An interview with Evgeny Margulis is a triumph of intellect over common sense. Evgeniy Margulis: conversation about God should be conducted by people who understand what they are talking about

Soviet and Russian rock musician, singer, composer, guitarist and songwriter, known to viewers as a participant in “Time Machine” and “Resurrection,” Evgeny Margulis gives a big exclusive concert. At the end of April, on the 28th, in Moscow, at the VEGAS shopping center, in Crocus City, together with musician Alexei Romanov, they will perform in front of the public as members of the recently created “Weekend Group”.

I met with Evgeny Margulis at the Spirit of Fire festival to talk about the new project, fresh songs written solo, the group’s prospects for the near future, and also learn how to be an exemplary family man.

– How did you come up with the idea to create a “Weekend Group”?

– A year and a half ago, when I started filming “Margulis’ Apartment House,” I wanted to do a similar project with Lyosha Romanov, one of the founders of the “Resurrection” group. And it worked out so well for us that we decided to prolong this one-time story and occasionally get together and play our hits written earlier. We made this project, sometimes we play. And in order not to be tormented by the name “Resurrection”, because of the founders of this group living at the moment, there are only two of us left - me and Alexey Romanov, we came up with the “Weekend Group”.

– What songs do you perform, are there any new compositions together?

–We don’t have any new hits, because this project is nostalgic in nature. This is some reference to the vocal and instrumental ensemble “Resurrection”, invented in 1979. During the existence of the group, we - the participants - converged and diverged, but all the memories remaining from that time are pleasant. The worst is always left behind. And I’m the kind of person who remembers only good things. Yes, we have nothing to share among ourselves. Now Alexey Romanov and I are performing well as part of the “Weekend Group”.

– What is your relationship with Andrei Makarevich today?

– We haven’t maintained creative relationships for a long time, but as for human ones, we see each other periodically. We have a common circle of acquaintances and close friends who are not divided during a “divorce.” We even celebrated the New Year together at Pavel Lungin's place.

– Does it matter to you where to perform – at a corporate concert or for the general public? What do you like best?

– For me there is no difference. It's nice to play where there is a decent audience. Some time ago we performed in the former building of a Palestinian bank in Tel Aviv, Israel, and it was also a blast. For us, “Weekend Group” is a thrill. Our high.

– Are there songs in your repertoire that you love more than others?

– All the songs represent a wide range of alternative states, so I cannot identify one song that is closer to me. Each composition symbolizes a certain stage of life.

– Can you call yourself a happy person, and what, in your opinion, does the concept of “happiness” include?

– Only an oligophrenic person can call himself a happy person. But in any case, life is interesting to me. There is a lot to be happy about in my life.

- IN You are known to everyone as an exemplary family man. What is the secret to a successful marriage?

– Don't contradict your wife. She’s shouting something there, but you ignored it all and still did it your own way. This is the key to a strong relationship! By first education, my wife is a family psychologist. So, when they have industrial conversations with me, I never argue and always agree. Am I right or wrong? Just in case.

– We know about your hobby. You collect tools. Which item in the collection is most valuable?

– I used to collect frogs. Then I got tired of it and started collecting ethnic musical instruments. All items purchased are of great value to me. They are so idiotic and perfect at the same time. For example, in one of the museums in the city of Bezot, I came across an instrument with such an unusual name. I don’t know if it’s possible to pronounce it the first time - huihuetl. I liked it so much that I brought it into my collection. This is a percussion instrument, but the main thing is the name, which is very cute. You immediately start thinking about what sounds you can make on it. I decided that only huihuitlovs. This is wonderful!

– Are you thinking about writing a new song or releasing an album?

– Think. Some of the songs have already been written, but I don’t have enough time to come to the studio and record them. Not so long ago, about six months ago, I wrote the song “Cities”. The idea of ​​a musical composition appeared by itself. This is a rather strange story. It started from a city called Samara. The first tour of “Time Machine” took place in 1977 in Samara. My first solo project was also presented for the first time in Samara. And there are many other coincidences associated with this place. I don't know how it happened. But I wanted to write a song about this city. Although in fact this song is dedicated to any city on earth from where you leave for your home.

– How do you feel about modern rock musicians? Are there any talented performers these days?

– There are plenty of talented performers now. And I personally photograph talented people. For example, the absolutely scoundrel St. Petersburg team “Hatters”. Recently he filmed the Ekaterinburg teams: “Both Two” and “My Michelle”. Nobody really knows them. They are not in the television and audio space. But on the Internet they have a multi-million audience.

– You came to Khanty-Mansiysk to participate in the 16th film debut festival “Spirit of Fire” (held in March 2018 – editor’s note). How do you like it in our area?

– The first acquaintance with the city was at the “Spirit of Fire” with Sasha Abdulov. But that time I didn’t have time to get to know Ugra. We were locked in a hotel complex. On our last visit, on the 16th “Spirit of Fire”, we were able to get a better look at the city. Khanty-Mansiysk is nice.

– Which cities and countries have you already visited with the “Weekend Group” tour?

– The group is irregular, we don’t get together often, we don’t have the goal of touring the world with concerts, so we’ve visited Kazakhstan and Israel so far. It's kind of an elective. Everyone has their own business. I have a project, and I’m doing television at the same time. In his old age he became the talking head of the NTV channel, which surprises me, but my friend Leonid Semyonovich Kanevsky and I are the two oldest presenters of the channel. It's a matter of who can last longer. Just kidding, of course.

With the group we perform in front of our compatriots. In front of real music lovers. At the end of April, on the 28th, there will be a loud public concert at the VEGAS shopping and entertainment complex, in Crocus City, in Moscow. This will be an exclusive program.

