64 years ago today: on June 21st, 1962, the world was gifted iconic Soviet rock artist Viktor Tsoi.
Born of Korean and Russian heritage, Tsoi (also translated as Tsoy) was the co-founder and lead of the highly influential Soviet post-punk band Kino; the Leningrad group widely recognised to be the most popular rock band in the entirety of Soviet history. Emerging in the early 1980s underground scene, tracks such as “Khochu Peremen!” (“I Want Change!”) and “Gruppa Krovi” (“Blood Type”) cemented Kino’s legendary status among Soviet youth in the Perestroika era.
Viktor Tsoi’s illustrious career came to a shuddering halt in 1990, following a high-speed collision between his car and a bus in Latvia; killing Tsoi at age just 28. Thousands mourned his passing, murals began to appear in numbers as tribute. The remaining bandmates of Kino compiled their final recordings into the posthumous release known as the Black Album, and subsequently disbanded.
May his memory and his legacy live on forever, happy 64th birthday!!
