Group "Mirage": composition and history

Eight soloists for thirty years of creative work. The Soviet group "Mirage" started in 1985. However, in the first year of his birth, the Mirage was known under a different name - "Zone of activity".

Their music connected

The group "Mirage" (composition of the first collective) was born under the leadership of four gifted personalities: Andrei Lityagin, Margarita Suhankina, Sergei Proklova, Mikhail Kirsanov.

The first demo of "Information for Newspapers" was recorded in the same year, 1985. Amateur composition was different from the subsequent not only by its name, but also by its direction. Initially it was a new wave, originating in punk rock, electronic music, glam rock, post-punk, disco and funk.

At first, the soloist of the group was Mikhail Kirsanov: he was the author of the poems, and Andrei Lityagin, playing the keys, was a composer.

The stars are waiting for them

In 1986, in February, the team "Zone of Activity" was renamed "Mirage". Soon the band began to record songs actively. Andrei Lityagin transferred the right of soloing to the female half of the group. The first vocalist was Margarita Sukhankina. Having performed "The Stars Are Waiting for You", "This Night" and "Video", she refused to continue participating in the project, having justified this with the desire to realize herself in the operatic career.

After a long search, the first line-up of the Mirage group was added to the name of the new soloist. Natalia Gulkina became her. Together with her the band recorded their debut album "The Stars Are Waiting for You". It happened on March 3, 1987.

However, in 1994 Natalia Gulkina, the soloist of the band "Mirage", who participated in the recording of the first album, was replaced by vocalist Ekaterina Boldyshev. It was she who sang songs from her debut album to re-release it on CD.

The first tour of the group "Mirage"

The debut album was so popular among the audience that Andrei Lityagin decided to start the tour. In the fall of 1987, the band went on their first tour. However, before that the group "Mirage" again filled its lineup. The second soloist was Svetlana Razina.

It is known that the schedule of concert activity was so dense that it reached 80-90 speeches a month: more than three per day. Soon one of the most popular bands in the country was the Mirage band.

The composition of the old band (tour) included 5 names: Natalia Gulkina and Svetlana Razina - soloists; Sergei Proklov and Igor Ponomarev - guitarists (the second participated only at concerts); Roman Zhukov is a keyboard player; Sergei Solopov is a drummer.

The flight of soloists from "Mirage" to "Fairies" and "Stars"

Despite the loud success, in 1988, "Mirage" lost his vocalists. We can say that Natalia Gulkina and Svetlana Razina started a solo career in the groups "Stars" and "Fairy".

Why did this happen? It is believed that Natalia Gulkina was offered to sing to the phonogram. The songs were performed for her by Margarita Suhankina, which Litagin invited specially for the studio recording.

After Natalia and Svetlana left the ranks of the collective, the further successful existence of the collective under the widely known name - the group "Mirage" - was questioned. The composition, fortunately, soon replenished with Natalia Vetlitskaya. But she did not solo for long, only during 1988. Later she made a solo career. Short stay of the girl in the team did not pass for her in vain. She was captured in the first video of "Mirage".

What is it remarkable about? It is a video frame, not selected for one composition, but immediately for three. Such a peculiar potpourri from "I do not want", "Music tied us" and "This night".

The composition of the band "Mirage" in 1988 is characterized by the highest instability of the staff and, what's hidden, little known among the fans. For example, Ina Smirnova was also in her ranks, which later also became a participant of "Fey".

"Together again": Sukhankina sings again for "Mirage"

In the summer of 1988, the second magnetic album, entitled "Again together," was released. Paradoxically, Sukhankin was again invited to record it. Under the vocal parts, performed by Margarita, it was suggested to "sing" Natalia Gulkina. She refused to open her mouth to the soundtrack and left the band.

In this album, further creative mood and direction of music can be traced, in which dancing and fatal notes harmoniously combine. Such a visiting card became characteristic of the group thanks to the influence of guitarist Alexei Gorbashev.

In 1989, the band "Mirage", whose composition again changed, continues to actively tour the country. Despite the fact that the voices of Gulkina and Sukhankina still sounded from the speakers, new vocalists appeared on the stage. Tatiana Ovsienko and Irina Saltykova - this is the new female side of the non-permanent in the composition, but regular in popularity group. Soon Irina Saltykova left her ranks, and Ovsienko became the only soloist. However, for a long time she did not have to bask in the rays of glory in this role. In the 1990s Lityagin replaced her with Ekaterina Boldyshev. At this time (since 1991) the group is actively working on recording the third album.

Goodbye, a plus soundtrack. Hello, Boldysheva

With the arrival in 1990 in the team of Ekaterina Boldysheva ended the era of the tour under the plus phonogram. She sang all the songs in her own voice. Maybe this fact was the reason for her long cooperation with Litjanin, whose main brainchild was and was the Mirage group. The new composition, which included Ekaterina Boldysheva, existed until 1999.

