Bitva Bogov (ex-Epidemia)

Since 1993, Andrei Laptev dreamed to create own group, were engaged in a circle of the young schoolboy on drums. Having come in a circle in the spring 93 years, Andrei have sent till autumn, as the spring vacation began and employment in the summer was not. For summer Andrei has collected the first group of the friends on a summer residence, having named its "Epidemic". He was going to sing and has found two guitarists and drummer, one of them called Andrei ?naniev. He has helped Andrei to find drummer and at the end of summer 1993 , before the beginning of employment in Via, drummer could not play to group of Laptev and, having come in the autumn 1993 in a circle, for Laptev it was necessary to sit down drums, in a consequence that he has stayed behind them 10 years. In that time the guys played covers of groups of Cinema and Civil Defense. The group having rehearsed some months, because of musical disagreements group has broken up. Later Andrei has collected other structure. Here already there were songs, truth in style of group of Cinema. Having given a unique concert, the group was again dismissed.Per 94 years in the same circle as the group played, in which was familiar of Andrei on a nickname “John”. In that time Andrei searched of the colleagues on group. John has offered Andrei of the fellow student on institute on a place of guitar in his group, having promised that his certain friend will call to Andrei. After two days Andrei has phoned and with young guitar player Yuriy, in a consequence taken a pseudonym Melisov. The first meeting Andrei with Yuriy has taken place at station of the underground Sviblovo. Yuriy has resulted with itself a bass - guitarist Dmitriy Shcherbakov and the guys at once on the first rehearsal began to play covers of group Metallica. Later Yuriy with Andrei be dispatched and after one year, were going again.Andrei Laptev and Yuriy Melisov have begun job in the beginning of 1995. To four songs written earlier, one more has increased - " Less us ". ?????? has found studio and in April - May first was written down demo under the name "Bullets" ("Bullet"). Because of absence bass guitarist the parties of a bass - guitar should be registered by Yuriy. In August the guys have thought up the name for group - "Epidemic", and in October Andrei has found new bass guitarist. Him became – Artem Smirnov. The rehearsals have become frequent, and by December Epidemic has ripened for the first concert, Artem has asked the friends to organize a concert, which was held on December 20, 1995 in D/K MEI. On a concert, besides the songs, were played of the cover-version of groups Metallica « Fade To Black », Helloween « I Want Out » and Nirvana « Smells Like Teen Spirit ». The structure of group on that moment was such:• Andrei Laptev - drums• Yuriy Melisov- guitar, vocal• Andrei Man’ko- guitar, back-vocal• Artem Smirnov- bassThe winter 96-th wrote two songs: " Will to Life " and " a Shadow of Love ", and in February and March 96-th guys have given a pair of concerts. In the spring Andrei with Yuriy have accepted the decision to write down two songs at studio - " New day " in the accelerated version, and ballad N.?.S.?.I.A., which was written even in summer of 95-th year. The ambassador the guys have thought up one more composition - " Be With You Again ". The winter of 96-th year became for group the beginning of club activity. The guys have given a number of concerts with the Moscow group Legion. On one of concerts Yuriy has met the future vocalist of Epidemic – Pavel Okunev, and through some Andrei has found new bass guitarist - of Nickolai Turunov. In August 97-th Yuriy has written a song " a Ring of whole power” after which the guys sat in the studio to record its debut album « Will To Life ». At this moment group has decided to leave guitarist Andrei Man’ko and Kohl has resulted in group of the Roman Zaharov. In October Andrei made a concert epidemics in the new composition:• Pavel Okunev - vocal• Andei Laptev - drums• Yuriy Melisov- guitar• Roman Zaharov - guitar• Nickolai Turunov - bassIn parallel with concert activity the job above an album " Will to Life " proceeded. The record was given hardly, however in November, 1997 the job was completed, and release of an album was held in February, 1998 in firm “ Moroz Records ”, on which with heavy efforts and constant negotiation ?ndrei with management this reck of the company, issued the first album. The output of a plate has not served as a subject for pleasure of the musicians. It is necessary to recognize, that the guys were unsufficiently ready to its record, both technically, and spiritually. The not so competent item of information only has emphasized minuses of the written down material. However subtleties of a sound recording could not affect character of songs and on a material as a whole. Qualitative russian heavy-speed-metal, basically being rare for Russia by the phenomenon, lyrical texts, melodic - all this has subdued hearts of many people. But after release of an album for Andrei there was a question: how the absolutely unknown group itself can realize circulation? Laptev of the beginnings