Mumiy Troll

Mumiy Troll is a Russian rock band formed in 1983 by lead singer Ilya Lagutenko in the city of Vladivostok. The band’s name is a playful pun on the “Moomin Troll” characters from Finnish children’s books. Mumiy Troll blends rock and pop in a style Lagutenko calls “rockapops”. They became one of Russia’s most popular rock acts by the late 1990s and have remained influential for decades. The group has released many successful albums and even represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001.

Band Members and Musical Style

Mumiy Troll’s core lineup today consists of Ilya Lagutenko on lead vocals (and guitar), Oleg Pungin on drums, Alexander Kholenko on keyboards, Artyom Kritsin on guitar, and Pavel Vovk on bass guitar. Lagutenko, as the founder and frontman, remains the driving creative force of the band. Over the years the lineup has evolved; former members like guitarist Yuri Tsaler and bassist Evgeny “Sdwig” Zvidionny were also part of the group in earlier periods.

The band’s musical style has shifted with time while retaining a distinctive sound. In the 1980s they experimented in the underground rock scene, mixing punk and new wave influences. In the 1990s, Lagutenko’s stint living in London exposed him to the Britpop scene, which helped shape Mumiy Troll’s melodic alternative rock direction. The group describes its genre as “rockapops”, a catchy blend of rock energy and pop sensibility. This unique style, along with poetic lyrics and an quirky sense of humor, set Mumiy Troll apart on the Russian music landscape.

Formation and Early Years (1983–1990)

Lead singer Ilya Lagutenko officially founded Mumiy Troll on 16 October 1983 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. The young band recorded their first album, Novaya luna aprelya (“New Moon of April”), in 1985 and distributed it via magnitizdat. That was the underground tape-trading network common in the Soviet era. Soviet authorities frowned upon the band’s unusual style and provocative name. A local Communist Party chief even labeled Mumiy Troll “the most socially dangerous band in the world” alongside acts like Black Sabbath and the Sex Pistols. Despite this official disapproval, the group gained a cult following in Vladivostok. Their debut songs became hits at local discos, and the band played at clubs and youth festivals. Even as some organizers dismissed their music as “unformat,” not fitting the standard Soviet pop mold.

In 1987, Lagutenko had to put the band on hold when he was conscripted for military service in the Soviet Navy. Mumiy Troll effectively disbanded during this period. After completing his duty, Lagutenko briefly reunited the group in 1990 and even tweaked its name, adding an extra “y” to change Mumi Troll into Mumiy Troll. That year they released a second album, Delay Yu-Yu, on cassette tape. However, the early 1990s were a turbulent time for Russian rock music, and the album did not gain traction. The band members decided to go on hiatus, focusing on their personal lives and other careers. Lagutenko spent the first half of the 1990s abroad, studying Chinese and English and working in China and the UK. Even while working an office job in London, he continued writing songs and planning a comeback for Mumiy Troll.

Return and Breakthrough in the 1990s

In 1995, Ilya Lagutenko returned to Russia and reformed Mumiy Troll with a renewed lineup. The band saved up funds and headed to a London studio to record new material. In May 1997, they released Morskaya (“Marine”), their first proper studio album, which became a nationwide hit and brought the band widespread popularity. This breakthrough marked the start of Mumiy Troll’s golden era. Only six months later, the band followed up with a second studio album, Ikra (“Caviar”), in late 1997, which further cemented their success across Russia. Both Morskaya and Ikra produced multiple radio singles and introduced Mumiy Troll’s idiosyncratic sound to a mass audience.

By the late 1990s, Mumiy Troll’s emotive vocals and modern rock hooks stood out amid the post-Soviet pop scene. The band that once had been deemed “unformat” was now in heavy rotation on radio and TV. Russian music producer Alexander Shulgin helped promote the group, landing their songs on major stations and music channels. Mumiy Troll embarked on its first nationwide tour, reaching fans in over 70 cities and firmly establishing a national fan base. In 1998, when MTV launched its Russian channel, Mumiy Troll’s video “Vladivostok 2000” made history as the first music video by a Russian artist to air on MTV Russia. The band also earned industry accolades during this time. For example, they were named Best Rock Group of 1997 by the Russian Music Academy’s Ovation Awards. By the end of the decade, Mumiy Troll was widely recognized as a leading force in Russian rock, thanks to their distinct style and Lagutenko’s charismatic presence.

International Success and Eurovision 2001

By 2000, Mumiy Troll began setting its sights beyond Russia. The band released another album, Tochno rtut’ aloe (“Exactly Mercury Aloe”), in early 2000 and continued to build momentum. In 2001, Mumiy Troll was selected to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen. They performed the song “Lady Alpine Blue” and finished in 12th place in the Eurovision final. This high-profile appearance introduced Mumiy Troll to a broader European audience. 

The years after Eurovision

After Eurovision, Mumiy Troll kept up its prolific output and touring schedule. In 2002 they released the album Meamury, followed by Pohititeli knig (“Book Thieves”) in 2004 and Sliyaniye i pogloshcheniye (“Merger and Acquisition”) in 2005. The 2005 album courted some controversy: its original cover art featured satirical depictions of President Vladimir Putin and oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which had to be altered before release. In 2008, as the band looked outward, they signed with the international Agency Group to organize concerts abroad. The following year, in 2009, Mumiy Troll released the album Comrade Ambassador in North America – their first record officially available in the West – and embarked on an ambitious tour across the United States and Canada. The band played 40 shows on that North American tour, selling out small club venues across the continent and steadily winning over new listeners with their brand of post-Soviet rock. Western media dubbed Mumiy Troll “the biggest-selling rock band you’ve never heard of,” highlighting their superstar status in Russia versus relative obscurity abroad.

In 2012, Mumiy Troll further embraced international audiences by releasing an English-language album titled Vladivostok. Lagutenko sang in English on this record, aiming to share the band’s Far Eastern Russian roots with the world. Throughout the 2010s, Mumiy Troll also showcased their music at global festivals and music conferences. They performed at events like SXSW in the U.S., Taiwan’s Music Matters, Korea’s Zandari Festa, and other international gatherings. These appearances helped the band reach new listeners beyond the Russian-speaking world, even as they remained chart-toppers back home.

Continued Evolution and Recent Years

In the 2010s, Mumiy Troll maintained a steady pace of creativity, releasing new music and undertaking unique projects. The band recorded the 2013 album SOS matrosu (“SOS to the Sailor”) during a round-the-world sailing trip, infusing the songs with a nautical theme and sense of adventure. That same year, the group launched an annual music festival in their hometown called Vladivostok Rocks (V-ROX). This festival aimed at bringing international talent to the Russian Far East. The festival, organized by Lagutenko, ran from 2013 until 2019 and was dubbed “a small Pacific Woodstock” for its eclectic, global lineup of artists. Mumiy Troll also expanded into hospitality by opening branded music bars, creating physical spaces celebrating rock music culture.

Even after more than thirty years, Mumiy Troll remains active and influential. The band continued releasing albums through the late 2010s, including Piratskie kopii (“Pirate Copies”) in 2015, the English-language Malibu Alibi in 2016, and further records like Vostok X Severozapad (“East X Northwest”) and Posle zla (“After Evil”) in 2020. Their contributions to Russian music have been recognized with numerous awards. For instance, MTV Russia honored Mumiy Troll with a special “Legend of MTV” award in 2006 for their enduring impact on the rock scene.

In 2022, Mumiy Troll made headlines for taking a principled political stance. The band publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This move led to government backlash. Authorities canceled all of the group’s scheduled concerts in Russia as a result of their anti-war position.