Gustov, Vladimir Konstantinovich

He began to study music at the age of five. After hearing the album "McCartney 1", gathered his first group. At the same time, he began experimenting with sound recordings, recording by overlaying two Sonata tape recorders. In 1975, after the release of the album Queen "A Night At The Opera", he decided to play music professionally ^{[ significance of fact? ]} .

Cascade Studio

Gustov's musical career began in the mid-seventies in the amateur ensemble Studio Cascade. In the group "Studio Cascade" together with Vladimir Gustov played two of his school friends - Alexander Shilnikov (bass guitar) and Boris Kornilov (keyboards). In 1977, vocalist Alexander Shcheglov joined them (later - “Marathon”, “Russians”, etc.) and drummer Pavel Razzhivin (later - “The Secret” trio). The musicians played cover versions of Humble Pie, Deep Purple, Santana songs and their own art rock songs with elements of psychedelia, written mostly by Gustov. Several times "Studio Cascade" took first place in urban competitions of musical groups. In 1979, Boris Kornilov went into the army and the group disintegrated. Remaining recordings on consumer tape cannot be restored. ^{[ significance of fact? ]} .

At the age of 17, Gustov during an Australian singer Tony Monopoli's tour in the USSR successfully replaced a sick guitarist from the accompanying group, which attracted the attention of many pop artists .

In 1980 he graduated from the Leningrad Music School. M. P. Mussorgsky in the class of jazz guitar, then for five years he taught there. Among the students of Vladimir Gustov was Alexander Lyapin ( “Aquarium” ), with whom he later created the legendary group Tele-U.

Tele-U

The first solo project of the legendary guitarist Alexander Lyapin "Tele-U" was formed in the winter of 1983, along with the same super-guitarist Vladimir Gustov with the participation of other musicians who in parallel successfully played in rock-club groups. Designed as a duet of two blues guitar virtuosos, the project was very successful. Tele-U took part in the second and thirds rock festivals. At the second festival, he immediately received the title of laureate and diploma “for performance mastery”, Lyapin and Troshchenkov were marked as instrumentalists, and the composition “No to War” - as one of the best. By 1986, the group ceases to exist due to the departure of Vladimir Gustov.

Gustov combined teaching at a music school with studio work, episodic performances at jazz festivals with the quartet of saxophonist Mikhail Kostyushkin ( Pop Mechanics , the D. Goloshchekin Ensemble, and the Tea Together ) and various session work in various groups.

A great influence on the creative growth and career of Vladimir Gustov had an acquaintance with the brilliant young composer Viktor Reznikov . Several music publications call Vladimir Gustov among the best musicians in the country. . Later an offer comes from Alla Pugacheva to work in her group “Recital”, but due to the Soviet bureaucracy, this project did not take place. ^{[ significance of fact? ]} . Despite this, a few years later, Pugacheva and Gustov sang a duet song by Vladimir Gustov “Fire in Hand” at the 1993 Christmas Meetings.

Rendezvous

In 1986, Alexander Revzin , a famous concert and theater director, brings together the Rendezvous group, in which Vladimir Gustov found himself. It consisted of the best at that time. Leningrad musicians and ballet group led by Gennady Senkov. After some rehearsals, a show program was released. This program came to watch not only the capital's stars, but also foreign artists. The band played cover versions of Yes, Foreigner, Dire Straits and original songs by Vladimir Gustov, Alexey Petrov and Konstantin Balakirev. The team gave more than 500 concerts, toured in Estonia and Latvia. Among the friends of "Rendezvous" who have repeatedly visited the group's performances were: Alla Pugacheva, Vladimir Kuzmin, Larisa Dolina, artists of the theaters "Buff", "Litsedei" and many others. The group existed for two and a half years, and in 1988, Vladimir Gustov and several musicians Rendezvous rehearsed to create a new group, naming it Radio Rock.

Radio Rock

In the summer of 1988, Gustov, working on the radio, helped aspiring singer Vladimir Kharitonov to record the song "New Day". The union was successful, and they decided to continue cooperation. By the end of the autumn, the composition of the participants of the new group, named Radio Rock, was determined, and in December she had already begun rehearsals. In addition to Gustov (guitar, vocals) and Kharitonov (vocals) in the ranks of Radio Rock said: Valery Sudakov (bass, ex- “Latest News”), Evgeny Oleshev (keyboards, ex- “Tele U”), Vladimir Kushnir (keyboards) and Sergey Doykov (drums). In the summer of 1989, a group of Radio Rock tried to win the position of the jury of the TV contest “Jurmala-89”, in which V. Kharitonov became his student. In the same year, the group released the album "Religion". Radio Rock is poisoned on tour in Russia and Ukraine, and they also play a series of concerts at the SSC along with English bands Passion and Gipsy Queen. These performances are filmed by Irish television. In October 1989, V. Kushnir left the group and later appeared in the accompanying composition of the Secret. In January of the following year, V. Sudakov was replaced by a new bass player, Vadim Ryabov, who played in the St. Petersburg group.

