Name: Viktor Tsoy
Age: 28 years
Place of Birth: Saint Petersburg
A place of death: 35th km of Sloka-Talsi highway, Latvia
Activity: musician, composer
Family status: was married to Marianna Tsoi
Viktor Tsoi - biography
On August 19, 1990, the famous musician, idol of millions, Viktor Tsoi, who died tragically in a car accident, was buried in Leningrad. This death can be called symbolic for the country, because exactly one year later the huge Soviet state was gone. The musician himself is called the last hero.
His work became what the youth of the eighties needed, who ineptly and unconsciously strived for freedom and change. This musician's name was Viktor Tsoi. More than twenty years have passed since his death. The topic of freedom has lost its former relevance. But Tsoi’s songs are still sung to this day.
Viktor Tsoi - Childhood
Viktor Tsoi appeared as if out of nowhere. An ordinary Leningrad boy from a simple family, far from the world of art. He loved to draw, sculpt and carve wood. But one day I picked up a guitar. And in a matter of years he rose to the zenith of fame.
Victor was born in Leningrad in 1962. His father, Robert Tsoi, once arrived from distant Kazakhstan to the Northern capital, where he met his future wife Valentina. The rock musician's mother was a teacher, his father an engineer. His parents divorced when Victor was eleven. But a few years later, Robert Tsoi returned to the family.
This married couple looked quite unusual from the outside: an oriental man who spoke Russian poorly, and a golden-haired woman with a long braid. It should be said that Viktor Tsoi was born in an international country, where the word “national” was not an insult. In addition, he was born precisely at that historical period when the multimillion-dollar public was waiting for something new, strong, unique.
From an early age, Vitya was a calm and balanced boy. The parents of his peers treated him quite favorably. Compared to the background of hooligan and uncontrollable classmates, the future legend of Soviet rock, oddly enough, looked extremely advantageous. In general, Vitya Tsoi was not much different from ordinary Leningrad boys. Perhaps, the oriental shape of the eyes and silence. However, already in elementary school he began to show rare artistic abilities.
Why didn't Viktor Tsoi become an artist? And why exactly did he become a legend of Russian rock? In the seventies, which included Tsoi’s adolescence and youth, millions of young Soviet people were infected with the idea of rock and roll. The Fab Four thundered all over the world, leaving behind not only wonderful songs, but also a special mood. The first rock bands appeared in the USSR. Millions of boys dreamed of the future of a rock musician. Some of them managed to organize their own group. A few became famous. And only one – Viktor Tsoi. There is an opinion that this musician had a rare and valuable gift - to feel his era.
Viktor Tsoi and “Ward No. 6”
“As you name the boat, that’s how it will float.” These words guided aspiring musicians in the USSR in the late seventies. To have a musical education, or even to have basic skills in playing musical instruments, was not so important at that time. The main thing is desire and a sonorous name for the group.
The first group, which Viktor Tsoi created together with his childhood friend, was called “Ward No. 6”. Then the future celebrity was fifteen years old. It is unknown why the teenagers were attracted to the title of Chekhov’s story. But if anyone had told Tsoi at that time that he would become famous as part of a group called “Kino,” he would hardly have believed it. The name sounded too simple...
Tsoi founded the group “Ward No. 6” together with his friend Maxim Pashkov. Together they studied at art school. Together they strummed their guitar aimlessly from time to time. And it was Maxim Pashkov who taught Tsoi his first guitar lessons. Victor, despite his reserve, was a sociable person. Friendship meant a lot to him. And he learned the best from each of his friends. So, he learned about the classics of rock from Maxim Pashkov. And, as his family and friends testify, in his youth he was influenced by his friend.
Viktor Tsoi - Student years
After graduating from the eighth grade of secondary school, Tsoi entered the art school named after. Serova. The specialty of a restorer has always been in demand in Leningrad. Choi decided to choose this particular school because he studied at an art school for several years. Yes, and we had to think about our daily bread.
As a schoolboy, he drew everywhere and always. During a geography or biology lesson, he indulged in his favorite pastime, and looked more like a future painter than a musician. Tsoi also loved to carve figures from wood. But the wooden netsuke, which he made with his own hands and gave to friends, turned into real value only during the hype around Kino.
