History of the group's creation
Alexey Ryzhov and Nikolai Timofeev are old school friends. Together they participated in KVN, and in the late 1980s they decided to create a group. At first, the guys acted as disc jockeys at club discos. And in June 1990, Alexey and Nikolai began to sing. The first composition of the group “Disco Accident” was a duet. The team did not receive its sonorous name right away. Before this, options such as “Fire Extinguisher” and “Interview” were tried. The guys worked within the walls of the “Avaria” club. It was this establishment that later became the source of the group's name.
Initially, Nikolai Timofeev and Alexey Ryzhov chose the rock direction. But due to the lack of money and high-quality equipment, they had to do something else, namely holding discos.
Nikolai TIMOFEEV “The time is coming for a white stripe”
In July, for all fans of one of the main (and, let us add, one of the most decent) groups of the domestic pop scene, “Disco Crash”
The shocking news came out like a bolt from the blue that the co-founder, face and voice of the project,
Nikolai Timofeev
.
This was followed by a whole series of interviews in which former colleagues gave varying information about the reasons for the actual collapse of the team. Those who remained with the same name, Alexey Ryzhov
and
Alexey Serov
, argued that Nikolai himself decided to leave the group.
In turn, Timofeev claimed that he was “asked” from the group, abruptly and without warning. Not long ago, Sounds already spoke with one side of the conflict about the future plans for the development of the group, but now it’s Nikolai’s turn. He recently presented his solo program in one of the Moscow clubs, consisting only of new songs, and in the near future his first solo single and video “Happy New Year!”
Sounds.Ru
: Let's talk about the new program.
As far as I understand, it was written entirely by you? Nikolai
: No, why, not just me.
I also brought in some authors. Zvuki.Ru
: Young or famous?
Nikolai
: Young.
Zvuki.Ru
: Was there some kind of cry?
They say, I’m looking for songwriters... Nikolay
: There was a cry, but, unfortunately, non-professionals responded to it.
So far this is of little use. But the authors were found through friends, through recommendations - I won’t reveal their names yet, otherwise they will all run away at once (laughs)
.
Before they become arrogant, let them cooperate with me. Moreover, the ideas for most of the songs are mine. That is, here is the first single “Happy New Year”
- a song by me.
Soon I will present another song, which, it seems to me, will completely change the idea of me as an artist, people will see me from a completely different side - the words and music were also written entirely by me. But here are other things, for example, “Everything is ahead”
- it was written by another author, but with my presentation and idea - in close collaboration during creation.
Sounds.Ru
: For some reason I thought that you wrote the entire program in 4 months
Nikolay
: No, no.
But, you know, I've been dreaming about music often for the last few years. Not every day, but sometimes, at some moments it comes, closer to the morning. It can be different - techno, and even chanson, and slow compositions a la Elton John
.
At a certain point, I learned to record this on a voice recorder on my phone, and I already have a lot of such recordings - it just takes time to formalize this matter. Now I’m back on track as an active touring artist, let’s call it that... Since I’m no longer in a group and belong to myself, I’ll have more time for creativity. I will bring all these ideas to life. Zvuki.Ru
: Did you even try to write songs during the “Crash”?
Nikolay
: When the “Accident” happened, they just started to appear in dreams.
Zvuki.Ru
: It turns out that these preparations have been accumulating for a long time?
Nikolay
: Some yes.
As for the creation of the “Accident” songs, I was rather a co-author with Ryzhov. Sometimes ideas, sometimes in terms of “it’s bad here, but it’s good here,” but no more. Initially, this was simply his function - I was more of a star on stage (laughs)
.
Sounds.Ru
:
“Happy New Year”
is a song that sounds quite expected from you.
It is also opportunistic; it is not very easy to use it to create an idea of your solo work. If some program is already ready, can you somehow describe it? Except for the song they don't expect from you. Nikolai
: By the way, I’m not sure that it will be included in the album.
The next one should be recorded under it (laughs)
.
Zvuki.Ru
: Rock?
Nikolai
: What kind of rock?!
It seems to me that everyone is waiting for rock ballads from me. Just the recent presentation of my program began with the presentation of a slow pop-rock thing. In general, it’s difficult to somehow determine what style and genre I work in. Well, first of all, this is popular music. I don’t know how to characterize this more specifically. Yes, I don’t care what it’s called. The main thing is that I have a number of songs that I really like. And the arrangement suits me, and how I sing, and what I sing about. Of course, I will work in the entertainment genre. I have humorous songs, and there are also very serious ones that give reason to think, reflect on your life and place in this world. I won’t have such a narrow specialization as the Leningrad
- just entertainment, for example, or just corporate stories, or songs about love and that’s it.
