Mumiy Troll
Encyclopedia
Mumiy Troll is a Russia
n rock group
, founded in 1983 in Vladivostok
by vocalist and songwriter Ilya Lagutenko (Илья Лагутенко). The literal name of the band, 'The mummies'
troll
', is a pun on Moomin Troll
, the series of Finnish children's books by Tove Jansson
.
Mumiy Troll broke up when Lagutenko, who graduated in Mandarin and Chinese Economy, went to serve in the Soviet army
(Russian Air Navy). Then he came back and they gained immense popularity with the release of their first (official) album Morskaya (Морская, Marine) in May 1997, which showcased a combination of melodic hard rock
and Lagutenko's offbeat lyrics and coy, androgynous performance style. The second CD Ikra (Икра, Caviar), followed seven months later, and was equally successful.
Mumiy Troll remains one of Russia's most popular musical acts. Ilya Lagutenko defined their music style as rockapops. Once again Mumiy Troll became the leader of an entire new musical trend copied now to greater or lesser degree by Russian wannabees and mainstream artists. Being an example of one of the successful long-standing independent artists in Russia band released 8 studio albums so far, wrote and produced soundtracks for a full length cartoon movie and gave a new sound to classic Russian silent sci-fi movie and donated tracks to feature films including Russian blockbuster Night Watch
, where Ilya also plays the Vampire. His face is on the cover of the American release.
Mumiy Troll is well known in Japan
, China
and Europe
. The band cooperate with “Shoot The Artist” (Bjorn Tagemoose, video) and “Tne Agency” (North American tours-2009). The band's North American tour of 16 dates earlier this year was a huge success, so “The Agency” announced another two month North American tour.
Mumiy Troll is not a one-man band – the 4 people on stage have been together for the last 10 years. Yuri Tsaler
, one of the most admirable guitarists in the country, is also the co-author of some of the songs. Oleg Pungin began his drumming career at the age of 7 and is still delivering the strongest pumping beats as he helps to record a good half of all records in Russia. Sdwig is the bass player who is in charge of introducing the band to modern-day technologies.
Mumiy Troll was the first to support the activities of PSI organization fighting AIDS in Russia and performed at the No Name Fever exhibition for AIDS in Gothenburg
, Sweden
in 2005. They are also well known for conservation activities on wild life in Far-East taiga and helping local minorities to survive. Ilya Lagutenko is a patron of the British-Russian Amur fund for the protection of Amur tigers and leopards.
Mumiy Troll – first in Russia and one of the first in the world – opened its own social network Ikra.tv.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n rock group
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, founded in 1983 in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
by vocalist and songwriter Ilya Lagutenko (Илья Лагутенко). The literal name of the band, 'The mummies'
Mummy
A mummy is a body, human or animal, whose skin and organs have been preserved by either intentional or incidental exposure to chemicals, extreme coldness , very low humidity, or lack of air when bodies are submerged in bogs, so that the recovered body will not decay further if kept in cool and dry...
troll
Troll
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...
', is a pun on Moomin Troll
Moomin
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses...
, the series of Finnish children's books by Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson
Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-Finnish novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. She is best known as the author of the Moomin books.- Biography :...
.
Mumiy Troll broke up when Lagutenko, who graduated in Mandarin and Chinese Economy, went to serve in the Soviet army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
(Russian Air Navy). Then he came back and they gained immense popularity with the release of their first (official) album Morskaya (Морская, Marine) in May 1997, which showcased a combination of melodic hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and Lagutenko's offbeat lyrics and coy, androgynous performance style. The second CD Ikra (Икра, Caviar), followed seven months later, and was equally successful.
Mumiy Troll remains one of Russia's most popular musical acts. Ilya Lagutenko defined their music style as rockapops. Once again Mumiy Troll became the leader of an entire new musical trend copied now to greater or lesser degree by Russian wannabees and mainstream artists. Being an example of one of the successful long-standing independent artists in Russia band released 8 studio albums so far, wrote and produced soundtracks for a full length cartoon movie and gave a new sound to classic Russian silent sci-fi movie and donated tracks to feature films including Russian blockbuster Night Watch
Night Watch (2004 film)
Night Watch is a 2004 Russian supernatural thriller film directed by Timur Bekmambetov. It is loosely based on the novel The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko, and is the first part of a trilogy, followed by Day Watch and ending supposedly with Twilight Watch .-Plot:In the prologue, which...
, where Ilya also plays the Vampire. His face is on the cover of the American release.
Mumiy Troll is well known in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The band cooperate with “Shoot The Artist” (Bjorn Tagemoose, video) and “Tne Agency” (North American tours-2009). The band's North American tour of 16 dates earlier this year was a huge success, so “The Agency” announced another two month North American tour.
Mumiy Troll is not a one-man band – the 4 people on stage have been together for the last 10 years. Yuri Tsaler
Yuri Tsaler
Yuriy Alexandrovich Tsaler is a Russian musician playing on solo guitar in the band Mumiy Troll.He studied piano at the Tchaikovsky Music Academy, then worked in a bread factory, for all of one day....