In 1990, Radio Rock visited a rock festival in Paris. After returning V. Kharitonov declares his retirement from the group. As a matter of urgency, he found a worthy replacement in the person of Vyacheslav Shkutov. At the end of the year, Radio Rock will participate in Alla Pugacheva's Christmas Meetings, and in August 1991 they will open the Rock Against Tanks concert at Palace Square in St. Petersburg. In the same summer, the band recorded their second album “The Russian Eagle”, for the song “Crazy Game” from which the video clip was made by director Oleg Gusev ^[3] . Three years after recording, in 1994, the album “The Russian Eagle” is published on CD by JSP.

The next (and last) album “The Crime & The Punishment” was recorded by the musicians in 1995. Again, not without replacement. Sergey Doikov, the drummer, was replaced by Tigran Panteleev, and Vyacheslav Shkutov was replaced by a young talented singer and composer Igor Balakirev.

In 1996, the group Radio Rock ceased to exist. Balakirev and Gustov created a new project Be Good. Evgeny Oleshev is engaged in studio work, and also plays with Vladimir Gustov in the group of Max Leonidov Hippoband . Vadim Ryabov - a member of the vocal ensemble Digest. And Tigran Panteleyev emigrated to the United States.

On March 18, 2016, Sublimity Records released a 3-disc box set called Vladimir Gustov's Radio Rock “The Anthology” ^[4] , which included the albums Religion (1989), The Russian Eagle (1991) and The Crime & The Punishment ”(1995), as well as 4 exclusive bonus tracks of 1989 and 1991, and the video clip“ Crazy Game ”(1991). The publication was published in a limited edition of 125 numbered copies with a 32-page booklet, including the group's history, archival photos and lyrics of all the songs. The albums were remastered personally by Vladimir Gustov ^[5] . Music critic Vsevolod Baronin described the albums of Radio Rock as much as: “The cornerstones of the national model of melodic rock” ^[6] .

SUS

Changes in the country in the early 90s broke the iron curtain , and Vladimir Gustov responded to Viktor Reznikov's proposal to participate in the Russian-American project “SUS” (Soviet Union - United States). The group met in 1990. It includes Dan Merrill (vocals, guitar), Viktor Reznikov (vocals, keyboards), Steven Boutet (keyboards), Vladimir Gustov (guitar), Dmitry Evdomakha (drums). All songs were written by Victor on the words of Dan. Arrangers Kirill Shirokov and Viktor Smirnov also assisted the group in the studio. The tragic death of Viktor Reznikov in early 1992 interrupted a remarkable project that promised to become very popular both in Russia and in the USA. There are records and video clips of the group, shot at the Record studio. Currently, Dan Merrill successfully performs with his band in America. In the studio, he is assisted by Kirill Shirokov , who immigrated to Canada in 1998.

Cool Fire

“Cool Fire” is a group of musician friends whom Vladimir Gustov gathered in 1995. The composition is constantly changing. Style - instrumental guitar music from Fusion to Flash rock. Performances are not very often. In recent years, the group has played several times at various venues in St. Petersburg. After recording the third album of Radio Rock “The Сrime & The Punishment”, Vladimir Gustov plays several instrumental concerts with guitarists Alexander Lyapin and Igor Romanov .

In 1997, Vladimir Gustov created the studio Favorit, which recorded Igor Balakirev, Be Good, Cool Fire ", Radio Rock, No Angels (Germany), the television project Stars Search (Germany), the first solo album of Natasha Wright from La Bouche , Tom Schluter & Valery Brusilovsky (Germany), Secret , Hippoband , Tea Together , Digest, “Bullet”, the folk group Tryn-Trava, the television project “OB B. Zh.”, Maxim Leonidov , Nikolay Fomenko , Andrei Zabludovsky , Alexey Murashev , Peter Podgorodetsky , Sergey Galanin , Igor Kornelyuk , Mikhail Boyarsky , Sergey Boyarsky, Laima Vaikule , Tatyana Bulanova , Alexey Kortnev , Marina Kapuro , Natalya Podolskaya , Avraam Russo , Vadim Kazachenko , Boris Shtokolov , Aliki Usubiani, Oleg Kvasha , Igor Latyshko, Yuri Stoyanov , Ilya Oleynikov , Sergey Rogozhin , Ivan Urgant , Svetlana Khorkina , Zara , Alexander Lygun, Sergey Pak, Alexander Sokolov (Doctor Gensler), Oleg Skoblya , Stella Dzhani, Georgy Koldun, Oleg and Galina Ivanov, Leonid Rezetdinov , Leonid Zakhozhayev, Alexander Tretyakov, Andrey Ivanov, Mikhail Liquid, Andrey Solodky, Anna Reznikova, Vladimir Pavlyuchkov, Methodius, Alexander Samoshkin, Alexander Gordin, Irina Lyubimskaya, Alexan p Lyubimsky Boris Rubin, Nikolai Vinogradov, Lisa Ulakhovich Maxim Pashkov, Victor Pleshak, Igor Loginov, Maria Koksharova Anton Gryzlov, of DJ 108, of DJ Kefir, DJ Keet.

