Pop-Mechanics
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Sergey Kuryokhin |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Moscow , Russia |
| Products | Experimental music performances |
Pop-Mechanics (Popular Mechanics) () was an experimental music ensemble initiated by Sergey Kuryokhin in 1984. The collective's roster was highly fluid, incorporating artists from prominent rock bands such as Aquarium, Kino, Strannye Igry, AVIA, and Auktyon. The group ceased activities after Kuryokhin passed away in 1996.
History
Sergey Kuryokhin fulfilled multiple roles within Pop-Mechanics, including composer, conductor, creative director, and performer. Their shows represented a fusion of jazz, rock, avant-garde theatrical performance, and elements reminiscent of ancient mystery dramas, frequently featuring improvisation alongside theatrical components like live animals.
Pop-Mechanics held their inaugural concert on 14 April 1984 at the Moskvorechye House of Culture in Moscow. Their first appearance in Leningrad took place in spring 1985 during the Leningrad Rock Club festival.
In 1988, the ensemble broadened its reach internationally with concerts across Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Between 1988 and 1991, the majority of their performances occurred outside Russia; however, their activity diminished following 1991. Kuryokhin's last public appearance with the group happened in Saint Petersburg in September 1995, which also served as a benefit event supporting Aleksandr Dugin's campaign for the Duma.
Pop-Mechanics participants
Apart from Kuryokhin himself, Pop-Mechanics did not maintain a fixed lineup.[1] Some of the notable contributors were:
- † — avant-garde fashion presentation
- Kola Beldy — vocals
- — trumpet
- — saxophone
- — guitar
- Sergey "Afrika" Bugayev — electronic drums
- Igor Butman — alto saxophone
- — saxophone
- — guitar
- Vsevolod Gakkel — cello
- — maracas, theatrical performance
- Boris Grebenshchikov — guitar, theatrical elements
- Georgy "Gustav" Guryanov † — percussion, vocals
- — keyboards
- Yuri Kasparyan — guitar
- — soprano saxophone, flute
- — tuba, vocals
- † — drums
- † — percussion
- Elena Korikova — vocals
- Sergey Letov — saxophone, bass clarinet
- Yegor Letov † — bass guitar, guitar
- Aleksandr Lipnitsky
- — guitar
- † — stage performances
- Timur Novikov † — industrial music ensemble
- Valentina Ponomaryova
- — saxophone
- Arkady Shilkloper — French horn
- — crumhorn
- † — guitar, theatrical acts
- — bass guitar, theatrical acts
- Igor Tikhomirov — bass guitar
- Alexander Titov — bass guitar
- Viktor Tsoi † — guitar
- — guitar, sound engineering
- † — viola
- Joanna Stingray
The British actress Vanessa Redgrave also took part in one of Pop-Mechanics' performances.
External links
- Photo gallery (in Russian) — sourced from Sergey Letov's private collection
- Popular Mechanics at Russian Art Archive Network
- Excerpt from BBC documentary Comrades: All that Jazz
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