Everything will be mixed together, like a vinaigrette. And no one knows what I will want to do in a year. Maybe in a year I’ll actually become an alternative musician, I’ll play hard thrash rock music. In principle, I like different music - The Doors
with
The Rolling Stones
, and
Scooter
with David Guetta
,
and even the group
“White Eagle”
.
I approach any music from the position of not “ugh, what disgusting”, but on the contrary - why some people like this song. I’m starting to find “catchy things” in every song... Zvuki.Ru
: Do you pay attention as an artist?
Nikolai
: No, as a person. For some reason, we tend to take everything with hostility; even on the Internet, comments boil down to the fact that everyone is an asshole.
Sounds.Ru
: Do you follow what they write about you on the Internet?
Nikolai
: I read, naturally.
Zvuki.Ru
: How do you feel about negative comments?
Nikolai
: Oh, you know, there are few of them!
Hardly ever. Everyone supports me, waiting for songs and material. A lot of people are on my side. Zvuki.Ru
: Have you thought about duets?
Are there any plans? Nikolay
: Listen, there is not a single duet song yet.
Zvuki.Ru
: It’s just that “Accident” has been actively taking advantage of this recently.
Nikolay
: When a genre crisis occurs, stars have to “stick” to each other so that they are better rotated on television and radio.
And it’s even better if there are ten stars at once, as in “Closing the Circle
.
You know, I would actually like to do something in the spirit of “Closing the Circle”
- gather a dozen artists I like and record
(smiles thoughtfully)
...
Sounds.Ru
: Well, there weren't very many such songs.
Nikolay
: This should be done, why not.
I didn’t think about duets at all - I still need to convey my story to the public. After all, many of those associated with show business management are already saying this: “Nikolai Timofeev?
No, I don’t know that. "Disco Crash" - we know, Timofeev - no .
And the fact that he was the face of a popular group on the professional stage for 15 years no longer interests them. Moreover, here they are, new songs.
. ” Well, these are the costs of our domestic industry. I understand that if you work as a music editor who decides the fate of artists, you must be impartial and anti-corruption. How can you adhere to this if you have attachments and taste preferences, how can you step on your own throat? So they can’t. That's why we have what we have. A lot of talented bands in Russia and Moscow in particular, which attract a normal number of people at concerts and a decent number of fans, do not get broadcast. And on the air - the same ones.
Sounds.Ru
: When will the album be released or will there be mass concerts?
For example, I learned about the presentation after the fact. Or do you have other goals for now? Nikolay
: You yourself understand that albums in a commercial sense are no longer interesting, since the CD market has virtually ceased to exist.
That’s why I don’t even think about any kind of record. I’m thinking about how to properly create a program, a live performance, and I’m getting fat from songs (laughs)
.
The main task is the material. Plus, it would also be nice to have some more rest - it was a difficult four months. Against the backdrop of such a minor nervous breakdown, it’s still not easy to leave the group and the cause to which you devoted most of your life. Now I want the New Year to pass to a greater extent, I want to take care of myself... Go to the bathhouse, swim (laughs)
. It's fun to record songs - not because you need to do something quickly. Videos need to be shot, again - I presented seven songs at the presentation and realized that they were all good, it’s not even clear which one to shoot a video for. I conducted a survey among my friends - everyone named different compositions, and in each one someone found something for themselves.
Sounds.Ru
: Do you ask someone for advice on the path of development?
Accident, at one time, was quite progressively and unexpectedly promoted - from remixes to “Lyapis Trubetskoy”
, through such niche dance songs as
“The Trumpet is Calling”
and
“Come on, Accident!”
already to
“At the forefront of attack”
.
Nikolai
: I was directly involved in the process of establishing the Accident, and what was at the beginning, what you are talking about, were my ideas, too.
With the exception of remixes for “Lyapis” - this was the idea of our first producer Peter Volkov
.
He simply produced both groups, and thus did well for both. And all these “Come on, Accident!”
- this is our creativity.
But I was talking about a few other things. Now the clip “Come on, Accident!”
would not have worked either in terms of quality or public interest.
I’m now studying the video production process - I don’t have an established video team, I have to delve into many technical aspects. Zvuki.Ru
: So, you personally control everything?