, one of the most admirable guitarists in the country, is also the co-author of some of the songs. Oleg Pungin began his drumming career at the age of 7 and is still delivering the strongest pumping beats as he helps to record a good half of all records in Russia. Sdwig is the bass player who is in charge of introducing the band to modern-day technologies.
Mumiy Troll was the first to support the activities of PSI organization fighting AIDS in Russia and performed at the No Name Fever exhibition for AIDS in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 2005. They are also well known for conservation activities on wild life in Far-East taiga and helping local minorities to survive. Ilya Lagutenko is a patron of the British-Russian Amur fund for the protection of Amur tigers and leopards.
Mumiy Troll – first in Russia and one of the first in the world – opened its own social network Ikra.tv.
Trivia
- The first Russian music video to be broadcast by MTV Russia in 1998 was Mumiy Troll's Vladivostok 2000.
- The very same day that Mumiy Troll scheduled the release of the single 'The Carnival Is Over' Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
took over from Boris Yeltsin. - Time Out (LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) wrote that they 'stole the show' when they represented Russia in the 2001 Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, writing that they stood out as snakeskin heroes amongst all the taffeta and tuxedos. - Their album Merger and Acquisitions (2005) was called back from the printers on the day of release when distributors realized that the bride and groom on the cover were wearing masks of Putin and Mikhail KhodorkovskyMikhail KhodorkovskyMikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky is a Russian prisoner, considered by some - such as Amnesty International - to have been imprisoned for political reasons, jailed until 2016 and a former Russian oligarch and businessman...
. The band changed them into symbols of hearts and United States dollars respectively.
Members
- Ilya Lagutenko: lead vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Eugene "Sdwig" Zvidionny: bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Oleg PunginOleg PunginOleg Pungin, is the drummer of the band Mumiy Troll.From 1st to 10th grade he was a member of the children’s ensemble, Schastlivoye Detstvo . At the end of the 1980s — after finishing school — he worked in a Pacific Fleet song and dance ensemble...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Yuri TsalerYuri TsalerYuriy Alexandrovich Tsaler is a Russian musician playing on solo guitar in the band Mumiy Troll.He studied piano at the Tchaikovsky Music Academy, then worked in a bread factory, for all of one day....
: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
Discography
- 1985 – Novaya luna aprelya (Новая луна апреля, New Moon In April)
- 1990 – Delay Yu-Yu (Делай Ю-Ю, Do The Yu-Yu)
- 1997 – Morskaya (Морская, Nautical)
- 1997 – Ikra (Икра, Caviar)
- 1998 – Shamora – pravda o Mumiyakh i Trollyakh (Шамора. Правда о Мумиях и Троллях, Shamora: The Truth About The Mummys and Trolls)
- 1998 – S novym godom, Kroshka! (С Новым Годом, Крошка!, Happy New Year, Baby!)
- 2000 – Tochno rtut' aloe (Точно Ртуть Алоэ, Just Mercury Of Aloe)
- 2002 – Meamury (Меамуры)
- 2004 – Pokhitityeli knig (Похитители Книг, The Book Thieves)
- 2005 – Sliyaniye i pogloshcheniye (Слияние и Поглощение, Merger and Acquisition)
- 2007 – Amba (Амба)
- 2008 – 8
- 2009 – Comrade Ambassador – US release (in Russian)
- 2010 – Paradise Ahead – US EP Release
- 2010 – Redkie zemli (Редкие земли)
Awards
- 1997 The Best Still Image 1996 for Utekai (Run Away) The Best Still Image 1997 for Delfiny (Dolphins) – the award from the Pokolenie Video Festival.
- 1997 The Best Rock Group 1997 – Ovation prize from the Russian Music Academy.
- 1997 The Best Group 1997, The Best Album 1997 for Morskaya (Nautical), The Best Song 1997 for Utekai (Run Away), The Best Group 1998, The Best Video 1998 for Delfiny (Dolphins), The Best Video 1999 for Nevesta? (Bride?), The Best Musical Site 1999 – Russian music magazine Fuzz prize
- November 2002 Golden Disk according to the Meamories album sales in Latvia.
- 2002 Zolotoy Grammofon (Golden Gramophone) premium (for the most popular song at Russkoe Radio in 2002) was awarded for the song Eto po lubvi (Because of Love).
- 2002 The Best Group 2002, The Best Song 2002 for Eto po lubvi (Because of love) – the Poboroll prize from Nashe Radio.
- May 2004 Golden Disk according to the Pohititeli Knig album sales in Latvia.
- 2005 The Best Album 2005 for Sliyanie i Pogloshenie (Merger and Acquisition) – Russian music magazine Fuzz prize.
- 2006 Animation category – video clip Strakhu Net – Russian Flash Awards prize.
- 2006 For the contribution to rock-art – Russian music magazine Fuzz prize.
- 2006 Legend of MTV – MTV Russia Music Awards.
- 2008 The Best Album 2008 – Mumiy Troll, «8» – Chartova Duzhina
- 2008 The Best Music 2008 – Mumiy Troll, Contrabands – Chartova Duzhina
- 2008 Internet 2008 – Mumiy Troll, www.mumiytroll.com – Steppe Wolf
- 2008 CD 2008 – Mumiy Troll, «8» – Steppe Wolf
- 2009 The Best Group 2009 – Mumiy Troll – Chartova Duzhina