Nikolay Rastorguyev

Nikolay Rastorguyev
Nikolay Rastorguyev in 2016
Born
Nikolay Vyacheslavovich Rastorguyev

(1957-02-21) February 21, 1957 (age 67)
Lytkarino, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union
Occupations
Years active1978–present
TitlePeople's Artist of Russia (2002)
Awards
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • acoustic
  • electric guitar
Member ofLyube

Nikolay Vyacheslavovich Rastorguyev (Russian: Николай Вячеславович Расторгуев; born February 21, 1957, Lytkarino, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union) is the lead singer of the Russian group Lyube.

Rastorguyev performing in January 1991, wearing his trademark World War II-era gymnastyorka.

In 1978, Nikolay was the soloist for the band (VIA in Russian) "Шестеро молодых," but his first note came during his 1980-1985 stint in the band "Лейся, песня (in English, Lyeysya, Pyesnya)." After Leysya Pesnya split, Rastorguyev spent a year in the band Rondo before joining newly formed Lyube. Since then, Nikolay remains the band's only permanent member.

In 1997, Rastorguyev was given the honorary title People's Artist of Russia. On the occasion of his 50th birthday in 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Nikolay with the state order "For Merit to the Fatherland," Fourth class. Rastorguyev became a member of the Russian Duma in 2010 as a representative of the ruling party United Russia.[citation needed]

In March 2014, Rastorguyev signed a letter supporting Russian occupation of Ukrainian Crimea.[1] For "statements contradicted the interests of our national security" he was then banned from entering Ukraine.[2] In April and May 2022, Rastorguyev participated in a series of concerts organized in order to support the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] He is subject to sanctions imposed on him by the EU for his role in so-called "the Kremlin's disinformation and information manipulation ecosystem".[4]

  1. ^ "Culture activists of Russia in support of the position of the President on Russia's military intervention in Ukraine and Crimea" (in Russian). Russian Ministry of Culture. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  2. ^ SBU issues entry ban against 140 Russian artists, UNIAN (5 November 2016)
    Ukraine’s State Security Service bans 140 Russian cultural figures from entering country, TASS news agency (5 November 2016)
  3. ^ "Гастроли патриотов. Как кремлевские эксперты и шоу-бизнес зарабатывают на концертах "Za Россию"". BBC (in Russian). May 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ukraine war: Russian artists back Putin or face censorship". www.bbc.co.uk. April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.