EASTERN SYNDROME

Eastern Syndrome biography
Consisting of Constantine Bityukov (guitar, vocals), Andrew Neustroev (percussion, vocals), Alexander Ponomarev (guitar), Eugene Valov (bass), Vladimir Bovykin (clarinet, saxophone), Yuri Hatenko (beat-boxing), EASTERN SYNDROME first saw the light of day in 1987 in the Russian town of Magadan. The band proceeds to perform at a new and fresh festival held at the local Magadan rock club later on that year. Soon their debut album 'Studio 13' was ready-made

At the end of 1987 Andrew Neustroev, Yuri Hatenko and Eugene Valov leaves the band, the drummer Oleg Volkov steps in and come 1988 the band records the album 'With The Keys On The Nose'. 1989 EASTERN SYNDROME change their cast yet again. Yuri Hatenko takes over the bass guitar, Alexander Simdyanov the drums. In 1989 they record the album 'Club Of Local Industry'. Unfortunately the master tape gets lost, but the songs were rediscovered in 2007 on a reel taken by the producer Paul Podlipenko.

Sound engineer George Dugan of the label Trail Records makes a pre-mastering of the digitization, the sound quality still leaves much to be desired though. Some songs are reworked but the complete album is still in progress. In May 1990, they perform in Syktyvkar at the rock festival Underground-90. The summer gives birth to yet another release named 'Guest' during the latter part of the warmer months.

Due to a grueling tour of Europe involving drugs in unknown quantities, the band breaks up in 1995 after coming home to Russia. They tried to get back on their feet in 2000, but the audiences failed them - forcing them to call it a day once again. Constantine Bityukov left to live in Moscow, working as a postman and at times performing solo. Hit by a stroke, the man behind this cult band from Russia sadly passed away in 2004.

With their special blend of psychedelic prog, new wave and native folk ingredients EASTERN SYNDROME are counted among the Legends of Russian Rock.