by train. We hardly persuaded him, taking tickets for the best plane. In Germany, he laughed all the time, because he did not believe that he was abroad. In principle, it could be understood, since we lived visiting emigrants. Our former compatriots also came to the concerts. Russian was spoken everywhere, and Misha was very surprised. In Germany, he bought souvenirs for all his relatives and friends. I spent almost the entire earned fee on this, which at that time was rather big. He bought himself a leather jacket made of such reddish leather. Absolutely wonderful sunglasses in black. Real, dear. A music center, since he didn't even have a laser player in his house at the time. And with the rest of the money, Misha bought the best Rhine wine. He was a drinker. Almost never drank alcohol. But he loved good wine. He bought wine, which was sold in a special shop at the winery. At an insane price. Moreover, the bottles were huge, each about half a meter high. There must have been three liters. I remember that I said to him: “Maybe you will bring at least some money to Russia?” He was making some money then. And the organizers of the concerts paid in Deutschmarks. Misha looked at the unknown currency and said: “We have only one bank in Tver, and I'm not sure that this money will be exchanged for rubles or dollars. So come on, Sasha, I will celebrate my first trip abroad and come home with gifts.”
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
Many believe that he saved up a lot of money. But it is not. He built a house for his mother, for himself. He helped his sister with an apartment, other relatives. He did not have a money-box in which he put his savings. Misha was a believer, and believed that hoarding was a sin. It used to happen that he would come from a tour: “Marin, we need to meet with the priest. How is the chapel there? Only from the train will he enter the house, immediately get into the car and watch how the chapel is being built. St. Michael of Tver is his patron saint. Walked and looked. Rejoiced like a child. He donated money not only to this chapel, but also to other churches in the city. Somehow they came from Ufa. And the children from the orphanage greeted us there, they gave us boards made with their own hands. And so we just arrived in Tver: “Marin, let's give those children a video camera. Find out the address. We collected the parcel - a video camera, video cassettes, a bunch of other gifts - and sent it. He had no hoarding. He helped our local father write and record spiritual songs, invested a lot of money in this, attracted his musicians. In every city we went to church, visited holy places whenever possible. It made it easier for him. I went to confession.
Vika TSYGANOVA:
- Misha's son became my godson, so Misha and I now also have a spiritual connection. This is the second such death in my life, it is very difficult for me. I recently celebrated the anniversary of my father's death. Before that, friends left, but they lived far away and, as it were, did not have time to open up. And with Misha it happened literally in recent months our communication. Here he is, sitting at the table, always baptized. He could quarrel, but immediately apologize and repent heartily. This speaks of his great sincerity, the purity of his soul. These two deaths so reborn me internally. It felt like time was running out and there was a lot to be done.
Leonid:
- I will say this: I had one friend, and Misha had one. Both of his sons are my godchildren. Now, I believe I have two families. With Misha we had competitions in life. I have three children, the youngest was born in December. He has three: Dima from his first marriage, Mariska, Irinina's daughter, and the common Sasha was recently born. I am mine junior Mikhail named. Misha wanted to call his Leonid. But somehow we were with him in the same company, and they asked me: did you name your son in honor of Mishka Krug? I say: "Yes, why?" (Although there was such an idea.) My father was Mikhail, and my father, confessor, also Mikhail, and he was born on the day of St. Michael ... It's true, I have only Bears around me. But there was no need to talk about it out loud. Misha is offended. And he named his son Sasha. But I didn't get upset.
Marina BATURINA:
So everything worked out well for Misha. And then this happened... last time I talked to him on the phone. On Thursday, and on Sunday, Misha was gone. It was as if someone pulled me: call me. Congratulated him on the birth of his son. She asked what they called when we will wash our legs with our school company? He answered: closer to autumn, now it is very busy. She also asked if he would perform at the City Day? He says no, I'm leaving. This was probably the first time that Misha did not perform at the City Day.
Marina SHAMSHONKOVA:
- A few days after the tragedy occurred, we met with the musicians to decide what to do next. Because offers to work with other performers or in other groups immediately rained down. Misha was known as a demanding person, and since they worked together for so long, it means that everything is in order there. If something did not suit him, he immediately parted with the person. You know, I have such an association. Here was a man with a banner, they killed him, he dropped the banner, and all the rest turned around and went back. The banner is like a song. How to quit everything? To scatter like cockroaches, to work calmly with others, forgetting about everything, is easier. And you can find an excuse for yourself - everyone has families, they need to be fed. But what about Misha? We had concerts scheduled until February 2003. Naturally, there was no question of anything. But there were calls that the concerts would not be canceled, so that we would just come with the group and sing Krug's songs. Guys know how good musicians. Misha called them multi-musicians, because each of them plays several instruments. They are professionals. For example, our keyboardist somehow fell ill, and they went with a smaller group. Misha sang the song, Vlad Savosin played the button accordion. And while Misha was saying something, Vlad switched to the keys, and the one who was behind the keys took the guitar. We do not plan something for the distant future. But for now, we will work out the concerts to which we were invited. Author's family will go, mother, wife. Ira remained with three children in her arms. Can you imagine?
Vlad SAVOSIN:
- Someone says: “Yes, now you, like the Queens without Mercury, are riding on his songs, trying to make a launch pad for yourself.” But we don't care about such talk. Mikhail's relatives want his songs to sound. And the public wants to hear them. We will all sing for Michael. This is very responsible. How many such concerts there will be - I do not know. But we have indicated for ourselves that after the anniversary of Mikhail's death, it will be blasphemy to perform with these songs.
Leonid:
“After Mikhail’s death, I have been managing his affairs. Who else? Nobody knew him better than me. I am slowly getting into show business. Although any domestic business, and especially show business is very difficult ... The worst thing is when, after the death of the performer, they begin to forget about him, about his family, each of his "friends" begins to drag everything in his direction little by little ... For forty days we want to arrange an evening in memory of Mikhail Circle. Now I'm doing it. Fully. And after all, as it happens: you call an artist of some kind - you need to help. And he says: if the entrance to the concert is free, I will come, but if you take some money, no. Guys, well, we are all mortal, we all walk under God. I have always called and still call on everyone: if there is an opportunity, help today. This money will be brought to the family. I do not pretend to them, I just organize everything. So that we don’t have this: a person died, and they forgot him.