– You are a cinema lover. What films have impressed you lately? What can you recommend for viewing?

– It is impossible to advise. Everyone has their own taste and preferences. But the last thing I managed to watch was “Arrhythmia”. Tatyana Melikyan has a lot of good films. In general, I go to the cinema often. We even have a special Moscow company of five people. We take the top films and watch them in the cinema, with further discussion, of course. Sometimes we come across films that we don’t even want to talk about. But this doesn't happen often.

For all lovers of Russian rock, on April 28 in Moscow, at the VEGAS shopping center, in Crocus City, there will be an exclusive concert of Russian rock veterans Evgeny Margulis and Alexey Romanov, members of the “Weekend Group”. The musicians will perform well-known hits: “My friend plays the blues best,” “Who’s to blame,” and others.

– Apparently, your career should have been completely ordinary. Born into the family of an engineer and a Russian language teacher, you went to medical school, but became a rock musician. How did this happen?

– I never hide the fact that we are a product of Soviet power. In order to do something you love, you need to get a higher education, and it doesn’t matter what kind. Just be someone. As a result, half of my friends were not who they were supposed to be. They graduated from the institutes closest to home: some kind of fisheries, for example. And my grandmother told me: first get a higher education, and then even work as a janitor. It was believed that even a janitor with a diploma would have a completely different attitude. And at some stage in my life I liked medicine. So I went there.

But many medical workers ended their careers quite early. Of those with whom I studied there, only six of my close friends became what they wanted. And now these are famous doctors, the best representatives of our professorship. At that time, medical education was much better than it is now.

– Have you retained any knowledge?

– I still know how to give injections. But the last time I used it was several years ago, when I gave an injection to a dog.

Of course, I remember something, but I don’t see the point in using this knowledge, because for any medical problem I have someone to call. This is the main thing that medical school gave me.

– I know that you learned to play the violin, but you also did not finish your studies. Why was it abandoned?

– I am sure that these classes were necessary. Because in order for something to come out of a child, he must be loaded with music, sports, and other activities. But in my case, this was done so that the parents had time to pay attention to each other. The busier the child was, the more time they had. And I also think this is correct.

My cousin is a musician. They showed me to a music school, where it turned out that I had perfect pitch...

At that time I lived with my grandmother, because my parents kept getting together and then diverging. (My mother was a classic blonde with blue eyes. And my father was similar to me, so harmony did not work out.) My grandmother did not like music, at some point she simply threw my violin out the window, and my violin career was put to an end. Guitars were not popular at that time, so I returned to playing music only at the age of 15.

– Who was your grandmother?

– Grandma was very interesting. She was born in 1887, died at 97, and saw Nicholas II. She loved her grandchildren and sons very much and hated music. I had the feeling that she never worked, she was a real housewife.

“It’s even strange that a Jewish grandmother threw away her violin.” Tell me, how are talented and confident children raised? Is it all about some special Jewish mother or grandmother?

– There are no more talented and confident people among Jews than in other nations. As for the Jewish mother, here is my favorite joke on this topic.

A boy is walking in the yard. He hears his mother calling: “Monya, go home!” He asks: “Mom, am I cold and hungry?”

The only thing that really distinguishes any Jewish mother is that she always devotes a lot of time to the child and the child’s workload. In our denomination, while studying at school, it is customary to attend some other institution, a music school, a sports school.

– How did you become a musician without a music school? Some music school graduates themselves throw their violins out the window and never do it again.

– Even a dog can be launched into space, which has been proven. But musicality is either there or not. Either it covers you or it doesn't. I was overwhelmed because, first of all, I liked the Beatles, I liked the way they played, but I saw how different it was from what I heard on the radio and TV. And then, the girls paid more attention to those guys who play the guitar and sing yard songs. Therefore, I needed to learn to play the guitar and sing yard songs, which is what I did.

- But as?

– I listened to it a lot, then they showed me a couple of forbidden chords. Perhaps there is something musical in me after all...

– How did you know about the Beatles and modern music? After all, the radio only broadcast music that you didn’t like?

– I studied at school 150, which was famous for the fact that the children of spies and military attaches studied there. And when I went to the Snegiri pioneer camp, they went to Japan, America, Zimbabwe... Therefore, there was always fresh music.

And that was what really interested me. There were no tutorials then, but someone showed me something. And at the age of 16 I joined a folk instrument orchestra, where I played the dombra for a year. So I had some skills, but the rest was either there or not.

– As a parent, can you tell me how to make a musician out of a child?

– This is a difficult question, because my son does not know how to play the guitar. In this respect, he took after his grandmother, and what is on six or seven strings does not bother him at all. He is interested in mathematics. I tried to teach him to play, but this bastion was not broken.

Although, if I had been more persistent, perhaps I could have instilled in him some kind of love for music. Because at some point he said that he wanted to play my songs by the fire. Half the people cannot learn to play these songs, but he wants to do it by the fire! I told him to go study, but no, he wanted me to teach. And I am sure that a teacher should be a teacher, and a parent should be a parent. Otherwise I would definitely kill him.

As a mathematician, he immediately realized that there are 274 chords in the world, understood how these chords are built, where the music goes... And that’s all, he completely lost interest.

Children should not be interfered with in their choice. I have many examples of parents whose children, having graduated from music school, unexpectedly went into, for example, culinary careers. It is not so important what the child does, the main thing is that he has some kind of goal, so that it is interesting. If the work is uninteresting, then life will be lousy. And work should bring pleasure in addition to money.

