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What does Alexei Potekhin from the gr hand. What happened to Alexei Potekhin from the group "Hands Up!"

Ex-soloist of “Hands Up!.

Alexey Potekhin - former member of the group "Hands Up!" - has not appeared on TV screens for a long time. He does not go to social events and does not receive awards at music awards. While his former best friend and bandmate Sergei Zhukov, after the collapse of the team, continues to hold his position in show business. Correspondents of the site tracked down Potekhin and found out what the singer is doing now.

"All the girls were ours"

- Yes, I left show business for a while, - Alexey confirmed our conjectures. But he didn't stop playing music. I recently wrote a song for Buranovskiye Babushki. It will be timed to coincide with the World Cup.

Immediately after the collapse of the group "Hands Up!" in 2006, Alexey Potekhin, together with his friend Vladimir Luchnikov, created a project called "Raise Hands Up".

We are often called on tour. But we do not travel to large cities, but most often to villages, Potekhin admits. - Sergei Zhukov will not go there, for example. Like most of the people you see on TV. All they know is that walking on red carpets, wearing masks, dancing on skates and receiving various awards in the form of plates, which are of little use.

Alexey Potekhin complained to our correspondents that during the huge popularity of the group "Hands Up!" he earned practically nothing.

“Sergey and I then just did what we really loved to do, music was everything for us,” the artist nostalgically. - And many envied us: we came to any city and all the girls were ours. The most interesting thing is that out of all the two hundred and thirty songs that we wrote, everyone was only interested in the simplest ones. “La-la-la-la, I sing all day long” - we became famous on such songs. Every girl in the country had "Hands Up!" cassettes. But it didn't affect our financial situation. Here our producers fucked everything. They had apartments, cars, wives. We have nothing. If you ask how much Andrei Cherkasov, who led us, and the ARS-Records company, earned from us, I will answer you: one hundred and forty million rubles. Be sure to write about it!

Group "Hands Up!" / Global Look Press

“You are unlikely to get through to him. He's a VIP"

On the sidelines after the collapse of the group "Hands Up!" There were many rumors about the difficult relationship between Alexei Potekhin and Sergei Zhukov. It was said that former friends do not even greet each other at random meetings. But in 2016, at a concert dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the group, Potekhin and Zhukov reunited on stage again. However, during a conversation with our correspondents, Alexei made it clear that he did not communicate with Sergei.

- Everyone asks me why I left Hands Up! I will answer you: because we have all become adults, - says the singer. - But Sergei did not think so, he was comfortable. He is comfortable now. He always wanted fame, but I didn't. Do we communicate? Ask him. Although you are unlikely to get through to him. He's a vip.

Despite his cheerfulness at the beginning of the interview, at the end of the conversation, Potekhin nevertheless admitted that he did not entertain himself with vain illusions. The musician understands that the time of former popularity cannot be returned. There are, of course, loyal fans that Alexey is very proud of, but there are not so many of them left.

- Our fans already have several children. Once one of them told me: “Lyokha, look at my children! It's all yours - all the love stories in my life took place under your songs! Thank you!" Alexey boasts. - Well, in general, to be honest, I'm very surprised that you wanted to interview me. I haven't been popular in a long time. I'm sitting on the Internet - there is silence. Nobody writes. Although I am ready to answer everyone!

The generation of the 90s is still a fan of the songs of the legendary band. Perhaps this is the closest music to the people, which at one time made a tremendous sensation and won millions of hearts. Despite the rapid emergence of new idols, people do not forget their favorites and remember the old days with pleasure. Why did the Hands Up group break up?