Tsoi failed to graduate from college. Music by that time had completely taken over his essence. Victor was expelled from school for poor academic performance. Subsequently, teachers noted not only his talent, but also his complete unwillingness to obey and do things that did not bring moral satisfaction.
The most amazing thing about Tsoi’s biography in the eyes of his friends and loved ones is his sudden fame. This man never seemed like a bright personality. He did not occupy a leading position among his friends. He was a little closed and opened up only when it came to music. Victor read a lot and was constantly in a state of certain serenity. It seemed even more strange to people who knew this man from childhood, his sudden rise and fame, which does not subside even today.
"Garin and the Hyperboloids"
The name of this group was suggested to Tsoi by Boris Grebenshchikov. Its founders are Viktor Tsoi and Alexey Rybin. Most rock bands had distinct leaders. It took a little time to understand who the true leader of Garin and the Hyperboloids was. It was Tsoi. Much has been written about the conflict between the Russian rock and roll legend and Alexei Rybin. It may not be easy for two leaders to exist side by side. One way or another, together with Rybin Tsoi founded the group “Garin and the Hyperboloids”. They were together at the birth of Kino. But in 1983, Tsoi and Rybin diverged.
Eastern people are usually credited with verbosity and cunning. Tsoi, being half-Korean, destroyed this stereotype. He expressed himself briefly, laconically, and was sometimes too straightforward. Sincerity and simplicity were present in his songs. And it was they who won the hearts of millions of fans.
Viktor Tsoi - biography of personal life: The Last Hero
In the year the Kino group was founded, its leader was only nineteen years old. Tsoi chose the most abstract and unobtrusive name. The musical group “Kino” could subsequently change direction. This name was not binding. In the early eighties, Tsoi may not have had a clear vision regarding his musical career. Moreover, he was far from a liberated person. It was then, at one of the parties, that he met Maryana, a powerful and decisive girl. She not only became his wife and mother of his only son, but also played a significant role in his creative biography.
1985 became difficult both in Tsoi’s creative and personal life. In his hometown, his popularity waned a little. It was as if he was in the shadow of Leningrad rockers Boris Grebenshchikov and Mike Naumenko. But in 1986, Victor received an offer from director Sergei Solovyov. Filming the film “Assa” changed his life. In Moscow, Tsoi met his new love, after which he left the family. The woman with whom Viktor Tsoi spent the last years of his life is Natalya Razlogova.
Viktor Tsoi died on August 15, 1990. Since then, a whole generation of fans of his work has grown up. These people have never seen Tsoi on stage or heard his songs live. But at the musician’s grave, at the Bogoslovskoe cemetery, there are always fresh flowers. And they are brought by those who were born after the death of the leader of the Kino group. People need a hero. Simple, sincere and honest. Even today, when it would seem that the topic of freedom has lost its relevance.
Viktor Tsoi: discography
"45"
"46"
Head of Kamchatka
This is not love
Night
Blood type
Last Hero
A star called the Sun
Cinema (known as The Black Album)
The biography of Viktor Tsoi interests many today. And this is not at all accidental. This man has become a real legend in our country. Tsoi Viktor Robertovich was born in Leningrad in 1962. This is a cult rock performer of the 80s of the last century, the leader of the famous group "Kino". The biography of Viktor Tsoi will be presented in this article.
Family of Viktor Tsoi, childhood of the future musician
Victor Robertovich was born into the family of Valentina Vasilievna Tsoi, a physical education teacher, and Robert Maksimovich Tsoi, an engineer. Viktor Tsoi was the only child in this family. His nationality and biography are of interest to many fans. As for nationality, we can say that his father, Robert Maksimovich, had Korean roots. According to his mother, from early childhood Vitya drew and sculpted well, and also began playing the guitar in the fifth grade. He loved classical literature, especially Dostoevsky.
