Gorky Park- Moscow English-language hard rock band. The first Soviet rock band to become popular in the USA. The group's songs were ranked in the Billboard Notes 100, and the video clip for the super hit " Bang"reached third place in the popular ratings on MTV.
The composition of the Group in the 80s: Nikolai Noskov (vocals), Alexander Yanenkov (solo guitar), Alexey Belov (rhythm guitar), Alexander Marshal (bass guitar) and ex-drummer of “Aria” Alexander Lvov.
The rock group was formed by the famous musician Stas Namin (Mikoyan). Stas got the idea of ​​creating a hard rock band aimed at the English-speaking world. Until the spring of 1987, the composition was finally selected and the rock group " Gorky Park"After rehearsals, she went on tour to the cities of the USSR. After the Leningrad performance, she acted as a warm-up band at a concert" Scorpions"The work of Gorky Park drew attention in the USA. Jon Bon Jovi himself drew attention to the work of the guys and, thanks to his authority, secured a contract to record a debut album with a famous record company" Polygram".
First self-titled album " Gorky Park", released in mid-1989, turned out to be a breakthrough. Several compositions immediately became super hits and were ranked in the world charts. Songs " My Generation", "Bang" And " Try to Find Me"gained nationwide fame in the United States. The rise in popularity of the group in the West occurred, among other things, due to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the curiosity of ordinary Americans about the life of the former enemy. The album reached eightieth place in the chart of the famous American magazine Billboard 200 and as a result of sales received gold status.
A few months later the single " Peace in Our Time", recorded with Jon Bon Jovi. The single received great commercial success.
In 1989 and 1990, Gorky Park actively toured the United States. However, by the end of the year, the group's lead singer Nikolai Noskov announced his departure from the group. Nikolai was tired of endless tours of foreign lands. He wanted to live with his family in Russia. After this event, Alexander Marshal became the lead singer of the group and the second album " Moscow Calling", released in the spring of 1993, only consolidated its success in many countries around the world. With the proceeds from the sale of the album, the musicians bought their own music studio in Los Angeles.
The group worked until 1999 and released two more albums, until Alexander Marshall left it. Alexander took up a solo career.

Below is a video clip of the rock band and several of the most famous songs of those years. Watch, listen and remember :)



You can listen to more compositions on Yandex music or a similar site.

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In the first decade of Soviet power, the state did not think much about the leisure of ordinary citizens - there was no time for that. Therefore, people vacationed spontaneously: some went to the village for the weekend to visit relatives, others went out of town for a picnic or fishing. But the majority whiled away their time in the city. If there were no plans to go on a visit, then the men would recklessly hammer the “goat” into dominoes in the communal kitchen, and their wives and children would try to get to the nearest cinema for the next silent film.

However, these simple entertainments were clearly not enough for a good rest - people understood this. The Soviet government also understood this: it was not without reason that in 1928 the organization of leisure for workers was elevated to the rank of one of the most important government tasks. It was decided to create comprehensive centers in the cities of the USSR, where, in addition to sports and entertainment events, cultural, educational and political educational work could be carried out among workers.

It was decided to make the first such center the most crowded place in the center of Moscow, near the Golitsynsky pond next to the Neskuchny Garden. And on August 12, 1928, the first cultural and recreation park in the Soviet Union was opened, which to this day is one of the favorite vacation spots of Muscovites. It was a huge open-air cultural and entertainment complex, on the territory of which there were several cultural and exhibition pavilions, attractions with carousel swings, a decorative swimming pool, a children's playground, and tennis courts. Such a park has never existed not only in the USSR, but nowhere else in the world.

And then, in the image and likeness of the capital’s miracle park, similar cultural and entertainment venues began to appear in other Soviet cities.

As a park of culture and recreation named after. Gorky became a Soviet brand

Many still wonder: how did it happen that in most Soviet cities the Central Park of Culture and Leisure (abbreviated as TsPKiO) almost simultaneously received the name of the famous proletarian writer and public figure Alexei Maksimovich (Maxim) Gorky? And the history of this name is as follows.