Nikolai
: Well, yes.
Now there’s a slight hiccup with the “Happy New Year”
- I didn’t come across professionals, I trusted people... Gullibility is my problem. I got used to trusting people’s words, and once again I paid for it. The clip had to be out at the end of November in order to send it to the channels. But so far what is there does not suit me in terms of level. We will finish filming and re-editing in the next couple of days.
Sounds.Ru
: Now, after the time that has passed since leaving the group, do you feel any positive aspects in existence as a solo artist?
Nikolai
: Listen, there are a lot of positive points.
Some are positive. Before the presentation I was a little scared, but now, after the speech, maybe just a little bit. Now, I’ll release a couple more videos, and again I’ll become Nikolai Timofeev, who was at the beginning of the formation of the “Disco Accident” group - that’s for sure. I am now my own boss. I live my own life, I am engaged in creativity, I have no producer, “barabas-barabas”, director, no companions. I am free, in the full sense of the word. I sing what I want and how I want, I dance how I want, I shoot the videos I want... Well, maybe at first they will be like those of a beginning artist - well, I’m a beginning artist (smiles)
.
But starting over is great. I think that “Disco Crash” is already a retro story that has left a powerful mark on the history of Russian show business, but is now going through hard times. I watched the last clip, which is about “Legs”
...
Zvuki.Ru
: Well, this story with taking a soloist, it seems to me, was inspired by the example of
A' Studio
.
Nikolay
: The story there is different in all respects, such parallels cannot be drawn.
And in terms of relationships, and in terms of situation, and in terms of time. When I hear “A' Studio” I immediately remember the song “Julia”
- that’s “A’ Studio” for me.
And now it’s Keti Topuria
and the group “A’ Studio”
(emphasizes the “and”)
. It’s not clear what will happen if Katie leaves now... And what’s going on in “Accident” now is clear that they need to do something, they can’t cope together.
Sounds.Ru
: Well, there have already been a lot of conversations on this topic, so I decided once again not to ask for details.
Nikolay
: So our society has formed like this... consumerist.
Everyone is interested in scandals. Despite the fact that they said that party workers were bad and scoundrels, their ideology was largely correct. At least when it comes to raising children and teenagers. In the nineties and zeros, this was no longer the case. And these children grew up and became 18-25 year old adults who were not cared for by anyone. Therefore, they are interested in everything “yellow”. Although not everyone, there are very smart guys. Zvuki.Ru
: Well, it seems to me that some of Avaria’s songs, by the way, now would not be able to achieve the same success as at the turn of the nineties and zeros.
Nikolay
: You know, we generally lived at a time when show business continued to take shape, and was at such a conventional crossroads - from the Philharmonic to commerce, roughly speaking. We appeared at this crossroads. It was easier for us to fit into this space. In those years, it was enough to simply bring normal material to the MTV channel - and they would play it. Now no one will do anything just like that. You either have to have connections, or pay money, or be someone’s artist, belong to some production center. And independent artists have nothing.
Sounds.Ru
: Yes, we now have practically no independent artists on the stage.
Nikolai
: I'll try. I tried it with Disco and it worked... I remember the contracts that were offered to us - it was such, excuse me, bondage. Having read the fairy tale “The Golden Key” as a child, I have since drawn my own conclusions. I think that in my case everything will work out and work out. Because the material is really strong, the voice is recognizable, it can’t be taken away from me, the face is also promoted. I have a plan to enter this market in a completely different way. This is a more difficult path, I won’t tell it to anyone. But I developed it. Let's see if it succeeds or not. This, of course, also depends on my desire - so that the day does not come when I say “fuck it all” and go somewhere to Spain. I hope such a day will not come. Sometimes you encounter such bad taste in people, you just grab your head - are these really our people... It happens, it’s very upsetting. But I hope for the best. I always went through life with this, despite all the troubles and problems. After the black stripe there is always a white stripe. It's time for the white stripe.
New members
In the early 90s, few people knew what “Disco Crash” was. The group was replenished in 1992. Its new member was former actor Oleg Zhukov. After 4 years, the trio turned into a quartet. Alexey Serov joined the guys. In this composition, the “Avarians” performed at discos and public events in the city of Ivanovo.
In 1997, their first album was released, called “Dance with Me.” The discs were immediately snapped up by residents of the Ivanovo region. The guys were happy, but continued to dream of all-Russian glory.
