Alexander Sklyar, biography, news, photos

Childhood and youth

Alexander Sklyar was born in Moscow on March 7, 1958. He was brought up in a family of intellectuals: his father Felix Sidorovich is a physicist, his mother Irina Viktorovna is a journalist. He was the only child in the family. Studied at the school named after L.I. Milgram. In his youth, he was fond of sports - he played football, volleyball, did karate, and received first class in swimming. He devoted a lot of time to alpine skiing, but after being injured during training and lying with a broken leg for two months, he decided to leave the sport.

Musician Alexander Sklyar

The boy showed his love for music at the age of 7, so his parents decided to help develop their son’s talent and sent him to a music school.

He graduated from high school with honors, so he decided to enter MGIMO to study international economic relations. He easily passed the passing grade, and in 1979 he graduated from the institute and went to the DPRK as a diplomat. For five whole years, the future rock musician worked as a diplomat, first as a secretary-assistant, and then as an attaché in the city of Chongdin.

Alexander Sklyar

He devoted all his free time to music; during his student years he played the guitar, and soon began writing poetry and composing music for them.

For a long time, Sklyar’s father was angry with his son for choosing to become a musician. He didn’t come to his concerts for 16 years. And only in 2002 he attended the performance of his only son. By the way, Alexander Sklyar always puts the letter “F” between his last name and first name - this is in honor of his father Felix Sklyar.

Music

Upon returning from the DPRK, Alexander Sklyar took the position of artistic director at the House of Culture at the Institute. Kurchatova. He approached his work with great enthusiasm; he often organized concerts with the participation of well-known rock bands at that time: “Kino”, “Bravo”, “.

Alexander Sklyar and Garik Sukachev

Even before leaving for North Korea, he and Vasily Shumov organized the rock group “777”, which later received the name “Center”, but this happened already when Sklyar left Moscow. Therefore, when organizing rock concerts, including for the Center group, Alexander himself dreamed of singing on stage and basking in the applause of the audience.

On March 4, 1986, Sklyar assembled the first line-up of his own group, which he gave the name “Va-Bank”. The classic line-up of the group was formed in the summer of 1986: Alexander Sklyar, Alexey Nikitin, Igor “Egor” Nikonov, Robert “Grandfather” Rednikin, Alexander Malikov and Uncle Vova Rodzianko.

Alexander Sklyar and the Va-Bank group

"Va-Bank" became the first group that managed to travel abroad to the Rob Reggae festival in Warsaw. And in 1988 they recorded an album in Finland, which was also new for domestic rock bands.

In the mid-90s, Sklyar decided to pursue a solo career. One of Sklyar’s significant works was a joint project with Garik Sukachev “Boatswain and the Tramp”. The album was released in 1995, and later rock musicians shot a video for the most popular song in the album - “I recognize a sweetheart by his gait.”

In 1997, a collection of folk and Soviet songs, “Tanks Rumbled at the Sea,” was published; the album includes Sklyar’s song “Young Sailor.” In 2008, Alexander F. Sklyar announced the dissolution of the Va-Bank group; the rights to the name remained with him. One of the musician’s last works was the recording of a joint track “Sansara” with Basta, Diana Arbenina, Sergei Bobunets, “Sunsay”, with Skryptonite and Ant.

In addition to music, Alexander is engaged in writing. In 2014, he published his own book, “In Search of Eldorado.” It included his poems, several prose “pieces,” and excerpts from his personal memoirs. By the way, this work cannot be called a debut, since back in 1991, in collaboration with Roman Kanushkin, they wrote a book of children's fairy tales. As a result, five books about the adventures of Petrovich and Patapum were published from their common pen; the circulation exceeded one million two hundred thousand copies.

In the early 90s, the musician hosted his own radio program “Learning to Swim” on Radio Maximum. This was the only program at that time dedicated to alternative and heavy music. He also starred in several films. One of the most significant roles in cinema was the role of psychotherapist Dvornikov in the film “Closed Spaces”.

In addition, the musician voices audiobooks. Alexander Sklyar’s works include the translation into audio format of Viktor Pelevin’s books “Chapaev and Emptiness” and “Helmet of Horror”. According to OM magazine, Alexander Sklyar was one of the fifty people who influenced the culture of the 90s. On this list, the musician is “adjacent” to Gorbachev, Mikhalkov and Konchalovsky.

