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For any other meanings of this word, see [[Aria (disambiguation)]].
For any other meanings of this word, see [[Aria (disambiguation)]].


'''Aria''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: '''Ария''') is a popular [[Russia]]n [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band that formed in [[1985]]. Music of Aria resembles the sound of [[NWOBHM]] bands. Since 1985 the band has gone through several line-up changes. Although vocalist [[Valery Kipelov]] was the main voice of the band for the majority of the albums they have released, he departed in 2002 and formed his own heavy-metal band "[[Kipelov]]". Several ex-members of Aria formed the band ''[[Master (Russian band)|Master]]'', who are still considered, along with Aria, one of the most influential Russian metal bands.
'''Aria''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: '''Ария''') is a popular [[Russia]]n [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band that formed in [[1985]]. The music of Aria resembles the sound of [[NWOBHM]] bands, and they have been called the "Russian [[Iron Maiden]]". Since 1985 the band has gone through several line-up changes. Although vocalist [[Valery Kipelov]] was the main voice of the band for the majority of the albums they have released, he departed in 2002 and formed his own heavy-metal band "[[Kipelov]]". Several ex-members of Aria formed the band ''[[Master (Russian band)|Master]]'', who are still considered, along with Aria, one of the most influential Russian metal bands.


Most of Aria's lyrics have been written by the poet Margarita Pushkina.
Most of Aria's lyrics have been written by the poet Margarita Pushkina.

Revision as of 05:59, 22 January 2007

Aria
File:Aria heavy metal band 1995-2002.JPG
Background information
Years active1985–present
MembersVladimir Holstinin
Vitaly Dubinin
Artur Berkut
Sergey Popov
Maxim Udalov

For any other meanings of this word, see Aria (disambiguation).

Aria (Russian: Ария) is a popular Russian heavy metal band that formed in 1985. The music of Aria resembles the sound of NWOBHM bands, and they have been called the "Russian Iron Maiden". Since 1985 the band has gone through several line-up changes. Although vocalist Valery Kipelov was the main voice of the band for the majority of the albums they have released, he departed in 2002 and formed his own heavy-metal band "Kipelov". Several ex-members of Aria formed the band Master, who are still considered, along with Aria, one of the most influential Russian metal bands.

Most of Aria's lyrics have been written by the poet Margarita Pushkina.

Rammstein has covered an Aria song, Shtil' (Штиль). In this cover version, the song's name is Germanized and spelled as Schtiel.

History

Early Days

According to the band's website, its birthday should be celebrated on October 31, 1985, when they finished working on their first album, Megalomania. The album was noticed by the heavy music fans for being much unlike to any hard rock music played in the USSR at that time.

The band's founders are Vladimir Holstinin and Alik Granovsky, who met during their time in the band "Alpha" ("Альфа"). Holstinin's idea of creating a heavy metal band was enthusiastically accepted by Granovsky. By 1985 they had most of the material for their album ready, all that remained was to find a recording studio and a vocalist. They asked Victor Vekshtein to be band's manager and allow them to use his studio. The vocalist position was soon filled with Valery Kipelov.

Megalomania was recorded with only Holstinin playing the guitar (with Alexander Lvov on the drums and Kirill Pokrovsky on the keyboards). The band needed a second guitarist to be able to play live - as a result, Andrey Bolshakov joined the band. In addition, Igor Molchanov (formerly from "Alpha") replaced Lvov at the drums.

File:Aria 1986.jpg
Aria's first lineup, 1986

Aria's first live show was on Februrary 5, 1986 in DK MAI. The band was met with enthusiasm, and soon became a laureate of the "Rock-Panorama-86" and "Lithuanika-86" festivals. The band was still ignored by the media, but it's popularity was rising.

In November 1986, Aria released their second album, "Whom Are You With?". By this time, the band is ripped by arguments concerning both the direction the band was heading, and Victor Vekshtein's management. After a tour in January, 1987, Granovsky, Bolshakov, Molchanov and Pokrovsky left the band (Granovsky and Bolshakov later formed a heavy/thrash metal band "Master"). They were replaced by Vitaly Dubinin (Holstinin's institute friend and former band mate) as the bass guitarist, Sergey Mavrin as the second guitarist, and Maxim Udalov at the drums. Their first large show after the reorganization, and the subsequent tour, had proven, that despite all rumors, the band was not dead.

