Where is joanna stingray now. Joanna Stingray tells the whole truth about Boris Grebenshchikov, Viktor Tsoi and Artemia Troitsky. Sounds like the start of a romantic story

Viktor Tsoi at the wedding of Joanna Stingray and Yuri Kasparyan (guitarist and one of the founders of the Kino group), 1987.

I always knew it was better to be one of the guys than to be with one of the guys. Yes, I had two Russian husbands and a couple of fleeting affairs with my Russian friends, but all twelve years of my almost non-stop stay in Russia - from the beginning of 1984 to 1996 - I remained “my boyfriend”. Coming from Los Angeles, a city that literally stands on inflexible stereotypes (including ideas about gender roles), I passionately began to imitate these men - smart, beautiful, talented. I merged with them in harmony - instead of preparing dinners for them; broke bottles with them instead of breaking hearts. I plunged into an atmosphere of euphoria in the company of young gods.

Artist Timur Novikov (left), Stingray and Kino drummer artist Georgy "Gustav" Guryanov. 1985.

It is generally accepted that if a woman rotates in a society of men for a long time, she inevitably acquires masculine features, becomes overly masculine. I, on the other hand, have never felt more feminine in my life. Our communication consisted of endless hugs, kisses, exchange of frivolous but sweet jokes. I had no relationship with any of them, there were no emotional barriers, so I felt incredible freedom: there was no need to hide my tenderness and you could just giggle stupidly and not think about the consequences. None of them tried to impress me and did nothing in front of me; in the same way I behaved freely and uninhibitedly with them. Our relationship was clean, there was no tension between us, and not once have I been disappointed in them.

Men are at their best when they don't risk disappointing you.

Since childhood, I was told: "Think before you speak." I have always been concerned about the opinions of others. With these guys, I thought a lot less and did a lot more and just lived. Our actions were instinctive, largely dictated by the body, not the mind - obeying a sudden impulse, we smeared paint on the canvas, pulled the guitar strings or began to bang on the keys.

With Konstantin Kinchev ("Alice)" on the set of the video "All this is rock and roll", 1992.

Let's be honest, who wouldn't be proud to meet Boris Grebenshchikov, the Kino group, Sergei Kuryokhin, Kostya Kinchev and many of my other friends - Russian rockers, artists and poets? Yes, I had many opportunities. Another in my place would fall at the feet of Boris, deifying him, until she lost touch with reality and with the “godfather of Russian rock” himself. How many women I have seen fawning over him, who did not realize that the higher they put him on a pedestal, the more they move away from him. And while they reverently prayed for his skyward appearance, I easily slipped into Boris's room and imperceptibly took him away.

With musician Sergei Kuryokhin in the Leningrad apartment of a Swedish diplomat, 1986.

With my Russian friends, I developed a unity that I liked to call "a society of mutual admiration" or simply "a holiday of love." I liked their strength, confidence and style; they liked my passion and defiance. Nobody took anything seriously, which is probably why we ended up taking each other seriously.

Today, the gulf separating men and women is wider than ever before. We look at each other as enemies, strangers, as a means to an end, or as something unknown and terrible, like a shadow flashing through the doorway. Recent events have given rise to fear that distorts and distorts our understanding of the human and does not allow us to communicate calmly and comfortably with the opposite sex. The time that I spent in Russia, and the relationships that I developed there, constantly remind me how each of us is able to give another inspiration and friendship.

With Boris Grebenshchikov in the bathroom of the Moscow hotel "Cosmos" on the set of the video I Got You Babe.

Boris remains a guiding star for me, a pure and bright poet. When we met, he was a soulful hippie with long blond hair and piercing blue eyes that could light up an entire city.

Viktor Tsoi had great charisma. It had magnetism. When he smiled, his kindness embraced me with its warmth.

He was always cheerful, it was easy with him, he was a stranger to artificiality, but he had sensuality and alluring eroticism. In other words, he was sexy. We could chat for hours, laugh, dance, and his soul was always on fire.

Sergey Kuryokhin - thick dark hair and perky puppy eyes - had a youthful seductiveness that easily turned into otherworldly genius. We loved to sit on the couch with our arms and legs crossed like tree roots greedily sucking up water. He was a rat-catcher, whose voice everyone obediently followed. He was bold and fearless.