Creativity[edit | edit code]

In the late 1970s, before traveling to Korea, Sklyar played guitar in Vasily Shumov’s group “777”. Upon returning from Korea in 1985, he joined Shumov’s next group, “Center,” and participated in the recording of its album, “Signs of Life.”

A.F. Sklyar became famous as the leader of the Va-Bank group, which he created in Moscow in June 1986.

In 1987, the group “Va-Bank” participated in the “Rock Panorama”, the next year they toured Finland, recorded the album “VA-BANK” (in English), performed in Norway, and toured Europe in 1989 . Since 1987, the Va-Bank group has been among the best alternative Russian teams.

In 1991, the group performed at the Rock Against Terror festival - together with Alisa, DDT, and Brigade S. At the same time, the album “Drink to Me” was released in Lithuania, recorded in 10 days in the Moscow Palace of Culture of Rusakova. At the same time, Alexander Sklyar’s original program “Learn to Swim” appeared on Radio Maximum, which was later resumed on Radio Station 2000.

For many years he led the “Learn to Swim” movement, which promoted a healthy lifestyle, and broadcast on well-known radio stations. For his success in developing the “Learn to Swim” movement, Alexander Sklyar was named by “” magazine among fifty people who influenced popular culture of the 1990s, along with Gorbachev and Konchalovsky.

In 1995, according to a Radio Maximum poll, the song “Eldorado” was among the 50 best songs of the year. At the same time, A.F. Sklyar and Garik Sukachev’s “Boatswain and the Tramp” tour took place in Moscow clubs. By special invitation, the Va-Bank group visited Prague, where they took part in a joint concert with the English punk rock legend UK Subs. At the end of 1999, a new album by the Va-Bank group, “Lower Tundra,” was released, created with the participation of Viktor Pelevin.

In the solo albums of the “all-in period” there was close collaboration with the writer Evgeny Golovin, who wrote many of the lyrics[8].

The singer loves to change his images and surprise his fans. Thus, in the video for the song “Lyuba Babavaya” from the latest album “Vasya the Conscience”, Alexander Sklyar appeared in the image of a “blonde”[9].

He carried out joint projects with singer Irina Bogushevskaya and the lead singer of the Agatha Christie group Gleb Samoilov[8].

In March 2014, he performed at a charity concert in Sevastopol in support of the referendum on the status of Crimea as part of the “Soldier's Heart” campaign[10][11]. At the invitation of Zakhar Prilepin, he gave several concerts for civilians and members of military formations in Lugansk in October 2014[12].

On April 1, 2020, I recorded a new version of the song “The priest had a dog.”

Personal life

Alexander Sklyar is married. True, he carefully hides his beloved woman from the media. It is known that her name is Lena, they have a common son, Peter. By the way, he was born on the day the Va-Bank group was created - March 4, 1986. Peter graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University.

Alexander Sklyar

In 2020, the young man presented the album “Slovographica”, but, oddly enough, not musical, but artistic. Peter visualizes proverbs and sayings. In this work he can be called an innovator; no one has done this before. The young man proved himself to be a talented artist. Preparing for publication of the second book.

Alexander Sklyar now

In 2020, Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which Alexander Sklyar was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

Alexander F. Sklyar has an active position regarding the situation in Donbass. His new song "Millions" has literally broken the Internet. Therefore, he simply could not come to Lugansk and not sing for the militias and residents of the city. Together with the writer Zakhar Prilepin, he accompanied humanitarian cargo.

Alexander Sklyar

He also came to Crimea two days before the Referendum, gave a concert in Sevastopol, and in 2020 he returned again and performed in honor of the Day of Liberation from the Nazi invaders. In the fall of 2016, Alexander Sklyar, together with Vladimir Zakharchenko, came under fire. This happened between Yasinovataya and Avdeevka, near Donetsk. Fortunately, no one was injured in this shelling.

He participated in the television project “Fort Boyard” three times. In 2006 he played with his son Peter.

Alexander Sklyar in 2020

In 2020, the RT channel showed a new video from the Revolution 360 series - “Lenin and Stalin at a safe house.” Alexander Sklyar played the role of revolutionary Sergei Alliluyev. In the story, he and his wife decide how to change Lenin’s appearance so that he can freely leave Petrograd.

The singer does not have a page on Instagram, but is registered on other social networks. Also, until 2014, he maintained a personal blog on the Echo of Moscow website.

