A bright representative of the Russian underground - the story of Yanka Diaghileva

Yanka Diaghileva has gone down in history as an outstanding representative Siberian underground, a woman who during her short career was desperate to prove to everyone and herself that she had a right to exist in the rock community. Yegor Letovwho had a tremendous influence on Yanka and often criticised her. There are even legends that he was involved in her tragic death - allegedly, after her last meeting with him, the girl fell into a deep depression.

"It was hard for her with Letov - he taught her a lot, and along with that he constantly drowned her morally," recalled a close friend of Diaghileva.

This seemingly perfect inconspicuous girl She made the crowd open their mouths wide and even let tears fall - so powerful was her performance: tenacious, penetrating... She was one of the most extraordinary representatives of the Russian rock scene. Her life, as well as her tragic ending, full of mystery…

Early years

Jana was born in 1966 in NovosibirskIn her childhood, Yanka wanted to become a figure skater, but due to a congenital foot defect, this dream had to be abandoned. As a child, Yanka wanted to become a figure skater, but because of a congenital foot defect, this dream had to be abandoned. But very soon Diaghileva discovered a new passion for herself. music. At school Diaghileva hated exact sciences, but she adored the humanities. She especially loved poetryincluding English, and was eager to write her own poetry.

The University of Water Transport repulsed the girl - she did not like studying. But it was here that a new chapter in Yanka's biography appeared - the band "Amigo.". Harmless gigs around the region led to the ultimate rock addiction.

The first alarm bells

Janke was only 19 years oldwhen she met Alexander Bashlachev. It happened at the flat party of a well-known Novosibirsk "rock mum". Irina Letyaeva. This acquaintance turned out to be fateful: they were in close contact until SashBash's death: often Bashlachev visited Yanka, came to Novosibirsk to visit her and brought her drafts of his songs. It was during this period that Dyagileva began to actively write her own lyrics.

"She could sit up all night - I guess she felt she had something to say," my father recalled.

"I can't get enough!" - Yana said, referring both to communication with Bashlachev and to her own freedom. She felt herself lockedcut off from the world of creativity that beckoned.....

"Before she met Sasha, she was a completely ordinary girl: she wore make-up, styled her hair, accepted the accepted culture. And suddenly - a colossal change! He opened for her something new, unimaginable, something that words cannot even convey," says her friend.

What happened between Yanka and Bashlachyov - that's for sure. unknown. They say he was in love with her, but she only saw him as a man inspiration. SashBash the girl dedicated the following line:

"You will see the sky, I will see the earth on your soles."

The last time they met was at a concert in Leningrad. At that time, Alexander was already depressed - His music no longer inspired him, everything came out with a strain, with notes of doom... And soon he was gone. For Diaghileva it was a blow to the heart. She took Bashlachev's death hard. Many people close to her note: after that, her life began depressive episodeswhich were particularly aggravated as the days wore on.

Letov's influence

With Egor Letov, Yankee had the most challenging and influential relationship. They met in 1987. They toured together extensively and eventually a romance between them took off. But it was more of a relationship destructiverather than light. Both were radical personalities with their own views on the world and a very difficult character.

"We were kind of like husband and wife, but also living a free life," Egor emphasised.

In those years, Letov was followed by a very real. hunt - they wanted to put him in a mental institution because his songs. "Civil Defence." (The whole time Egor was in hiding, constantly travelling around the cities, Yanka followed him. And all the time that Egor was in hiding, travelling constantly around the cities, Yanka followed him. But at one point she got tired and left. Tired. from misunderstanding and belittling her abilities. Certainly Letov had a colossal influence on her! It was he who taught Diaghileva all the musical wisdom. But at the same time he was constantly criticising her work - adjusting it to his own vision.

Perhaps it was on the basis of this that Diaghileva began to call herself "Yanych." - to literally identify with a man. She persisted in proving that women in rock had a right to exist.

Phenomenon

Diaghileva was phenomenon of her time. Tears were often shed at her concerts - especially by girls: everyone realised that no one could see the world the way she (Yanka) saw it. She was emotional, a little even insane!

"After the concert I had a chance to talk to her. The feeling of complete madness is what I was left with," said Artemy Troitsky.

Today Yanka is actively compared to foreign stars - Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin. But this is wrong - Diaghileva is Diaghileva. She is unique Her folklore was special, filled with Slavic motifs and yet modern - yet modern - and there is no one like her (just like the foreign singers we have mentioned). Her folklore was special, filled with Slavic motifs, and yet modern. topical for the world she lived in.

"I lay on the road, diluting the mud with my tears:
Tore a new skirt and gagged her.
Hail, great working people!"

Diaghileva was quite unlike her colleagues on stage - she was I didn't feel to be a star or an important person or something. She even refused to give interviews. She didn't care about money - it didn't matter to her no value. Simplicity both inside and out.

"I was in the corridor passing by and Jana was getting dressed. She wrapped a cellophane bag around her foot and just put a boot on top! As it turned out, she had a cracked sole. But she didn't pay any attention to it - she didn't even think about asking any of us for help," recalled Guzel Nemirova, who was involved in organising music festivals in the 1980s.

A tragic ending

It's official, Jana's gone 9 May 1991. - that's when her body was discovered. What really happened to Dyagileva is not completely clear. Whether she stepped into the river herself, or whether someone facilitated it... It is known that the girl was suffering from anhedoniaIn the end of her life she was in a deep depression. According to those close to her, it was the last meeting that finally brought her down with Letov. He, by the way, attended her funeral, after which he took all the letters, drafts and other writings from Yankee's house.

Shortly before the tragedy, her half-brother died - Diaghileva was crushed by grief. At the same time, she constantly felt some sort of guilt in front of others.

It is generally accepted that "Water will come." - the last Yankee song. This strengthens the hypothesis that the death was intentional.

"The field on the other side of the river won't burst into flames.
Water will come
I'm going to sleep..."