If we consider the history of the band based on different sources, one fact remains unclear: who performed the songs in the Danceremix remix album, released in 1997? According to one data, all songs were sung by Boldysheva. According to others - Catherine performed only a part, the rest of the party was given to Sukhankina.

Records of numerous remixes

The release of the third album did not take place. The reason lies in the economic situation in the country, which had a very detrimental effect on the group. "It was not the first time", instead of the supposed 1991, came out already in 2004.

But the remix albums came out one by one: "Version 2000", Dance remix 2000 (remix on the album Danceremix), "Back to the Future" and "Throw".

The last collection - "Throw" - consisted of tracks that were supposed to come out in 1991.

In 2004, thanks to the publishing house "Gem", work was begun on the issue "Not for the first time". In the same year, the third numbered album was released.

A new stage in the creative path of "Mirage"

The composition of the band "Mirage" in 2004 changes dramatically. Four new soloists come to the collective at once: Evgenia Morozova, Maria Kharcheva, Nicole Ambrazaisis and Elena Stepaniuc. However, the girls in the group did not stay long.

In 2005, the year of the "age of majority" of the collective, the band "Mirage" holds a number of concerts. One of the most significant and memorable events was the event held in the sports complex "Olympic". It was here that every fan could see their favorite composition of the "Mirage" band, even if it belonged to different epochs of its development.

Tatyana Ovsienko, Svetlana Razina, Irina Saltykova, Natalya Gulkina, Margarita Sukhankina, Ekaterina Boldysheva sang from the stage of the "Olympic". Each of them performed songs exclusively by her voice.

"Solo for Two" by Margarita Suhankina and Natalia Gulkina

Natalia Gulkina and Margarita Sukhankina, despite being involved in one creative team, were not personally acquainted until the early 2000s. However, when this happened, the vocalists decided to join forces to create their own offspring. Considering the illegality of using the name of the group, in which they had previously successfully soloed, Natalia and Margarita created a new one: "Solo for Two". But this name did not stick, and women began to use their well-known names to promote the compositions. In 2004, under the names of Suhankina and Gulkina, the single "Mirage of Love" was released. And in 2005 the second joint album "Just a Mirage" was released.

The success of former soloists Andrei Lityagin was apprehended with discontent. He argued that Sukhankin spoils his compositions with his "wretched remakes".

It is believed that, in addition to verbal grievances, threats were pouring from his side towards Gulkina and Sukhankina.

Sukhankina admitted that she suspected Andrei Lityagin of organizing an attack against her.

Golden voices of the group "Mirage"

Fortunately, the confrontation between Lityagin and his former soloists ended peacefully. Consequence of cooperation between them was transformed:

1. Gulkina and Sukhankina officially became the "Golden Voices of the Mirage Group." Also they were awarded the name of the official team Lityagin.
2. The composition of the group, existing at the time of the armistice, was renamed "Mirage Junior".
3. Both groups began to give concerts, which created a small confusion: people did not understand which composition would perform at the concert.

Here begins a new era of the creative path of the "old" "Mirage".

Creative union of two vocalists from different compositions not all took a positive.

In 2010, the group "Mirage" (as part of N. Gulkina and M. Suhankina) ceased to exist. Since January 2011 Natalia has started a solo career. And Sukhankina teamed up with Svetlana Razina.

Cooperation between Suhankina and Razin did not last a year. At the end of December 2011 Svetlana left the group.

Creative awards and achievements

At the "Best of the Best" prize, held in April 2007, the "gold composition" of the Mirage group: Andrei Lityagin, Alexei Gorbashev, Alexander Bukreev and Ekaterina Boldysheva - was awarded medals and diplomas in the nomination "Professional of Russia".

In 2008, the collective Gulkina and Sukhankina won the project "Superstar 2008. Dream Team". In addition to golden-haired participants, the national stars of the Soviet period and the early 1990s took part in the television project of the NTV channel.

In 2013, the long-suffering album "Not For The First Time" was awarded the status of "Golden Disc" (by the number of copies sold).

Group "Mirage": star stories

The composition of the original "Mirage" collective became the ancestor of not only the first songs and clips, but also the first books. For example, Svetlana Razina made her debut in "Mirage" in 1987, published a book in 2009. In it, Svetlana revealed not only her secrets, but also secrets about the group.

Where to find the truth?

It is interesting that, depending on the source, information about the gold composition varies.

For example, on one site there is information that Sukhankina and Gulkina went to a settlement agreement with Lityagin only after he officially recognized them as the "golden voices" of the Mirage group.

Another site containing information from 2011, says that this title is a team that includes Ekaterina Boldyshev, Alexei Gorbashev, Andrei Grishin, Maxim Oleynik.

However, if we take into account the time frame, then this discrepancy can be explained as follows. By 2011 (by April) the duet of Margarita and Natalia has ceased to exist. Consequently, the title could move to other soloists. This willful tugging of the palm of the championship from one composition to another has more than once caused the litigation.