# Could use a Google expert to help me find a \[Russian Rock\] poster **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247 "2016-07-06T19:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/1 "2016-07-06T19:18:22Z")
I’ve owned a poster from the [1991 Monsters of Rock](https://monstersofrock.shutterfly.com/pictures/9) concert in Russia. I’ve had it for 16-17 years now and just got it framed. I’ve looked a few times on Google for more information on the poster itself, but have yet to come across any other photos of it. While looking around again this past week I came across one [bootleg record](http://www.andvinylforall.com/monsters-of-rock-on-the-barricade-moscow-1991.html) that has a black and white copy of half of the poster. I can get plenty of information on the concert, but the poster is what I’m interested in. I would have thought that with it being such a big concert there would have been other posters floating around out there. I know it’s a real copy as I saw it hanging in the Moscow State University’s geology department in the early 90s when I was there. A couple of years later my ex-father-in-law brought me the poster along with a few other ones hanging on the wall, one of which I sent to **Anaamika** for a white elephant a couple of years ago. Now that it hangs in my living room I’d like to know more about it but I haven’t been able to find anything. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/2 "2016-07-06T20:32:45Z")
Whew. I thought I might have been the poster you were looking for. I have a lot of enemies. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/3 "2016-07-07T02:10:29Z")
Well I’m pretty sure you’re not hanging on my wall. At least I hope you’re not! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/4 "2016-07-07T04:49:04Z")
I can tell you that the concert was on 28 September and that it was the only time the Monsters Of Rock show was done in the Soviet Union. I can tell you that [the New York Times wrote about it](http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/29/world/heavy-metal-groups-shake-moscow.html). I found [this blogger who uses the black and white image from the bootleg that was linked in the OP](http://krakatsunda.blogspot.com/2007/03/monsters-of-rock.html). But I was unable to find the poster you have anywhere. And then I found [this](http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Compilations-nom_album-Monsters_of_Rock_USSR-l-en.html). That compilation was released in 1992 by Alien Records/BIZ Enterprises, a Moscow company owned by a guy named Boris Zosymov. The compilation’s catalog number is BIZ 0001 MR 1/ 2 (my computer keeps trying to change that to ½ but it’s just 1 slash 2; I added the space to stop the autocorrect). Copies go for about $5 these days and can be found on eBay, Discogs, etc. Anyway, the thing that struck me about the cover was that the logo for Monsters Of Rock was the same as on your poster. So I did some checking and found that the cover (and likely your poster) was done by an artist named Vladimir Grishetchko who also goes by the name V. Gree. He did a lot of album art and related stuff (like concert posters, etc.) back in the early '90s, but all in Russia. [He may also be a world-class cyclist](http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/mtb/2002/MTBworlds02/?id=marathon), but I haven’t been able to find any contact info for him to email him and ask. I have a couple of inquiries out to friends in Russia; I’ll let you know if they can find anything else. Is there something in particular you want to know about that poster? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2016, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/5 "2016-07-07T11:49:36Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > But I was unable to find the poster you have anywhere. That’s what I’ve been interested in, I’ve seen footage of the concert, that’s no problem to find. > [@](#): > > Anyway, the thing that struck me about the cover was that the logo for Monsters Of Rock was the same as on your poster. > > So I did some checking and found that the cover (and likely your poster) was done by an artist named Vladimir Grishetchko who also goes by the name V. Gree. He did a lot of album art and related stuff (like concert posters, etc.) back in the early '90s, but all in Russia. [He may also be a world-class cyclist](http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/mtb/2002/MTBworlds02/?id=marathon), but I haven’t been able to find any contact info for him to email him and ask. > > I have a couple of inquiries out to friends in Russia; I’ll let you know if they can find anything else. > > Is there something in particular you want to know about that poster? Now looking at it, and a few other things, I Googled his name and came up with a few other album covers he did. Seems he did the E.S.T. covers, which was one of the Russian bands at the concert so it makes sense that he might have been contacted to do the poster as well. I guess now, since you might be able to find more information, is was this an official poster, or was it one done after the show. Besides one bootleg I’m just surprised at the lack of any images of the poster at all. I would have thought there would have been at least a couple of thousand made. I don’t think I’ve seen any posters at all for this concert and it would be kind of strange to have one of the few remaining ones sitting in my house for so many years. [V. Gree](http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/V._Gree/111392) Sure did seem to like his skulls as they are on every album cover he’s done. And thanks for the help, that’s far more information then I’ve ever had on the poster. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/6 "2016-07-08T19:31:31Z")