Art school, first music group
When Tsoi Viktor Robertovich, whose biography is presented in the article, entered the 4th grade, Robert Maksimovich left the family. The mother, in order to somehow distract her son, took the boy to an art school. Victor studied there from 1974 to 1977. It was at this time that a group called “Ward No. 6” appeared, the leader of which was Maxim Pashkov. This is how the creative biography of Viktor Tsoi begins.
Victor had a talent for drawing, but he was only attracted to music. He became friends at school with Maxim Pashkov, who, like him, loved listening to the Beatles and Elvis Presley. They started playing guitars together, and soon the drummer joined them. There was not enough bass guitar for a full-fledged group. Then they chipped in and bought this instrument at a thrift store. "Elephant Moon", the first album, had a very mediocre sound, but the guys were happy with their first collection.
School named after Serova
To the art school. Serov Tsoi entered the university in 1977. However, instead of drawing various propaganda posters, he preferred to devote all his time to playing the guitar. He performed mainly Black Sabbath songs, as well as Deep Purple. He also played some of his own tunes. Boris Grebenshchikov recalled that when he first heard the composition “My Friends,” he was shocked. It reflected the whole life of that time. Beautiful music, boundless fun, behind which stood sadness and hopelessness... After Viktor Tsoi was expelled from the Art School. Serov for poor academic performance, he enters the profession of wood carver.
Apartment dwellers
Two loafers were wandering around St. Petersburg gateways and streets. They were tired of constant prohibitions, so they decided to go against them and live the way they want. These two were a member of the Pilgrims group, Alexey Rybin, and Viktor Tsoi, who played bass guitar in Ward No. 6. They went to visit Pig or Mike (“Zoo”). Pig was the main punk in Leningrad at that time. "Automatic Satisfiers" rehearsed at his apartment.
Tsoi's first apartment parties took place there. Having gained a little fame, A. Rybin and V. Tsoi, as part of the group “Automatic Satisfactories,” traveled to Moscow and played punk rock at A. Troitsky’s apartment buildings. During Tsoi’s next trip, who was singing with a group of people with a guitar on the train, he was noticed by B. Grebenshchikov. He offered the musician support and help not only from himself, but also from Kuryokhin, Tropillo and the rest of his friends.
Recording the first album
In the summer of 1981, Tsoi, Rybin and Valinsky founded a new group called “Garin and the Hyperboloids,” which was accepted into the Leningrad Rock Club in the fall. Valinsky soon joins the army, and the group, which changed its name to “Kino,” begins working on its debut album. Under the direction of B. Grebenshchikov, they recorded at the House of Young Technicians at the Tropillo studio. All musicians from Aquarium took part in the recording.
The Kino group soon performed at the rock club festival with its first concert. This performance took place under a drum machine. Panker, Mike and BG jumped onto the stage from behind the scenes with guitars to the song “Once You Were a Beatnik.” The album was completed completely by the summer. It took 45 minutes to play. The name "45" originated from here. However, later the composition “I am asphalt” was removed from the final version. This song is on the re-release of this album, in which it is included as a bonus track.
The first fame of the Kino group
Slowly but surely, the recording began to spread throughout the country. They started talking about the Kino group. Apartment dwellers went one after another, as well as tours of Leningrad and Moscow. “Kino” is recording several songs in Kuskov’s studio with the drummer from the group “Zoo” in the fall, including such hits as “The Last Hero” and “Spring”.
At that time, this recording was rejected because Viktor Tsoi took the tape for himself and it did not receive distribution.
Album "46"
A joint concert of the groups "Aquarium" and "Kino" takes place on February 19, 1984. The musicians performed “Aluminum Cucumbers”, “Trolleybus”, “Electric Train”. Gustav and Kasparian were invited to the main team. Due to disagreements with Viktor Tsoi, Alexey Rybin leaves Kino in the spring. The band's joint rehearsals with the new guitarist take place in the summer. The result is the recording of the album “46” by Tsoi and Yuri Kasparyan. At first it was conceived as a demo recording of another album (“Chief of Kamchatka”). But A. Cherry put it on several tapes, as a result of which “46” became widespread and was perceived as a separate album.
