The bass guitarist Sergei Lapin, a longtime member of the popular Russian band Bravo, passed away on October 31 at the age of 62. This news came from the band’s official page on the social network platform In Contact, where fans were informed of his death with a tribute to his contributions.
Lapin joined Bravo during a turbulent period for the group, following the departure of lead singer Zhanna Aguzarova. He brought a distinctive sense of stagecraft and an inventive approach to the band’s image and sound. Among his notable ideas was the use of cardboard decorations for the classic track Style Orange Tie, a detail that underscored his interest in visual presentation and conceptual styling. Lapin’s role extended to the recording sessions for influential Bravo albums such as Let’s Say Bravo to Each Other (1988) and Hipsters from Moscow (1990), where his bass lines helped shape the band’s groove and attitude during a pivotal era.
In related developments, Valery Syutkin, who was associated with Bravo during a period marked by experimentation and collaboration, is celebrated for his own creative output. Syutkin, who was part of Bravo on the road to broader recognition, released notable records including Hipsters from Moscow, Road to the Clouds, and Moscow Beat. After parting ways with Bravo, Syutkin pursued new projects and established a separate musical direction. The track 7000 Above the Ground, associated with Syutkin and his collaborators, was recognized as a standout piece in the mid-1990s era of Russian pop and rock, underscoring the lasting impact of the era on subsequent artists and bands.
There are other reminiscences surrounding the band’s creative experiments, including a recent project where a neural network generated a song by Yegor Letov and a video accompanied the release. This blend of technology and tradition reflects Bravo’s broader legacy in Russian rock, where artistic experimentation has repeatedly intersected with evolving media and audience engagement. The recent developments underscore how former members like Lapin are remembered for their role in shaping the band’s distinctive sound and stage presentation, as well as for the ways in which Bravo’s music continues to influence later generations of artists and fans.