VV’s twenty-fifth anniversary

In all probability our newspaper has not missed any of the significant events in VV’s or Oleh Skrypka’s life: the band’s 20th anniversary, the festivals Kraina Mrii and Rock-Sich, Oleh’s performance with Le Grand Orchestra, his work as a DJ or in the jazz-cabaret... “Den is a friend of mine,” says the leader of the band. “I have very little time for interviews, but I find the time for you. I know that your edition is reputable; it’s a certain trademark of exquisite style and good taste. Moreover, your materials often resonate.”

This time the reason for our meeting was the 25th anniversary of the legendary rock group, the opening of Kraina Mrii on June 25-26, and Skrypka’s performance at the Venice Biennale. According to the Vopli Vidopliassova’s frontman, the first part of their anniversary tour will take place in Russia, then they will go further abroad, and in autumn and winter they will play in Ukraine. The tour will end with a benefit performance in Kyiv. “There aren’t, probably, fewer Ukrainians in Russia than in Ukraine,” he says. “Russians listen to us as well. By the way, the greatest number of our concerts [there] took place when Yushchenko was president and when Ukraine was on TV all the time. Incidentally, information is crucial in the show business. It doesn’t matter whether it’s positive or negative. When a gas war erupts the group has lots of concerts.” “Moreover, some Russians subconsciously suspect that their cultural origins go back to our background,” continues Oleh, “At least, in terms of music. The melody of ‘genuine Russian rock’ is borrowed from Cossack songs. Russia’s cultural intelligentsia supports us and wants us to be able to protect our democratic values. This will give them a chance.”

The central event of this year’s Kraina Mrii will be a large ethnic fashion parade of domestic designers. Interesting new bands will perform as well. Groups from Canada and the US will come for the first time; the organizers managed to invite them owing to our Russian neighbors — these bands will take part in the Kazan festival prior to the event in Ukraine. Oleh Skrypka is going to sing ethnic jazz, accompanied by the Zabava jazz band. Now he’s going to the Venice Biennale as a DJ. “I’ll play ethnic disco music in one of the Venice cathedrals,” he says. “Theoretically, I can imagine it, but practically…Obviously, it has to be unexpected and interesting.” Find out more about this and other events in our upcoming issues.