Ruja
Encyclopedia
Ruja was one of the foremost Estonia
n rock band
s of the 1970s and 1980s. The name of the band comes from a neologism "ruja", for science fiction
, though there are people who believe that "ruja" is actually made up of the first letters of the band's important members(R – Rein Rannap, U – Urmas Alender, J – Jaanus Nõgisto and A – Andrus Vaht). The band released their first and self-titled album in 1979. Many of the original melodies of Ruja were composed by Rein Rannap
.
The band was created by Rein Rannap in 1971 while in the 11th grade. Ruja's 3 first members were Rein Rannap, Urmas Alender and Andrus Vaht.
On September 28, 1994, the band's lead singer, Urmas Alender
, died when his car sank with the passenger ferry M/S Estonia
. After Alender's funeral concert a couple of days later, the remaining members of the band decided never to perform under the name of "Ruja" again.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
s of the 1970s and 1980s. The name of the band comes from a neologism "ruja", for science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, though there are people who believe that "ruja" is actually made up of the first letters of the band's important members(R – Rein Rannap, U – Urmas Alender, J – Jaanus Nõgisto and A – Andrus Vaht). The band released their first and self-titled album in 1979. Many of the original melodies of Ruja were composed by Rein Rannap
Rein Rannap
Rein Rannap is an Estonian composer and pianist.Since 1968, Rannap has given numerous public piano performances.Rannap has been active in management and composition for Ruja, Noor-Eesti and Hõim.- Pianist career :...
.
The band was created by Rein Rannap in 1971 while in the 11th grade. Ruja's 3 first members were Rein Rannap, Urmas Alender and Andrus Vaht.
On September 28, 1994, the band's lead singer, Urmas Alender
Urmas Alender
Urmas Alender was an Estonian singer and musician who is possibly best recalled as the vocalist of such popular Estonian bands as Ruja and Propeller....
, died when his car sank with the passenger ferry M/S Estonia
M/S Estonia
MS Estonia, previously MS Viking Sally , MS Silja Star , and MS Wasa King , was a cruise ferry built in 1979/80 at the German shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg. The ship sank in the Baltic Sea in one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century...
. After Alender's funeral concert a couple of days later, the remaining members of the band decided never to perform under the name of "Ruja" again.
1971–1975
- Urmas AlenderUrmas AlenderUrmas Alender was an Estonian singer and musician who is possibly best recalled as the vocalist of such popular Estonian bands as Ruja and Propeller....
(vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
) - Jaanus Nõgisto (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) - Tiit Haagma (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Rein RannapRein RannapRein Rannap is an Estonian composer and pianist.Since 1968, Rannap has given numerous public piano performances.Rannap has been active in management and composition for Ruja, Noor-Eesti and Hõim.- Pianist career :...
(keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) - Andrus Vaht (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) - Toomas Veenre (guitar)
- Andres Põldroo (guitar)
1975–1978
- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- Tiit Haagma (bass)
- Margus Kappel (keyboards)
- Andrus Vaht (drums)
- Ivo Varts (drums)
1980–1983
- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- Tiit Haagma (bass)
- Rein Rannap (keyboards)
- Jaan Karp (drums)
1985–1988
- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- Tiit Haagma (bass)
- Igor Garšnek (keyboards)
- Toomas Rull (drums)
- Arvo Urb (drums)
- S.P. Gulliver (bass)
- Nevil Blumberg (guitar)
Discography
- RujaRuja (EP)Ruja is the self-titled debut EP by Estonian rock band Ruja.-A-side:#"Põhi, lõuna, ida, lääs" #"Keldrikakand" -B-side:...
(EP) (1979) - RujaRuja (album)Ruja is the self-titled LP by Estonian rock band Ruja, follow-up to the EP of the same title.-A-side:#"Õunalaul" #"Doktor Noormann" #"To Mr Lennon"...
(LP) (1982) - Kivi veerebKivi veerebKivi veereb is the third album by Estonian rock band Ruja.-A-side:#"Veerev kivi" - 5:46#"Murtud lilled" - 3:31...
(1987) - Pust budet vsjoPust budet vsjoPust budet vsjo is the fourth album by Estonian rock band Ruja.The album contains Russian language versions of Ruja's songs. It's controversial for the band, because since there was Soviet occupation and russification in Estonia at that time, singing in Russian was against the band's...
(1989) - Must lindMust lindMust lind is a compilation album by Estonian rock band Ruja.It was released after the tragedy of M/S Estonia, where the band's lead singer Urmas Alender died and is dedicated to him.-Track listing:...
(1994) - Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 1Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 1Need ei vaata tagasi... is a 5-CD compilation by Estonian rock band Ruja. The purpose of this project was to release the whole of Ruja's works, although many songs are absent from the compilation....
(1999) - Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 2Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 2Need ei vaata tagasi... is a 5-CD compilation by Estonian rock band Ruja. The purpose of this project was to release the whole of Ruja's works, although many songs are absent from the compilation....
(1999)