Vjatšeslav Kobrin

Vjatšeslav "Slavka" Kobrin (also transliterated: Vyacheslav Kobrin, Russian: Вячеслав Кобрин, 11 April 1958 in Cherepovets, Russia – 23 April 2016 in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica) was a Russian guitarist and songwriter.

Vjatšeslav Kobrin
Birth nameVjatšeslav Kobrin
Also known asSlavka Kobrin
Vyacheslav Kobrin
Born(1958-04-11)11 April 1958
Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast, Russia
OriginCherepovets
Died23 April 2016(2016-04-23) (aged 58)
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
GenresRock, blues rock
InstrumentsGuitar
Associated actsRok-Sentyabr, Gunnar Graps and Magnetic Band, Jaak Joala and Lainer, Kobrin Blues Band and Ultima Thule, Michael Pickett, David Rotundo

Kobrin was born in Cherepovets, Russia, in the family of musicians. His father was director of a philharmonic and his mother was a choirmaster.[1][2] At the music school, Kobrin studied flute.[2]

In 1979, Kobrin founded the rock group Rok-Sentyabr (Rock September) in Cherepovets. Kobrin played the guitar and the flute, and sang as well. In 1982–1983, he collaborated with Yuri Shevchuk and DDT in recording of DDT's album Monolog v Saigone (Monologue in Saigon), later renamed to Kompromiss (Compromise).[3]

In the same year Estonian rock musician Gunnar Graps invited him to his Magnetic Band where Kobrin played the guitar in 1983–1984. In 1984, after Magnetic Band was forbidden performing in the Soviet Union, he joined Lainer, a band of Estonian singer Jaak Joala. In 1986, several musicians from Lainer and Muusik Seif, a band of Tõnis Mägi, formed Kobrin Blues Band, a special project to perform at Levimuusikapäevad festival in Tartu. Later the same musicians formed Ultima Thule. Kobrin together with Riho Sibul became the main songwriters of the band.[4][5][6]

In 1990, after Ultima Thule tour in Canada, Kobrin left the band and decided to stay in Canada. He played in different bands, most significantly in the band of Michael Pickett.[5] He became a Canadian citizen. In the Canadian period, he started with retail business by opening a store in Toronto. In 2005, he moved with family to Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica. Kobrin stopped his musician career and performed only occasionally, e.g. in Augustibluus festival in 2009 in Haapsalu[5][7] and in festivals in Cherepovets in 2012–2013.[2][8] In 2012, he had a reunion concert together with Ultima Thule and performed together with Canadian blues singer and blues harp player David Rotundo and a group of Estonian musicians under the name Slavka Kobrin & Friends in several concerts in Estonia and Russia, including in the Estonian national television morning program.[9][10] In 2013, he performed together with an American singer and bassist James Werts and a group of Estonian and American musicians.[1]

In April 2016, Kobrin was found lying unconscious on the floor in his bathroom. He died in hospital on 23 April 2016.[3][4]

In the 1980s, Kobrin was considered one of the best blues guitarists in the Soviet Union.[2][3] In his autobiographical book, Estonian writer and musician Mihkel Raud compared Kobrin with Jimi Hendrix. Kobrin himself mentioned Robben Ford, Steely Dan and Angus Young as performers who had influenced him.[5] According to Estonian musician Jaak Ahelik, a bandmate from Magnetic Band and Ultima Thule, Kobrin liked to listen to ZZ Top, Steely Dan, AC/DC, Peer Günt, Earth Wind & Fire, Havana Black, and Prince.[1]

Kobrin was married, he had a son.[5][11]

References
  1. Soosalu, Anne (24 April 2016). "Jaak Ahelik: Slavka võis rääkida küll, et Costa Rical on päike ja soe, aga ta tahtis tagasi tulla, kõik ta sõbrad olid siin..." [Jaak Ahelik: Slavka could speak that in Costa Rica there is the sun and warm, but he wanted to come back, all his friends were here ...]. Delfi (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  2. Sergeyev, Pavel (24 April 2016). "Умер основатель легендарной череповецкой группы "Рок-Сентябрь" Вячеслав Кобрин" [Died founder of the Cherepovets legendary group of "Rok-Sentyabr" Vyacheslav Kobrin]. City of Cherepovets (in Russian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  3. "Умер Вячеслав Кобрин, основатель группы "Рок-Сентябрь"" [Died Vyacheslav Kobrin, founder of the "Rok-Sentyabr" band]. Reproduktor (in Russian). 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  4. Soosalu, Anne (23 April 2016). "Lahkus Ultima Thule originaalkoosseisu kuulunud kitarrist Vjatšeslav Kobrin" [Guitarist Vjatšeslav Kobrin who belonged to the original composition of Ultima Thule, passed away]. Delfi (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  5. Ala, Janar (14 August 2009). "Slavka Kobrin: elan nagu paradiisis!" [Slavka Kobrin: I live like in paradise!]. Postimees (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  6. Potoskaya, Masha (8 October 1996). Программа изумительной музыки "Вентилятор" (№13) [Amazing music program "Ventilator" (No. 13)] (Television production) (in Russian). Cherepovets: TV-company Provintsiya. Event occurs at 14:56. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016. We wrote songs together with Riho [Sibul]
  7. Kulli, Jaanus (13 August 2009). "Bluusikitarristist dollarimiljonäriks" [From blues guitarist to dollar millionaire]. Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  8. Peshkov, Vladimir (4 June 2013). "Артемий Троицкий: "Пасть порву за Вологду!"" [Artemy Troisky: Mouth tear for Vologda!]. Prem'er (in Russian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  9. "Legendaarne kitarrist Slavka Kobrin üle aastate laval koos Ultima Thulega" [Legendary guitarist Slavka Kobrin over the years on stage with Ultima Thule]. Postimees (in Estonian). 8 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  10. "Slavka Kobrin, David Rotundo ja Raul Ukareda - "I´ve Got To Move"" [Slavka Kobrin, David Rotundo and Raul Ukareda - "I´ve Got To Move"]. ERR (in Estonian). 17 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  11. Vinogradov, Sergey (10 June 2012). "В Череповец ехал, как в Африку" [I travel to Cherepovets like to Africa]. Golos Cherepovtsa (in Russian). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
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