In 1932, the then popular writer Maxim Gorky returned to the USSR from Italy, where he had lived since 1921 and (according to the official version) was being treated for tuberculosis. And since he advocated for organized leisure throughout his written and oral speeches, the Moscow government decided to give Gorky a gift by naming the best park in the world after him. As for the regional leaders, they happily took up the initiative and immediately named the main parks in their cities in the same way. Thus, local officials killed two birds with one stone: they agreed with the party line and avoided the need to rack their brains over the name. Thus, the central parks of culture and recreation in Kharkov, Odessa, Kazan, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Minsk, Lugansk, Izhevsk, Yeisk, Taganrog, Krasnodar, Melitopol, Alma-Ata, Krasnoyarsk, Bendery, Sokol (Volgogradskaya region), Yalta. If you delve into the history of the USSR in more detail, then there will probably be an order of magnitude more of these cities.

Central Park of Culture as a reflection of the spirit of the times

It so happened that the main vacation spot for the townspeople became a mirror of the era. During the Soviet era, families and groups of friends came here; The main holidays of the country were celebrated here, and in the intervals between them - weddings and birthdays. The lovers, holding hands, walked along the narrow paths of the park under the canopy of centuries-old trees, indulging in romantic dreams, and when the dreams came true, they returned here with strollers from which plump little ones looked out.

In the summer, children attacked the rides, which, by the way, cost from 5 to 15 kopecks to ride. An hour before the start of the dancing, young people began to besiege the dance floors, and older people sat decorously on park benches, leisurely talking or reading the latest press. In winter, the park turned into a magical palace with ice, wooden and iron slides, with outlandish figures of animals and favorite fairy-tale characters. In the center of the park a skating rink was being poured, a ski track was laid along the perimeter, samovars with hot tea were smoking, fresh baked goods were inviting with aromas, skates and skis were rented.

On holidays and weekends, brass bands played here, celebrities performed, cafes and restaurants opened here. And on weekdays in the park you could always treat yourself to a hot pie, cool ice cream or kvass.

With the collapse of the USSR, the parks also changed. If in the early 90s they continued to operate by inertia (although the prices for attractions were already different), then after a couple of years it was unsafe to walk there even during the day. Gradually, the parks became empty, the attractions rusted and fell into disrepair, once well-groomed flower beds turned into disordered thickets...

But this desolation was short-lived: the rampant commercialization of the early 21st century simply could not pass by such a tasty morsel as several hectares of land in the city center. And the old city parks went under the axe. Not all, of course, and not completely, but in many post-Soviet cities the Central Parks have nevertheless noticeably “shrinked” in size.

Author's digression

The cold-blooded ax of the businessman did not escape our Kazan Central Park of Culture and Culture named after. Gorky is the oldest Kazan park, which appeared in the 19th century and was nicknamed at the same time for its unusual landscape "Russian Switzerland" . First, it was given a significant “cut” in 2000, when they decided to build the Millennium Bridge across the Kazanka River, connecting two large urban areas. At the same time, the “Surprise” and “Funny Coaster” rides, the “Romashka” carousel were removed and the famous “Ferris wheel” was dismantled, from which not only the entire city was visible, but also the opposite side of the Volga (and the width of the river near Kazan, for a moment, was more 4 kilometers).

The second time a saw and an ax went through the park’s centuries-old trees was in 2010: the city needed another transport interchange. Along with the plantings, the central part of the Central Park of Culture and Culture, where there were swing boats and a fountain with stone frogs, beloved by more than one generation of Kazan residents, was demolished.

Now in Kazan Central Park named after. There is not a single stationary attraction left in Gorky - only a few sculptures of fairy-tale characters remind us that they were once here.

There is no dance floor either old or new. Previously, there were tame squirrels here, which children fed from their palms with seeds and nuts. I don’t know whether they are now in the castrated park.

True, a beautiful dancing fountain was recently installed here, in which young people and children splash with pleasure in the summer. They promised to install a swing carousel, but these promises have been going on for four years now...

Looking at the changes that have occurred over the last quarter of a century, you understand: the old city parks have truly become a mirror in which the era of general chaos and subsequent general commercialization was reflected in all its ugliness. Nowadays, central parks in Russian cities are slowly being revived - but in a new form, still reflecting the spirit of the times...

In the 1970-1990s, the park became not as original as in previous years. During troubled times, they didn’t build anything new, they just updated the attractions. And these were not the good old swing-carousels, but creepy Americanized monsters.

The Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after M. Gorky is the main park of Moscow, located in the city center on the banks of the Moscow River at the address: Krymsky Val Street, building 9.

The M. Gorky Culture and Leisure Park was created by the decision of the Presidium of the Moscow Council of Workers, Red Army and Peasant Deputies on March 16, 1928 on the site of the 1st All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft-Industrial Exhibition. Since the formation of the park, Neskuchny Garden has been located within its borders - a natural park in Moscow, formed as a result of the merger of three estates of the 18th century that belonged to the princes Golitsyn, Trubetskoy and Demidov. Academician Ivan Zholtovsky, avant-garde architect Konstantin Melnikov, and architect Alexander Vlasov, who completed the final layout of the park, worked on the layout of the park. To enter the park there are two propylaea, built in the shape of the Triumphal Gate - from the side of Krymsky Val Street (1955, architect Yuri Shchuko) and a passage from Leninsky Prospekt. In 1932, the park was named after the writer Maxim Gorky.

Initially, the park hosted exhibitions of the Moscow City Council and organized sports and leisure activities. The park has rowing, baths, carousels, attractions (roller coasters, water slides, crashing cars), interest clubs gathered and sports tournaments were held. The first children's railway was opened in the children's town of the M. Gorky Park, and a circus tent was in operation. Mass events were held in the park: a carnival of nationalities, physical education festivals, prize competitions, and military and other orchestras played.

Entrance was paid; turnstiles were installed under the arch of the Main Entrance in the 2000s.

At the entrance to the park, visitors were greeted by a carousel with half-naked fairies. It has been preserved, only moved to the embankment.

Model of the space shuttle "Buran". Visitors climbed inside along airstrips based on MAZ and UAZ vehicles.

It is unlikely that the townspeople will greatly regret the dismantling of such attractions in 2011. What you can regret is the loss of the Ferris wheel - one of the oldest in Moscow.

The large Ferris wheel was built in 1958, its height is 60 meters (according to other sources - 45 m). One of the symbols of the then Gorky Park was dismantled in 2008.

The 14-meter-high children's Ferris wheel was preserved closer to Pushkinskaya Embankment, but was also dismantled around 2010-2011.

This was the view from above of the Vremena Goda restaurant. In the distance you can see the Hexagon pavilion with its roof still on. After the fires, both buildings were abandoned.

This is what the Vremena Goda restaurant looks like now. Reconstruction is planned with the subsequent placement of an exhibition of contemporary art.

At all times, there were many sculptural compositions in Gorky Park - from the classics of Shadr to modern, somewhat parody versions.

LJ user seg-o writes in his blog: Here we will talk about the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Gorky. About how I saw him last weekend and how he was before (very, very earlier).

A little history:
“Gorky Park in Moscow is located between Pushkinskaya Embankment and Leninsky Prospekt. In 1923, under the leadership of Academician I.V. Zholtovsky, the territory was developed to host the first All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition. In 1928, the territory of this exhibition, Neskuchny Garden and the adjacent part of Vorobyovy Gory were united into the Central Park of Culture and Culture. In 1930, architect A.V. Vlasov carried out its redevelopment. The entrances to the Central Park of Culture and Culture are made in the form of the Triumphal Gate and are located on the side of Krymsky Val Street and Leninsky Prospekt. In 1932, the Central Park of Culture and Culture was named after Maxim Gorky. In 1943-1948. On its territory there was an Exhibition of captured weapons.

In Soviet times, the Central Park of Culture and Culture was a town with its own police, fire and medical units. There was a post office and a savings bank here. By modern standards, the attractions were weak, but visitors sincerely enjoyed them. Competitions were held in running in bags or on one leg. Amateur artistic groups performed on the stage of the Green Theater. They sang songs to the accordion, the text of which was written on posters. And the visitors learned dances together with the entertainers. You could ride a boat or kayak. To kayak you had to wear sportswear. Before the war, carnivals were held at the Central Park of Culture and Culture. There were many retail outlets here, but the sale of alcohol was prohibited. In the last Soviet decades, the Central Park of Culture and Culture looked like a place of ordinary recreation.”

3. This is how visitors saw the park in the late 1920s.
Notice how cool the benches and minimalist flower beds are. The scoop was different - at first it was beautiful.