From left to right: musician Viktor Sologub, Boris Grebenshchikov, Joanna Stingray, Viktor Tsoi, Konstantin Kinchev - still from the photo shoot for the Red Wave album in Mikhailovsky Garden, 1985.

Yuri Kasparyan (one of Joanna's husbands. - GQ note) cannot be called otherwise than Adonis - and not only because of the divine perfection of his face and body, but also because of the musicality of his soul. He was made of magic - calm, bright and strong.

Kostya Kinchev is a black panther with dark thoughtful eyes, whose gaze deeply pierces the soul. He was able to climb into the very depths of your consciousness in five minutes, but at the same time he was ready to offer himself in return. Mesmerizing, hypnotic and deep, it could be at the same time insane and devilishly frightening. Fyodor Bondarchuk is a magician of directing. He exuded strength, but the artistic vision never outweighed the human attitude towards the actors. Today, unfortunately, this balance is almost forgotten.

With Vyacheslav Butusov (Nautilus Pompilius), 1991.

Gustav Guryanov is an artist to the core. Every street of St. Petersburg, where he stepped foot, he transformed into New York's Madison Avenue. The geometry of perfection was read in his face, he was brave and playful.

Artyom Troitsky said what he thought without smoothing his thoughts. Witty and casual in his snobbish coolness. His knowledge of the West was encyclopedic, far greater than mine, and like an ancient storyteller, he shared it in stories and tales, like a fashionable New York journalist.

Yes, there were vicious, dark and destructive men in our midst. Yes, there are downsides to being a woman among men all the time. But there is also beauty and charm. A woman does not need to be afraid to become "her boyfriend". All my Russian friends are beautiful, regardless of shoulder span, chest width or sexual power. These are people who gave me love and support simply because I was there. And, I tell you, existence without such people loses its meaning.

Joanna Stingray returns to Russia. Fans of Russian rock are waiting for a book, a film and new music. The ex-wife of the Kino guitarist told Fontanka about all this.

Stingray with Kasparyan // from the personal archive

Perestroyka didn't return, but Joanna Stingray did. One of the iconic characters of Russian rock, an American who lived in Leningrad for months in the 80s, brought records and instruments for those who are commonly called “legends” and “masters” today, suddenly visited St. Petersburg in May 2018. A secret visit was given out by selfies with rocker friends, and Fontanka was the first to know that the second coming of the "millionaire's daughter" from Los Angeles was just beginning.

The ex-wife of the guitarist of the KINO group said that the memory and archival photos that Stingray once decided to sort out at her home in Los Angeles were to blame for everything. A year later, everyone for whom the letter combinations “Rubinshtein 13”, “Leningrad Rock-n-Roll”, “Kino”, “Aquarium” and “Alice” are not an empty phrase, will receive a gift - a book about what happened to the youth 30 years ago when she chose rock, peace and freedom. Joanna Stingray admitted that she couldn’t stand rap, she didn’t give a damn about politics, besides the book she was preparing a film, and the famous Red Wave record, which told the West about Russian rock, would receive its continuation.

- What happened in 2016 when you suddenly

– When I left Russia in 1994, I was pregnant. My daughter was born. And I forgot about Russia. I needed to work. Everything is very expensive in America. But four years ago, some guys were making a film about Russian rock and asked me for archival materials. We found many photos. Over a thousand. They were in boxes. But files were needed. And so I began to scan photos. And I am a person who likes to do everything well, cleanly. I decided that if I sort it all out, then I would just have a cleaner house! It was the beginning. Going through the photos, I thought about how many of my friends are no longer alive, how important it all was for me in the 80s. And I realized that this is important for understanding who I am now. Who am I as a person. And I realized that in Russia it would also be important for many people to see these pictures and think about themselves.

– I was told that you should not rush with the publication, because you can sell it all. But it was important for me to do it precisely as a gift to the Russian people. And I ended up putting almost everything on my website. And I saw how happy those who found him were. In the first 2-3 weeks after the publication of the photo, half a million people visited the site. This was a surprise! And I realized that this is good. That time cannot be repeated a second time. Leningrad of the period 1984-1987 is just class!