Rise to Fame

In August 1987, Aria started working on their new album, Hero of Asphalt (originally named Serving the Forces of Evil), which is considered one of the band's best albums. 'Hero...' was the first Aria's album published by the state music publishing monopoly 'Melodia'. Every show on the subsequent two-year tour had been sold out. Over a million copies of the album's LP had been sold. A music video for the song Rose Street is filmed, with the band's fans in the mass scenes.

During that time, the band's relationship with their manager had reached a critical threshold. In October 1988, Udalov left the band because of the conflict, and in November Aleksandr Maniakin is invited to reeplace him. In 1989, the band released their next album, Playing With Fire, with Yuriy Fishkin as their manager.

In 1990, Dubinin and Mavrin sign up with the band Lion Heart, and leave for Munich, only to return in August after finding an opportunity to cancel their contract. After celebrating their five-year anniversary with several live shows, the band begun to work on their fifth album Blood for Blood, which is released in 1991.

In the early 90's, the band experienced a decrease in their activity, greatly reducing the number of their live shows. In 1994, they created their own studio "ARIA Records", and sign a five-year contract with the label MOROZ Records. As a result, in the summer of 1994, the band's first five albums were released, including the earlier unreleased "Megalomania" and "Whom Are You With?". In September, they toured through Germany for two weeks, with live shows in seven cities, including Berlin's Hard Rock Cafe.

90's

By the end of the 1994's tour in Germany, the band had a disagreement with the organizers, which also reflected on the relationship within the band. After the tour is over, Kipelov stopped showing up at the studio, where the band was hard at work at their next album. Within a month's time, he was found out to be playing with "Master". In December, Alexey Bulgakov (the lead singer for the band "Legion") tried out as Kipelov's replacement. In January 1995, Sergey Mavrin left the band, stating that he did not believe that the band would succeed without his friend Kipelov. Sergey Terentyev was invited to replace him as a session musician, and later becomes a permanent member of the band.

Kipelov returned to the band soon after they are is threated with sanctions by MOROZ Records for breaching the contract. He recorded the vocal parts for the new album Night is Shorter Than Day, which is released in September, 1995. The band did a series of concerts in the Moscow area, with Sergey Zadora as their new manager, recording a live album Made in Russia, which ranks high in the charts.

In 1997 Kipelov and Mavrin joined again in duo album 'Dark Ages'. Dubinin and Holstinin also recorded their own, entittled 'AvARIA', where Vitaly participated as vocalist. In 1998 Aria released 'Generator of Evil', the album of Terentyev's debut as songwriter. Next came 'Chimera' and breakthrough single 'Lost Paradise', which succeed in NASHE Radio chart and raised Aria to the new wave of popularity.

The Judgement Day

In 2001 Aria headlined the NASHEstvie festival, where they played with symphonic orchestra. That gave musicians the idea of 'Classical Aria' tour with orchestra and co-named live album, which, unfortunately, was never released. During the tour, the tension among musicians and band's management arose. Kipelov refused starting to record the new album, already written by Dubinin and Holstinin, and declared he wants to start a solo career. Sergey Terentyev, Alexander Maniakin and band's manager Rina Lee supported him, opposing two band leaders and producer Yuri Sokolov. 'Classical Aria' became the band's farewell tour. After the final gig August 31, 2002 at Luzhniki, Moscow, which was entittled 'The Judgement Day' (and it gave the name to whole accident), Kipelov, Terentyev and Maniakin left Aria. Next day, joined by Serget Mavrin, they declared the foundation of new band Kipelov.

New face of Aria

File:Aria-live-18-11-03.jpg
Live show at Luzhniki, November 18, 2003

Despite the rumors that Holstinin will cease Aria and start the new band called 'Himera', in November 2002 was declared the new lineup of Aria. Sergey Popov from 'Master' became second guitarist, Arthur Berkut (ex-Autograph) was invited as new vocalist, and drummer Max Udalov came back. December 5, new Aria released single 'Coliseum' followed by the album 'Baptism by Fire'. Also the video for 'Colisey' was shot. The release was successful, songs 'Colisey' and 'Kreshenie Ogneom' reached #1 at rock charts, though many fans criticized it, arguing that Berkut's voice does not fit to Aria's music.

Berkut and Holstinin participated in 'Elven Manuscript'(Эльфийская Рукопись, 2004) metal opera by Epidemia. Arthur played the role of Irdis the elven wizard while Vladimir played on lute and also produced the opera.

