Valery Kipelov - Years in Aria

Years in Aria

The voice of Kipelov was one of the major reasons of band's success, though in first two albums he wrote just two songs (both slow ballads). After the breakup in 1987, Kipelov and Holstinin were the only two members who stayed with Vekshtein. Sergey Mavrin was invited into the new lineup to play guitar and Vitaly Dubinin joined on bass.

During the Germany tour 1994, Kipelov's relations with Holstinin and Dubinin became tense. He ceased appearing at Aria's studio and was fired from the band. Then Mavrin refused to play without Kipelov and left the band, too. After participating in a few of Master's concerts, Valery tried to form a band of his own, but later returned to Aria following the threat from MOROZ Records to sue the band for breach of contract.

Sergey Mavrin offered Kipelov to record together a combined album, which might include their songs, refused by Aria or not fit for its style. In 1997 they released the LP entitled 'Kipelov and Mavrin - Smutnoye Vremia' (Time of Troubles), which included 10 tracks. This album helped Mavrin to launch his project 'Mavrik' with vocalist Artur Berkut next year.

In 2002, after the successful release of 'Himera' followed by sold-out tours and headlining the NASHEstvie festival, Kipelov refused to start recording the new album, already written by Dubinin and Holstinin. He stated his wish to start a solo career. He was supported by two of his Aria bandmates Sergey Terentyev and Alexander Maniakin, as well as by the band's manager Rina Lee, opposing the band's leaders Vitaly Dubinin and Vladimir Holstinin, and the producer Yuri Sokolov. This disagreement broke Aria apart after 'Judgement Day', August 31, 2002.