– You and your wife recently celebrated 32 years of marriage, but what about rock and roll and everything that comes with it? It seems to me that he is poorly compatible with strong family ties.

– Yes, there are few of us left... In family life you need to be patient, because each subsequent wife will be worse than the previous one.

– Was this really obvious to you 32 years ago?

– You see, before I got married I was cheerful and handsome, I checked. But seriously, I really like that we are still together, and we still have fun together. Now this is a rarity not only in our environment. I am pleased that Anya and I are such “Martians.”

– Your wife is a psychologist by training, you were already a musician then. How did you meet?

- We lived nearby. Even if you saw her off in the other direction, you could return home.

Yes, she is a psychologist by training, but she does not work by profession, she only gives advice to her friends. But at this moment I run and throw her under the tank of girl stories.

– Tell me, what helps keep a family together?

– It is very important to talk to each other. Because during this time everything happened in the family: they lived hard, and there was no money... When I came back from tour, I fully felt how wrong I was for not paying attention to the child’s first teeth. But nothing, over time I got used to it... And I understood one thing: the main thing is not to contradict my wife, she will speak out herself.

It seems to me that the most important thing in a family is to talk through some moments, any of them - in work, in family relationships. Because you yourself cannot always correctly assess what is happening to you.

It also helps that we are both artists. She does ceramics and draws. And people of art will always find a common language.

– Did your family prevent you from being creative?

- No, because I didn’t see them. ( Laughs.) Not really. Because family is the home front, it’s life, you can’t even describe it in one word. No matter how much I toured, I always wanted to return home, where my wife and child were waiting for me.

Evgeny Shulimovich Margulis(b. December 25, 1955 in Moscow) - Russian rock musician, guitarist, bass player and singer.

Biography.

Born on December 25, 1955 in Moscow. He studied at medical school for a short time and became involved in music at the age of 17. He was a member of eight groups (“Time Machine”, “Resurrection”, “Araks”, accompanying Yuri Antonov “Airbus”, “Nautilus” (or “Nautilus-Shanghai”, Moscow, not to be confused with the more famous “Nautilus” from Yekaterinburg), recorded two solo albums.

In the summer of 2003, he left the group “Resurrection”, where he played in parallel with “Time Machine”, of which he has been a member from 1976 to 1979 and from 1990 to the present. He considers himself a professional musician since 1980, when he became the bass guitarist of Araks.

Hobby: collecting small animal figurines. Favorite instruments: Godin bass and Fender guitars. Since 2001, he began performing songs based on his own poems; in 2004, he worked on the text part of the Russian version of the musical “We Will Rock You”.

He is the owner of a pug. He prefers to walk and goof around if there is an opportunity to do nothing. His wife Anna is a psychologist, his son Daniil graduated from Moscow State University.

Evgeny Margulis, interview

Margulis does not favor journalists, just as the writing fraternity does not favor Evgeniy Shulimovich himself.

Going to an interview with Margulis, colleagues stock up on sedatives and cigarettes. However, the devil is not as terrible as they try to make him out to be. Margulis is smoky, old, limitedly ironic, lazily bristly, not hopeless, unyielding, restless. Communication with the main bluesman of the post-perestroika Russian era took place on the shores of Tel Aviv, and the very essence of the conversation boiled down to lines from Brodsky: “If you happen to be born in an empire, it is better to live in a remote province, by the sea.” Evgeny Shulimovich devoted too much time to praising the city of Moscow, which, as you know, does not believe in tears and has not evoked warm feelings for a long time. Although what can feelings be a measure of?! Margulis created his own corner in this haze of traffic jams and provincials, saturated with exhaust fumes, limiting it to alleys where “the houses of old Moscow” are, where his family and friends feel comfortable, where his favorite Japanese restaurants are interspersed with the burgundy of French wines. Moscow can no longer live without a drug called

I can spend a couple of weeks out of town, then the itch to return begins. That is, it is necessary, simply necessary, to return to Moscow.

Well, how do I plan? This stage will end and another will begin. At fifty years old, I realized that I was just getting started. I have something to say.

Is there one thing you do every day throughout your life?

Yes, I'm waking up.

Big luck?

The opportunity to do what I truly enjoy.

Are you satisfied with your own life?

Yes. Practically.

How long can you live without comfort?

You know, it turned out quite recently that it took quite a long time. My wife and I went on a trip to Altai. Kayaks, tents and no cell phones. We had a great rest, and the lack of comfort did not bother us at all - rather, on the contrary, it added points to our venture.

What fashion trends have not bypassed you? Healthy eating? sport?

Regarding a healthy lifestyle, I am not unfamiliar with the approach of Winston Churchill, who said that fresh air is harmful to health

Does mass character devalue art?

Not in any way. On the contrary, art should be for money. If art doesn't make a living, it's not art.

Who are your parents?

Engineers.

Your family's traditions?

Yes, there are no special traditions. We love to travel to different lost corners of the world.

Do you know anything about Israeli music culture?

Very little, although sometimes they send Israeli albums. But everything is somehow uninteresting.

Are you writing anything big?

There is no desire. It’s enough for me that I write my music reviews for a railway magazine called “Sacvoyage.” And who I was friends with, who I saw - no one except me is probably interested. And I don’t want to write an autobiography. I try not to read books by my colleagues who write about how their lives in art went. Seriously, this is not interesting. I write about what I'm listening to at the moment. As part of this “railway” project. And the idea came not from me, but from my friend, who heads the propaganda department at Russian Railways. And they decided to start a new magazine, this “SV”, which will be on the trains, and says: “Listen, we need a music page, but the music page is not like everywhere else where they write reviews of records. Can you write something there? " I say: “I can only write about what I listen to. I’m not a critic, I’m not interested in writing about what I don’t listen to. And I won’t listen to music specifically for this purpose. What I currently have on CD is the changer has six records, I can write about them.” We tried it, and it turned out that I’ve been writing for several years now.