In 1999, Alexey Ryzhov contacted representatives of the Soyuz studio and offered them several compositions. Producers from Moscow became interested in the group. And soon the “Avarians” were expected to tour the country, high fees and crowds of fans. They were invited to appear on television and radio broadcasts.
In 2001, “Disco Crash” released the album “Maniacs”, the entire edition of which was sold out in a few days. The guys were awarded the prestigious Record award.
In February 2002, the group lost one of its members. After a long illness, Oleg Zhukov left this world. For the rest of the “accidents” this was a real blow. Therefore, it was decided to suspend the group’s activities for some time.
Since 2003, “Disco Crash” began to appear on music TV channels again. The composition of the group was still a trio. Nobody wanted to look for a replacement for the deceased Oleg Zhukov.
Nikolai Timofeev and “Disco “Accident”
After school, Nikolai became a student at the Energy University. Ryzhov also studied there. Having united, they organized their first musical group, which they called “Fire Extinguisher”. Soon the guys won the city ensemble competition.
Two years later, Timofeev’s musical group was renamed. The reason was an incident that happened during one of the discos. When the lights suddenly went out and panic began, the young people, without being taken aback, announced that no one should worry, since “Disco “Accident” was with them. The young musicians liked this spontaneous name so much that they decided to continue calling themselves by this name.
In 1992, Oleg Zhukov joined the duet of Timofeev and Ryzhov. Four years later, after the band released their debut album “Dance with Me,” Alexey Serov also came to them. Zhukov and Serov were the main vocalists. In the seven numbered albums released, Timofeev's singing is heard only in a few songs.
Soon Nikolai began writing songs, but none of his works were included in the repertoire of the musical group.
Alexey Serov
Born on November 15, 1970 in Ivanovo. Father and mother are professional musicians. From early childhood, Lesha decided to follow in their footsteps. He went to music school and performed in a pop ensemble. And in my teens I became seriously interested in football. Alexey Serov graduated from Ivanovo State University with a degree in law. In 1992 he was invited to “Disco Accident”.
Start
Music entered the life of Nikolai Timofeev in early childhood. Together with his parents, he attended Alla Pugacheva’s concert, and the spectacle he saw made an indelible impression on the four-year-old boy. Father and mother were far from creativity, but even then the son made his choice - his life would certainly be connected with this art. City dance ensemble, clubs, music school - from childhood he was immersed in music, leaving time for study and sports. Versatile and enthusiastic, he simply had to become a star.
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As a teenager, he went to a pioneer camp for the summer, where he made a significant acquaintance with Alexei Ryzhov. The fussy and emotional boy was also interested in music, and the guys quickly became friends. At one point they become the stars of the camp and hold discos. Nikolai Timofeev and his new friend decide not to lose touch with the end of the holidays. Since this summer, they have never been apart, and even entered the Energy University together. There they organized the first group called “Fire Extinguisher”. In 1988, they became interested in the guys, and soon they were already hosting their own show on the radio. Along the way, they ran discos in Ivanovo, where they played their covers and remixes of famous songs. The "Avaria" club became their main place of work and gave them a sonorous name for the musical group.
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Nikolai Timofeev left the group
In 2012, one of the founders of Disco Avaria announced his resignation. Nikolai Timofeev worked in this team for more than 22 years. The news about the departure of the handsome brunette was a real blow for his fans. Soon Timofeev admitted to journalists that he did not leave the group of his own free will. He was literally forced to do this. Every year, relationships with colleagues became more and more unbearable.
Nikolai announced that he does not plan to pursue a solo career. Today he makes a living by writing songs and creating backing tracks for various events. Unlike his colleagues in show business, Timofeev does not prohibit Ryzhov and Serov from performing compositions written by him.
Decay
By 2012, the guys were exhausted. Not many songs were released anymore, and conflicts began in the group. Nikolai Timofeev leaves the group, and endless trials and litigation begin. The frontman himself has repeatedly stated that he did not leave of his own free will - he was forced. The court decided to reserve the right to use the name of the group and the entire repertoire for Ryzhov and Serov. Although Nikolai wrote songs, they did not fit and were not included in the repertoire. 22 years of fruitful creativity are over. Timofeev went to build a solo career, and the guys took a new soloist into the group. But starting everything from scratch alone turned out to be not so easy, and now almost nothing is heard about Nikolai, and “Disco Crash” continues to produce good songs and shoot videos.
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