ДДТ (DDT) is a popular Soviet-Russian rock band founded by its permanent lead singer, Yuri Shevchuk (Юрий Шевчук), in Ufa in 1980. The original band comprises: * Yuri Shevchuk — vocals, guitar * Vladimir Sigachyov — keyboard * Rustem Asanbayev — guitar * Gennady Rodin — bass * Rustam Karimov — percussion History In 1982, Komsomolskaya Pravda declared a competition for young music performers called Zolotoy Kamerton (Golden Tuning Fork). DDT sent three compositions, "Inoplanetyane" (Aliens), "Chyornoye solntse" (Black sun), and "Ne strelyai" (Don't shoot). During the long-running competition, the group published their first album (on tape), Svinya na raduge (A pig on a rainbow). The album contained elements of rock and roll, blues and country music. DDT's submission to Zolotoy Kamerton passed through to the finals and the group was invited to perform in a concert at Moscow's Orlyonok complex, together with the other finalist band, Rok-sentyabr (Rock-September) from Cherepovets. DDT and three members of Rock-September, Vyacheslav Korbin, Yevgeny Belozyorov and Andrey Maslennikov, soon after recorded and published an album (on tape), Monolog v Saigone (Monologue in Saigon). After recording the album, Sigachyov and Shevchuk returned to Ufa. Sigachyov distanced himself from the group, while Shevchuk collected new members including Rodin, drummer Sergey Rudogo, guitarist Rustam Rezvanov and keyboard player Vladislav Strochillo. In May 1983, DDT successfully performed at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, as part of a three-day, sanctioned festival, "Rok za mir" (Rock for peace). The new formation published the album Periferia (Periphery), recorded in April 1984. Shevchuk spent some time in Sverdlovsk (present-day Yekaterinburg), performing with the group Urfin Juis. In November 1985, DDT recorded the album Vremya (Time) in Sverdlovsk. In 1986, Shevchuk moved to Leningrad (present Saint Petersburg) with his wife, son and mother. In 1987 he rebuilt DDT. The members included: * Nikita Zaitsev — guitar * Vadim Kurylev — bass * Andrey Vasiliev — guitar * Igor Dotsenko — drums * Andrey Muratov — keyboard * Mikhail Chernov — saxophone In June 1987, DDT performed at a Leningrad rock-club festival. DDT performed second-to-last and in front of a crowd of 3,000, even though the venue's capacity was 1,000. In the summer of 1988, DDT toured across the USSR, and they record a new album, Ottepel (Thaw). In 1989, DDT went on another tour with the group Alisa, performing also at a rock-festival in Hungary. In 1990, DDT performed several concerts in the U.S.A. and Japan. They also performed as part of a concert in honor of Viktor Tsoy. In 1991, DDT released another album, Plastun (Scout). The next album followed in the spring of the same year, Aktrisa Vesna (Actress Spring). Then the group changed its performance strategy by adding programmes to its repertoire: well-prepared, conceptually linked concerts. During December 1992 and January 1993, DDT presented its first programme, Chyorny Pyos Peterburg (Black Dog Petersburg), and toured widely in CIS countries. On 27 May 1993, the anniversary of Saint Petersburg, DDT performed a free concert on Dvortsovaya Square. 120,000 people attended. During the summer of 1994, DDT took part in the rock festival White Nights of Saint Petersburg in Berlin. That autumn, the group was awarded the prestigious Ovatsiya award (Ovation) for Best Rock Group of the Year. Yuri Shevchuk was also named Best Rock Musician of the Year. In the beginning of 1995, a new album, Eto vsyo… (That's all…). was recorded. In January, Shevchuk went on a mission of peace to Chechnya, where he performed in 50 concerts for the Russian troops and Chechen citizens alike. On 25 June 1995, DDT performed a solo concert in Petrovsky stadium, which attracted tens of thousands of fans. Afterwards, the group toured with its next programme, Ot i do (From start to finish). In the end of the winter of 1995–1996, the group worked in the USA. In February–March 1996, the group recorded a new album, Lubov (Love), at Long View Farm in Massachusetts with new musicians: bassist I. Tikhomirov (from the group Kino) and keyboard player D. Galitsky. Bio (extended) Yuri Shevchuk and the Russian rock group "DDT" have been leaders in the Russian rock movement for many years. Shevchuk began to put together the first incarnation of the band in the summer of 1980, and although its members have changed over the years. DDT was organized and gave its first concerts in Shevchuk's native city of Ufa in the Ural Mountains in 1980. They received their first public recognition when they were given the "Golden Pitchpipe" prize for their song "Ne Strelyai" (Don't Shoot) in 1982 by a local newspaper. They made their first visit to the U.S.A. in 1988, when their concert in Los Angeles was covered by MTV. After the U.S.S.R.'s dissoultion in 1991, DDT became more popular at home and abroad. Today, DDT is one of the most popular rock groups in Russia, and their concerts attract tens of thousands of people. Shevchuk and his group also regularly travel throughout the C.I.S. and other former Soviet republics to give benefit concerts: in the spring and summer of 2002, 10 out of 11 concerts that the band played were benefits for various social and cultural organizations. They are also reaching an ever-growing audience in the U.S.A. and Europe. *** Another band existed with the same name in the mid of the 80's. DDT was an american hardcore punk band which released one EP and one LP. Very few people remember them today and they are virtually unknown in Europe. DDT was also a rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia- formed by Brian Howes, rapper Cory Perry White, drummer Bobby James, and guitarist Mike MacKay. Their album, "Urban Observer", was released in 1999 and the band enjoyed Canada-wide success for a short period of time. DDT is also an punk-pop-rock-funk-techno band in Buenos Aires, Argentina. DDT stands also for "Dodicesima Disposizione Transitoria".