Korol i Shut

Korol’ i Shut
Group with its full complement
Background information
Origin	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Genres	Horror punk, shock rock, folk punk
Years active	1988–present
Labels	Мистерия Звука Мелодия Records MANCHESTER Records
Members	Mikhail Gorcheniov Andrei Kniazev Yakov Tsvirkunov Alexandr Shchigoliev Pavel Sazhinov Dmitri Rishko
Past members	Alexandr Balunov Alexandr Leontiev Shurik Vasiliev Dmitriy Riabchenko Georgiy Kuzmin Maria Nefedova
Website	www.korol-i-shut.ru

Korol' i Shut (King and Jester, Russian: Король и Шут) is a Russian horror punk band from Saint Petersburg who takes its inspiration and costumes from tales and fables.

History

The band was formed in 1988 by school friends in Saint Petersburg around founder members Mikhail "Jug" Gorshenev (Михаил Горшок Горшенёв), Alexandr Balu Balunov (Александр Балу Балунов) and Alexandr Lieutenant Tchigoliev (Александр Поручик Щиголев). Singer Andrei Kniaz' Kniazev (Андрей Князь Князев) joined the band in 1990 and guitarist Yakov Zvirkunov (Яков Цвиркунов) in 1997. The band's name, which means The King and the Jester, was adopted in 1992, its previous name was Bureau (Контора).

Korol' i Shut lyrics are written by Kniazev and feature horror stories and folk tales about pirates, trolls, ghosts and vampires, as well as Slavic mythology. Many of their songs despite horror thematic are actually humorous, sarcastic or ironic (dark humor). The band members wear Misfits-inspired horror make-up onstage.

The band recorded for the first time in 1991 in a semi-professional studio. It was programmed on the radio soon after and began to tour in Saint Petersburg's clubs. From 1993, it started touring also in Moscow.

The first album was released in 1994 with a run of few copies: Bud' kak doma putnik (Будь как дома путник – Feel yourself at Home, wanderer), which was re-edited in 2000.

The first album which was largely edited was Kamnem po golove (Камнем по голове – Stone to the head) in 1996 by "Melodiya" . Many other albums were released since then. The first music video was released in 1998 for the song Yeli miaso mujiki (Ели мясо мужики -- Men were Eating Meat).

Korol' i Shut toured over Israel and United States in 2003.

Members

• Mikhail "Gorshok" Gorsheniov (Михаил «Горшок» Горшенёв) - Vocals
• Andrei "Kniaz" Kniazev (Андрей «Князь» Князев) - Vocals
• Yakov Zvirkunov (Яков Цвиркунов) - Guitars
• Alexandr "Porutchik" Tchigoliev (Александр «Поручик» Щиголев) - Drums
• Pavel "Pahan" Sazhinov (Павел Сажинов) - Keyboards
• Sergey "Zahar" Zaharov (Сергей «Захар» Захаров) - Bass guitar

Former members

• Alexandr "Balu" Balunov (Александр "Балу" Балунов) — Bass guitar
• Alexandr "Renegat" Leontiev (Александр "Ренегат" Леонтьев) — Guitar
• Shurik "Vasia" Vasiliev (Шурик "Вася" Васильев) — Drums
• Dmitrii "Riabchik" Riabchenko (Дмитрий "Рябчик" Рябченко) — Bass guitar
• Dmitrii "Kolbasa" Kandaurov (Дмитрий "Колбаса" Кандауров) — Bass guitar
• Grigorii Kuzmin (Григорий Кузьмин) — Bass Guitar
• Alexey "Yagoda" Gorshenev (Алексей "Ягода" Горшенёв) — Drums
• Maria "Masha" Nefiodova (Мария "Маша" Нефёдова) — Violin

Discography

Date of Release	Title	Translation
1996	Камнем по голове	Stone to the Head
1997	Король и Шут	King and Jester
1999	Акустический альбом	Acoustic Album
1999	Ели мясо мужики (live)	Men Were Eating Meat
2000	Герои и злодеи	Heroes and Villains
2001	Собрание	Gathering
2001	Как в старой сказке	Like in an Old Tale
2002	Жаль, нет ружья!	Alas, I Have No Rifle!
2003	Мёртвый анархист (DVD)	Dead Anarchist
2004	Бунт на корабле	Mutiny on the Ship
2006	Продавец кошмаров	Trader of Nightmares
2007	Cтрашные Сказки	Scary Tales
2008	Тень Клоуна	The Clown's Shadow
2010	Театр демона	Demon's Theatre

External links

• Official site
• Unofficial forum
• RussMus.Net: Korol i Shut Lyrics and English translations