2 years from idea to publication. Another 2 years, and you again came to St. Petersburg. What made you suddenly come here in the spring of 2018 after so many years of absence?

- In parallel with the analysis of photography, I began to work on a film script about my life in Russia. And about six months ago, I began to write a book where the whole story will be. And I came to Russia to meet with those who will make the film and who will help make the book. I took my daughter with me. I wanted her to see this beautiful city. The last time I was in Russia was in 1994. But I was almost all the time in Moscow then (the father of the daughter of Joanna Stingray, Madison - in those years, the drummer of the Center group Alexander Vasiliev - ed.). Now we had a special guide to show the historical places of St. Petersburg. I don’t know how, but “Afrika” (participant of the Leningrad art party, a regular participant in various cultural events, artist and actor Sergey Bugaev - ed.) found out that I was coming. And in the end we all met. And with Seva Gakkel (musician of the "golden composition" of the Aquarium group, in the 90s the head of the cult club "TaMtAm" - ed.) and Yura Kasparyan (guitarist of the groups "Kino", "Yu-Piter", a participant in the project " Symphonic Cinema” – editor’s note).

Was your daughter interested?

- Yes. She was very glad. She has something left inside. She felt that she was Russian. We were only there for three days. And all three days the weather was good here! And she said she wants to live here! I told her that I had been here so many times, I had never seen good weather for so long. She knew that her mother made rock and roll in Russia, but she didn't understand what that meant. After talking to my old friends, she went crazy! I had a lot of fun watching her!

Joint song Madison and Joanna Stingray - Don "t Come Down On Me (2016).

I had dinner with Boris Grebenshchikov and his wife Irina at my hotel. Madison was not. She chose to go to the ballet. I don't like ballet. The next day we came to visit him together and just talked for three hours. I watched Madison's face as she listened to his stories. Her reactions were exactly the same as mine 30 years ago! In such cases, you speak obscenely.

Did he tell her about life here?

- Yes. 30 years ago Boris changed my life. And now I looked at my daughter, who felt everything just like I did then. It was fantastic!

- Yes! I saw! It is very cool! And the photos from there are cool!

It's cool that there are those who don't recognize him. The police representative was there, asking BG for the name of the group that was performing.

Did that surprise anyone? Rock has never been the most famous music in Russia. I remember that in 1988 the most. But maybe this policeman has just lived in a cave for the last 30 years. And Grebenshchikov, what he did 30 years ago, is doing today. He just wants to play music. I love him for exactly what he is. He is an honest pure man.

When I learned that you had come again, I thought about the relevance of the term "perestroika". Does what you see now look like that Russia?

“Of course it does. Because Boris is here. And my other friends are here. It doesn't matter what politics is around. USSR or Russia. As Boris saw life then, so he sees it now.

I'm talking about the fact that for many the situation today is similar to the one when the country was behind the Iron Curtain and everyone could not travel across the border.

- Listen. Then there were not so many cars on Nevsky Prospekt! I really loved that city. There were very few advertisements on the streets! My rocker friends today have nice apartments when they don't have to live with another outside family. I remember that then Boris had neighbors. These were other families. And Yuri Kasparyan lived somewhere in Kupchino, with his parents. Today they have good apartments. And these are changes for the better. And I try not to think about politics. I have always been a person who is more interested in music.

In the 80s, you were also friends with Konstantin Kinchev, the leader of Alisa. Today he sings about something different than then. Have you seen?

- Not this time. And when I arrived in 2004, I couldn't find him either. But I would very much like to meet Kostya. He is one of my best friends here.

- Have you listened to his later albums?

- When I was in St. Petersburg, they tried to explain to me who is who now. This one is like this, and this one is like this. For me they are all very important people. I loved them then, I love them now. If I stay with you a little more when I'm working on the film, maybe I'll understand your question better, I'll better understand how someone has changed.

How soon can we expect a movie?

Give me a little more time to figure it out for myself. If it starts, I'll tell my story. The history of this music through the eyes of an American. I hope that the book with my story will be released in a year, next May. God willing, everything will work out. The film will probably be out in a year or so.

- And in the book there will be not only photos?