Mental hospital
The biography of Viktor Tsoi includes the following interesting episode. This musician went to a psychiatric hospital for examination in the fall of 1983. He spent a month and a half here, thus avoiding conscription into the army. Viktor Tsoi wrote “Tranquilizer” there, reflecting his experience, after which in the spring of the following year he took part in the second festival held by the rock club. The participants of "Kino" received the laureate title there. The song that opened the festival, entitled “Nuclear-Free Zone,” was recognized as the best anti-war song at the festival.
New albums
In 1984, on February 4, Victor and Maryana, his beloved, got married. Mike, Grebenshchikov, Kasparyan, Titov, Guryanov and others were invited to it. In the summer of 1984, “Chief of Kamchatka” began recording in the Antrop studio. In addition to Victor, Sergei Kuryokhin and B. Grebenshchikov took part in the recording of this album.
In the spring of 1985, Kino participants received another laureate title. The musicians began writing "Night" in A. Tropillo's studio. The recording process was delayed due to the desire to make new music, as well as change playing techniques. This album just didn't work out. Victor abandoned “Night” unfinished, after which he began recording “This Is Not Love” in Cherry’s studio. This album was made in a little more than a week. It was released in the fall and immediately spread throughout the country. And in 1986 “Night” was released with such hits as “Saw the Night” and “Mama Anarchy”.
Tsoi's growing popularity
Tsoi's popularity is growing along with the release of this record. Viktor Tsoi is gradually becoming a legend of Russian rock. His biography is supplemented by new important events. At the fourth rock club festival, in February, the Kino group was awarded a diploma for the best lyrics. In 1985, on August 5, Tsoi had a son, Sasha.
Work in the boiler room and participation in filming
All members of the group leave for the filming of the film "End of Vacation" in Kyiv in the summer. A little later they give a concert together with “Alice” and “Aquarium” in Moscow, at the MIIT House of Culture. "Red Wave" comes out in the USA with the same groups. In the fall of 1986, Victor began working as a machinist in a boiler house called “Kamchatka”. Many famous rock musicians came from here. Rashid Nugmanov organized the filming of “Ya-khha” (short film) there. Alexei Uchitel's film "Rock" was filmed here. Viktor Robertovich took part in both films. The biography of Viktor Tsoi is marked by the shooting of another film. He spends the autumn and winter of 1986 participating as an actor in the creation of the film “Assa” (directed by Sergei Solovyov) in Yalta.
"Kino" abroad
The spring of 1987 was rich in concert events. At this time, there was a premiere at the MELZ Palace of Culture "Assy", as well as the last participation of "Kino" at a festival held by a rock club, where this group received the award "For Creative Coming of Age". For the first time, "Kino" travels abroad, to France, where the album "The Last Hero" is released.
Recording of a collection called “Blood Type” begins at the Yamaha MT44 studio. Victor flies to Alma-Ata in the fall to visit Rashid Nugmanov to shoot the film “The Needle.” In connection with this, the “Kino” group finalized “Blood Type” and also stopped concert activities for a while. "Blood Type" and "The Needle" were published in 1988. They gave rise to “cinema mania”: thousands of teenagers cut their hair “like Tsoi”, learned to play the guitar, and dressed in black.
Triumphant tours
Viktor Tsoi's triumphant tour begins in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia - the Kino group attracts full houses at all concerts. The audience is extremely active at the concert dedicated to the memory of A. Bashlachev. The administration tries to stop the concert, but Viktor Tsoi brings the performance to an end. For this, the group was banned from performing in Moscow for a whole year.
New successes of Tsoi
In 1989, “A Star Called the Sun” was recorded, an album released in the fall. Tsoi and Kasparian went on tour in the USA in the summer. "Igla" meanwhile comes out on top at the USSR box office. Viktor Tsoi was recognized as the best actor at the Odessa film festival "Golden Duke". At the beginning of 1990, Kino went on numerous tours abroad, including Japan. The album "The Last Hero" is released in France.
Last concert
The last Kino concert took place in June 1990 at the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow. After the performance, Tsoi and Kasparyan retired to a dacha near Jurmala, where they began recording material for their new album with an acoustic guitar. No one imagined that Viktor Tsoi would die very soon, his biography and work would end so early...