Where is it easiest to breathe?

In Moscow alleys, of course.

Jewish boy and Russian rock - how do they fit together?

Once upon a time, probably in 1972, we sat with Makar (Andrei Makarevich, leader of the Time Machine group. - Ed.), talked about Jewry and came to the conclusion that a Jewish boy must certainly be in "To the car."

Are you a committed person?

Yes very. I always try to be on time. Submit materials on time and not let down the people who depend on me.

At that moment, the mobile phone rang and Evgeniy Shulimovich spent several minutes explaining to the caller why he would not be able to submit the material on time.

In one of your interviews, you said that you love blues stories about good alcohol and cool girls. How does it fit together?

The blues is not about sorrow and suffering, so the blues can be anything, and cheerful in particular. Evgeny Margulis loves unconventional blues. Let's say I can't stand one and a half chord blues. And I only listen to people with a rich blues intellect who have more than five chords. I have a large collection of their records at home. I have Robert Johnson who came up with all this, that's enough for me. I'm not interested in listening to others. When I hear the iconic blues song Hoochie Coochie Man in its 700th interpretation, I feel like I'm gutted. Blues has never been in great demand. This is the music of small venues, really. And, let's say, we don't have artists like Eric Clapton. But this is still not the blues, although it is the blues. There are no artists like Keba Mo', that is, stadium artists who fill large halls. So I don't play pure blues and they don't play pure blues. I can't call myself a bluesman. I use blues elements. As I got older, I learned to sing very coolly with some blues intonations. And my music is absolutely white. I like the blues, but I like unique blues, I really don’t like traditions. I don't listen to blues standards because I know them by heart. When I needed to record some good blues artists, my half-pirate classmate brought me eighty records. I listened to these 80 records for about ten minutes, literally by the first sound, by the first chord - it’s not interesting. I know it all, I know what words will sound there, what notes will be played. I am not interested. And I hate whining, I'm too positive for that.

Where and how do you relax?

We travel, as I said, a lot. We were on Easter Island not so long ago. Or here is the island of Mastic. Far Caribbean. You need to fly another hour and a half from Barbados by private plane, 1,100 people live on the island, 140 villas, and no one knows anyone. The island was occupied by rich people - only seven shareholders; you can go around it in half an hour. Among the owners are Mick Jagger, Princess Margaret, David Bowie, etc. But the main thing is that the phones don't work there!!! One and a half restaurants and half a store. There is nothing! I was there for ten days. I really liked it! It's just a very long flight.

Being friends and working in one package - don’t you get tired of the sameness of the people who surround you?

No. We have our own social circle that has developed over many years. I feel comfortable with these people, they understand me, and I understand them. Sometimes we don’t even need to open our mouths to tell each other something. A glance, a half-nod, is enough. I really value our relationship.

Are you hanging out?

No. I'm not interested.

You are starting the “Time Machine” countdown from the 69th, respectively the 40th anniversary - what will you please with?

There will be a whole series of concerts dedicated to this event. Big tour. We started on March 1st. Now we are traveling around the cities and villages of Russia. As part of this celebration in Israel there will be one and only grandiose concert with live sound and the full composition of “Machine”, on a site for several thousand people, I can’t reveal the details yet...

Do you often visit Israel?

I happen. And not only in Israel. Makar and the guys laugh that wherever we go, there are people who come and say that they are my relatives. That's how it is, however. We have many relatives.

Has being Jewish interfered with your life?

Not really. The year 1982 was difficult in this regard; I couldn’t find a job anywhere. Then the group "Araks", in which I played, was banned by order of the Ministry of Culture. We were forbidden to appear on the Soviet stage. Other than that, in general, probably not.

Favorite place in Moscow?

Lanes.

How did you clear your throat midlife crisis?

Somehow I don’t know. He didn't have time to touch me. Because my middle age fell on the most difficult years of perestroika. We had to survive and swim out. There was no time for myself and certainly no time for a midlife crisis.

Do you think that if there had been a curfew in your childhood, the entire culture of Russian rock would have survived? After all, they gathered in attics, in basements and sang, sang, sang... but now they have nowhere to gather, and by and large, it’s impossible.

I don’t think anything really depends on the curfew. Those who sang and gathered - sing and gather, and the rest - as before...

Are you a conflict person?

No. It’s easier for me not to get involved in a squabble at all than to explain that I don’t want to do this. To prove something. But I can yell - however, only on business.

Why didn't you leave? In due time, then?

We thought about it, but got scared. They were afraid to isolate themselves in a small immigrant world, which is disastrous for a musician.

Who do you single out among the young people?

Yes, basically no one. They are all kind of uninteresting. Well, I’m not interested in listening to artists who are young, early, on fire, but they play what we played 20 years ago. It's just not interesting. I mean, I know how it ends. Although there is a bright boy, Romario. On the eve of departure from Moscow we listened to his video. Quite good. He's talented.

What can make you cry?

The most important thing is “to keep it warm and comfortable under your ass,” says the famous rocker

Another birthday, which falls exactly on Catholic Christmas,ex-participant of “Time Machine” and host of “Kvartirnik” Yevgeny MARGULIS spent his time on NTV completely sober. Only the next day Evgeniy Shulimovich allowed himself to relax a little.

