Kruiz
Encyclopedia
Cruise is a rock band from the former Soviet Union
. While the band was originally formed in 1978, they were largely unknown in the west for a number of years. They are best known for their video, In Flames, which was played many times in the mid 80s, on the Canadian
metal show, The Power Hour.
For now there are two versions of the band itself : one playing songs with their original soft/hard rock sound, and the legendary Valery Gaina reunited trio.
lyrics. The original lineup consisted of Alexandre Monin (vocals), Valery Gaina (guitars), Alexander Kirnitsky (8 november 1956-7 november 2008) (bass), Serge Sarychev (keyboards), and Seva Korolyuk (drums). In 1980, they released their first album called The Top, which was really a collection of demos.
In 1981, they released their first official album, Крутится Волчoк (transscription: Krutitsya Volchok, translation: The Top Keeps Turning), featuring Alexander Kirnitsky on bass, and additional keyboards by Matvey Anitchkin. This was followed by another album Послушай Человек (Poslusshay Chelovek, translation: Listen Man).
In 1983, the lineup changed to Monin (vocals), Gaina (guitars), Gregory Bezougly (guitars), Oleg Kouzmitchyov (bass), Vladimir Kapoustin (keyboards), and Nikolai Tchunusov (drums). This lineup released the album Путешествие на Воздушном (Puteshestvye na Vozdushnom, translation: Balloon Journey). Shortly after the release of this album, the band unfortunately drew the ire of the Communist government and were ordered to disband. The band released one final album P.S. Продолжение Слeдует (P.S. Prodolzhenye Sleduet, translation: P.S. To be Continued) in 1983, before stopping all activities.
In 1985, Valery Gaina decided to reform the band and take a heavier approach to their music. The new lineup consisted of Gaina (guitars and vocals), Alexander Kirnitsky (bass), Vsevolod Korolyuk (drums), with Vadim Malikov (additional vocals). They released an album called КиКоГаВва (translation: KiKoGaVva), named after the first two letters of the band members names.
This lineup was short-lived and Valery Gaina soon recruited another lineup with himself on vocals and guitars, Fyodor Vasilyev (bass), and Sergey Efimov (drums). This particular incarnation of the band had a speed metal
sound . They released a demo and an album, Kruiz-1 on Melodia records (a state owned record company). One song (Rock is Forever) was promptly banned by the authorities and hence, only appears on the demo. Only two years later the song was included in compilation album "A Place To Meet ... " with other soviet rock bands.
Kruiz became known to the west, when they opened a few shows for the German
band Rage
. The band redid some of their songs with English
lyrics and released the album Kruiz in 1988, for WEA Records (Warner Bros. Records
). The song In Flames from this album received a lot of air-play in the Canadian metal show, The Power Hour. It is on the strength of this album and the video that Kruiz became known as a speed metal band, and their past as a soft-rock/hard-rock band was largely unknown in the west.
The band went on a European Tour in 1989 and were featured on a German TV program, "Mosh Special", on February 5 1989. Kruiz opened for bands such as Metallica
and Slayer
and were scheduled to release a third album, titled Culture Shock, but their contractual obligations prevented them from doing so. Sergey Efimov flew back to Russia. Gaina and Vasilyev attempted to finish the album using the services of Iain Finlay (then drummer for Running Wild
), but could not complete the album. Shortly after this, the band broke up.
, mainly because of the rise of the Russian Mafia
. He formed a band called Karma and released an album (Fence) under the Frozen Hound label. This album was described as a cross between the Stone Temple Pilots
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
, very unlike the music of Kruiz. Gaina also built his own studio and produced music for local bands. Karma nearly signed with Mercury Records, but the deal fell through. Meanwhile Gaina put out a dance/hip-hop album called Fantasy, which went gold in South Korea
.
Bassist Fyodor Vasilyev went on to play for a Russian hard rock band called Black Coffee, where he found success.
Drummer Sergey Efimov also moved to the United States
and later played in bands called Wolves and Hippies of Chaos, where he also sang in the band. He also found work as a session musician.
on May 3, 1999, at Moscow
, Russia
at the Olimpiyskey Stadium. This particular lineup still plays gigs to this day, but do not play any metal, and in fact, don't want anything to do with the Metal Kruiz.
In 2002, Valery Gaina regrouped with the 1988 lineup of Vasilyev and Efimov, and also released a demo under the name of Kruiz. The bass and drums were recorded in Moscow and the tapes were mastered by Gaina in Los Angeles. Gaina also announced plans for a full reunion.
On August 27, 2010 Alexandre Monin died at age of 56 of peritonitis
.
Soon after Monin's death, the band announced a new lead singer in the name of Dmitry Avramenko from the band "Charisma"
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. While the band was originally formed in 1978, they were largely unknown in the west for a number of years. They are best known for their video, In Flames, which was played many times in the mid 80s, on the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
metal show, The Power Hour.
For now there are two versions of the band itself : one playing songs with their original soft/hard rock sound, and the legendary Valery Gaina reunited trio.
History
Kruiz was formed in 1978, originally playing soft and hard rock songs with RussianRussian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
lyrics. The original lineup consisted of Alexandre Monin (vocals), Valery Gaina (guitars), Alexander Kirnitsky (8 november 1956-7 november 2008) (bass), Serge Sarychev (keyboards), and Seva Korolyuk (drums). In 1980, they released their first album called The Top, which was really a collection of demos.