Car accident
However, a fateful event was destined to happen. Viktor Tsoi died in a car accident in 1990, on August 15, near Tukumus (near Riga). Victor was returning to Jurmala from night fishing and was driving a Moskvich. He fell asleep, according to one version, after which his car collided with a bus. Viktor Robertovich was buried on August 19 in Leningrad, at the Bogoslovskoye cemetery. This, in brief, is the biography of Viktor Tsoi. His photo is also presented in this article.
After Victor's death, the Kino musicians decided to release their last collection. "Black Album" was released in December 1990 with a dedication to Viktor Tsoi. The group ceased to exist.
Personal life of Viktor Tsoi
Many fans are interested in everything connected with a person like Viktor Tsoi. Biography, personal life, creativity, rumors and legends - everything is interesting to them. We talked briefly about the work and biography of this musician. Let's say a few words about his personal life. Victor married Maryana in 1984, who worked as an administrator for the Kino group since 1982. In 1985, on August 5, Alexander, the son of Viktor Tsoi, was born.
The musician’s biography is marked by the following main events on the personal front. Several years before the musician’s death, the couple separated, but they did not officially divorce. The reason for the separation was that Victor became interested in another woman.
During the filming of “Assa,” Tsoi met film expert and translator Natalya Razlogova. He gradually began to move away from his wife. It all ended, according to Maryana, when Victor told her that he was in love. He left, gathering his things. Tsoi moved to Natalya in Moscow in the late 80s. This girl became his last love.
Maryana Tsoi, Victor's widow, died in 2005, on June 27, after a long serious illness.
We finish our story about such a great man as Viktor Tsoi. The biography is short, of course, and does not describe all the details of his life and creative path. To accomplish this task it is necessary to write an entire book. But we hope that after reading our material you have an idea of what kind of person Viktor Tsoi was. The biography, a brief summary of which remains in your memory, will help you better understand the work of this great musician. After all, art always reflects in one way or another the life of the author, the characteristics of the era in which he creates. In this sense, Viktor Tsoi is no exception.
Almost a quarter of a century has passed since that terrible day when Viktor Tsoi died. Musician, poet, leader of the Kino group and idol of millions. The cult rock musician passed away, leaving us with a bunch of secrets and questions. Even today, his songs excite the hearts of fans, and fans leave “Tsoi is alive” inscriptions on the walls.
How Tsoi died
Many will never forget that news broadcast on August 15, 1990, when the news thundered throughout the country that the leader of the Kino group had died in a car accident in Latvia. It became known that the special services received a call from an eyewitness from the scene of the incident at the 35th kilometer of the Sloka-Talsi highway. Arriving at the scene of the death of Viktor Tsoi, employees of the Latvian Ministry of Internal Affairs saw a Moskvich-2141 with a completely mangled front and an Ikarus-250 bus, which had drifted to the side of the road towards the river. Fortunately, there were no passengers on the bus, and the driver escaped with only minor abrasions and bruises. As for the musician, Viktor Tsoi’s death occurred instantly as a result of a strong blow to the head, incompatible with life. Since the singer was terribly disfigured as a result of a car accident, he was buried in a closed coffin.
Official version
According to the official version, in the summer of 1990, Viktor Tsoi was returning by car from fishing. He was vacationing with his nine-year-old son Sasha near Riga. At eleven thirty minutes in the morning, his Moskvich car flew into the oncoming lane and at high speed crashed into an Ikarus bus coming around a bend. As a result of the collision, the bus was carried to the side of the road, and the car flew 15-20 meters towards the bridge. The impact was so strong that the engine was ripped out of the Moskvich.
During the investigation, it was established that the bus was moving at a permissible speed of no more than 70 km/h. As for the Moskvich, its speed varied from 100 to 130 km/h. After an examination, the official cause of Viktor Tsoi’s death was established - the musician fell asleep at the wheel.
It would seem that everything is obvious: a tragedy, an accident. But since the investigation was carried out hastily, a wide variety of rumors soon began to spread...
