Rock group "Chayf": history, creativity, concerts

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The Ural group "Chayf" has not only remained very popular for more than thirty years, but also retains its unique style and image. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the team has not lost its creative potential and has developed along with its listener.

How it all began

Chayf group officially appeared in 1984 in Sverdlovsk. However, before that, a company of musicians from Vladimir Shakhrin, Vladimir Begunov and other school friends played the music of Western rock bands together for several years and performed on dance floors. In 1983, Shakhrin met Oleg Reshetnikov and Vladimir Kukushkin, who persuaded him to create a new group that would perform songs written by him. Vladimir called an old friend Begunov to the new group. A little later, Kukushkin goes into the army, but it is to him that the group owes its name. The word "chaif" comes from the fusion of the words "tea" and "kayf", that is how Kukushkin called very strong tea brewed by the guys during rehearsals. When the team needed a name, this word surfaced, which everyone really liked.

FirstThe Chaif group gives an official concert on September 29, 1985 at the Sverdlovsk Palace of Culture. However, by this time the group already had a magnetic album "Verkh-Isetsky Pond", which was recorded at such an amateur level that the group does not include it in its official discography. However, thanks to this recording, which fell into the hands of journalist Andrey Matveev, the band was invited to participate in a combined rock music concert, where Shakhrin met the best musicians in the city.

Formative Years

In 1985 the "Chayf" group recorded a double magnetic album "Life in Pink Smoke". In 1986, the band triumphantly performed at the first Sverdlovsk rock festival, earning popularity among listeners and respect from colleagues. The popularity of the group did not go unnoticed by the authorities, and it was put on the banned list, Shakhrin was summoned to the relevant authorities and demanded to give a promise that he would never write and sing songs again. But already in the fall of 1986, a group with a company of musicians known in the city, including Vyacheslav Butusov, Dmitry Umetsky, Yegor Belkin, recorded a new album "Saturday Evening in Sverdlovsk". The recording was subsequently lost, but its resonance was very great.

In 1987, "Chayf", a rock band touring a lot, attends a festival in Riga, participates in Lituanika-88 and wins real people's love. Their fame is growing, the composition changes periodically, but the unchanging pair of Shakhrin - Begunov ensure its stability andsingle direction. Although the band's sound could be different from album to album, the lyrics remained bright and memorable.

Rise and fame

In 1987, the Chaif group moved to Leningrad, but forever retains the Sverdlovsk uniqueness. From that moment on, their fame only grows. Participation in rock festivals, tours around the country and, most importantly, magnetic recordings made them the idols of millions.

In 1988 "Chayf" recorded the next album "The Best City of Europe", and in 1989 - the album "It's not a problem". The songs of the Chaif group are becoming extremely popular. In 1990, they recorded a record at the Melodiya studio and became headliners at major rock festivals such as Pure Water Rock. Their concerts gather stadiums and sports palaces.

In 1996, the group participates in the election campaign of Boris Yeltsin, who worked in Sverdlovsk for many years.

In 2000, "Chayf" celebrates its 15th anniversary on a grand scale, the final point in the tour marathon was the 20,000th concert at the "Olympic".

Today

In the early 2000s, "Chayf" toured a lot, filmed clips "Don't take it to the limit", "White bird", "Don't call". In total, the group shot more than 20 clips. They experiment a little with sound, inviting different musicians, and even entire groups for joint concerts and recordings.

In the 21st centuryChaif - a group that has not lost its popularity - is changing a little. The team no longer collects stadiums, it has changed mainly venues to club stages. Although the anniversary tour of the cities of Russia and neighboring countries was held in the format of large halls.

In 2000, various awards and prizes rained down on the group: "For contribution to rock culture", as the best group of the year, etc.

Person of soloist

The permanent soloist of the Chaif group Vladimir Shakhrin was born on June 22, 1959 in the Ural city of Sverdlovsk. The only education he received was a construction technical school. Since childhood I have been fond of playing the guitar and singing. Composing his own songs begins in the early 80s in the wake of the rise of rock culture in the country. He creates his first group "Paints" in 1976, in 1984 he gathers a team that will become his life's work and will be called "Chayf". Shakhrin is the author of all the lyrics of the band's songs.

In 2006, Vladimir Shakhrin released the book "Open Files" about the history of the group. In 2009, he acts as an actor in a radio play for children based on the fairy tale "Zhuzha. Journey of a jalopy".

Shakhrin's personal life is a mystery with seven seals. It is known that he met his future wife in 1976. His wife Elena is an architect, in addition to running the house, she also works on large projects. The couple have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Discography and concerts

The "Chayf" group has released 22albums, 5 of them in acoustic sound, several live recordings and collections. Music "Chayf" sounds in several films: "Election Day", "Radio Day", "Hipsters".

Any concert of the "Chayf" group is a significant event for the public, as they do not have passing programs. For each tour, the group carefully prepares, developing the concept of a concert show. In recent years, concerts have not become smaller, but the band gives big tours only on round dates.