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Līvi (band)

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Līvi
OriginLatvia
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Years active1976–2010
LabelsMelodiya
Microphone Records
Past membersMārtiņš Bērtulis

Aivars Brīze
Rodrigo Fomins
Jānis Grodums
Ēriks Ķiģelis
Tomass Kleins
Vilnis Krieviņš
Andris Krūmiņš
Guntars Mucenieks
Ingrīda Pavītola
Juris Pavītols
Tālis Pusbarnieks
Edijs Šnipke
Ainars Virga
Dainis Virga

Māris Zīlmanis
Websitewww.livi.lv

Līvi was a Latvian hard rock and heavy metal band that was influential in the formation of Latvian rock culture. They were known for their poetic lyrics and guitar solos.

The band was founded by Ēriks Ķiģelis and Juris Pavītols in Liepāja in the USSR, in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1976. They started out as a pop rock band playing various gigs around Latvia. From 1977 to 1985, the band experimented while trying to find their own musical style, resulting in songs from pop to heavy rock. Throughout this period, however, the band espoused patriotism and anti-Sovietism.[citation needed] After the death of Ķiģelis in 1986, Ainars Virga joined the band, leading to a new era of anthemic ballads, heavy rock, and rebellious themes.[citation needed] Virga went on to compose some of the best-known Latvian hard rock songs.[citation needed]

Līvi recorded nine albums during their existence. Their songs include "Dzimtā valoda", "Dzelsgriezējs", "Meitene zeltene", "Saldus saule", "Piedod man", "Zīlīte", "Tikai tev un man", and "Pāri visam."

History

1976–1985

Līvi is considered to have begun in 1976, although another band named Līvi existed for a short time before that, also founded by Juris Pavītols, a well known guitarist in the 1970s.[citation needed] Līvi were founded by Pavītols and Ēriks Ķiģelis, a young guitarist from Saldus.[citation needed] Both were determined to create a distinct sound for Latvian rock.[citation needed] Along with Pavītols's wife Ingrīda, drummer Andris Krūmiņš, and "the dinosaur of rock" Jānis Grodums, the pair formed a band, taking the name of Pavītols's first band. "Līvi" is Latvian for the Livonians, a now nearly extinct ethnic group living in the vicinity of Liepāja who had a reputation in legend for making their living by pirating and fighting foreign oppressors.[citation needed] The band played small-time gigs in their early years, mostly performing sad songs written by Pavītols and sung by his wife. They also performed some faster, harder songs composed by Ķiģelis.

In 1978, Ķiģelis left the band, stating that his and Pavītols's artistic differences were impossible to overcome.[citation needed] He then formed his own band, Corpus, and tried to distance himself from his former musical partners.[citation needed] Līvi replaced him with Modris Šterns. In 1980, Ķiģelis returned to the band, along with three new members: 17-year-old singer Rodrigo Fomins, drummer Vilnis Krieviņš, and the band's sound engineer Juris Jakovļevs. Krūmiņš and Šterns left the band around this time.[citation needed] Ķiģelis immediately returned to songwriting, and Līvi's popularity rose, leading to their appearance in many music festivals and the recording of their first album, the self-titled Līvi, released in 1983.[citation needed]

Latvia at that time was a part of the Soviet Union, and Latvian rock bands were oppressed by the Communist Party.[citation needed] The Soviet regime saw a potential enemy in the rebellious Latvian rockers, and in 1981 it banned Līvi from playing any concerts.[citation needed] Līvi responded in 1982 with a new hit single, "Zīlīte."[citation needed]

Šterns later returned to the band, but Pavītols and Ķiģelis continued to feud, leading the former to leave the band forever.[citation needed] His wife followed, not fitting in with the band's harder music. She still participated, however, in recording for Līvi's second album, Aprīļa pilieni (April's Raindrops).[citation needed] The band was briefly joined by keyboard player Tālis Pusbarnieks.[citation needed] Together they successfully record another album—Iedomu pilsēta (Phantasm City) and became the most popular band of that time.[citation needed]

Pusbarnieks, Fomins, Šterns, and Kreiviņš left the band in 1984 in order to pursue their own musical projects.[citation needed] Ķiģelis saved the band by hiring vocalist Aivars Brīze (later to become known as "the voice of Latvian rock"),[citation needed] keyboardist Guntars Mucenieks, and drummer Valdis Štarks. In 1985, however, Ķiģelis died in a car accident after a concert.[citation needed]

1986–2010

Ķiģelis's protégé Ainars Virga became the band's new leader in 1986. Virga was a fan of heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Scorpions, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin, so he set out to make Līvi more like them, with a harder sound, more guitar solos, and rebellious attitudes.[citation needed] His first song was "Dzimtā valoda", an emotional ballad and an appraisal of Latvian language and culture.

In 1987 Štarks was replaced by Ainars' younger brother Dainis, and in 1989, Tomass Kleins joined the band as a regular guitarist. At the time of the fall of the Soviet Union, Līvi had recorded dozens of hits and featured their most stable lineup, consisting of Brīze, Ainars Virga, Kleins, Grodums, and Dainis Virga.

In 1988 Līvi released their second studio album LIVI. Half of the songs being Ķigelis' last compositions, the other half being new Virga, Grodums & Mucenieks songs.

In 1994 Līvi released the studio album "Karogi" (Flags), their second recording since the death of Ķiģelis in 1985. The album went double platinum. The band toured across Northern Europe and Latvia to promote "Karogi". In December 1994, Līvi released an album called "Spoku Koks" ("The Ghost Tree"). It was recorded, cut, mixed, and delivered to stores in one night.[citation needed]

Two years later, Līvi released "K.M.K.V.P" or "Kas Mums Var Ko Padarīt" (Who Can Do Anything To Us). Singles from the album included "Meitene", "Bize", and a jazz version of their old hit "Dzelsgriezējs". In 1997, Līvi recorded their bestselling album "Bailes par ziņģēm" (Fear about Songs), and dedicated it to the memory of Ķiģelis.[citation needed] Shortly after the release of the album, long-time vocalist Aivars Brīze left the group.[citation needed] Two years later, Līvi recorded their seventh album, "Viva".

In 2000 Līvi recorded an album entitled "2001" in homage to the previous millennium. In 2001 Virga went to the USA and Līvi played without him for almost 2 years.

In 2003 Virga returned from the USA. Brize returned to the band as well. The band had big plans, but in the 26th of July, 2003, while driving back from the festival Oldies Rock from Daugavpils, the car driven by Virga was involved in an accident.[citation needed] Drummer Dainis and sound-engineer Juris Jakovļevs died from their wounds.[citation needed] Līvi subsequently recorded a new album, called "Pāri visam" (Over everything), and dedicated it to all rock musicians who have died in accidents.[citation needed]

In the 15th of June 2010 the oldest member of the group Jānis Grodums died and the band broke up.

In summer of 2013 they played a couple more concerts together.

Former members

Discography

Videography

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