Korol i Shut () were a

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

horror punk Horror punk is a music genre that mixes punk rock and 1950s-influenced doo-wop and rockabilly sounds with morbid and violent imagery and lyrics which are often influenced by horror films and science fiction B-movies. The genre was pioneered by t ...

band from

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

that took inspiration and costumes from tales and fables.

History

The band was formed in 1988 by a group of school friends in

Leningrad Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

(current day Saint Petersburg). The founding members were Mikhail "Gorshok" Gorsheniov (), Aleksandr "Balu" Balunov (), and Aleksandr "Lieutenant" Shchigoliev (). Singer Andrei "Kniaz" Kniazev () joined the band in 1990 and guitarist Yakov Tsvirkunov () joined in 1996. The band's name, which means "The King and the Jester," was adopted in 1992. Previously, the band was called Kontora (). Korol' i Shut's lyrics are written by Kniazev and feature horror stories and folk tales about pirates,

troll A troll is a being in Nordic folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated areas of rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human bei ...

ghosts In folklore, a ghost is the soul or Spirit (supernatural entity), spirit of a dead Human, person or non-human animal that is believed by some people to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely, from a ...

and

vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...

s, as well as

Slavic mythology Slavic paganism, Slavic mythology, or Slavic religion refer to the Religion, religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation of the Slavs, Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and ...

. The band recorded their music for the first time in 1991 in a semi-professional

studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...

. Their music was broadcast on the radio soon after and they began to tour around Saint Petersburg's clubs. They began rehearsing in the club

TaMtAm The tamtam, sometimes spelled tam-tam, is a type of Gong#Chau gong (tam-tam), gong. TamTam, Tam-Tam, tamtam, or tam-tam may also refer to: * Tam-Tam (album), ''Tam-Tam'' (album), a 1983 album by Amanda Lear * Tam Tam (Samurai Shodown), Tam Tam (' ...

, in which the bands Chimera and Tequilajazzz also started performing. In 1994, the band released a few copies of a tape named "''Bud' kak doma putnik"'' (). The band's first official album was 1996's "''Kamnem po golove"'' () which was distributed by Melodiya. Many other albums were released since then. The first music video was released in 1998 for the song "Yeli miaso muzhiki" (). The band's lead singer, Mikhail Gorsheniov, died of heart failure during the night from 18 to 19 July 2013. After a farewell tour during the fall and winter of 2013, Korol' i Shut officially broke up in January 2014. The surviving members formed a new band named (). However, due to the numerous requests of the fans, the former band members decided to keep the name Korol' i Shut exclusively for the release of the unfinished rock musical ''TODD''.

Posthumous Recognition

In 2023, a TV miniseries titled ''Korol i Shut'' was released, combining the band's biography with adaptations of their folk horror stories, leading to a resurgence in their popularity.

Musical Style and Themes

Korol i Shut's music is characterized by a fusion of horror punk, folk punk, and art punk. Their

lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer, ...

, primarily written by Andrei Kniazev, often depict horror stories and folk tales involving pirates, trolls, ghosts, vampires, and elements of

. Despite the macabre themes, many songs incorporate humor, sarcasm, and irony. The band's theatrical performances, complete with costumes and makeup inspired by horror punk aesthetics, contributed to their distinctive image.

Legacy and Influence

Korol i Shut holds an iconic status in Russian rock music, known for bringing punk rock to mainstream audiences. Their unique blend of storytelling and punk aesthetics influenced numerous artists and bands within Russia and the broader post-Soviet space. The band's approach to integrating folklore into music has been cited as pioneering, contributing to a distinct subgenre within Russian rock.

Former members

* Mikhail "Gorshok" Gorshenyov (Михаил «Горшок» Горшенёв) - vocals, acoustic guitar (1988-2013) * Andrei "Kniaz" Kniazev (Андрей «Князь» Князев) - vocals, lyrics (1989-2011) * Aleksandr "Balu" Balunov (Александр «Балу» Балунов) — bass guitar, guitar (1988-2006) * Dmitry "Ryabchik" Ryabchenko (Дмитрий «Рябчик» Рябченко) — bass guitar * Aleksei "Yagoda" Gorshenyov (Алексей «Ягода» Горшенёв) — drums (1993-1995) * Maria "Masha" Nefyodova (Мария «Маша» Нефёдова) — violin (1998-2004) * Dmitry "Casper" Rishko (Дмитрий Ришко) - violin (2006-2011) * Yakov "Yasha" Tsvirkunov (Яков «Яша» Цвиркунов) - guitars, backing vocal (1995-2013) * Aleksandr " Poruchik" Shchigolyev (Александр «Поручик» Щиголев) - drums (1988-2013) * Pavel "Pakhan" Sazhinov (Павел Сажинов) - keyboards (1998-2013) * Aleksandr "Renegat" Leontyev (Александр «Ренегат» Леонтьев) — guitar (2001-2006; 2011-2013) * Sergei "Zakhar" Zakharov (Сергей «Захар» Захаров) - bass guitar (2006-2013)

Discography

Awards and nominations

Controversies

Cultural and Religious Criticism

Korol i Shut’s macabre lyrical themes and theatrical horror-punk aesthetic drew frequent condemnation from conservative and religious groups in Russia. Songs like "Танец злобного гения" ("Dance of the Evil Genius") and "Кукла колдуна" ("Witch’s Doll") were criticized for allegedly promoting "anti-Christian" values and glorifying themes like alcoholism and black magic. In 2007, a coalition of Orthodox Christian organizations petitioned the Ministry of Culture to cancel their Moscow concert, claiming their performances "corrupted youth". The band’s 1999 single "Ели мясо мужики" ("Men Were Eating Meat")—a graphic allegory about societal decay—sparked debates about artistic freedom. Critics accused the band of "mocking traditional morality," while supporters praised its satirical critique of post-Soviet Russia.

Internal Conflicts and Gorshok's Death

Frontman Mikhail "Gorshok" Gorshenev’s struggles with substance abuse became a public controversy. His erratic behavior during concerts and documented alcohol addiction led to tensions with co-founder Andrei "Knyaz" Knyazev, who temporarily left the band in 2008. Gorshenev’s death in 2013 from heart failure, linked to long-term alcohol abuse, prompted discussions about the destructive lifestyles associated with Russian rock culture.

Posthumous Depictions and Legacy Debates

The band’s legacy faced scrutiny after their 2014 disbandment. Surviving members were criticized for authorizing the posthumous album *TODD* (2018), which featured unfinished recordings of Gorshenev. In 2023, the TV series reignited controversy for fictionalizing band history, including portraying Gorshenev’s first wife as a villain. Former bassist Alexander "Balagan" Shchigolyev called the series "a distorted mirror of our past."

References

External links

Official site

Unofficial forum

RussMus.Net: Korol i Shut Lyrics and English translations
{{DEFAULTSORT:Korol i Shut Musical groups from Saint Petersburg Russian punk rock groups Musical groups established in 1988 Horror punk groups Soviet punk rock groups Musical groups disestablished in 2014 Russian rock music groups