I’m going to give this one bump, especially since some kind mod was nice enough to change the title a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/7 "2016-07-08T22:32:49Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I’m going to give this one bump, especially since some kind mod was nice enough to change the title a little bit. And also because **Bo** kicked some ass in finding out what he did. Impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/8 "2016-07-08T22:54:39Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > And also because **Bo** kicked some ass in finding out what he did. > > Impressive. Yes, yes it was. I also see a signature on the poster, but it’s obscured by the frame, there was little boarder around it, but it does say '91 on it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/9 "2016-07-08T23:03:41Z")
Good job Bo! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/10 "2016-07-09T02:04:31Z")
Aw, thanks y’all. Y’all know I love a good research challenge, especially one that’s music related and ESPECIALLY one that’s about metal! I was just gonna update that I’ve reached out to a very high level source. It might take me a while to hear back tho. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/11 "2016-07-10T17:04:57Z")
Okay, so I reached out to Boris Zysomov, the guy who owned Alien Records (and who later became head of Polygram Russia, part of MTV, etc.) and he remembers V. Gree but doesn’t know anything about him that is current. He said he’d see if he could find anything and let me know. Hopefully I can get his contact info and we can ask the artist directly about the poster (that’s my goal). ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/12 "2016-07-10T17:22:42Z")
A trick for searching google for foreign things is to translate key words/names (in this case into Russian), then search for that. Also be aware there are foreign versions of Amazon, Yahoo, Google?, Ebay, etc. Try finding those and search using a foreign word/name. And to translate, of course search [google.com](http://google.com) for translate! ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/13 "2016-07-11T00:42:48Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Okay, so I reached out to Boris Zysomov, the guy who owned Alien Records (and who later became head of Polygram Russia, part of MTV, etc.) and he remembers V. Gree but doesn’t know anything about him that is current. He said he’d see if he could find anything and let me know. Hopefully I can get his contact info and we can ask the artist directly about the poster (that’s my goal). Sweet, that would rock. \m/ And if you do hear from him tell him the poster has been nicely framed and in a living room being enjoyed. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/14 "2016-09-19T15:44:50Z")
Bumping this thread with some new information. I just heard back from one of my contacts in Russia: > [@](#): > > I don’t have much information about him. More albums that he designed can be seen here: > [https://www.discogs.com/artist/1462569-Владимир-Гришечко](https://www.discogs.com/artist/1462569-%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80-%D0%93%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%88%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%BE) > I have some of these albums. I send you the cover of one, if you need. > I read somewhere that he is also a band photographer known as Папа Гриша (Papa Grisha). This gave me two new leads; I’ll post when I hear back from them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/15 "2016-09-21T02:38:45Z")
I am so excited right now I can barely contain myself. I FOUND HIM! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/16 "2016-09-21T06:34:16Z")
Mr. Grishetchko is very cool! We spent about an hour chatting in an impromptu interview tonight via Facebook, which he was kind enough to allow me to post here (minor reformatting for clarity): > [@](#): > > Bo: Howdy! > Are you the same Vladimir Grishetchko who did artwork for Alien Records/BIZ Enterprises in the early 1990s? > > MON 2:40AM > V. accepted your request. > > V: Hello, yes I am. > > 7:36PM > Bo: WOOT! I am contacting you on behalf of an acquaintance who has one of your posters from the 1991 Monsters of Rock tour. He has had it framed to display on his wall after all these years and would like to ask you some questions. > > We are both members of a message board where he originally posted about this. Would you be interested in joining the board and answering directly? If not, I’d be happy