Boris Grebenshikov is unquestionably one of the greatest living Russian songwriters. His influence stretches across all genres, much like his career.
Boris and his group Akvarium (Aquarium) blasted onto the Leningrad rock scene in 1973, when there were very few "official" groups in the Soviet Union. When they could not get sanctioned gigs, they played in underground venues, basements, back alley bars, and through it all they built up one of the most loyal fan bases of any Russian act. Today, they can still sell out any stadium in Russia.
Although Boris still performs and records with Akvarium, since 1984 he has periodically taken some time to do solo albums, including the US-released Radio Silence in 1989, when the words of the day were glasnost and perestroika. Some of his most interesting musical endeavours have resulted from these personal recordings, where Boris is able to explore the roots of his songwriting and Russian heritage. As a result of these releases, Boris has today come to symbolize the best of Russian music, with books of his poetry and lyrics becoming best-sellers and each album a huge success both critically and popularly.