Bibliography[edit | edit code]

Books[edit | edit code]

1. 2014 — “In Search of Eldorado”[16]. Eksmo, 400 p. ISBN 978-5-699-70634-1

Co-author[edit | edit code]

Together with Roman Kanushkin:

1. 1991 - “Petrovich and Patapum in the magic labyrinth.” Cultural and commercial club “!Bekas”, 24 p. ISBN 5-7340-0001-9
2. 1992 - “The Great Space Journey of Petrovich and Patapum.” Cultural and commercial club “!Bekas”, 32 p. ISBN 5-7340-0002-7
3. 1992 - “Petrovich and Patapum on the island of pirates.” Cultural and commercial club “!Bekas”, 32 p. ISBN 5-7340-0003-5
4. 1993 - “Petrovich and Patapum in the land of ghosts.” ABclub, AST-Press, 166 p. ISBN 5-88196-129-3
5. 2002 - “The Adventures of Petrovich and Patapum.” Astrel, Onyx 21st century, 256 p. ISBN 5-17-008701-2

Discography

• 1995 - “Boatswain and the Tramp” (together with Garik Sukachev)
• 1997 - “Gypsy Rock and Roll” (together with the “Pearl Brothers”)
• 1998 — “Towards Tango”
• 2000 — “Brazilian cruiser. Strange songs of A. N. Vertinsky" (together with Irina Bogushevskaya)
• 2002 — “Witches and Bitches”
• 2004 — “DandyDiana”
• 2007 — “City X”
• 2008 — “Songs of Sailors”
• 2010 — “Songs of sailors. Part 2"
• 2011 — “Vasya-Conscience”
• 2012 — “Russian Sun” (compositions by Alexander Vertinsky)
• 2013 — “Word and deed. Favorite songs of Vasya-Conscience"
• 2015 — “Years and Songs. The best"
• 2016 — “Hawk”

Notes[edit | edit code]

1. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin of November 21, 2015 No. 566 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation”
2. ↑ 1 2 3 4 A. Monakhov, O. Saprykina.
   Attache in leather pants // Musical special issue of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. — P. 2.
3. www.aif.by.
   "At least I tried."
   Alexander F. Sklyar - about the USSR and how they give up their career as a diplomat for the sake of music (undefined)
   . www.aif.by (August 31, 2016). Retrieved January 29, 2020.
4. Vladimir Polupanov.
   Alexander F. Sklyar: “The 90s were a shameful time for our country”
   (unspecified)
   . aif.ru (August 18, 2016). Retrieved January 29, 2020.
5. SHUM INFO | Electronic Music in Russia Electronic Music of Russia (undefined)
   . Retrieved January 11, 2013. Archived January 21, 2013.
6. ↑ 1 2
   Alexander F. Sklyar
   (unspecified)
   . Snob.
7. Musical project – “QUARTET 4X4” (undefined)
   . Culture (TV channel) (September 8, 2018).
8. ↑ 123
   Moscow 24 ― “Pravda 24”: Alexander Sklyar about Vertinsky and Russian rock
9. Lyuba-babavaya on ThankYou.ru
10. “Songs of honor” “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”
11. “Alexander F. Sklyar on support for Sevastopol” “TV project “Pravda 24”” on the channel “Moscow 24”
12. Alexander Sklyar gave a concert in Lugansk, Novorossiya News Agency
    (October 29, 2014).
13. Alexander F. Sklyar, Oleg Litvishko “City X” - Rolling Stone magazine (unspecified)
    (inaccessible link). Retrieved April 21, 2020. Archived April 27, 2020.
14. Alexander F. Sklyar “City X” (Other Cinema / Carmen Video). Review | KM.RU
15. My Vysotsky - Garik Sukachev, Reproductor.Net - Music News
    (April 2, 2015). Retrieved October 28, 2020.
16. Alexander F. Sklyar “In Search of Eldorado”: ​​» © Newspaper “Musical Pravda”, Interview, Music » Evgeny Y. Dodolev » Publishing House “New Look” «
17. Snob (Russian). snob.ru. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
18. Sklyar spoke about his grandfather from SMERSH (Russian). Rambler/cinema. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
19. Sklyar, Sidor Nikonovich - Personnel of the NKVD 1935-1939 (unspecified)
    . nkvd.memo.ru. Retrieved January 30, 2020.