Hippoband

In March 1996, Maxim Leonidov decided to form his own group to resume the concert activity in Russia. Vladimir Gustov (guitar, vocals), Evgeny Oleshev (keyboards, vocals), Yuri Gurev (bass, vocals) and Evgeny Lependin (drums, vocals) responded to his proposal. After two months of rehearsals, at the end of May, the first concert took place. He went to the Conti casino and was a great success. It became clear that the group took place. In the same year, first at the studio "Lenfilm", and then at the newly opened studio of Vladimir Gustov "Favorite", work began on the album "Swimming over the city." The album was released in September 1997, and immediately became popular. Such hits as “Vision”, “In Her Eyes Khala-Gali”, “Swing Lane” were played by almost all Russian radio stations. By this time, E. Lependin moves to Moscow to work with Vladimir Presnyakov, and the long search for a replacement begins. In the group they beat several drummers until Yuri Sonin, who had played in various St. Petersburg alternative teams before, came to the group. The group starts hard work. On the wave of popularity, the guys traveled almost the whole country, not forgetting about the recording of the next album. It was released in 1999 and was called "Do not let it go." At the studio "Favorite" all the following Max Leonidov albums are recorded and mixed. These are: “The Best” (2000), “Thursday” (2001), “Hippopotasm” (2003), “146 Minutes in Russia” (2CD Live) (2004), “Basics of Feng Shui” (2005 ), “Peace For Mary” (2007). Very often, at concerts and in the studio, the magnificent St. Petersburg saxophonist Mikhail Liquid helps the group. Larisa Dolina (vocal), Nelli Zakrzhevskaya (violin) also took part in the recording of Maxim Leonidov's albums. On M. Leonidov's albums there are six songs written by V.Gustov: “Rain”, “Routes of Cranes”, “1979”, “Who am I”, “Barbie and Ken” (texts of Max) and “The Game” with lyrics by Alexander Volodin. Vladimir Gustov is the music director of the band, as well as the sound producer. Vladimir Gustov is also the sound producer of Secret (single "Disappears Nothing" (2003) and the album "All That Is Love" (2014).

Be Good

The Be Good musical project was founded in 1996 by members of the Radio Rock group that had broken up by that time - Vladimir Gustov and Igor Balakirev. All the songs included in the five albums, written by them together. English songs. The arrangements are made by Vladimir, Igor performs all the work on vocals.

As a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Vladimir Gustov took part in more than 2000 studio sessions. He is currently the music director and sound producer for the band Hippoband Maxim Leonidov . The albums of this group contain compositions, the music for which was written by Gustov: “Rain”, “Routes of Cranes”, “1979” and others.

At the same time, work continues on the instrumental project Cool Fire and the pop-rock project Be Good along with the St. Petersburg singer and composer Igor Balakirev. The recording of these projects takes place at the Favorit studio.

Radio Rock

• Religion ( 1989 )
• The Russian Eagle ( 1991 )
• The Crime & The Punishment ( 1995 )
• The Anthology (3CD box set ) ( 2016 )

Be Good

• All About You ( 2000 )
• Careless Child ( 2004 )
• See U Tonite ( 2006 )
• Seven Star Hotel ( 2009 )
• Welcome To My Party ( 2015 )
• Tribute Queen - Live at Coliseum ( 2015 )
• Not Bad - The Best! ( 2018 )

Solo

• Miracle of Miracles ( 1983 )
• Window in the Fall ( 1984 )
• The Snow Queen ( 1987 )
• The open door ( 1987 )
• Mystery Life (instumental) ( 1988 )
• Rock Tears (instumental) (1991)
• Ballads ( 1994 )
• Cool Fire (instumental) ( 1995 )
• Rabbits On the Moon (instumental) ( 2015 )

Nine times Vladimir Gustov was named among the best musicians of the country:

• 1983 - multi-instrumentalist, arranger;
• 1984, 1985, 2000 - guitar player;
• 1987, 1996 - composer;
• 1996 - overall musician;
• 2007 - sound engineer (twice).

In 1990, Vladimir Gustov’s song “New Day” performed by Larisa Dolina took second place in the hit parade of France.

In 2009, the group “Be Good” with the song “Keep On Playing Your Guitar” won second place in the competition Real Time Music-2009.

• The official channel of Vladimir Gustov on Youtube.com
• The official channel of the group “Be Good” on Myspace.com
• The article about Vladimir Gustov on Spblife.info
• Vladimir Gustov visiting Russian Rock program
• The official site of Vladimir Gustov and the studio "Favorite"
• The official site of Maxim Leonidov and the group Hippoband