In 2005 Aria celebrated it's XX anniversary with the new tour. Band's former members was invited to participate the birthday gig. 'Master' and Sergey Mavrin played at it, but Kipelov did not, because of his own tour schedule.

The newest album 'Armageddon' by CD Maximum, came out in 2006, where Aria invited two new lyric writers, and Berkut debuted as composer.

Band Members

File:Aria-lineup-2006.jpg
Current lineup (as of 2006)

1985

  • Valery Kipelov (Валерий Кипелов) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Alik Granovsky (Алик Грановский) - Bass guitar
  • Alexander Lvov (Александр Львов) - Drums
  • Kirill Pokrovsky (Кирилл Покровский) - Keyboards

1985 - 1987

  • Valery Kipelov (Валерий Кипелов) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Andrey Bolshakov (Андрей Большаков) - Guitar
  • Alik Granovsky (Алик Грановский) - Bass guitar
  • Igor Molchanov (Игорь Молчанов) - Drums
  • Kirill Pokrovsky (Кирилл Покровский) - Keyboards

1987 - 1988"

  • Valery Kipelov (Валерий Кипелов) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Sergey Mavrin (Сергей Маврин) - Guitar
  • Vitaly Dubinin (Виталий Дубинин) - Bass guitar, Backing vocals
  • Maxim Udalov (Максим Удалов) - Drums

1988 - 1994

  • Valery Kipelov (Валерий Кипелов) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Sergey Mavrin (Сергей Маврин) - Guitar
  • Vitaly Dubinin (Виталий Дубинин) - Bass guitar, Backing vocals
  • Aleksandr Maniakin (Максим Удалов) - Drums

1995 - 2002

  • Valery Kipelov (Валерий Кипелов) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Sergey Terentyev (Сергей Терентьев) - Guitar
  • Vitaly Dubinin (Виталий Дубинин) - Bass guitar, Backing vocals
  • Aleksandr Maniakin (Александр Манякин) - Drums

Current

  • Arthur Berkut (Артур Беркут) - Lead vocals
  • Vladimir Holstinin (Владимир Холстинин) - Guitar
  • Sergey Popov (Сергей Попов) - Guitar
  • Vitaly Dubinin (Виталий Дубинин) - Bass guitar, Backing vocals
  • Maxim Udalov (Максим Удалов) - Drums

Discography

Studio Albums

Cover Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Мания Величия Maniya Velichiya Megalomania 1985
С кем Ты? S kem Ty? Whom Are You With? 1986
File:Hero of Asphalt.jpg Герой Асфальта Geroy Asfal'ta Hero of Asphalt 1987
File:Play with Fire.jpg Игра с Огнём Igra s Ogneom Play with Fire 1989
Кровь за Кровь Krov' za Krov' Blood for Blood 1991
File:Night is Shorter Than Day.jpg Ночь Короче Дня Noch' Koroche Dnya Night is Shorter Than Day 1995
Генератор Зла Generator Zla Generator of Evil 1998
File:Chimera Album.jpg Химера Himera Chimera 2001
File:Baptism by Fire.jpg Крещение Огнём Kreshenie Ogneom Baptism by Fire 2003
File:Aria Armageddon.jpg Армагеддон Armageddon Armageddon 2006

Live albums

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Сделано в России Sdelano v Rossii Made in Russia 1995
В Поисках Новой Жертвы... V Poiskah Novoy Zhertvy... Searching For A New Victim... 2003
Живой Огонь Zhivoy Ogon' Living Fire 2004

Compilations

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
АвАрия AvAria Accident or Collision, and a play on the band's name 1997
Легенды Русского Рока Legendy Russkogo Roka Russian Rock Legends 1997
Лучшие песни Luchshie Pesni The Best Songs 1999
2000 и Одна Ночь 2000 i Odna Noch' 2000 and One Night 1999
Потерянный Рай Poterenny Ray Lost Paradise 2000
Grand Collection 2000
Штиль Shtil' The Calm 2002
Легенды Русского Рока 2 Legendy Russkogo Roka 2 Legends of Russian Rock 2 2003
Беспечный Ангел Bespechny Angel Careless Angel 2004

Soundtracks

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Дальнобойщики-2. Саундтрек Dal'noboyshiki-2 Saundtrek Rig & Roll Soundtrack 2000

Tribute Albums

Title Year of release
Tribute to Harley-Davidson 1999

Singles

Original title Transliterated Title Translation Year of release
Колизей Kolizei Coliseum 2002
Чужой Chuzhoi Alien 2006