Initial version
Even before the official version was approved, the investigation put forward several options for how Tsoi died. The most widespread and leaked to the press was the assumption that during the trip the singer was listening to a tape recorder lying on the next chair. When the tape ran out, Victor decided to turn it over and was distracted from driving, which led to the disaster.
This version was also voiced by Leonid Kanevsky on the NTV television show “The investigation was carried out...”. Despite the fact that this version was declared the main one, it was still not confirmed, since the tape recorder was turned off when the police arrived at the scene of the accident. The investigators themselves turned it on.
Inconsistencies
It turned out that many disagree with the official version of how Viktor Tsoi’s death occurred. Thus, the former producer of the Kino group expressed his opinion that he was dissatisfied and offended by the way the investigation was carried out. He believes that it was simply filled up. Immediately after the disaster, Tsoi’s grief-stricken relatives were unable to insist on a truly professional investigation, and it was done only “for show.”
Victor's widow also did not adhere to the official version. According to her, Tsoi was an extremely careful person and could not “just fall asleep at the wheel.” In addition, he had recently received a driver’s license and was not yet confident enough to drive, so he was always very focused when driving.
Many who disagree with the official version point out that it is full of contradictions. The investigation was carried out hastily, there was no re-examination, and the main argument was how can one fall asleep in ten minutes spent on the road? After all, the distance from the fishing spot to the village where Tsoi lived is less than one kilometer!
Suicide
One of the widely spread versions of how Tsoi died was the version of suicide. In the two years preceding the tragedy, the musician achieved unimaginable fame. He was respected, idolized, called “the last hero”, his songs became a symbol and anthem for young people. He was a real idol back then. But who knows what would have happened to him today, to the group, to creativity? It is quite possible that in the modern world there would simply be no place for the Kino group and Tsoi. Maybe Tsoi had a presentiment of all this and decided to leave in order to always remain at the peak of fame? To avoid disappointments? Who knows, but the death of Viktor Tsoi made the group and his work even more popular. The latest "Black Album" sold millions of copies. And the artist’s work still lives in the hearts of generations.
Who killed Tsoi
All these inconsistencies, assumptions and secrets led to the fact that the most common version of how Tsoi died was murder. In the press and the Internet you can see a lot of the most unimaginable and fantastic arguments on this matter.
Here are a few of the most eloquent ones:
Tsoi was killed because of money. He became too rich, and someone didn’t like it...
Tsoi was associated with the drug mafia. And they decided to remove it...
Someone decided to act out the script of the film “Needle” in real life. And as you know, in the finale of the film the main character is killed...
There were also more serious assumptions, which talked about changing the producers of the Kino group, about the distribution of revenue from tours, about copyright for compositions, etc. Today, unfortunately, we can only guess. And then, when all this happened, no one was simply in the mood to look for reasons. After all, Tsoi’s death shocked millions, forcing them to mourn and regret the deceased.
The missing car
If we start from the fact that Tsoi’s death was very beneficial to someone, then we can take one of the currently existing versions as a basis. Moreover, this assumption is quite reasonable and has a place to be.
Any experienced driver will be able to answer in which case such a maneuver is performed (first you drive along the side of the road, and then suddenly drive into the oncoming traffic). There is only one option: during the last 10 seconds before the accident, some unfamiliar or familiar car pressed Tsoi’s Moskvich to the side of the road, then abruptly overtook and blocked the road, forcing the musician to drive into the oncoming lane directly under the wheels of a speeding bus.
A very important fact was noted in the investigation report: the distance from the fishing spot to Tsoi’s house. It's only a 10-15 minute drive. In addition, a study of tire tread marks showed that the Moskvich was moving along the side of the road for the last 7-10 seconds before the accident. At a speed of 130 km/h! And then the steering wheel was sharply turned to the left towards oncoming traffic. Despite the fact that all these factors clearly contradict the official version of “fell asleep at the wheel,” the investigation did not pay attention to them.
The investigation began to consider this version, but due to the fact that it reached a dead end, it was discarded. But it’s true that finding the mysterious car was almost impossible. But the police don’t like “hangers”; it was very clear to everyone that it was time to close the case and sign the documents. And in the end: “Viktor Robertovich Tsoi. The cause of death was an accident, he fell asleep at the wheel. Dot".