From an interview with Mikhail Krug:

“I was born in Tver on April 7, 1962. Studied at music school accordion class, but then quit. played hockey, was a goalkeeper. After the eighth grade, he entered a vocational school and received the profession of a car mechanic. He joined the army, served in the military school of junior specialists as a driving instructor. After the army, he married, entered the preparatory department of the Polytechnic Institute. In the same place, in the Polytechnic, I came across an announcement that the eighth regional festival-competition of the author's song would take place. He became a laureate from the first entry, left the institute. I worked then as the head of a motorcade, but soon also left my job. Recorded the first album, then the second, the third. True, they were not replicated. But the fourth album, Zhigan-Lemon, gained popularity. It was 1994. After that, other discs were released: "Green Prosecutor", "Live String", "Madame" and "Rose". So, in a nutshell…”

“I hate communists and homosexuals. I will never even shake hands with these sexual perverts and will not perform with them in the same concert.

“This is a Russian thieves song. Although the genre is defined French word"chanson". Vysotsky called it a yard romance. Neither Novikov, nor Rosenbaum, nor Tokarev accept the name "chanson". But time passes, and somehow it is heard. After all, you can’t write on posters - a thieves song.

“I dream of buying myself a Chaika, but I can’t. I have a six hundredth Mercedes, Volkswagen, but it's all such nonsense compared
with "Seagull". There is no better car in the world. But it costs 200 thousand dollars. This, unfortunately, is still an unacceptable price for me. Although
I am sure that there will come a time when I will acquire my dream.”

“We have every second person in prison or his relatives.
I myself was twice under investigation, but, thank God, I did not sit. Youth mistakes. Let's not talk about it. I hate to remember
all your experiences. I acted according to my conscience, according to honor ... This is the first time. And the second time - already for speculation, there was such an article.

“Imagine that in 1380 for the Battle of Kulikovo or in 1812 for the Patriotic War, mothers would not let their children go. Who then will go to restore order in Chechnya? Everything that happens there is really barbarism, which is not included in any UN rules. Only men can restore order in the country.”

“I am a former alcoholic! Drank at the store shelves. He got drunk and spent the night in dens. In general, I lived the way all my school children lived.
and courtyard friends, dreaming of nothing, striving for nothing ... "

“Beloved woman, I will never forgive laziness! If she doesn't cook, iron, wash and care for me, I'll just kick her out. I don't understand why people hire housekeepers. A warm female hand that warms up the family hearth is just what children need, and especially me. A lazy woman will never live next to me. With the same success, you can buy a rubber doll in a specialized store and use it for its intended purpose. And for a woman who does not understand such banal things, I would never buy gifts. In this regard, I am a conservative, a man of old views ... You know, in one of my songs there are these lines:
“And the wife - do not wash, do not wash.
Cars, clothes, money on my mind
Cheaper will be street b.,
As for the bed, there are no differences!”
My first wife was just in this category. She was a lover of wearing expensive things, giving nothing in return. My current wife Irina fully meets my requirements. She is tall, beautiful, cheerful ... She knows how to walk and relax, but at the same time she always looks after the house. I wake up and have clean underpants and socks every morning. I hold on to it with both hands. For such a woman, I will move mountains, I will do everything for her. I love and respect my wife. And, by the way, for the year that we are together, I never cheated on her ... "

“We have the largest circulations. All six of my albums have sold over 50 million copies. It's another matter that I didn't get
not a penny, since in Russia for one licensed album -
10 pirated. Therefore, Russian artists earn only at concerts.

“Five years ago I turned to God and repented of all my sins. Now I believe that treason is a very big sin! He also quit alcoholism. I go to church. I pray before meals, at night and in the morning. There is no such old person who would say that there is no God. God exists. Even the most ardent atheists come to this…”

“The days of bulls are long gone. And if someone "forgets", I can call in the horn compartment myself. I am a person not deprived of strength, and I was engaged
up to 30 years of sports "

“Happiness is when mom is alive, dad is alive, your children are healthy and there is a wife who can take care of you. This is happiness, and the rest ...
At first you think: to become famous, to earn money, and when all this comes, you understand that, apart from mom, dad, children and wife, nothing is needed in this life.

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