- OK. I'll tell you. These will be two books. One with my story. Basically text. Plus some photos. These shots were not yet on my site. The second book will be with photographs.

- What will be in the text? Only your memories?

- Not only. I am so glad that a couple of months ago I found videos of those years. My interviews with fellow musicians. There are a lot of them. There are 5 or 6 interviews with Grebenshchikov, recorded from 1984 to 1988. There are two interviews with Kostya. Interview with Sergey Firsov, Andrey Tropillo, Misha Borzykin, Sasha Bashlachev. I hired someone to decipher them. There will definitely be something in the book. The book will be in Russian.

30 years ago, Joanna Stingray became the channel of communication with world rock culture, which actually introduced the world to Russian rock. And Russian rock believed in itself. Your musician friends here eventually took place and still take the stage. It's time for a new "Red Wave" (double disc "Red Wave" in 1986 with the participation of the groups "Kino", "Aquarium", "Strange Games" and "Alice", which was released in the West with the direct participation of Joanna Stingray - ed. .)?

– The world is open today. We can communicate freely through the computer. I don't think Red Wave is needed again in this sense. But, when we talked with Yuri Kasparyan on this visit to St. Petersburg, we thought about creating Red Wave 2. Russia. We will ask about participation in the project of our friends. And Shevchuk, and Grebenshchikov. Kasparian can do something with his Symphonic Cinema project. Maybe my daughter will be there, who sings and writes songs. Maybe Sasha Tsoi will be there. He began to sing his songs like "Ronin". But this "Red Wave" will cover you after the book.

– I think he has talent. He is a very interesting person. In general, it is very difficult to be a child of a superstar. Especially when your father is no longer alive. But he has a clear head. He is very firmly on the ground. I saw how they performed with Yura on television. And it was interesting!

“And it's not at all like what his father did. This is heavier music. But Sasha is a different person! He speaks very good English. He knows history. The fact that he went to a good school is very noticeable. I

In the 1980s, the United States and Russia were getting closer. Today they have diverged almost as far as before that rapprochement 30 years ago. On whom, in your opinion, the improvement of communication between our countries depends?

– I think that smart people in America and Russia today can communicate freely. They don't care about politics. And 30 years ago, politics was not important to us. Of course, Gorbachev (the last General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the first President of the USSR MS Gorbachev - ed.) did a good thing. He should have done it. Because people wanted it.

Are you sure that this still depends on people today? Very often you can hear from passers-by that America is our enemy.

- I have not experienced this. And in America people don't feel it. You have Putin. We have Trump. Yes, many of us, including myself, are ashamed of Trump. After all, it is important for us what a person has inside, how he communicates with other people. And I don't analyze his politics. I have enough observation of his manners. He's not good. Not kind.

- Do they look alike? At first, everyone rejoiced when Trump was elected president.

“I don't know much about Putin. I remember that he is. When Trump became president, I don't know anyone who was happy about it. But I live in California. Our country is very different. We can say that these are several very different countries.

You promoted now forgotten values. Including the principle of "Make love not war". They wore the Pacific badge. What needs to be done so that the soldiers of our countries stop killing and dying in foreign countries?

“It is only possible if ordinary people want it. Both you and us. I have been to many European countries. And everywhere they told me that Americans are crazy! That the Americans have a lot of weapons on their hands. That we have kids killing each other in schools. Nothing will change until the people themselves say “enough, we don’t want this anymore.” And this will happen when people realize that the most important thing in life is family, children, friends, education. My friends and I can write lyrics, make music that will touch someone from the inside, make you think about simple things.

Do you really believe that music can still carry such a function? That through the song you can explain simple truths from the series “you can’t kill”?

– I think that music, together with lyrics, is a very serious weapon. It can change people, make changes, help to think. Most people look at everything only through the prism of their consciousness. But art can make you see much more with your own eyes.

- You'll have to move here! For explanatory work.

– I’m already old (laughs)! What I can? I can tell my story in a book. I see that a lot of people today are interested in exactly that time. Many musicians of the 80s stopped playing music. Busy with other things. But now, a generation later, there are those who are interested in doing it all over again.

