Leningrad (band)

Leningrad
Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Products	Music albums, singles, music videos
Website	www.leningradspb.ru

Leningrad (), also referred to as Gruppirovka Leningrad () or Bandformirovanie Leningrad (), is a well-known Russian rock ensemble originating from Saint Petersburg, fronted by Sergey "Shnur" Shnurov.

Formed in the late 1990s, this 14-piece group became infamous for its explicit lyrics laden with extensive Russian mat and frequent references to alcohol consumption. Although initially banned from radio play, Leningrad's popularity surged, propelled by their unique brass instrumentation. Over time, they achieved radio and television presence with sanitized versions of their songs. Additionally, Shnurov hosted televised New Year's Eve specials.

In 2007, the band expanded its lineup by adding female backup vocals, appointing jazz vocalist Yuliya Kogan as a permanent member. After dissolving in 2008, Leningrad regrouped in 2010, releasing fresh tracks and music videos that often showcased Kogan as the lead singer.

Their music videos have received international recognition: Kolshchik, directed by Ilya Naishuller, earned the "Best Concept" award at the 2017 Berlin Music Video Awards, while Is not Paris, under Pavel Sidorov's direction, won "Best Narrative" in 2018.

In March 2019, Shnurov announced via Instagram that Leningrad would cease activities by the end of that year following a farewell tour.

Cultural impact

According to Shnurov, the band’s essence lies in celebrating "the good sides of life: vodka and girls."

The group encountered resistance from Moscow's former mayor, Yuriy Luzhkov, who obstructed their large-scale concerts, restricting them primarily to private venues.

Leningrad’s lyrics frequently offer sharp critiques of conventional cultural and political stereotypes. Their 2007 track "Vybory" includes the chorus Kandidaty - pidory ("Candidates are faggots"), which evolved into a popular post-Soviet meme promoting voter abstention. The 2010 song I Bolsche Nikovo ("And Nobody Else (That I Love)") satirizes Saint Petersburg's reputation as Russia’s cultural hub through coarse depictions of alcoholism and urban crime.

Shnurov also parodies Russian pop music and pop rock by performing covers of mainstream hits and inviting original artists to collaborate live with Leningrad.

Soundtracks

Tracks by Leningrad have been featured in numerous notable pulp and crime films such as DMB and Bimmer. Three of their songs appeared on the soundtrack of the 2005 movie Everything Is Illuminated. The song "Nikogo Ne Zhalko" ("No Pity for Anyone") was included on an in-game radio station in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. In 2015, Leningrad's "Lastochka" was used during the closing credits of the 2014 mockumentary film What We Do in the Shadows.

Current line-up

Sergei "Shnur" Shnurov – vocals, arrangement, lyrics, guitar, bass (1997–2008, 2010–present)
Vyacheslav "Sevych" Antonov – backing vocals, maracas (2000–2008, 2010–present)
Aleksandr "Puzo" Popov – bass drum, percussion, vocals (1997–2008, 2010–present)
Andrey "Antonych" Antonenko – tuba, arrangement, accordion, keyboards (1997–2008, 2010–present)
Grigoriy "Zontik" Zontov – tenor saxophone (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Roman "Shukher" Parygin – trumpet (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Andrey "Ded" Kurayev – bass (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Ilya "Pianist" Rogachevskiy – keyboard (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Konstantin "Limon" Limonov – guitar (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Vladislav "Valdik" Aleksandrov – trombone (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Aleksey Kanev "Lekha" – baritone and alto saxophone (2002–2008, 2010–present)
Denis Mozhin – sound director (2002–2008), drums (2010–present)
Aleksey "Micksher" Kalinin – drums, percussion (1997–2002, 2006–2008, 2010–present)
Dmitry Guguchkin – guitar (2010–present)
Florida Chanturia – vocals, backing vocals (2016–present)
Viktor Rapotihin – violin (2016–present)

Former members

Yuliya "Yulia" Kogan (Юлия "Юля" Коган) – lead and backing vocals (2007–2008, 2010–2013)
Igor Vdovin (Игорь Вдовин) – vocals and guitar (1997–1999)
Roman "Romero" Fockin (Роман "Ромеро" Фокин) – saxophonist (1997–2002)
Alexander "Sashko" Privalov (Александр "Сашко" Привалов) – trumpet player (1998–2002)
Oleg Sokolov (Олег Соколов) – trumpet (1997–1998)
Vasiliy "Grasshopper" Savin (Василий "Кузнечик" Савин) – trombonist (1998–2002)
Dmitry "Antenna" Melnikov (Дмитрий "Антенна" Мельников) – drummer (2000–2002)
Ilya "Dracula" Ivashov (Илья "Дракула" Ивашов) – tuba player (1997–2002)
Stas Baretsky (Стас Барецкий) – dancer and mascot (2005–2008)
Denis "Kashchey" Kuptsov (Денис "Кащей" Купцов) – drums (2002–2008)
Michael Gopack (Михаил Гопак) – trombone (2002)
Daniil "Dan" Kalashnick (Даниил "Дэн" Калашник) – guitarist (1999–2002)
Maxim Temnov (Максим Темнов) – bass and double bass player (2001–2002)
Sergei Arsenyev (Сергей Арсеньев) – accordionist (2001)
Alice Vox-Burmistrova (Алиса Вокс-Бурмистрова) – vocals and backing vocals (2012–2016)
Vasilisa Starshova – vocals and backing vocals (2016–2017)

