Balunov, Alexander Valentinovich

He graduated from primary school at school number 334, later studied at the Leningrad school number 147, together with future colleagues in the group - Mikhail Gorshenyov and Alexander Schigolev. In 1988, the three of them founded a group called The Office. Later the group became known as “The King and the Jester” and Andrey “Prince” Knyazev joined the permanent membership. Initially, and until 1996, Alexander Balunov played the guitar, and in 1993-1995 he played the role of the second vocalist, since Andrei Knyazev was in the army. Alexander was also taken into the army, but only for a few weeks. After the band performed at the festival “Fill the sky with kindness” on June 23, 1996, the bass player Grigory Kuzmin leaves the “King and the Jester”. From then until 2006, Alexander Balunov played bass in the band. In 2003, together with Mikhail Gorshenev, Andrey Knyazev, Yakov Tsvirkunov and Alexander Leontyev, he took part in the project “Rock band” in the song “Pops”.

On January 31, 2006, having lost in the group of 18 years, he went on indefinite leave. Returning two weeks later, he lost with the group for two days and made a final decision to leave. Since then lives in the USA , is engaged in creative activities. In 2006, he performed with the band as a bass player on their American tour. In 2008, he helped Michael Gorshenev record the song “Don't crucify me” together with California-based Red Elvises . He "often goes to concerts of the group, he will come to Luzhniki." And he enters the rehearsal point, even sings there with us, as in the old days ” ^[1] . In 2012, he recorded a tribute to the hit of the 70s “Do you believe me?” (Music by Alexey Rybnikov, lyrics by A.Kokhanovsky). In 2013, he created the Balu and Boatswain project in America.

In 2014, Alexander Balunov, together with Andrei Knyazev, organized the King and the Jester group of archives and rarities, which includes rare records from the Heresy album, as well as other previously unreleased King and the Jester records. Alexander himself is working on the restoration of the materials together with the California recording studio. ^[2]

In 2015, Alexander Balunov released the single "Like a Star" together with the California-based Red Elvises , consisting of three songs.

In August 2016, a book by Alexander Balunov entitled “The King and the Jester. Between Kupchino and Rzhevka ” ^{[3] [4]} .

On March 19, 2017, Alexander Balunov's debut studio album, “Songs of Love and Friendship,” was released. The release was carried out by the Soyuz Music company ^[5]

In June 2017, a book by Alexander Balunov entitled “The King and the Jester. Endless story ” ^[6]

In May 2018, the maxi-single of Alexander Balunov and Andrey Knyazev “Prince and Balu. Children's Songs for Adults " ^[7]

The first wife is Inna Demidova, Alexander divorced her. From this marriage, the son of Cyril (born 1995) was born - he is fond of playing the guitar, plays in the Chunder group and collaborates with the Austrian group Princesse Angine.

There is also a son Vasily (born 2003), born in union with the press secretary of the King and the Jester group Anastasia Rogozhnikova.

Currently lives in California with Irina Kosinovskaya.

Guitars

• Black Jolana Diamant is Balu's first electric guitar. He played it in 1992-1993. With this guitar, the band first performed at the rhythm school of Igor Golubev on 13 Rubinstein.
• Kramer Pariah Ebony in silver is one of Balu's first guitars. He played it in 1994-1995 in the TaM-tAm club. It was with her that the first full-length album was recorded - Be at home, Traveler .
• White Danelectro Baritone - Balu guitar, after which he finally switched to bass. He played it in 1995-1996. He performed at concerts: “Rusty wires”, and also recorded the concert “Fill the sky with kindness”.

Bass Guitars

• Black Jolana D-Bass - Balu's first bass guitar. He played it in 1993 at the TaM-tAm club, when Pot took his guitar for one song, Bal had to take bass from Ryabchik.
• Black Aria Legend STB-JB-DX BK is Balu's first professional bass guitar. He played it in 1996-1998. She recorded a concert Festival of buffoons .
• The blue colored Rickenbacker 4003S Midnight Blue is Balu's most famous guitar, played on it in 1999-2002. With this bass, the concerts “ Eaten the meat of men ” and “ Dead Anarchist ” were recorded. ^[eight]
• Fender American Deluxe Precision Sunburst - also brought from the USA, played on it in 2003.
• Yellow Fender Zone - an exclusive model brought by Alexander from America. He played it mainly in 2003-2006. Took her to America with him. With this bass, a concert at the Olympic is recorded. Also, after Balu left for America, Renegade played in the Oktyabrsky Concert Hall.

Singles

• 2013 - Fear and Loathing (Baloo and Boatswain)
• 2015 - Like a Star (single) (Baloo and Red Elvises)
• 2017 - Death of the Jester (Balu, Prince, Sid, Chacha, Marrader)
• 2017 - I am going to your home (Baloo and Red Elvises)
• 2017 - Where the sun rises in the morning
• 2018 - Children's songs for adults (Prince and Balu)

Unreleased albums (rarities)

Studio albums

• “Look after yourself” (King and the Jester as part of the KINOproby project) (2000) - the song is not included in the official discography of the King and the Jester group. It was performed in honor of the memory of Tsoi and the Kino group. Bass guitar, backing vocals.
• “Summer Is Coming Soon” (Kukryniksy) (2001)
• “Cat” (King and the Jester as part of the Rock Group project) (2003) - the song is not included in the official discography of the King and the Jester group. Together with Balu, the participants were: Pot, Prince, Yasha and Renegade. Bass Guitar, backing vocals.
• "Scarecrow" (Kukryniksy and King and the Jester) (2003) - the song is not included in the official discography of the group "King and the Jester", was specially recorded for the album Kukryniksy Clash . Bas-guitar.
• “Don't Crucify Me” (Red Elvises) (2008) - participated in the first version of the song, and helped Mikhail Gorshenev “Pot” with the text.
• “Do you believe me?” - (2011) a song in which Baloo sang with his wife and played the guitar.

• Balunov A.V. King and the Jester. Between Kupchino and Rzhevka .... - M.: AST, 2016. - 384 p. - (Legends of Russian rock). - 17,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-17-089136-8 .
• Balunov A.V. King and the Jester. Endless story .... - M .: "AST", 2017. - 304 p. - (Legends of Russian rock). - 12,000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-17-094010-3