Messer Chups

Messer Chups is a surf rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.^[1] The group was formed in 1998 by composer and guitarist Oleg Fomchenkov.^[2]

History

The band was founded by Oleg Fomchenkov (also known as Oleg Gitarkin) who had previously performed with Oleg Kostrov as Messer für Frau Müller [ru]. Messer Chups is often considered a "spin-off" band of Messer für Frau Müller.^{[citation needed]} In the group's name, "Messer" is taken from the German word for "knife" and "Chups" from Chupa Chups lollipops.^[3]

The band was originally a duo of Gitarkin on bass guitar and Annette Schneider on synthesizer. During 2000–2002 Messer Chups consisted of Gitarkin and Igor Vdovin [ru] on synths.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, Oleg Tarasov, the producer of Messer Chups and head of their home label Solnze Records, invited the world famous theremin player Lydia Kavina to join them. Together they have released several albums and reworked their previous releases. In 2005, Messer Chups became a duo consisting of Gitarkin and Svetlana "Zombierella" Nagaeva on bass. In 2007, they became a trio, with drummer Denis "Kashchey" Kuptsov [es] from the band Leningrad. In 2008, they changed their drummer to Alexander Belkok, and Alexander Skvortzov became their vocalist.^{[citation needed]}

The group's music was used for the soundtrack for the dating sim Monster Prom.^[4]^{[better source needed]}

Musical style

Messer Chups combines surf rock and traditional Russian music, as well as using samples from historical recordings, lounge music, and vintage film soundtracks.^[2] Their live shows feature projections of old horror and sci-fi movies.^[2]^[1] Gitarkin has cited Link Wray and The Ventures as influences.^[3]

Members

As of 2019, the group's line-up consisted of:^[1]

Oleg "Guitaracula" Fomchenkov (aka Oleg Gitarkin) – guitar
Svetlana "Zombierella" Nagaeva – bass, vocals
Evgeny Lomakin (aka "Rocking Eugene") – drums

Discography

Albums:

Чудовище и Чудовище (Monster & Monster) (1999) MC, CD [Re-released as Miss Libido 2000, Monster & Monster Upgrade Version]
Невеста Атома (Bride Of The Atom) (2000) MC, CD
Vamp Babes (2000) MC, CD [Re-released as Vamp Babes Upgrade Version]
Black Black Magic (2002) CD
Crazy Price (2003) CD/LP
Hyena Safari (2005) CD/LP
Zombie Shopping (2007) CD
Heretic Channel (2009) CD/LP
Bermuda 66 (2010) CD/LP
Surf Riders from The Swamp Lagoon (2011) CD/LP
Church of Reverb (2013) CD/LP
The Incredible Crocotiger (2015) CD/LP
Spooky Hook (2015) CD/LP
Taste the Blood of Guitaracula (2017) CD/LP
Mondo Harp (2019) CD/LP
Don't Say Cheese (2020) CD/LP
Visiting the Skeleton in the Closet (2021) CD/LP
Dark Side of Paradise (2024) LP/CD

EP's:

Twin Peaks Twist (2019) 7"
Jokermobile (2019) 7"
The Curse of Catzilla (2020) 7"
New Wave or Surf Wave (2020) LP
Night Stripper (2023) 7"
Blood and Black Lace (2023) 7"
Don't Worry, Be Creepy! (2024) Digital

Compilations:

The Best Of Messer Chups: Cocktail Draculina Vol. 1 (2002) CD
Messer Story In Videos 1992-2006 (2006) DVD
Best Of The Best (2008) LP/CD
Messer Chups Video (2008) DVD
Best Of (2015) CD
The Voice of Zombierella (2016) LP
The Best Of Messer Chups: Cocktail Draculina Vol. 2 (2017) Digital/LP
My Favorite Tracks (2018)
The Adventures of Zombierella & Guitaracula (2019) CD/LP [Upgrade Version Re-release in 2022]
Spook-O-Rama... The Best Of (2019) CD/LP
Lost Tracks (2020) Digital/LP

Messer für Frau Müller:

Merry Bormans (1991) unreleased
Happy End Dead (1992) MC, CD released in 2000
Little Joys (1992) MC, CD released in 2000
Senjors Crakovjac (1993) MC, LP 1994, CD 2000
Icicle-Murders (1995) MC
Nechelovek-Vidimka (1996) MC
„Hello, Superman!“ (1998) MC, CD
Second Hand Dreams (2000) MC, CD
Allo, Superman! (2000) CD incl. 3 bonus tracks
Hyper Utesov Presents (2001) CD
Second Hand Dreams (2001) CD incl. 3 bonus tracks
Treugol'nik, Chert I Tochka (2003) CD
Remixodelica (2005) CD
Triangle, Dot & Devil (2006) CD
Danger Retrobolik (2006) CD
Messer Chups & Messer für Frau Müller video DVD 2006
Wake Up The Dead (2008) CD / (2009) LP

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Fuentes, Gladys (2019-04-08). "From Russia with Surf: Messer Chups Bringing Their Spooky Surf Sound to Houston". Houston Press. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mills, Michelle (2017-10-20). "Russian surf horror band Messer Chups tackle 6 Halloween questions". Press-Telegram. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
^ ^a ^b Baldwin, Brent (2016-08-16). "Killer Russian Surf Rockers Messer Chups Finally Make It to America". Style Weekly. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
^ @monsterprom (2018-09-05). "The music on Monster Prom (except the credits one) is all by Messer Chups!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

Messer Chups official website (archived)
Messer Chups discography at Discogs
Messer Chups on Facebook
Photos from Les Transmusicales festival 2005

[houston-1] Fuentes, Gladys (2019-04-08). "From Russia with Surf: Messer Chups Bringing Their Spooky Surf Sound to Houston". Houston Press. Retrieved 2021-03-18.

[:1-2] Mills, Michelle (2017-10-20). "Russian surf horror band Messer Chups tackle 6 Halloween questions". Press-Telegram. Retrieved 2021-03-18.

[:0-3] Baldwin, Brent (2016-08-16). "Killer Russian Surf Rockers Messer Chups Finally Make It to America". Style Weekly. Retrieved 2021-03-18.

[4] @monsterprom (2018-09-05). "The music on Monster Prom (except the credits one) is all by Messer Chups!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

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