“Combination”: group composition
Alexander accidentally met one of the soloists, Tanya Ivanova, on the street. Vitaly Okorokov brought Alena Apina, a student at the conservatory. After some time, four more participants joined them.
By August 1988, the band's lineup was as follows:
- Tanya Ivanova - vocals.
- Sveta Kostyko – keyboards.
- Alena Apina - vocals.
- Tanya Dolganova – guitar.
- Yulia Kozyulkova - drums.
- Olga Akhunova – bass guitar.
The girls managed to find a common language. They wanted to achieve the main goal - all-Russian popularity. However, the composition of the team changed several times. In 1994, Natalya Pushkareva joined the group. She took the place of the departed Angela Brodova.
In 1995, “Combination” was replenished with a new guitarist. Ekaterina Bolotova replaced Elena Molchanova. That's not all. In 2007, the composition changed again. The vacant position of bass guitarist was filled by Elena Chervyakova.
Deadly Threat
— Shishinin discussed with me his problems with Lisovsky. Alena Apina leaving the group . Alexander Iratov ’s alleged love for her is all bullshit. Iratov was a stage performer who held Sochi in the summer. He knew very well which artists made good box office receipts. And he had an idea - to take Apina and Tanya Ivanova from Shishinin and ride them under the name “Combination”. But, according to Sasha’s stories, Ivanova doubted: “What if Iratov throws me out? Will I end up under the fence? I thought about it and stayed in the group.
Irat’s scheme burst. And then Lisovsky came to his aid, acting as a good “roof.” He had his own program “Show Exchange” on Channel One, in which concerts of artists were announced. Anyone who entered into a contract with him and paid him part of the income from concerts received the rights to broadcast in this and other programs of Channel One. Only Apina, under this contract, was shown a million times in a year.
And “Combination”, which had the same contract and regularly paid for it, was given only one broadcast in German Sterligov’s “Million on Ice”. Shishinin went with me to Lisovsky in Luzhniki and asked: “Seryozha, where are the promised broadcasts?” But I didn’t get anything from him. But Lisovsky refused to terminate the contract. So a war broke out between them.
The producer rested in the Elshansky cemetery in Saratov. Photo by Olga Nikitina/m-necro.narod.ru
Long before this, I told Shishinin: “Sasha, you need to create a legal entity and register the name of the group.” But he had no time. He was constantly calling someone, going somewhere. Then the fight with his field wife Angela Brodova . She was a natural witch who passed from one musician to another and was eventually stabbed to death by someone in Norilsk. She did not allow Shishinin to live in peace. On tour she went to the left and fought with Alena Apina. In general, he had no time for legal issues.
Only when Lisovsky registered the “Combination” trademark for himself and announced a recruitment of new members, Sasha became agitated and tried to defend the name of the group. He had “Combinations” records, on which it was written whose project it was. And in court he could easily defend his rights. And it would be a slap in the face for Lisovsky. By that time, Bogdan Titomir , Alexander Malinin , and many other artists had already left him. And attacks began on Shishinin.
Sasha himself told me how they shouted at him on his answering machine: “Bitch, drive away the lemon!” Before the murder, he even wrote a statement to the police about these attacks. It’s easy to guess whose order it was. It was to Lisovsky’s benefit to eliminate Sasha.
Yuri Anatolyevich with his wife Natalya Shishinina and their daughter Ulyana. Photo: Facebook.com
Albums
The debut album “Knight's Move” went on sale in 1988. However, she was not particularly successful. But the second album (Russian girls) was sold out by fans of the band in just a few days.
Unfortunately, there was already speculation going on then. The scammers managed to profit well from the popularity of the group. The director of “Combination” had his demo tape stolen. And then thousands of pirated records called “Angelica” were published. However, the fame and reputation of the team did not suffer.
In the period from 1989 to 1990, the girls gave concerts at the largest venues in the country. In addition, they managed to appear in the film “Face” with Dmitry Kharatyan.
Soon the group began recording their third disc, “Moscow Registration”. This record literally brought the girls to the top of the charts. Such compositions as “Accountant” and American boy won people’s love. Videos of the same name were also shot, which were watched by millions of viewers.
By the time of the release of the fourth album (“Two Pieces of Sausage”) Alena Apina was no longer in the team. The songs were performed by Tanya Ivanova alone. The composition was recorded in English especially for tours in Europe and the USA.