In 1981, they released their first official album, Крутится Волчoк (transscription: Krutitsya Volchok, translation: The Top Keeps Turning), featuring Alexander Kirnitsky on bass, and additional keyboards by Matvey Anitchkin. This was followed by another album Послушай Человек (Poslusshay Chelovek, translation: Listen Man).
In 1983, the lineup changed to Monin (vocals), Gaina (guitars), Gregory Bezougly (guitars), Oleg Kouzmitchyov (bass), Vladimir Kapoustin (keyboards), and Nikolai Tchunusov (drums). This lineup released the album Путешествие на Воздушном (Puteshestvye na Vozdushnom, translation: Balloon Journey). Shortly after the release of this album, the band unfortunately drew the ire of the Communist government and were ordered to disband. The band released one final album P.S. Продолжение Слeдует (P.S. Prodolzhenye Sleduet, translation: P.S. To be Continued) in 1983, before stopping all activities.
In 1985, Valery Gaina decided to reform the band and take a heavier approach to their music. The new lineup consisted of Gaina (guitars and vocals), Alexander Kirnitsky (bass), Vsevolod Korolyuk (drums), with Vadim Malikov (additional vocals). They released an album called КиКоГаВва (translation: KiKoGaVva), named after the first two letters of the band members names.
This lineup was short-lived and Valery Gaina soon recruited another lineup with himself on vocals and guitars, Fyodor Vasilyev (bass), and Sergey Efimov (drums). This particular incarnation of the band had a speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
sound . They released a demo and an album, Kruiz-1 on Melodia records (a state owned record company). One song (Rock is Forever) was promptly banned by the authorities and hence, only appears on the demo. Only two years later the song was included in compilation album "A Place To Meet ... " with other soviet rock bands.
Kruiz became known to the west, when they opened a few shows for the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
band Rage
Rage (band)
Rage are a German heavy metal band, formed in 1984. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s, along with bands such as Helloween, Running Wild and Blind Guardian.-Background:...
. The band redid some of their songs with English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics and released the album Kruiz in 1988, for WEA Records (Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
). The song In Flames from this album received a lot of air-play in the Canadian metal show, The Power Hour. It is on the strength of this album and the video that Kruiz became known as a speed metal band, and their past as a soft-rock/hard-rock band was largely unknown in the west.
The band went on a European Tour in 1989 and were featured on a German TV program, "Mosh Special", on February 5 1989. Kruiz opened for bands such as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
and Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and were scheduled to release a third album, titled Culture Shock, but their contractual obligations prevented them from doing so. Sergey Efimov flew back to Russia. Gaina and Vasilyev attempted to finish the album using the services of Iain Finlay (then drummer for Running Wild
Running Wild (band)
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under...
), but could not complete the album. Shortly after this, the band broke up.
Post breakup
Valery Gaina then formed the band Gain, with Vladimir Bajin (vocals), Alexander Shprot (bass), and Andrei Shatounovsky (session drummer). This band recorded an album in 1990 but it only came out in 1995, with two bonus tracks from the unreleased third Kruiz album Culture Shock. Valery Gaina then moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, mainly because of the rise of the Russian Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
. He formed a band called Karma and released an album (Fence) under the Frozen Hound label. This album was described as a cross between the Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, very unlike the music of Kruiz. Gaina also built his own studio and produced music for local bands. Karma nearly signed with Mercury Records, but the deal fell through. Meanwhile Gaina put out a dance/hip-hop album called Fantasy, which went gold in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
Bassist Fyodor Vasilyev went on to play for a Russian hard rock band called Black Coffee, where he found success.
Drummer Sergey Efimov also moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and later played in bands called Wolves and Hippies of Chaos, where he also sang in the band. He also found work as a session musician.
Reunion
In 1994, the original vocalist of Kruiz, Alexandre Monin, upon the success of V.Gaina, reformed the band, with the lineup consisting of himself, Gregory Bezougly (guitars), Vladimir Kapoustin (keyboards), Oleg Kouzmitchyov (bass), and Nikolai Tschunosov (drums). This lineup returned to their original style of soft and hard rock music and released three albums, Live at Robin Hood Festival in 1994, Bcem BCTATb (translation: Stand Up Everyone) in 1996 and Live Collection in 1998. This lineup also opened for Ronnie James DioRonnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
on May 3, 1999, at Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the Olimpiyskey Stadium. This particular lineup still plays gigs to this day, but do not play any metal, and in fact, don't want anything to do with the Metal Kruiz.
In 2002, Valery Gaina regrouped with the 1988 lineup of Vasilyev and Efimov, and also released a demo under the name of Kruiz. The bass and drums were recorded in Moscow and the tapes were mastered by Gaina in Los Angeles. Gaina also announced plans for a full reunion.
On August 27, 2010 Alexandre Monin died at age of 56 of peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
.
Soon after Monin's death, the band announced a new lead singer in the name of Dmitry Avramenko from the band "Charisma"
External links
- http://kruiz-gaina.narod.ru/ - Unofficial site, devoted to metallic Kruiz of Gaina & Co
- Kruiz - BNR Metal Pages
- Kruiz - Where are they now
- http://www.gainamusic.com/ - Official webpage of Valery Gaina