Are we looking forward to new concerts with your participation, new "teleconferences" (a popular genre of television in the late 80s, when studio guests from different cities and countries entered into a dialogue - ed. note)?

I hope so, yes.

- In the USSR, you were followed by people "in civilian clothes." And now you notice the tail behind you?

- In the 80s I had meetings and conversations with the KGB. Then the FBI. After all, then it was really very strange that an American woman comes to the USSR every three months. I was like a red rag to a bull. And in August 1984 I was in the Union for the second time. I was at a concert at the Rock Club. I was silent. I tried to be like a Russian. But after the concert, two men grabbed me. They began to ask how I got to the concert. It was scary. A similar meeting was with the FBI. Both have essentially the same school. Communication with them is always like a game. It is difficult to say this briefly. A year ago, I applied for a visa. For three years. They gave it to me. This visit was a funny story. We arrived at a hotel where I had stayed many times in the past. Back in 1984-1985. The person who meets guests at the door there is very old. And he said to me: “Joanna, hello. Good to see you again!" My daughter was in shock!

You came with your daughter. Would you mind if she suddenly decided to repeat your path and leave for Russia, become the wife of the leader of some actual rap group? Today it's trendy music here.

– I have two answers to this question. As a mother, I will not be happy. I don't like rap! I will be afraid that it will be difficult for her to live in Russia. But the other answer is that the most important thing I want as a mother is for my child to be happy. If this choice of hers, to be with a Russian man, makes her happier, I will only be glad. But these two answers interfere with each other. It's not easy (laughs). But I will come here myself. I myself have Russian blood. This is a very important country for me. For my soul and heart. This is a cool place! There are great people here!

Nikolai Nelyubin, especially for Fontanka.ru

Joanna Stingray is little known to the generation of the new millennium, but for the Russian masters of rock, she is a cult personality, and for his St. Petersburg school she is almost a muse. The American singer and actress in the 80s became, in fact, the first Western producer for groups,.

Childhood and youth

Joanna Stingray, née Fields, was born in July 1960 in Los Angeles. His father made a million-dollar real estate business and the family lived in prestigious Beverly Hills.

The early years of Joanna's biography did not suggest that she would become a rocker and celebrity in a country with opposite foundations than her homeland. The girl studied at Beverly Hills High School, where she was a member of the school cheerleading team. She was serious about swimming and won competitions.

Music entered Fields' life when she entered the University of Southern California. The first songs appeared there, and in 1983 the aspiring singer released her first album "Beverly Hills Brat" with four songs. Only the name of the girl was indicated on the cover. The pseudonym Stingray Joanna took later, so she disguised herself in front of intelligence agents on both sides of the ocean.

Music

Joanna's work is closely connected with the USSR, the time of "love, poetry and romance." The singer met the country thanks to her father, who made an anti-Soviet film. And Stingray's perception was stereotyped - dull people, the all-powerful KGB. In the mid-80s, the singer's sister, who studied in England, invited Joanna to go to Moscow for a week. A mutual friend, an emigrant from the Soviet Union, was friends with, gave him his phone number and advised him to visit Leningrad.

Three days spent in the city on the Neva broke Stingray's stereotypes. Such magic, according to the artist, she had never met. Not only were there virtuosos in the performance of rock and roll in the USSR, but the people themselves turned out to be more open and friendly. Joanna still admires the talent, modesty and non-standard behavior of Sergei Africa Bugaev.

The first Stingray record in the USSR was released in 1989 under the name "Stingray". It includes 4 compositions, for one of them - "Turn Away" - a video was shot, in which the future star of cinema and television lit up.

Joanna Stingray song "Turn Away"

The album "Walking Through Windows" Joanna dedicated to the deceased Viktor Tsoi. Among the tracks of the record is "Danger!", which is a rehash of his "Sad Song". The video for "Tsoi Song" is somewhat similar to the clip "The Queen is Dead" by the British band The Smiths. In 1996, the singer presented a film from archival films "Sunny Days", prepared with Alexander Lipnitsky from in memory of Viktor.

The primary sources of the compositions "Ashes" and "Rock'n'Roll is Dead" were the songs "Aquarium" - "Ashes" and "Rock and Roll is Dead". "Yerosha" is copied from "Sorceress" performed by "Strange Games".