On the 26th I had a concert at the Central House of Artists, and on the eve of performances I never drink, - the 62-year-old musician explained to the site’s special correspondent.“That’s why I started celebrating right on stage, and only then had a heart-to-heart with my friends.” I love holidays. I love both giving and receiving gifts. True, now there is no such joy as the feeling when I was presented with the first guitar in my life in my youth. Then this instrument from the famous Shikhov factory seemed of heavenly beauty - it was the color of the famous seven-string friends Jimi Hendrix.

- Already at the age of 19, in 1975,you have found yourself in the increasingly popular “Time Machine”.

Well, yes, I met Makar, who was then 21. He said: “I heard you play well.” He handed me a guitar, and I immediately imitated something for him. True, Andrei noticed that they were looking for a bass player. And I had never held a bass in my hands before. But neither Makar nor me was embarrassed by this - he promised to show how to play it, and I promised to learn quickly.

- Learned to grasp on the fly from my grandmotherBella Barukhovna, who raised you?

Oh, my granny was very interesting! Born in 1887, she saw Nicholas II and lived for 97 years. I was haunted by the feeling that she never worked, but remained a housewife all her life. A kind of Jewish wise and strong grandmother. My parents fought and got divorced all the time, so living with her was much calmer. Moreover, she never attended any of my concerts. She didn't give a damn about music at all. But mom and dad were proud of my successes. Especially mom. She subscribed to an awful lot of newspapers to find and cut out articles about me. When she passed away, I found an incredible amount of these clippings.

- What, in your opinion, is the phenomenal success of “The Machine...”?

At that time, when there was no fish, someone had to be first. So Makarevich became. Out of all the TV channels in the country at that time, completely different music sounded, and when people heard it, they were stunned. We spent almost everything we earned on tour back then on guitars and new equipment. They saved money by bringing caviar and vodka for sale, and boilers for cooking in their rooms. Back then they cooked ballet borscht in shells, but we still didn’t stoop to that. And my first shock in 1985 was a trip to Prague. We got there for Christmas and were stunned by the incredible beauty. Even for a 30-year-old man, everything around him looked like something out of a fairy tale.

- Why did you leave the group?

I left twice and came back once. I haven't played there for five years. While we were having fun and fruitfully working, I was working. In total, a full 22 years have elapsed. Makar and I parted as friends.

- Recently Andrey Derzhavin"gone."Because of political views, they say...

This is his choice... And he got into “Machine” in 2000 at my suggestion. The group needed fresh blood, so it began to boil thanks to Derzhavin. Then they started talking about us again.

- Well, in this regard. How do you evaluate Makarevich’s behavior after 2014 years old?

I don't want to comment. It’s just that public people are often asked questions to which they respond emotionally, without even understanding the topic. After a bottle of vodka, many become connoisseurs of everything in the world. True, before, during our youth, everyone talked about women and politics, but now exclusively about politics...

Marry me, you goat!

- Good idea. Let's talk about women. Is it true,that you are an exemplary family man?

Yes. But before I married Anya, I was cheerful and beautiful, you know? And now I have been married for 33 years to a family therapist. (She doesn’t work by profession, she only gives advice to her friends.) Honestly, I really like that we still haven’t gotten tired of each other. This is rare now. In rock and roll there are only four such men left who have one wife for life. Apart from me, this Serega Galanin, Garik Sukachev And Vovka Shakhrin. That's how great we are. I think the main thing in marriage is not to argue, so my wife and I never argue. Our son Daniil is 31 years old, he is not married and has not yet made me a grandfather. Works as a financial analyst at Sberbank. Danya was never interested in music, only numbers; even at school he knew what he wanted to become, and as a result he graduated from Moscow State University. True, he did act in a movie once. In Garik Sukachev’s film “House of the Sun” he played me in his youth. We live next door, so my son and I share a dog. Or rather, the dog is his, but when he goes somewhere, he gives it to my wife and me.

- How did you meet your wife?

We met by chance at a friend’s place who lived in an apartment with a gas water heater. In the summer, everyone whose hot water was turned off came to him to wash. In general, for the first time I saw Anya wrapped in a towel, and she wore glasses from the Civil War with blue tape in the middle. The glasses were from someone else - I borrowed them from a friend because mine were broken. Then Anya and I just saw each other, and the opportunity to talk presented itself about six months later - already at other guests. And when Anya realized that I was normal, and I that she was normal, she immediately suggested: “Marry me, you goat, you won’t find anyone better than me anyway.” I thought: “It’s true,” and got married. At that time, we had already lived together for a year. The wedding took place on the only warm day that September 1984 - the 11th. At first they wanted the 19th, but they moved the date because I had to Yura Antonov go to the Baltics for a month on tour. Now Anya is engaged in ceramics and drawing. By the way, the first episodes of “Kvartirnik” were filmed in her studio.

- How do you warm up feelings in marriage?

For example, we come up with spontaneous gifts for each other. One day Anya presented me with a marble head made by a sculptor. My answer turned out to be quite good too. Without saying anything about plans, I brought my wife to the Rizhsky station. We got into a luxury compartment with a huge double bed and a shower and went to Latvia to live our lives. We walked around Riga, had dinner at an excellent restaurant and returned home by evening train.

- Are you a wealthy person?

I have an apartment, I don’t have a country house, I just don’t need it. And my car is good. It is important to keep your butt warm, cozy and comfortable.

- Is it true that you recently starred in a movie?

