Formation and Early Years (1981–1983)
Kino was founded in Leningrad in 1981 by Viktor Tsoi, Aleksei Rybin, and Oleg Valinsky. Originally called Garin i Giperboloidy, they soon adopted the simpler name Kino ("cinema/film"). In these early years, the band operated on the fringes of the Soviet music scene, creating lo-fi recordings distributed through magnitizdat—an underground system that bypassed government censorship. Their debut album, 45 (1982), recorded with members of the band Aquarium, introduced Tsoi's poetic, introspective songwriting.
Rise to Popularity (1984–1985)
Kino’s lineup changed frequently in its early years, but the addition of guitarist Yuri Kasparyan in 1983 helped solidify their sound. Albums like Nachalnik Kamchatki (1984) and Eto ne lyubov... (1985) brought them growing underground popularity, with increasingly polished production and stronger lyrical themes. Still largely outside the official state music industry, their songs circulated through bootlegs and word-of-mouth.
Tragedy and the Final Album (1990)
On August 15, 1990, Viktor Tsoi died in a car accident in Latvia at the age of 28. His sudden death shocked fans across the Soviet Union and beyond. At the time of his death, Kino had been working on a new album. The surviving members completed the recordings and released it as The Black Album later that year. The band officially disbanded after its release.
Formation and Early Years (1981–1983)
Kino was founded in Leningrad in 1981 by Viktor Tsoi, Aleksei Rybin, and Oleg Valinsky. Originally called Garin i Giperboloidy, they soon adopted the simpler name Kino ("cinema/film"). In these early years, the band operated on the fringes of the Soviet music scene, creating lo-fi recordings distributed through magnitizdat—an underground system that bypassed government censorship. Their debut album, 45 (1982), recorded with members of the band Aquarium, introduced Tsoi's poetic, introspective songwriting.