Letter from Janis
And just a few years ago, a Moscow magazine published an article entitled “Viktor Tsoi: unproven murder.” In the article, the author said that the editor of the magazine received a letter from a certain Janis, a citizen of Latvia. In the letter, Janis admitted that he had been eating at him for almost twenty years. Namely, involvement in the death of Viktor Tsoi.
According to Janis, in the summer of 1990, he and the guys received a “request” from an unnamed person to intimidate a fisherman with a non-Russian appearance. At that time, Yanis didn’t even know who Viktor Tsoi and the Kino group were. Arriving at the indicated place, they surrounded the fisherman and warned him “not to fish, otherwise the child will suffer.” A scuffle ensued, as a result of which Tsoi broke out, got into the Moskvich and quickly drove away. Probably to help out my son...
After Yanis and his company caught up with Tsoi, the scene of the accident appeared before their eyes. Realizing that the “fisherman” was no longer a tenant, they decided to quietly move away...
All attempts to contact Janis were unsuccessful. He was silent. However, later he finally got in touch and arranged a meeting with journalists. At the appointed place, the reporters were disappointed: instead of Janis, strong guys approached them and advised them “not to interfere in things that aren’t their own.” So we can only guess whether this story is true or fiction.
Latest album
After the death of Viktor Tsoi, his last album was released. By luck, he was in the trunk of the Moskvich, where he was found after the accident. The recording was completely undamaged. Is this an accident? Maybe Tsoi deliberately left his last album for generations? Or maybe, as one classic said, “manuscripts don’t burn”?
The last album became a real hit. Although he was shrouded in the breath of death and regret. “Black Album” was the last one released by the Kino group, the last word from Viktor Tsoi. It sold millions of copies both in the USSR and abroad.
In the hearts of millions
Someone smart said that “a person is alive as long as he is remembered.” It turns out that a person can die only if the memory of him dies, or simply when he becomes uninteresting, he will be forgotten and no past merits will save him...
No matter how cynical it may sound, Viktor Tsoi left on time. He passed away when he was at the peak of his popularity. Tsoi's songs were loved by everyone: fans of rock and roll, and those who love pop or pop music. But it could have turned out that if Tsoi had been alive, he would have become uninteresting today. But he's not there. And the memory of him lives in the hearts of people, and it is huge. As before, the Kino group and Viktor Tsoi occupy high places in the ratings and charts, their songs sell well and are re-released, all kinds of remixes are created, etc. Viktor Tsoi still looks at us today from posters and calendars...
Content
On June 21, 1962, a boy was born into the family of Valentina and Robert Tsoi, who later became an idol of Soviet youth and a “torch” for the restructuring of the worldview at the junction of two eras of modern history. Perhaps it was not without reason that the parents named their son Victor, which means Winner. The personality of Viktor Tsoi harmoniously intertwined leadership qualities and the desire for freedom and independence. A subtle spiritual perception of the world around us, an understanding of the causes and sources of human suffering subsequently resulted in the laconic and clear lyrics of Tsoi’s original songs. Perhaps he could have become the spiritual and political leader of a huge number of people if sudden death had not interrupted the life of Viktor Tsoi at the very take-off.
The path to popularity
Victor spent his childhood and youth in the vicinity of his home in Leningrad, where he was born. It was there that his interests in music, fine arts and cinema were formed. The reference points in the work of the aspiring musician were Vladimir Vysotsky and Mikhail Boyarsky. Victor also became interested in martial arts and became a fan of Bruce Lee.
In his youth, as an art school student, Tsoi and like-minded people played bass guitar in the youth group “Ward No. 6”. Meetings and communication with musicians from other groups brought fateful events into Tsoi’s life. So they brought Victor to the Automatic Satisfiers group. He traveled with them to Moscow for informal concerts, which at that time were often organized by music critic Artem Troitsky. In Leningrad, at one of these concerts, Tsoi met Boris Grebenshchikov, who later helped in many ways in the career of the aspiring singer and songwriter.
