Background
Alexander F. Sklyar was born in Moscow, his father Felix Sidorivich a physicist, mother Irina Viktorovna a journalist (a one time Rabotnitsa magazine second editor).
Alexander F. Sklyar was born in Moscow, his father Felix Sidorivich a physicist, mother Irina Viktorovna a journalist (a one time Rabotnitsa magazine second editor).
Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
Sklyar, who in the 1980s and early 1990s fronted the popular punk metal band Virginia-bank, later moved into the traditional Russian singer-songwriter territory covering the vast stylistic spectrum (Alexander Vertinsky, Vladimir Vysotsky, Leonid Utyosov, Mark Bernes). Sklyar famously ditched the career of a diplomat for rock music: in 1980–1985 a prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations graduate worked for the Soviet embassy in North of Korea. On return in 1985 Sklyar joined Tsentr, fronted by Vasily Shumov (whom he played with in 1979 as a guitarist in 777, the band"s first incarnation) and took part in the recording the Priznaki zhizni (Signs of Life) LP. In June 1986 Sklyar formed his own band Virginia-Bank.
A year later, having played at the Rock-Panorama event, the band visited Finland to give some concerts and record an eponymous debut album.
European tour followed in 1989. In 1991 (along with Alisa, DDT and Brigada South) Virginia-Bank took part in Rock Against Terror event and released in Lithuania its second album Vypei za menya (Drink for Maine), recorded during the 10 days sessions in the Gorbunov Culture Club in Moscow.
In 1991 Sklyar debuted as a children"s writer with the book Petrovich and Potapum in the Magic Labyrinth written in co-authorship with Roman Kanushkin. The same year he started his own rock radio series Utchites plavat (Learn to Swim) on Radio Maximum (it later re-surfaced on Station-2000).
In 1995 he formed the duo Botsman i brodyaga (The Boatswain and the Tramp) with Garik Sukachov of the Brigada South fame.
1998 saw Sklyar going solo with the album Po napravleniyu k tango (Moving Closer to Tango), starting the long experiment with different retro styles of popular Russian music In 2001–2009 Sklyar appeared in seven Russian films and tried himself as a television film and music programs" presenter on TV3 and television Kultura. In January 2015 in the Internet appeared video with song recorded to support supports Russian separatists in the war on East Ukraine.
In January 2015 in the Internet appeared video with song recorded to support supports Russian separatists in the war on East Ukraine. Alexander F. Sklyar and also Ivan Okhlobystin and Garik Sukachovtook part in lieutenant