Discography

Year	Album	English Title	Additional Details
1997	Пуля	Bullet
1999	Мат без электричества	Mat without electricity ("Mat Unplugged")
2000	Дачники	Dacha People
2001	Пуля+ (Диск 1)	Bullet+ (Disc 1)
	Пуля+ (Диск 2)	Bullet+ (Disc 2)
	Маде ин жопа	Made in the Ass
2002	Пираты XXI века	Pirates of the 21st Century
2002	Точка	Point	Features the track "Money"
2003	Ленинград уделывает Америку (Диск 1)	Leningrad Does America (Disc 1)
	Ленинград уделывает Америку (Диск 2)	Leningrad Does America (Disc 2)
	Второй Магаданский	Second Magadan
	Для миллионов	For The Millions	Includes the song "Меня зовут Шнур"
2004	Бабаробот	Fembot
2004	(Не) Полное собрание сочинений	(In)Complete Works	Compilation album
2005	Хуйня	Bullshit	Collaboration with The Tiger Lillies
2006	Хлеб	Bread
2006	Бабье лето	Indian Summer
2007	Аврора	Aurora
2011	Хна	Henna
2011	Вечный огонь	The Eternal Fire
2012	Рыба	Fish
2014	Фарш	Minced Meat
2014	Пляж наш	The Beach Is Ours
2018	Всякое	Random Things	Released online

Videography

2000: - "Когда нет денег" ("When There Is No Money")
2002: - "WWW"
2003: - "Менеджер" ("A Manager"), "Хуямба" ("Huyamba"), "Распиздяй" ("Raspizdyay" / Quitter)
2013: - "Родная" ("Rodnaya" / Darling), "Плачу" ("Plachu" / I'm Crying), "Сумка" ("Sumka" / A Bag)
2014: - "Патриотка" ("Patriotka" / A Patriotic Girl)
2015: - "Отпускная" ("Otpusknaya" / Vacation Song), "VIP"
2016: - "Экспонат" ("Exhibit," also known as Louboutins; featuring actress Yuliya Topolnitskaya), "Сиськи" ("Tits"; directed by Anna Parmas, starring Yuliya Topolnitskaya), "В Питере - пить" ("V Pitere Pit'" / To Drink in Saint Petersburg), "Очки Собчак" ("Ochki Sobchak" / Ksenia Sobchak's Glasses), "Обезьяна и орел" ("Obezyana i Oryol" / Monkey & Eagle)
2017: - "Ч.П.Х." ("Ch.P.Kh." / Totally Saint Petersburg's Stuff), "Кольщик" ("Kolshchik"/ Tattoo Master; directed by Ilya Naishuller, starring Yuliya Topolnitskaya), "Вояж" ("Voyage"; directed by Ilya Naishuller), "Экстаз" ("Ecstasy"; featuring Svetlana Khodchenkova), "Кандидат" ("Candidate")
2018: - "Жу-Жу," featuring Glukoza ("Zhu Zhu"/ Zoom Zoom), "Золото" ("Zoloto"/ Gold)
2019: - "i_$uss" ("Iisus"/ Jesus; directed by Leonid Kolosovs'kyy), "Кабриолет" ("Cabriolet")
2020: - "Фотосессия" ("Fotosessiya"/ Photosession), "Миг" ("Mig"/ Moment)
2022: - Multiple releases including: "Пока так" ("Poka tak"/ Let it be for now), "Покаянная" ("Pokayannaya"/ Penitential), "Ритм и Мелодия," featuring Зоя ("Ritm i Melodiya"/ Rhythm and Melody), "Па-спорт" ("Pa-sport"/ Pas-sport), "Свободная касса" ("Svobodnaya kassa"/ Free cash register), "Мерси, Баку" ("Mersi, Baku"/ Mercy, Baku), "Прощай, элита" ("Proshchay, elita"/ Goodbye, elite!), "Входа нет!" ("Vkhoda net!"/ No entry!), "А у олигархата..." ("A u oligarkhata..."/ And the oligarchy...), "Мелочи" ("Melochi"/ Little things), "Геополитическая" ("Geopoliticheskaya"/ Geopolitical), "Иноагент" ("Inoagent"/ Foreign agent), and "Наша экономика" ("Nasha ekonomika"/ Our economy)

References

External links