Another "Soviet album" Stingray - "Thinking "Till Monday". The video "Dancing in the Sky" starred, the frontman of "The Untouchables" and "Brigade C". The clip "Baby Baby Bala Bala" includes footage from the film "Freak" , in which Joanna performed for the first and last time as an actress.

In 1998, the singer recorded the studio album Shades of Yellow. Session musicians included members of Atomic Rooster and The Parrots. Joanna has already returned to the United States for 2 years, frightened by the crisis of the “dashing 90s” that broke out in Russia. Therefore, this album is considered the only truly American in the discography of the artist.

Joanna Stingray's "Danger!" ("My sad song")

Joanna's main hit is not her own work at all, but the album "Red Wave 4 underground bands from USSR". The record with the songs of the groups of friends "Strange Games", "Aquarium", "Kino" and "Alice" was released with a circulation of only 10 thousand copies, but then it was a grandiose breakthrough. Stingray took out the source files, hiding the cassettes in clothes and shoes. The Soviet government did not forgive the American for such a demarche, banning entry into the country for six months and thereby jeopardizing Joanna's wedding.

In 2004 and 2009, Stingray came to Russia with concerts, in the interim she released the album “May There Always Be Sunshine”, the name of which is the words from the song of the Soviet children “May There Always Be Sunshine”.

Personal life

In the Soviet Union, the American had not only a successful business, but also part of her personal life. In 1987, Stingray became the wife of the guitarist of the Kino group, whom the singer calls the first real and strongest love. But the couple quickly divorced. Later, the artist married Alexander Vasilyev, a member of the Center rock group. A daughter, Madison, was born in the marriage, and this family also fell apart. The reason for this, according to Joanna, is the reluctance to raise a child in a rock environment.

The bass player of the same band, Vasily Shumov, married Judy, Joanna's sister, left for the USA in 1990, and returned in 2009. The singer believes that a Russian person can only create at home, which compatriots simply did not understand, because Americans, in fact, come from other countries.

According to rumors, Stingray had an affair with Grebenshchikov, but Joanna claims that love with the Aquarium soloist did not go beyond the platonic, besides, she knew Boris's wife, Natalya, well.

The last husband of the artist was a certain Stephen, the singer, according to unconfirmed information, also broke up with him.

The musician's daughter is well aware of how famous her parents were in the Soviet Union. The girl has already visited Russia and dreams of obtaining Russian citizenship, because "here is incredibly beautiful and wonderful people." And married, as Madison admitted in an interview, she will marry a "Russian handsome." The creative genes of her mother were transferred to her - the video “Don" t Come Down On Me ”is distributed on the Web, in which Joanna and Madison sing and play together.

Joanna Stingray now

The singer, who was close friends with the leader of the Kino group, had heard a lot about the film “Summer” by the director and about the assessment given to the film by Boris Grebenshchikov: everything that is shown is a lie. According to Joanna, there is some fiction in the film, but the director's fantasy should not distort the facts about Viktor Tsoi. And in order to tell the whole truth, you need to live and communicate in the environment and the time about which the story is being told.

Joanna Stingray now

In May 2018, the singer and her daughter visited St. Petersburg, introduced Madison to the leader of the Aquarium and announced that she was preparing two books for release and plans to make a film about the years spent in the Union and the people she met during this period. . In books, Joanna wants to publish photos with, and other musicians now known to listeners.

A couple of years before the trip, Stingray posted some of the rare pictures on the Internet, including on Instagram. The singer was told that one could make money on such a rarity, but Joanna wanted to make a gift to fans who had not forgotten her.

Discography

• 1983 - "Beverly Hills Brat"
• 1987 - "Save Stingray"
• 1988 - "Reggae From Around the World"
• 1989 - Stingray
• 1990 - "Thinking Till Monday"
• 1991 - "Walking Through Windows"
• 1991 - "Joanna Stingray Greatest Hits"
• 1993 - "Greenpeace Rocks"
• 1993 - "Rock Me But Don't Disrupt My Mind"
• 1994 - "For a Moment"
• 1998 - Shades of Yellow
• 2004 - "May There Always Be Sunshine"