Russian-Belrucan rockers from « B-2 »: from « brother 2 » to non-return because of Putin

In the week when pro -Russian politicians and sympathizers agreed from the National Palace of Culture in Sofia for a rebellion in defense of the Bulgarian lev from the euro a Russian group plays and sang in front of full halls at the National Palace of Culture and yesterday in Varna. We decided that the story of « B-2 » was interesting enough to talk about them.

When in the spring of 2022, the first of the war against Ukraine, a number of cultural life figures in Russia announced that they were leaving the country, a wave of public criticism was raised against them, mainly from ultra -patriotic circles, enthusiastic « special military operation » in the neighboring country.

In that spring, the asylum in wandering were chosen individuals such as Alla Pugaciova with her husband Maxim Galkin (now living in Israel), Zemfi (in London), and Makarevich himself, who also moved to the Jewish state. Another legendary rocker – Boris Grebenshchikov (founder of Aquarium) – sought a new home in the UK.

Hundreds, if not thousands of singers, musicians, artists, artists, culture, researchers, teachers and researchers, have been fascinating in emigration. Something so found in Russian history – and fate so typical of the people of intelligence and talent, usually unloved by Moscow’s power and often harassed, crushed, persecuted, repressed by the Kremlin. Writers such as Boris Akunin and Victor Schederovich, Vladimir Sorokin and Dmitry Glukhovski, Lyudmila Ulitska and Dmitry Bykov and many others.

Many of them were declared « foreign agents », and access to their creativity was restricted (the books of the Ulitska, Akunin, Bikov, for example, were seized by bookstores and libraries in Russia, and significant passages from new editions are censored and erased with a black background). Others, like Glukhovsky, were subjected to part -time court cases, under the new legislation against « fakes » for the Russian army. And the concerts of dozens of music artists were canceled.

The Bi -2 group – the alternative rock band, widely known in Russia and in the former Soviet Union, as well as throughout Eastern Europe, also boasts with similar experience. Founded in 1988 in the Belarusian city of Bobruusk, the group enjoys a glorious career and numerous honors, including « Golden Gramophone » (« Zolo Gramophone », one of the most prestigious Russian music prizes) and « The World Music Awards ».

Founders of the music team and unchanging participants from the beginning are Shura bin (real name Alexander Uman, born in 1970, guitarist and vocal) and Leva B-2 (Egor or Igor Bortnik, born in 1972, a major vocal and a songwriter). Their colleagues: bass guitarist Max Lakmus, drummer Boris Lifshitz, Jan Nikolenko (backing, keyboards, flute) and Constantine Chalich (guitar).

In genre, the Bi-2 is located in both alternative rock and postpone, art rock, indie rock, and some of their things can be considered as Darkueva. They have been inspired by Western gangs such as The Cure, Joy Division, The Sisters of Mercy; The Soviet and Russian groups « Agatha Christie » (whose « golden years » were between 1987 and 2010) was also influenced.

At the dawn of their careers, Shura and Leva, boys of 16-18, gathered to play at the cultural home of the Bobrusk Tire Factory, where Uman worked. The band’s first name was « Bereg Truth » (from Rus. « The coast of truth »). In 1989, they were named « Bi-2 » (from the abbreviation of the previous name). Their first major appearance was in November in that troubled year, at a Rockeracy in the town of Mogilev. During this time, Shura remembers, « We were punk. We played something like a Police – in a rock style, but with a brass section, and we wrote acute and essential texts. » Lava, on the other hand, talks about their first show – they took the ark on stage, and he came out of him with a bullet -packed shirt, and with a pillow he tore. The audience immediately amazed …

In 1989-1990, Bi-2 concerts all over Belarus, and at home in Minsk they recorded their debut album « Mature of Modernica ». During this period, one of their future major hits was created – Barbara.

In 1991, the young Shura and Lva went to Israel, where in 1992 they won the first place at the Rock Festival in Jerusalem. In 1993, Shura moved to relatives in Australia, and Leva remained in the Jewish state, served in the army and deals with computer graphics. In Melbourne Shura, a solo project called the Shura B-2 Band: plays punk, experimented with jazz and Gothic. In 1998, Lava also came to Australia, and in the autumn « Bi-2 » again recorded an album.

Director Balabanov, by the way, uses songs of « B-2 » and in another strip-the military drama « War » (2002), which tells of the Second Chechen War (1999-2000). He also plays Bodrov, Jr., this is one of his last roles before his tragic death in the Caucasus incident in the fall.

A curious moment around « Brother 2 » is that another song was initially planned for the main topic: « Don’t shoot! » To DDT, but Yuri Shevchuk refused as his film saw « monstrous, horrible, disgusting and nationalist. »

In the same 2000, the Bi-2 signed with the Russian subdivision of the American recording giant Sony Music Entertainment. Following are the glamorous years of successful albums, world tours, collaboration with other big names in the music business (with U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, Massive Attack, etc.). As of 2017, the band has already recorded ten solo albums.

In 2023, the whole group moved to Israel.

Behind the incident, musicians suspect the long hand of Russian special services – and fear that Moscow aims to extradite them to Russia. In the end, after a week arrest, the rockers were released and everyone was able to get on the plane to Israel.

Bortnik gives special thanks to Israel – for helping to make the favorable outcome – and again he reiterates that he will no longer live in Russia. And when asked if he would return there with another power, Bortnik replies: « We will see. I live in the present and do only creative plans. What is happening in Russia now, I am absolutely not interested in. »

To date, most of the B-2 live in Israel. Bortnik, on the other hand, spends most of his time in the resort town of Marbella, on the Mediterranean coast in Spain. With their second wife, Anna Straicher, they raise two sons: Aviv and David.