Bi-2

Bi-2 (Bi-dva) is a Belarusian alternative rock band, formed in 1988 in Bobruisk, Belarus. It was one of the most successful with many sales and chart-hits in Russia. Bi-2 was awarded MTV Russian Music Awards for Best Rock Act in 2007. The band was formed in 1988 in Bobruisk, Belarus, by two teenagers, Aleksandr "Shura" Uman and Yegor "Lyova" Bortnik, who were amateur actors. Initially, the band's name was "Bratya po Oruzhiyu" (Brothers in Arms), which was formed in 1988, then "Bereg Istini" (Shore of Truth), which resulted in the abbreviation BI-2. Lyova and Shura began to use this moniker as their stage names, and Shura eventually changed his passport surname to Bi-II. In the beginning of the 90s the two moved to Israel and as Jews received citizenship, but in 1993 Shura moved to Australia while Lyova remained and served in the Israel Defense Forces. In 1994 Shura formed a romantic and professional relationship with pianist and artist Victoria Bilogan and in 1997 they recorded their first album "Bespolaya i Grustnaya Lyubov" ("Sexless and Sad Love"). During this time, Lyova and Shura continued to compose music together, exchanging their recordings and guitar tabs via Internet and phone. Before forming Chiron, Shura collaborated with Dee Ellus, his first English lyricist, in 1993 and 1994. Shura, together with Dino Molinaro and Michael Aliani, former members of Ikon, formed the darkwave band Chiron. In 1998 Lyova moved to Australia and joined Chiron as well, but the two left the project in less than two years to continue with their own band. In 1999 Bi-2 moved to Russia, where they previously tried to release their already recorded album "Bespolaya i Grustnaya Lubov" ("Sexless and Sad Love," 1998), but their plans were ruined by the Russian financial crisis of 1998, which affected the record business. In 1999, the band consisted only of two men, but the lineup soon was increased by session musicians. The band gained popularity only in 2000, recording the songs for the soundtrack to the popular Brother 2 movie by Aleksei Balabanov.