...Yerevan Yerevan - im yar otevan Es kantsnem, kgnam du aprir havityan... ...Yerevan serdcu blizok i dorog Yerevan - eto bolshe chem gorod... ...Misht hpart du eghir, misht hervic kanchir Hayastan im sirun Hayastan... ...Aystegh em tsnvel es, aystegh metsatsel Ays jure xmel sarnorak

End of 70's. The whole planet Earth is grooving to the charming rhythms of a new musical era. Brought in by Bee Gees, ABBA and Boney M reggae sounds, this new generation occupied every single house in the world. That was the disco movement. Soon after, with a blazing lightning speed, everyone was humming to ABBA's "Dancing Queen", to African Simon's beats, to Baccara and Bee Gees. Italian disco grew in popularity too. Adriano Celentano, Toto Cutugno and the beautiful Italian blonde Rafaella Carra were dominating on Soviet late night TV shows. And what about the famous Sanremo festivals attracting more attention that nowadays Oscar's ceremony? The disco era triggered the first wave of international records being imported into the USSR as the sole country-wide recording company "Melodia" kept releasing new LPs attempting to satisfy the hungry public demands. Especially popular were the compilation records containing anything from Celentano's "Soli" and BoneyM's "Sunny" to Leo Seyer and even her majesty Alla Pugacheva, the first and only Russian singing diva. Bingo! The ice has been melted. Even some of the "no-no" bands of the decaying capitalist world were able to burst through. If you browsed through Soviet record compilations in late 70's, there was a slight chance that you might find a song or two by Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep or Status Quo. A few times "Stairway to heaven" and Purple's "Smoke on the water" were unexpectedly broadcasted on air waves accompanied by "Veselie rebyata" and Sophia Rotaru.

A dynamic duo "Ardzagank" which ruled Armenian airwaves in 70's and 80's made a successful comeback after almost ten years of hiatus, in 1994 with an album called "Eyes on me" (nothing to do with Tupac Shakur's song by the way). Later on they launched "Ardzagank" recording studio in Yerevan Concert Hall with one goal: to discover young new talents. Photo: "Ardzagank" duo with Yegishe Petrosian and Artavazd Bayatian

So what exactly was going on at the Armenian rock stage at that curious period of time? Surely the western influence was way too high, therefore for a while Armenian public was admiring the newly found love in music with an awe. Pop-music bands like "Ardzagank", "36/6", and some *estrada* solo artist singing about their orgasmic love to the motherland were the ones gaining 100% of the public's eye. Music of folk and light pop stars was warmly greeted by the Sovietized public. National music surely posed no threat to the censure, thus was widely accepted and promoted.

When I grow tired of myself
And when I have no more questions to ask 
I will go out and walk aimlessly on the streets
Or pehaps visit homes of my old friends
Doors will open one by one in front of me
I will see faces I have known all my life
Some have changed into mourning
While others - into celebration
	"Ardzagank" - "They don't wait for me"

Memories of love descend upon me
I would like not to remember you, 
Not to remember.. But I cannot
You have to be near me, you have to be near me
And cast your light upon my soul
	Jivan Gasparyan - "Memories of love"

Many national musicians and artists like Rouben Matevosian claimed a lot of popularity with Armenian folklore songs. Instrumental music performed on duduk, saz or kyamancha was also popular. Ubiquitous Armenian violin with its distinct sound made folk music jump from sadness to happiness in a second. Such were crafty "Hye Zhogovdrakan" musicians. Jivan Gasparyan's name definitely stands out as the "Father of Armenian duduk". In 1973 Jivan Gasparyan becomes the first musician to receive the title of "People's Artist of Armenia" ("Zhogovrdakan artist") by the government. Later he becomes the Gold Medal winner at four UNESCO world-wide competitions and collaborates with stars like Peter Gabriel and Michael Brooks. But more than that, Jivan Gasparyan was the first one to make Armenian folklore music recognized by the world. Photo: Jivan Gasparyan with his magical duduk

But at the same time something else brewing deep deep underground. Those were the pioneer Armenian hard rock bands, the morlocks of their time. Picking up where "Apostles" left off, the first rock bands started performing in small clubs for a dedicated audience of rock lovers. The bands which usually lasted for only one show and performed extemporaneous concerts would later give birth to "Vostan Hayots", "Asparez", "Ayas", "Aspet" and other real pioneers... The most popular concert spot for these moth-lived bands was the famous "Green hall" ("Kanach zal") at Yerevan Politechnic Institute. A lot of times such shows had to be cancelled due to a fear of wide student movements. But young musicians and art lovers would always find another place of gathering. Still, Green hall was a relatively liberal spot and best of all, it was free for students of Politechnic Institute. Needless to say, the majority of the crowd were students. Politechnic's Green hall would remain a popular place for many years to come, and even in 90's a couple of famous Gaudeaumus festivals were held in there.

Most of the music followers were artists by nature. Some of the places they used to gather and talk about arts were Yerevan's Derasan Kafe, Skvoznyachok and of course the well-known Teymurnots bar where you could have fried potatoes with a glass of Zhigulevskiy beer. Such gatherings along with impromptu concerts, small shows created a very unique artistic atmosphere in Yerevan. That was the time when the capital of Armenia was prospering and blooming both in architectural and spiritual sense.

Suddenly Arthur Meschian re-appeared in the musical scene out of nowhere reassembling the "Apostles" with a whole new lineup. This time he teamed up with young artists Vahan Artsruni and Gurgen Melikian. Although the band would never reach the same heights as the old Apostles, their shows would still attract a lot of crowd. The re-emergence of "Apostles" also brought in new names to the Armenian rock stage. Fresh from university, the new bands and artists quickly took over the apostolic legacy. Photo: The New Apostles - Arthur Meschian, Gurgen Melikian and Vahan Artsruni at an impromptu show in RMA office, 1997