The history of the legend group

Sergei Zhukov and Alexei Potekhin met by chance in 1991 at a radio station where each worked. They decided to air a cassette with their compositions. At that time, they didn’t even think about the name of the group, as well as whether such creativity would be interesting to anyone. The only thing that has been done is to attach a sticker saying "This music will make you put your hands up". DJs put on a novelty during the program and announced that this composition of the young group "Hands Up". Thus, the name appeared by itself and firmly entrenched in the pop world. The very first song "Kid" was accepted by the public with incredible returns and fell in love with many. After another hit song "Student", the group began touring the cities, giving a huge number of young girls the opportunity to meet with their adored group. In 1999, the album sold an incredible 12 million copies. All the songs suited the mentality of the listeners so well that they instantly became hits. But many are still at a loss as to why the Hands Up group broke up.

Who is guilty?

In 2006, it was decided to terminate the activities of the group. A big farewell concert was planned in Moscow, but the artists failed to raise enough money to organize it. In August 2006, the Hands Up group simply ceased to exist. The reason for the collapse is not indicated by the musicians, although in various interviews they nevertheless admit that everyone in life has undergone changes that are incompatible with further activities. If you ask who is to blame for the collapse of the Hands Up group, you can get the answer: "No one."

Creative differences

Sergey Zhukov switched to new projects and a solo career, and Alexey Potekhin became interested in producing. It was no longer interesting to engage in the development of joint creativity. In addition, with age, young people have more and more disagreements. The guys grew up and wanted something more, especially since the audience was mostly squealing teenagers. We decided that at the age of 30 this is no longer serious. There is also an opinion that the project has simply exhausted itself. The group no longer had its former popularity due to the emergence of new young artists, with whom it became more difficult to compete.

Sergei Zhukov is touring with the repertoire of the group "Hands up", performing under the same name

When the Hands Up group broke up, the musicians divided the entire repertoire they had accumulated among themselves. After that, Sergei recorded two solo albums, and then began to travel around the country with the Street Jazz show ballet, which had previously collaborated with Ruki. He collects full houses and gives you the opportunity to plunge into nostalgia. Everyone knows the old hit repertoire, young and old. To date, Zhukov is one of the most touring artists. Married, has 4 children.

Bar "Hands Up"

Sergey Zhukov, in parallel with his work, opens bars with the name of the legendary band. Business is booming, cozy places with a direct atmosphere are opening in many cities. This place is not for worshiping idols and discussing why the Hands Up group broke up. Even a ban on round-the-clock listening to Ruk hits has been introduced. People come here to feel nostalgic, have a tasty meal and meet friends, see the performances of star guests.

The life of Alexei Potekhin after the breakup of the group

During one of the interviews, the musician admitted that he did not maintain relations with Sergei Zhukov. He does not like to answer the question of why the Hands Up group broke up. Alexei, together with Vladimir Luchnikov (group "Turbomoda", musician group "Hands Up"), is touring with a solo program in small towns. They attract with their sincerity and sincerity, although they do not receive large fees. He believes that the success of the songs is in their natural provinciality, in which every inhabitant of a small town recognizes himself. Alexey Potekhin devotes himself to producing new projects. Married a second time, has a daughter.

At the turn of the century, the group "Hands Up" churned out one teenage anthem after another. The duet of two charming guys won the hearts of the Russian audience and surpassed even "Tender May" in terms of the number of performances. The ex-member of the band, Alexey Potekhin, continues to write music and release compositions to this day, oriented both to a time-tested audience and to young people.

Childhood and youth

Potekhin Alexey was born on April 15, 1972 in Novokuibyshevsk (Samara region). His father worked as an engineer, and his mother worked as the head of the personnel department. Despite the fact that the parents were not creative people, music was constantly playing in the house. Mom was a fan of symphony orchestras, and dad listened to the stage. Elder brother Andrei also instilled in Alexei a love for foreign performers (Led Zeppelin, AC / DC, The Cult, Metallica)

At school, Potekhin earned a reputation as a bully. He brought teachers to nervous breakdowns and often made fun of classmates. The obstinate young man also could not boast of exemplary studies. Teachers gave him grades for drawing wall newspapers.