In the spring of 1982, the Kino group appeared on the musical horizon, created by Viktor Tsoi and guitarist Alexei Rybin. They recorded their first album together with the musicians of Aquarium under the leadership of Grebenshchikov. Clandestine concerts also continued, which aroused more and more interest in the group after the album was distributed on cassettes.
Before recording the second album, Yuri Kasparyan joined the group, but soon Alexey Rybin left due to creative differences with Tsoi. The second album "46" received wide distribution.
Thus began the path to fame and popularity of Viktor Tsoi. Tsoi invested his talent and energy not only in writing songs (mostly all the lyrics and music of the “Kino” group were written by Victor). In the summer of 1986, Tsoi, together with other members of the Kino group, made her debut in the short film “The End of Vacation.”
During his short life, the musician starred in 15 feature films and documentaries. The films “Needle” and “Assa” brought Tsoi particular popularity as an actor. In 1989, he was recognized as the best actor of the year at the Odessa film festival "Golden Duke". From that time on, Yuri Aizenshpis began producing the group. Recording new albums, concert tours, and performing on television and radio gave the musicians the opportunity to gain all-Union popularity. Millions of people experienced a real shock when they learned that Viktor Tsoi had died tragically. In many cities, walls of memory of Tsoi appeared, on which the singer’s fans wrote words of bitterness and condolences, lyrics from his songs and the main motto: “Tsoi is alive!”
When did Viktor Tsoi die?
In the summer of 1990, having settled at a dacha with friends in Jurmala, Victor and Yuri Kasparyan were busy arranging and recording songs for the new album. On August 14, the planned work was completed, Yuri left for Leningrad, and Victor, early in the morning of August 15, went to a forest lake to fish. The return turned out to be unpredictable. On the same day, Tsoi was in a car accident. Victor's death occurred instantly from his injuries. The traffic police officers who arrived at the scene recorded the time of Tsoi’s death at 12 hours 28 minutes.
How did Tsoi die?
There is an official version of the death of Viktor Tsoi. It is based on data from the accident report, the testimony of a single witness and the findings of a forensic medical examination. But this version is still questioned by some of the singer’s friends and expert analysts. According to the investigation (which was carried out hastily and left many questions for experts of our day), the musician, while moving at high speed along the Sloka-Talsi highway, in his Moskvich car, fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the car. Having driven into the oncoming lane, Victor’s car crashed into the Ikarus bus, which, after the collision, drove onto the side of the road and rolled into the river. The bus driver remained unharmed. Victor's car was completely crushed and thrown 20 meters from the accident site. It all happened on the 35th kilometer of the highway, not far from the Tetchupe River.
Causes of death of Viktor Tsoi
As a result of the accident, the artist received multiple bruises, bone and skull fractures. His face and body were so disfigured that his relatives insisted that the singer’s body be buried in a closed coffin. The funeral took place in Leningrad, on August 19 at the Bogoslovskoye cemetery.
According to the results of the court. honey. examination, the main cause of Victor’s instant death was traumatic brain injury. Taken together, all the injuries were simply incompatible with life. At the time of the accident, Viktor Tsoi was sober; no traces of alcohol were found in his blood.
According to some of Viktor Tsoi’s colleagues, the cause of death could have been overwork after the last concerts and work on albums, which affected the singer’s condition, and he could actually fall asleep at the wheel. However, close friends and relatives who knew Victor well, in particular his wife Marianne, did not believe that everything happened exactly as described by the investigation. Some of the friends were inclined towards the version of deliberate murder. But at that time they had to accept the official version.
On March 6, 2017, Novye Izvestia published an article about a new thorough investigation of the accident involving Tsoi, conducted by independent technical expert Yuri Antipov. The information he collected and analyzed, compared with investigative documents and arranged in a logical chain, suggests that the accident was planned and organized by unknown persons. Someone needed the death of Viktor Tsoi.
Many fans of the talent of the leader of the Kino group still cannot believe his death. For them, he remains alive like his film roles and songs, which, having turned out to be prophetic in the 80s, remain relevant today.