to relay questions and answers (but it would be really cool if you’d come post on our message board). > > Thanks for getting back to me! I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am right now! You did great work back in the day; is it true you are still in the industry as a band photographer? > > 10:27PM > > V: Hello, Thanks for kind words about my artworks. But this already last �� Sometimes I make photos my favorite musiсian like Joe Satriani and some Russians guitar players ore bands for fun. But now I work in sport industry (Mountainbike & Cycling). I’m promoter & organizer bicycling events in Russia. All photos and graphic design for it I do myself. Also I publisher and editor-in-chief of first Russian bicycling magazine since 1997. > > Bo: So that WAS you! > > V: Yes it’s was me > > Bo: Please visit our message board. The discussion about your poster is at [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=797717](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=797717) > > This would mean a lot to a guy known as Edward The Head. Joining is free, of course. May I post our conversation there? > > V: Yes of course > > Bo: Thank you so much. Edward’s first question was “was this an official poster, or was it one done after the show”? but I know he would love to thank you for such great work; he has had the poster for over 20 years. > > V: It was official poster of MOR show. It was booking by Boris Zosimov. > > Bo: Excellent. I actually contact Boris a couple of months ago looking for you. > > He wants you to know that your poster is framed and in a living room being enjoyed. Here is a link to the framed poster: [https://monstersofrock.shutterfly.com/pictures/10](https://monstersofrock.shutterfly.com/pictures/10) > > I think it looks amazing! > > He wonders if he has one of the last surviving copies of this poster. > > V: I think yes! > > Bo: Wow! That’s incredible! Did you go to the concert? It must have been a really exciting and unusual time for Russia back then! > > V: Yes I work on this show. It was very cool! > > Bo: Any stories or memories that stand out that you’d like to share from that concert or from your art career in general? > > (He sent me [this album cover](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/snowboarderbo/Master%20-%20Empire%20Of%20Evil.jpg) and this link to Russian metal site: [http://metalrus.ru/groups/51/post-view/25999](http://metalrus.ru/groups/51/post-view/25999)) > > V: That’s my artwork too. Russian band MASTER realize Empire of Evil 1991 roadrunner records > > Bo: WOW! That totally fucking rocks! > > V: That was realy sitaution in the Soviet Union > > Bo: Was it subversive or dangerous to be working in heavy metal music back then? > > V: when we wanted to publish EST album on the “Melody” record lable, the editor told that I need to be sent to a madhouse �� > > but then began “Perestroyka” and it became easier > One more cover > > Bo: That’s freaking awesome! I own that Oz album! they peaked with Fire In The Brain, but a friend also had the album back in college and I eventually got a copy for sentimental reasons > > Mr. Grischetchko, you’ve been very gracious with your time. It’s been an honor and a privilege to speak with you, but I have to get some sleep so I can work in the morning. Please consider visiting our forum; there are people who would love to hear from you at the Straight Dope Message Board. > > V: I was glad to get acquainted > > Bo: You totally fucking rock, dude! > > V: Good night > > Bo: Dobroy nochi, tovarisch! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/17 "2016-09-21T06:39:31Z")
I have to say that this conversation was among the most thrilling I have ever had in my life! I was shaking so hard at first it was difficult to type! ETA: I realized that I had forgotten to include the artwork he sent with the comment “One more cover”. It was for the Finnish band Oz, for their album Roll the Dice. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/roll-the-dice-mw0000212092](http://www.allmusic.com/album/roll-the-dice-mw0000212092) ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/18 "2016-09-21T07:02:13Z")
Moving over to CS. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/19 "2016-09-21T11:21:27Z")
Dude, you fucking rock! \m/ Thanks so much. It’s cool to know that it was an official poster for MOR and one of the few remaining. What a story that poster has, might be more interesting then my life. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-use-a-google-expert-to-help-me-find-a-russian-rock-poster/759247/20 "2016-09-21T13:12:13Z")
/bow You’re welcome, **Edward** ; it was an honor and a pleasure to meet Gospodin Grishetchko and talk to him. I’m very grateful that his English is so good; my Russian is limited to only a handful of phrases and terms. I’m still hopeful that he’ll turn up here and post something, but I went ahead and asked your questions in case he wasn’t so inclined. I wish I didn’t have to go to work this morning so I could have stayed up talking to him. If I ever head over to Russia I’ll have to look him and my contact who gave me the new lead up and buy them dinner or something.