4. Now there is a lot of asphalt here, which does not add warmth to the recreation areas at all.

6. Some areas are covered with red sand.

7. The Internet is available almost throughout the entire park, which is certainly a huge technological breakthrough and a big step towards visitors, although it cannot serve as a determining factor when choosing a vacation spot.

8. These wonderful people are relaxing on the grass, despite the ban and a fine of three rubles. This probably comes from the fact that a person is always drawn closer to the ground. We need this contact.

9.And after some 80 years we were allowed. Allow it and even point it out. Here, they hung a sign - “you can.”

12.There are quite comfortable sun loungers on the lawns. Anyone can sit, move, or even sleep on them.

14. I am very glad that young and talented architects are attracted to design the park space. A couple of months ago, I already wrote that Moscow needs a new exhibition space for architects and designers. I think that the Central Park of Culture and Culture is an ideal place for this.

15. Let's look at some interesting examples from the life of small-form architecture in this territory. This lightweight, stylish design hides the strength meter and scales.
You see, a woman is in a hurry to go to a cafe, and the scale reminds her that she can’t eat much today. And then there will be “baba”.

16.Wooden structures in the 1920s - 30s.

17.Ice cream kiosks. This is not an umbrella from Mars.

18. Now the park has been cleared a little of those disgusting cafes and other objects that have taken over the open spaces and are filled with new wooden structures. They can't be called beautiful, but they are nice and clean and fit well into the surrounding space.

20. Although the bad taste of the last 20 years is still visible.

21.By the way, on the territory of the park there is a good, although not at all cheap, restaurant - “Fisherman's House” - opened by the popular Ginza Project. The average cost of lunch for two (without alcohol) will be 1500-2000 rubles.

23.Technology and design have not yet reached some corners of the park. Here, information stands are designed manually.

24.”Mail”.

25.Late 30s. Confectionery on wheels.

26.Here are some more old photographs.
TsPKiO. Stakhanov exhibition. The estimated date of shooting is 1939.
It’s so beautiful and cozy here that you want to walk into this photo and stand by the fountain, admiring the light and open architecture.

27.30s. Green Theater.
It’s a pity that now there is no such popular, spacious and comfortable venue for concerts in the park. Everything is somehow in a flowerbed...

28. And here’s also an excellent photo: “This year, the double-headed eagles on the Kremlin towers were replaced with stars (still of the first type, not luminous). And the eagles removed from the Kremlin towers were put on public display in the Central Park of Culture and Culture.”

29. And this photograph was taken in the 50s - “vacationers on Lily of the Valley Alley of the park.” Notice how the graceful columns support the garlands.

30. Now you can’t swim in the river, and not only because of the presence of river transport - the river is too dirty.

31. Ponds. This is how they swam in the early 50s.

32.Late 50s.

33.Late 60s(?).

34.And so they swim and relax by the water now.
It seems that the ship on which the vacationers are sailing sailed to us from those very 60s. It would be better if it were fresher.

35.But the coastal area is decorated very cool! Wood cladding, wi-fi and easy access to electrical outlets keep the desire to spend a significant amount of time here.

39.Collective sports activities.
“Gorky Park was created in 1928 as a “CULTURAL PLANT” in the open air on the territory of the former All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft Exhibition of 1923, Neskuchny Garden and the adjacent part of Vorobyovy Gory.”

40. Now the park has an interesting sports ground. I've never ridden a board, but I love this idea!

43. Pleasant and unobtrusive navigation is located throughout the park.

45. You can tell a lot about a restaurant or cafe by the appearance and condition of the toilet. Let's try to do the same with a public toilet in the park.
The appearance is quite pleasant and inspires confidence. We can say that the “owner” is a solid person with a conservative outlook on life, but attaches great importance to little things. And even many years of existence in an unfavorable environment could not push him off his intended path. This is cool!

46. ​​Let's go inside.
Paid entry. Internet in the park is free, but going to the toilet costs 20 rubles. And Iota will not help here.
As can be seen with the naked eye, the contents of such an impressionable structure were stuck somewhere in the early 90s, covered with multi-colored but variegated tiles (so that we didn’t have to wash them often), plastic lining and a persistent aroma reminding us that it was time for us to go out.

What can we conclude from this?
I think that the park management is on the right track, but it is still too early to be satisfied with what we have.

While summer is still here, be sure to go to the Park. See how it develops. Tell me.