Yes, in the film anthology “Short Waves” Mikhail Dovzhenko. Before that, I had been offered more than once to play some role, for example, the leader of a funeral orchestra at a railway station. But he refused, feeling that it was bullshit. And suddenly, at some creative party, a hefty man came up to me and said: “I’m probably a film director.” And this phrase immediately killed me on the spot! The second was like a hook: “Have you ever been featured in a movie?” Me not!" Third: “Do you want to act?” I answer: “No.” Then he: “Wow, how interesting! So I have two advantages. First of all, you won't get paid for the role. And secondly, you will play a sculptor.” I immediately agreed, but quickly forgot about it. And about six months later the actress called me Katya Semenova and said it was time to go to the site. I worked in my own clothes (they didn’t have much film props) and didn’t even get tired during the shooting day. Director Mishka later said that he showed excerpts to someone, and everyone was delighted with my debut. Now you can take aim at the role of the old president in exile or King Lear.

On the first day of summer, a very motley group was moving along one of the streets of Moscow. A large, unathletic-looking bearded man in a kippah and tzitzit, a miniature girl with a large backpack and another tall person, without a backpack, but with a hot phone in her hand. Yes, it was us - the hope and support of Jewish journalism. The well-known Shlomo Polonsky, photographer Zhenya Potakh and me, Olya Esaulova.We went to a meeting with Evgeniy Margulis in order to interview him. From a famous Russian rock musician, who, among other things, is also a Jew.So, we found ourselves in a studio, the high light walls of which were hung with exotic musical instruments, ceramic figurines and some hitherto unusual products made from vinyl records. In general - very atmospheric. Evgeniy Shulimovich strictly warned us that he had exactly one hour for us. I didn't mind. But, hearing Shlomo’s enthusiastic whisper behind me: “Oh, records,” it became clear to me that everything could turn out completely unpredictably...In the meantime, having taken a comfortable position in the center of the hall, we began a conversation with the maestro.

Olga Esaulova: It is here, apparently, that the same “Apartments at Margulis” are held, which are broadcast by the “Che” TV channel?

Evgeniy Margulis: Yes exactly. This is the most suitable place that we could find in Moscow. It was important to maintain the atmosphere. We can arrange everything ourselves and be able to come whenever we want. This won't work with clubs. There are tables, chairs, this buffet that no one needs. This is no longer an apartment building.

O.E.: How did you come up with the idea to create the project?

The program itself came about quite by accident, and the motivation for its creation was a feeling of nostalgia. When I was little, we lived near the Airport metro station, which was always famous for the fact that there were cooperatives of writers, directors, filmmakers and others. And, naturally, people owned apartments a little larger than was customary in Soviet times. In such apartments there were apartment burglars. Since everyone knew each other, I was six years old and went to a concert by Alexander Galich, where my cousin dragged me.

Shlomo Polonsky: Liked?

I was six years old. He sang in the “forbidden Russian language.”

I didn’t skimp on the courses, I didn’t cram the strength of materials,

I am quite an extra person in the scientific world. But here's what I missed:

There was a machine selling sparkling water,

For a penny - without syrup, for three - with cherries.

I didn’t understand anything, but I liked it a lot. And you know, he really hooked me. In general, I want to say that those things that strike you in childhood stay with you throughout your life. I was also once hooked by the Beatles, Galich, and Vladimir Troshin. I still absolutely love it all. So, returning to the project. I wanted to create such a program - memories of apartment dwellers of the 70s and 80s. The Che TV channel supported the idea. Today, 28 programs have already been shown, 44 have been filmed. They say everything is turning out successfully. In any case, the guards at Auchan began to recognize me.

O.E.: So success has finally come?

- Yeah, finally (laughs).

S.P.: By what principle do you choose speakers?

- Of course, we call “elderly fighters” first of all, because, let’s say, they are accomplished and have gone through all this. The same Borya Grebenshchikov. They fit into this story with great pleasure. Everything is fair, without computers. Prove how good you are.

Sh.P.: Is it possible to get in? That's me, I'm curious.

Possible, but difficult (smiles). At first we made a closed group on Facebook, but very quickly there were more than 1000 people there, and we closed this group. Now we keep quiet: only word of mouth. More than 50 people in the loft means death. And so it’s comfortable, people sit, listen to music, drink whiskey, and have fun. Among the guests are mainly people invited by the artists, either me or the Che channel.

O.E.: Do you act as a leading apartment manager?

I'm such a talking head. I also perform myself, depending on desire and circumstances.

O.E.: Do young artists also participate?

In principle, I am for youth. That is, for example, we film two concerts a day: the first is some old pepper like me, and the second let it be some kind of “Iowa”. Another thing is that we are placed within certain limits, because the channel is fighting for ratings. Ideally, I would like only the one I like to play, but there are still people who say: no, this won’t work. And this is, of course, not easy for me. I’m unaccustomed to having someone standing over me and making decisions. And now we have to coordinate everything with the television authorities.

O.E.: Why is it difficult to work with superiors? Difficult character?

The problem is different. I am an absolute brute in that I only do what I like. If I don't like something, I don't do it.

O.E.: Is this related to the frequent change of teams?

Yes, when something gets boring and doesn’t bring me personal pleasure, I leave. And money no longer plays a role here.

S.P.: So you just get bored. And it's not about conflicts?

I’m generally a non-conflict person, quite tolerant of everything. When I decided to move on to a solo project, it was much more interesting to me than the groups in which I worked. As a result, the solo career took over absolutely everything. Both The Time Machine and Resurrection were left behind, and I feel great about that.

O.E.: With your songs and music, are you trying to convey something to the listener or make it, say, better?

Songs are written to convey their feelings. And everyone perceives this to the extent of their education, depravity and others like them. Therefore, I am simply sharing my attitude, but how it is perceived is a question for the listener. People come to listen to you, it means that they are interested in you. If you asked me why I go to Eric Clapton's concerts, I would answer: simply because I like Eric Clapton's music. And I absolutely don’t care whether it changes the world or not.