As for the fifth disc (“The Most-Most”), it was created in collaboration with composer I. Sarukhanov. This album was highly appreciated by listeners and music critics. And indeed, the quality of the recording, arrangement and material itself was excellent.
The band released their final album in 1998. It was called "Let's Chat." Then the group delighted fans with collections of their best songs.
In 2003, “Combination” celebrated its 15th anniversary. During this time, the composition changed several times. The only one who remained faithful to the team was soloist Tanya Ivanova.
“I instilled in my daughter a love for Sting”
Does your husband ask you to sing at home?
- Every day! Infection, I got it. I don’t sing at all at home, but he swears a lot: “You’re a singer! Sing, come on!”
Hot Caucasian guy allows you to tour?
- Ha ha. Elchin, when he was not yet my husband, knew who he was meeting and what it threatened him with. Therefore, in this regard, no problems arose and do not arise, despite the fact that he is Caucasian. Everyone asks: “How? And are you still alive? He doesn’t walk around the house with a dagger, he’s an absolutely intelligent person, a former dentist, his parents are professors. Alena Apina introduced us. He was looking for a bride, wanted to marry an artist. He was offered a choice of me, Chernikova and Linda. He looked at all of us: “No, I’d rather take Ivanova.” I hope I don’t regret it - we’ve been living here for 16 years. He was very handsome, and I liked him both as a person and as a man. I didn’t find myself in the trash heap either. Everything has grown together. Although we are not officially scheduled yet. But, as my child says, it’s too late to rush around.
Does your daughter listen to your songs?
- No. She likes heavy, rocky things. But I instilled in her a love for Sting, this is my merit and pride.
Are you a good mom?
- I think so, without false modesty. I just remember how I was raised. Mom worked three shifts at the factory, dad worked hard too, and there was no time for sentimentality. Therefore, from an early age, I strived to become, first of all, a friend for Masha, and then a mother. Naturally, I will tear anyone for her, and she knows it. What makes me happy: at her age, and she will be 14 in February, she tells me her girlish secrets and shares her sympathies. I think this is my great merit.
Have the grooms arrived yet?
- Not yet. Masha is in 8th grade. But I’m not worried about her, she’s very smart. Well, the suitors will go - where would we be without them?
We wanted to make a cut called “Two Pieces of Sausage,” but I didn’t want to poison people!”
Do you have any hobbies? Maybe you're into sports?
- God bless you, of course not, what a sport! There is only one sport – a sofa and a TV. I like to relax with the remote control on the sofa and my sportiness lies in the fact that I watch competitions and can even cheer. Since my husband loves football, I am condemned to watch it.
— Besides sports, what programs do you prefer?
— I don’t watch TV series, I rarely watch music programs. Mostly - about nature, weather, I look at animals - we have a cat named Kex, he was given as a British cat, he has already gained seven kilos, but the British devil has not been found. In a word, those programs that are without politics - about gardens, vegetable gardens, interiors, about construction. For the last two years, my hobby has been construction. I work as a foreman for myself. I've gotten around to it - I know everything, how to bury and unearth, how to put, how to send. I hope that by the summer we will complete the house in the Moscow region, three km from the capital, I would like to sit on the porch somehow. The house is small - if it were big, it would take another three years to build, but I want to do it faster. A plot of six acres, like all Soviet people. I would like to own six hectares someday.
Now the stars are starting some other business.
— A candle factory is very necessary, especially since retirement is coming soon. To be honest, I’m not a businesswoman in this matter,” here Tatiana emphatically knocks on the table. Probably not a given. At one time they wanted to make sliced sausage so that it would be clear what it was called. And then it became somehow lazy, and I didn’t want to poison people again. Later, maybe.
Crime stories related to the collective
In 1993, the director of the Combination, Alexander Shishinin, was murdered. He was returning home after work. At the entrance, a man was attacked by an unknown person with a knife. Alexander was struck several times in the stomach. The man died from heavy blood loss. Who did the director of the popular group cross? Recently, some strange people called and threatened Shishinin. They offered him cooperation with. But he refused, and as a result paid with his life. The most surprising thing is that Shishinin’s killer was never found.
In January 2006, the poet Yuri Druzhkov, who wrote several songs for the Combination, died. For several years the man led an immoral lifestyle. Alcoholics, former prisoners and even homeless people constantly came to his apartment. On the night of January 4-5, Yuri got into a drunken fight with another guest - the young poet Timofey Astakhin. At some point, the guy grabbed a knife and stuck it in Druzhkov’s neck. The wound turned out to be fatal.
