Gorky Park (international title) or Парк Горького (Russian title) was a glam metal band from the USSR, that gained short-lived mainstream popularity during the Perestroyka times. In 1987 guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov, guitarist Jan Ianenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 70's soviet musician, became the band's manager. Since Gorbachev has lifted the censorship, many of underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to receive more widespread popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for USA in search of a record deal. In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was famous guitarist Frank Zappa. Also Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the growing interest to all things Soviets in western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang," received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time," received rotation on mainstream radio stations. Gorky Park participated on that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Scorpions. The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional Russian style, waving soviet and American flags. In 1991 the band received Scandinavian Grammy award as the best new international act. As perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990 but Gorky Park remained active and kept releasing albums in the '90s. 1993's 'Moscow Calling' sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, 'Stare', came out in 1996, released only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998 the band released 'Protivofazza'. In 1999 Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the scenic name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but actually inactive since 2001. Gorky Park was mentioned on an episode of Saturday Night Live skit, "Wayne's World." The band ended up on Wayne and Garth's list of the top ten bad things about the fall of the Soviet Union. The duo claimed with the collapse there would be "No more cheesy behind-the-iron-curtain metal bands like Gorky Park." Gorky Park is famous for its kitsch use of western stereotypes of Russians, such as pseudo-traditional clothing, balalaika-like guitar design and Hammer and sickle as their logo. It was the first Russian band to be aired on MTV.

GORKY PARK (1989) POLYGRAM

The year was 1989. The Berlin Wall was still intact, and Russia was still referred to as the Soviet Union, or the USSR. Suddenly a heavy metal/hard rock act came out from behind the Iron Curtain with a smash hit, called "Bang"! And the world could not believe what they heard, or saw. I can still remember the impact this band had on the entire music world, being the first Russian act I'd ever heard about. And to top it all off, they were a heavy band! Well, by today's standards I would call Gorky Park a hard rock band. And listening to the bands debut album today also makes me realize that their hit single was not the bands best effort. I particularly like the ballads here, and it's strange that they never released those as singles back when the power ballads were so huge. Gorky Park did have something more to them than just being an exotic hard rock act. They actually had some great tunes! Backed by Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi, whom also penned and sing backup on the track "Peace In Our Time", Gorky Park hit it big with this album, but never followed up in quite the same manner. Today they are tragically overlooked, so I am glad I decided to pick up this album in a pawn shop. "My Generation" is a cover of The Who, complete with some Russian instruments, and additional lyrics.

Killer tracks: Bang, Try To Find Me, Sometimes At Night, Peace In Our Time, Within Your Eyes, Fortress