O.E.: Was there something in life that became a turning point in your musical career, that set the direction?

Naturally. The first nervous shock, of course, came from the Beatles.

S.P.: Oh, the Beatles! What song did they hit you with then?

It was the song Can’t buy my love, I heard it on the radio. I remember we had Sunday lunch. I even remember our receiver - “Riga-6”. And here we are sitting, eating some potatoes and herring, and then this song plays. And she hit me right on the head! I just really freaked out, I can’t put it any other way. It was truly a turning point.

And since my school class was very difficult and my school was also difficult, the children of all kinds of diplomatic workers studied with me. If I went on vacation to the Kholshchevniki pioneer camp, then they went somewhere - to America, Tanzania. And on the first of September I brought mosquito bites with me, and they brought plates. Therefore, everything that came out always ended up with us first. I was eight years old then.

O.E.: You said at the beginning of the conversation that those things that stick with you in childhood stay with you for the rest of your life. Did you mean music or just everything?

Everything! And some books, and just childhood sensations. I even remember the first book I read. It was called "Artemka". I was four years old. And returning to music, I can say that the music of that period does not bother me at all: neither Soviet nor anti-Soviet. I can listen to any music from the 60s. When I travel somewhere beyond the cordon, where, fortunately, our radio does not work, I usually burn a flash drive with a selection of Soviet songs for about 15 hours and listen to them with great pleasure.

Sh.P.: When did you start writing music? Do you have a musical background?

When I started, I had nothing to do with music.

O.E.: I remember the story about how your grandmother threw out her violin. Having trouble with the violin?

And she did the right thing. It's a great story. The violin didn't work out at all. I picked up the guitar only to please the girls. It was at the age of 15, I quickly learned to play and became a hero in the courtyard. Naturally, I never thought about becoming a musician. It just kind of happened that way.

O.E.: You studied to become a doctor and became a musician. Who else did you want to become as a child?

Oh, there was a lot there. Firefighter, taxi driver, astronaut...

Sh.P.: ...The skating rink driver?

O.E.: Shlomo, as I understand it, this is something from yours, unrealized?

No, I definitely didn’t want to be a skating rink driver. (laughs). I lived near the Cosmonautics Museum. Naturally, I wanted to become an astronaut. Then priorities began to change, I really liked taxi cars with green eyes. And yes, firefighters. I thought it was very exciting and that the red suit suited me very well.

O.E.: There were attempts to return to medical school. For what? Did you have any doubts about your calling?

In fact, this is a purely grandmother's story. You can do whatever you want, but you must get a higher medical education. This is the most in-demand profession in prison, and you will definitely be locked up for everything you do.

O.E.: What did you do?

I’m 1974, I’m shaggy, I have rock and roll... That was enough for my grandmother. And I quit practicing medicine basically because we had concerts and I didn’t go to lectures. And the last thing that finally finished me off was when, in practice, there was some difficult childbirth in the maternity hospital, and I returned only at seven in the morning, we played and drank all night. It was near this bed that it hit me, and I fainted. And definitely not because of what I saw; after all, I was already working in the morgue at that time and was not particularly impressionable. Then I realized that that was it, I had to leave.

O.E.: This is not the first time I have heard that many successful people began their careers in the morgue. Is this a good start?

Yeah, probably (laughs). By the way, Billy Novick (Billy’s Band) is a former pathologist.

Sh.P.: Let's go back to childhood. I realized that there was a lot of good music in it. What was Jewish?

Grandmother. She was the one who observed some traditions in our family. Bella Barukhovna went to the synagogue on Arkhipov, and we, of course, were already born in Moscow and completely secular. I remember the story, what year was it? Probably somewhere in the early 60s. An Israeli team came to Moscow to play either basketball or volleyball, and our Jewish brothers won. Grandma jumped up and screamed like crazy: “Ours!” Our!"

Sh.P.: I know that some of “ours” in those days were embarrassed by their origin, others believed that it was bothering them. Personally, my Jewishness made me neither warm nor cold. What was your attitude?

I have never hidden the fact that I am a Jew. Moreover, it is written all over my face. Adorn yourself with long hair, don’t adorn yourself, cut your hair bald - you won’t be able to hide your breed.

O.E.: And your attitude towards your Jewishness has not changed over time?

I was a Jew and still am. How can attitudes towards this change? This is a given.

Sh.P.: How do you understand your Jewishness?

I just always felt like I belonged to our wonderful Jewish nation, to the people.

O.E.: But what sets us apart from the rest?

Now, from the height of my age, I can answer: a very good mind, good analytics. But it must be said that if there are idiots among us, then idiots are also the most outstanding.

Sh.P.: As one rabbi told me, if a Jew is a bastard, then he is an exceptional bastard.

O.E.: So there are no average C students?

- That's it. My grandmother joked that such Jews are usually called “the eleventh.” Ten are normal, and the eleventh is a complete idiot.

O.E.: Nowadays Jewish life in Moscow is very active. Are you a frequent visitor to Jewish parties?

- No, I don’t appear everywhere. In fact, to the extent possible. If I’m in Moscow, not busy with anything, then why not come and see my friends whom I haven’t seen for a long time? Everyone is busy with their own business, everyone does not have enough time.

S.P.: Are the events you go to more cultural or are you also invited to religious ones?

I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to a religious event yet. Although, wait, it seems like they were...

O.E.: These are events where there are many men who look like Polonsky’s colleague.

Yes, yes, they called, they called. But it didn’t happen.

O.E.: What is your attitude towards religion?