that has arranged free-of-charge distribution of a new album on concerts of an Aria and has made two free-of-charge concerts and for a floor of year all circulation Andrei has managed to realize. Then Andrei could let out in firm “Spika” bilaterial double-shirts, has organized a fan club, and Melisov has opened a web-site.By the end of spring 98-th attendance of concerts sharply has increased, and on summer vacations the group left in complete battle readiness to be typed of forces for record of a new album. Soon because of musical disagreements, bass guitarist Nickolai Turunov has left group and to his place was invited Ilia Kniazev. In the updated structure the group has lead a series of shock concerts on the Moscow clubs, acting on equal with such collectives, as the Foreman. For improvement of perception of music on concerts began to be used keyboard and Andrei periodically found kayboard players: September till December on them played Lubov Nazarova, since January – Ekaterina Usanova, and then – Ekaterins Gladkova.In February, 2000 at group has appeared new keyboard player Oleg "Beavis" Pohvalin. At last, at the end of August, 1999 there was new, more successful album of Epidemic under the name " At edge of time ". He became the second creation of Epidemia, issued again in firm Moroz Records. Fourteen things will not give anybody to miss during seventy four minutes. « At edge of time » is " the sixteenth barrels ", original guitar rifs, modern sounding in the best traditions of the leaders of power-metal Helloween and Stratovarius. In the summer of 2000 the decision was for some reasons accepted to dismiss Pavel Okunev from group. After long searches was found talented vocalist Maksim Samosvat. In one of evenings, sitting at Andrei’s at home, Roman Zaharov and Andrei Laptev have called Maksim and have offered to join group, in the answer he has agreed to win back with the guys one season and in a consequence has agreed to constant job. His( concert debut was held on October 6 in "«?-club", where he was accepted on "hurrah" both fans, and journalists from the various fates - editions.In the summer of 2001 the group has finished job above a new album " a Riddle of the Magic Country ", which became one more step in development of collective. The album has received the highest estimations in the Russian musical press. After record of an album guitarist Roman Zaharov has left group - it the friend, Pavel Bushuev (ex-Stonehenge) has replaced by Yuriy, and and new keyboard player became Roman Veleriev . December 15, 2001 the presentation of a new album « a Riddle of the Magic Country » was held, on which the group could collect a plenty of the students.The structure was such:• Maksim Samosvat - vocal• Yuriy Melisov-guitar• Roman Zaharov-guitar• Ilia Kniazev-bass• Andrei Laptev-drumsAlso summer 2001 removed a clip on a song « I Was asked On you », which later Andrei together with the telechannel MTV has organized hit of Epidemic in rotation. In the summer of 2001 Andrei on a site MTV casually has found out among nominees on EMA Epidemic, having begun to spend every possible advertising. In a consequence that Epidemic has got in voting on participation in prestigious ceremony of rewarding MTV Europe Music Awards 2002, and then and in 5 best on reception of the award. The press began to mention more often group, and MTV - to invite to shootings of various telecasts. Epidemic participated in one of transfers together with legendary Alice Cooper.In November, 2002 ???????? Pavel Bushuev and general director of Moroz records Serfei Morozov went in Barcelona on ceremony of rewarding MTV Europe Music Award 2002 c by participation of such world stars, as Robbie Williams, Moby, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Bon Jovi, Enrique Iglesias, Eminem, Royksopp, Coldplay, Wyclef Jean and Foo Fighters, where the group has borrowed 4-th place among the Russian executors. Thus, Epidemic became the first Russian heavy collective which has got in nomennes EMA. It has opened to group new ample opportunities and large prospects. Soon to the public there was a collection « Maximum Test » with songs of the best Russian fates - executors, where the composition of Epidemic « I Was asked On you ». At the end of 2002 group Epidemic in a course of quarrel with Andrei Laptev and Yuriy Melisov was disorganized on two parts. Laptev was going to collect new structure of Epidemic and to lay out it on the basic site of group, as is unexpected for itself, on the same site he has found out the information, where was specified about his leaving from group, though Andrei Laptev anywhere and did not leave. Having called Melisov, puzzled Laptev has received from Melisov the ambiguous answer, “ that, pier, password from a site not from me, and at Bushuev ”. To avoid long judicial hassle and thus having left the name “Epidemic” at itself, Andri Laptev has collected new structure and a little for distinction has changed the name on Andrei Laptev and Epidemic (ALEpidemiya). Andrei quickly has found new structure of group and the concert in new structure was shortly made, on which were played as well as old hits, and new songs.