FAQ

Year 2001. The first year of the Millennium. After leaving his former band Pashtet decided to form a new band, which would play straight edge music. The style of the new band Pashtet calls hardcore. «In this music it doesn’t matter how many strings your guitar has or what genre you belong to. What is important is the integrity with which you address the listeners, using all your energy». FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) started from the vocal and rhythm section: Renat Koneshev – bass player (Heymaker, Broken), Anatoly Pugach - drums (Zdob si Zdub) & Pashtet – vocal. The band’s first songs were recorded with the help of Dan Burim (Frecken Bock) and Albert Ismagilov (Va-Bank) as guitar players. Since the very beginning the band had strict positions concerning their participation in different events: «We’ll play only where we want and on terms that we consider acceptable». In winter 2002 FAQ recorded the first demo-material and participated in a closed show on the invitation of Greenpeace. In summer 2002 FAQ started to get the results from their struggle against mismanagement of concerts in Russia. Instead of the small clubs they appeared on one of the biggest open-air fest – “Nashestvie” (“Invasion”). Critics reacted more than positive and the audience once again proved that they need new artists with the hardcore sound. After the fest the band started to work with Daria Gubenko – the sound engineer of the musical “Metro”, “Notre Dame De Paris”. In February 2003 FAQ performed a show with the bands “Soulfly” and “Psyhea”. Pashtet performed the part of Chino Moreno (Deftones) in the song «Pain». The part was translated into Russian on the train from St.Petersburg to Moscow. “Max loved the idea that the part of this sad & uncanny song would be performed in Russian”. At the same time Valentin Astashin (Ninos de Venganga) replaced Alexey Chepurko. The first show with him took place on the 10th of July 2003 in DKG together with the band “Disturbed”. Then the official web-site appeared – www.faqmusic.ru. There you’ll find information about FAQ and Pashtet’s personal page - «Hardcore’ll Neva Die». From winter 2003 to summer 2004 in the life of FAQ many events took place. The bands headliner single “Frequently Asked Questions” was used on the soundtrack of “Bumer” movie. Dmitry Sobinyakov joined the band as the second guitarist. From May to August 2004 the band recorded an album with “PK Records”, in September it was compiled at “SIM Records Studio” & mastered at “Cutting Room” (Sweden). Among all the labels FAQ chose “FeeLee Records” – this company supported the development of Russian hardcore music and was a force for independent music. 10 years ago it released “Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds”, “Depeche Mode” & “Prodigy” in the Russian market. The release of the album “Frequently Asked Questions” took place on the 19th of November 2004 with the support of the record distributor “Souz”. The presentation of the album took place on the 26th of November 2004 in “CDK MAI”. In January 2005 Pashtet took part in the recording the song “Molotov” for the new album of “Soulfly” «Dark Ages». In April 2005 FAQ, “Hostile Breed” and “Soulfly” went on a tour across Russia. All the shows are sold out. In summer 2005 at the big Russian open-air fest “Nashestvie” (“Invasion”) Pashtet became the lead producer of alternative music at the “Oboima” venue. On this stage the best alternative music bands were united. In 2006 FAQ began the recording of the second full-format album. At the same time the line-up of the band was in transition. The band took part in all the summer open-air fests – “Krylia” (“Wings”), Emmaus, “Nashestvie” (“Invasion”) at “Oboima”. This summer “Oboima” had the whole day on the North Stage of the festival. “Oboima” was more powerful and received the best responses from the audience and press. By the beginning of 2007 the album was fully recorded. At “CSP Studio” the last track of the album “Killing Song” featuring Max Cavalera was recorded. On the 11th of January at the “Shadow” club veterans of “Oboima” performed. With a special appearance from Max Cavalera who performed the songs Molotov, Killing Song & JumpDaFuckUp with FAQ. Finally the crew of FAQ has settled. Now FAQ is – Pashtet – vocal, Renat Koneshev – bass, Denis Zhdanov – guitar, Nicolay Voschilov - guitar, Nicolay Kyrenev – drums. The album «Circus Dogs» was released in spring 2007 in two versions – Russian and English.