Today day 13 of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler was a slow day for live shows on the Village Square stage but it was a nice change from the live acts we had been seeing the last couple days. Gorky Park was the lead band on the stage today with an awesome rock show.
Gorky Park is a Rock band from Russia who started way back in 1987. At the time there was a lot of tension between Russia and the United States which made it a difficult time to break into the music industry in Russia, but some turn of events in the 80′s helped them brake it big.
The group consists of guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander “Big Sasha” Minkov, guitarist Jan Ianenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov came together to form Gorky Park.
Gorky Park live in Whistler
In 1980 the releationship between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R had intenseified. The 1979 Soviet intervention in Afghanistan spurred United States President Jimmy Carter to issue an ultimatum that the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympics if Soviet troops did not withdraw from the country.
In an attempt to impede the increasing presence of American culture that crept into the U.S.S.R through a thriving black market, Chernenko placed a ban on playing and listening to rock & roll music. Chernenko stated that “Rock music, along with other elements of Western culture, is part of an arsenal of subversive weapons aimed at undermining the commitment of young Russians to Communist ideology.”
Gorky Park Live in Whistler
Just like the U.S. in the 1950s, the condemnation of rock & roll by politicians actually helped spur the music’s popularity. When Mikhail Gorbachev came to power many of the restrictions placed on music by the previous administration were lifted. This helped the underground rock and roll scene to thrive.
With the decrease in travel restrictions in Russia Gorky Park was able to leave Russia for America in search of a record deal. When the band arrived in the United States they quickly started to make strong connections in the music business.
Gorky Park live in Whistler
Some of the first people to take notice to the band where famous guitarists Frank Zappa, Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora. Eventually Gorky Park scored a deal with Mercury Records.
This all started happening at a good time for Gorky Park. This was the year when the Iron Curtain began collasping with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The new sense of goodwill between east and west helped Gorky Park became a symbol of American-Russia unity.
Gorky Park live in Whistler
The band’s first video, “Bang,” received heavy MTV rotation. Their next two singles, “Try to Find Me” and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, “Peace in Our Time,” received heavy rotation on mainstream radio.
“While still popular in Russia the group will always be known to Americans (who remember them) as the first Russian glam rock band to wind up on MTV.” ~ Curtis Zimmermann, All Music Guide
Gorky Park played a nice set of Rock that was a real treat to hear after listening to many wonderful North American bands play their remixed Reggae, Blues, Funk, Folk and Electric music. I would enjoy listening to their albums if I could get my hands on a copy.
Check out the previous day of Olympic in Whistler, Damian Marley – Olympic Victory Ceremonies – The Fray live on stage
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I’d heard they played at the 2010 Whistler Olympics. I had always looked for info about their performance but couldn’t find anything until now.
OHHHHH! They were a talented underrated band. I miss them. Thanks!!!!
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