We were all made atheists. In fact, I don't like people who talk about their relationship to G-d. I really don't like it. I think it must be deep within you. Why talk about this? Here, by analogy with politics, a conversation about politics should be conducted by people who understand what they are talking about. This should be a narrow circle of people. In general, it is very interesting that many former drug addicts and alcoholics or those who were in prison, for example, become religious fanatics. Very many of our brothers, who jumped out of all sorts of nonsense, turned, of course, into completely different people.

I believe that if you are a media person and you are shown somewhere, and you are interviewed, which, I hope, will be read by more than five people...

O.E.: We guarantee you five, this is our staff.

Great ( laughs). That’s why I always tactfully avoid this question, especially in interviews.

O.E.: How do you feel about Israel? Does the Holy Land feel like home?

In some ways, yes. Although, of course, the number of Jews is off the charts (smiles).

Sh.P.: You know, in the early 90s in Israel I had the opportunity to ride in a car with Zinovy ​​Gerdt to his concert. We got out near some cultural center. And then some woman, seeing Gerdt, started shouting loudly to someone: “Tamara! Come here! He's already here! And Gerdt was like, quietly, to the side: “There are a lot of Jews here, of course, a lot...”

That's it...The last time I was in Israel with a concert was about four years ago and I realized that I would rather play in Russia. Everything there is at the level of the Moscow Regional Philharmonic of 1975. We are going with the concert organizer, but he doesn’t know where the concert is. He has some kind of dazibao written, he doesn’t understand anything there, his brother is sitting behind him. He says: “Borya, do you know where the road is, where are we going?” He says: “No, I don’t know. Call dad." He calls dad, dad doesn’t know either: “Rose said he knows...” Horror, in general.

O.E.: Do you go there often? To rest, let's say.

Rest - no. There are cooler places to relax. In fact, I love Spain the most.

Sh.P.: What if it’s even colder? For example, Scandinavia?

O.E.: Murmansk region.

No, no, God forbid (laughs.)

O.E.: I read in an interview with you that, in principle, you have never encountered any manifestations of anti-Semitism...

That's right, never. Again, I was, of course, lucky in that the social class in which I grew up did not assume such things. Now, if I had been born in some disadvantaged area, perhaps it would have been different. Wonderful audiences have surrounded me all my life. And this is exactly what allowed me, how should I put it better...

O.E.: Don’t deal with cattle.

Exactly. Much depends on the environment and the conditions where you grew up. My child graduated from the 57th mathematical school, graduated from Moscow State University, and graduated from Boston University. Now, if we lived, well, for example, somewhere in South Butovo, then, probably, his life would have turned out differently.

O.E.: How does your son feel about his Jewishness?

He is much closer to him than I am. I started learning Hebrew. By the way, this is his fourth language, which is good news.

O.E.: Are you happy because this is the fourth or because it’s Hebrew?

Precisely because Hebrew, naturally. Recently, like a real yuppie, he went to Israel to socialize and improve his cultural level. That is, he is interested in all this, he knows more about it. When he was little, he was about five years old, he suddenly suddenly began reading everything, including about the history of the Jews. Like a real mathematician, he delved into everything very seriously. In our history and in our Jewishness too.

S.P.: I have a question, if I may. Here you are 60 years old. Is there anything that you lack as a creator, as an artist? What hasn't been done yet?

Not much has been done. Perhaps in music, or maybe it’s worth learning something new. For example, I have never been a presenter. And then one day it started to work out. I even like it. The only thing that’s disappointing, of course, is that I’m no longer young.

Sh.P.: What exactly breaks off? How are you feeling?

Old age, however! I remember the incident. 1980, I came to the Lenin Komsomol Theater and attended a rehearsal. And Tatyana Ivanovna Peltzer walks through the hall, slightly hunched over, holding her back. Mark Zakharov says: “Tatyana Ivanovna, what happened?” She looked at him and replied: “Yes, old age happened, @bi is her mother.” With age you can, of course, less. You can’t react to everything as quickly as you did in your youth.

S.P.: I will continue my question. So, you are part of the Jewish people...

Yes, part of our Jewish smart people. And beautiful.

O.E.: The last thing about me, Shlomo.

S.P.: No, about me. So here it is. Do you feel the need to do something no longer as an artist, but as a Jew?

O.E.: Grow a beard, for example, like Shlomo’s...

As I said, I consider myself ignorant in this regard. Much has not yet been done, not read, not studied. And of course, I would like to fill in all the gaps, including in the knowledge of our history and religion. But frankly speaking, I’m not sure about the beard.

O.E.: Is your wife Jewish?

Yes, sure. But it somehow just happened that way. Again, the brilliant word is location. It's also from the airport. Even walking her to the house on the other side of mine, I reached her apartment in 10 minutes.

O.E.: You have been together for more than 30 years. What do you have to do to keep it going for so long?

Don't argue. Never. There is no need to argue with a woman.

Business card

Evgeny Shulimovich Margulis is a Soviet and Russian rock musician, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, singer and author of songs and music, and is rightfully considered one of the brightest representatives of the blues movement in Russian rock. A former member of the “Time Machine” group, one of the founders and former member of the “Resurrection” group. Evgeniy was born on December 25, 1955 in Moscow, in the family of engineer Shulim Zalmanovich Margulis and teacher of Russian language and literature Bronislava Markovna Margulis. He has been married to Anna Margulis for more than 30 years and has a son, Daniel.

Margulis had no prerequisites for musical activity - he studied at a technical school, a music school, then at a medical school, then at a medical institute. But in the end, he had to leave his career as a doctor for a career as a musician.