Mikhail Krug

Russia, 1987–2002

Russian singer-songwriter (1962-2002) from Tver, called the king of Russian chanson. Writing plainly about prison, loyalty and loss, his anthem 'Vladimirsky Central' made the genre a mass phenomenon. He was shot dead at his home in 2002 at the age of 40.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Mikhail Krug and 0 artists Mikhail Krug influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Mikhail Krug?

• Vladimir Vysotsky — Vysotsky was Krug's idol from the age of six; hearing him was what convinced Krug that he could write his own songs, telling stories in plain, direct language.
• Arkady Severny — Krug took much of his early repertoire straight from the underground tape tradition Severny defined, performing songs Severny had made known.
• Alexander Rosenbaum — While searching for his own manner Krug openly imitated the leading bards, Rosenbaum among them, whose stylised gangster songs are the closest model for Krug's own.