The high-profile career of Tatyana Ivanova in the group “Combination”
Following Ivanova, a more experienced participant, conservatory student Alena Apina (before her artistic career, Elena Levochkina) joined the group. In 1989, the country was captivated by the song “Russian girls” and people started talking loudly about Saratov girls. The popularity of the “Combination” grew at lightning speed, its faces were Tatyana Ivanova and Alena Apina.
The time has come to conquer the capital. Tatyana had her first date with Moscow on November 7, 1988, when fireworks were still being held on Red Square in honor of the victory of the proletariat. Tatyana's delight after modest Saratov knew no bounds. Tatyana Ivanova & group SPORTLOTO - American Boy Having plunged into big show business, Tatyana and the group gave 60-70 concerts a month. The girls were pretty tired. The “Combination” gathered huge halls and stadiums. Like all the girls, Ivanova received a good fee, but the concert organizers earned the most.
By the way, Alexander Shishinin fundamentally determined the same fees for all girls. He also strictly monitored their morality and order. After all, mothers almost let their children leave the house with a signature. Also, by verbal consent, the group members were not recommended to fall in love and get married.
However, how can one not fall in love at 17-18 years old... Meanwhile, the leading soloist continued to soar to the peak of popularity. The group recorded several albums, including “Russian Girls” and “Moscow Registration”.
Tatyana Ivanova and Alena Apina, together with the other participants Svetlana Kostyko, Tanya Dolganova, Olya Akhunova and drummer Yulia Kozyulkova, graced the top of all the charts. On the waves of success, the “Combination” group worked with Igor Sarukhanov (album “The Most-Most”), director Sergei Kosmachev, and starred in a film with actor Dmitry Kharatyan. Tatyana Ivanova (Combination) - Rainy Season (1997) Tatyana Ivanova, as part of the group, accomplished many tours to America and Europe. Russian starlets were especially warmly received in Germany. A serious crack in the work of everyone’s favorite “Combination” occurred when Apina left, having fallen in love with the divinely handsome Alexander Iratov.
In 1993, the group suddenly lost Alexander Shishinin. He was killed in the entrance of his house for an unknown reason. Neither the customer nor the contractor were found.
Not everyone supported Vitaly Okorokov’s desire to produce Combination. Talmatsky joined the group, and the working conditions changed dramatically. Vocalist Svetlana Kashina also did not get along with him.
It was incredibly difficult for Tatyana, left alone, she continued to sing and made a lot of effort to preserve the group, in which, after Alena left, the composition began to change, and even recorded a new album, “Let's Chat” (1998).
Stars tend to come on and go out. However, “Combination” and its inspirer Tatyana Ivanova never lost popularity. Today, many nostalgically listen to “Ksyusha”, “Accountant”, “American boy”, “Love leaves slowly” and other songs.
Childhood and teenage years of the future singer Tatyana Ivanova
From birth to adolescence, Tatyana Ivanova lived in the modest city of Saratov, walked with her bosom friend Natasha, attended discos and prepared to enter the Polytechnic Institute.
She grew up as a lively and mischievous girl, she knew how to stand up for herself. She loved listening to the songs of “Tender May,” she sang everywhere, she knew folk songs, but she didn’t think about becoming a singer. In the summer of 1988, the entrance exams to the Polytechnic were passed, and the girl was resting before the start of the school year.
However, she only had the opportunity to listen to professorial lectures within the walls of the temple of science for two weeks. The future director of the “Combination” group, the author of song lyrics Alexander Shishinin and composer Vitaly Okorokov came to Saratov.
Tatyana Ivanova became popular after participating in the group “Combination”
They were already obsessed with the idea of creating a new group and were selecting its composition. Tatyana's friend Natasha had amazingly beautiful legs, better than those of models. Walking through the streets of Saratov, Sasha Shishinin drew attention to them.
Looking at her feet, he asked the girl what her name was and if she could sing. Here Natalya immediately remembered her friend, answering that she herself does not sing, but her friend Tanya sings everywhere and always. And an absolutely young creature in a miniskirt and with a long braid appeared before Shishinin.
Alexander, in bewilderment, asked if this child could sing and invited him to an audition. The girls had to take an exam from Vitaly Okorokov. Even her long legs could not save her friend Natasha, since she had absolutely no hearing. But Tatyana was immediately offered to sing.
In September 1988, instead of marks in the student record book, Tatyana received the first ovation from the audience when the debut of “Combination” took place.