Parents, in order to rein in their son, who had gotten out of hand, sent him to the basketball section. There, Alexei was "knocked out of all the nonsense." He was not only instilled with a love for sports, but also taught to strictly follow the daily routine (after classes at 14.00 he went to art school, then at 5 pm for training).

After leaving school, Alexey went to study in the regional center - Samara - and entered a technical school there. Having received a diploma as a shipbuilder, the guy continued to gnaw at the granite of science already at the Samara Technical University, from which he graduated in 1991 with a degree in systems engineer.

But, as time has shown, the “techie” did not work out of Alexei.

"Hands up"

And Aleksey Potekhin worked at the Europa Plus radio station (Samara), where Sergey hosted a musical program (“Hit-Hour”), and Alexei a humorous one (“Potekhin's Nursery Rhymes”). Despite the fact that the guys worked side by side for a long time, they met only in 1991.

Already at that time, the glory of radio hosts "did not cover" the relentlessly growing ambitions of young people. They decided to go to the next level and create the Uncle Ray and Company group. The next three years were spent in creative search and musical experiments.

In 1994, at a rap festival in Moscow, where they got by chance, their performance was recognized as the best. But from a commercial point of view, the project was unsuccessful. Fame came to the musicians only two years later, when they finally moved to the city of great opportunities.

Producer Andrey Malikov, who previously worked with the Tekhnologiya and Van Moo groups, helped Zhukov and Potekhin to rise to the heights of the musical Olympus. The guys met him in 1996 at the Pavian Records studio. First of all, the man recommended that the guys change the long, non-binding name of the group to a capacious and sonorous “Hands up!”. Malikov then convinced the record company J.S.P. to invest in the shooting of the first videos and the release of the band's debut album.

The first hits of the group "Hands up!" - "Baby" and "Student" - "blew up" the radio. Later, clips were shot on them, which were often broadcast by both TV channels and radio stations. The songs quickly gained popularity and became the favorite hits of the discos of the time. Inspired by the success, the creative team released the album Breathe Evenly.

After that, tours around the cities of Russia began. Tickets for concerts were sold out long before the arrival of the group, and the performances of the artists were held with large houses.

Alexey Potekhin in the duet "Hands up"

When the project began to bring serious income, Zhukov and Potekhin "escaped" from Malikov and opened their own production center "Dancing Men" (2000). Having failed to defend his rights to the name and songs, the producer tried to promote other artists and made the then sensational "Jealousy Rat" with the then little-known. But the man could not achieve such a stunning success with anyone else.

In 2006, fans are shocked by the news that their favorite group has broken up. The fans had only one question: why did Alexey Potekhin leave? The answer was simple: once best friends could no longer exist harmoniously within the same project. Their views on what product should be released to the masses diverged. The mental connection was lost.

Zhukov was tired of being a hostage to the image of "the guy singing about Alyoshka." The charismatic performer wanted to develop further and conquer new heights, but already alone.

Each of the participants went their own way. Potekhin began to produce young performers, and Sergey took up a solo career, continuing to use the promoted name of the group in his work.

Zhukov explained this by the fact that an agreement had previously been concluded with Potekhin, according to which the rights to “Hands Up”, which previously belonged to both of them, passed into his sole possession. Alexey claimed that he was a victim of deception and at one time even planned to sue a former colleague, but it never came to lawsuits and noisy proceedings.

During the existence of the team "Hands up!" released 14 official and 12 unofficial albums. Each new song of the group became a hit. “My baby”, “He kisses you”, “Ataman”, “I’m already 18”, “Alyoshka”, “Territory”, “Tears are dripping” - this is not a complete list of tracks that fans all over the world still know by heart country.

Among other things, the guys have repeatedly become winners and laureates of prestigious music festivals, charts and awards (Album of the Year, Golden Gramophone, Song of the Year, Russian Radio Hit).

Solo career

After the collapse of "Hands Up!" Alexey Potekhin released a collection of dance music Potexinstyle-3

In the spring of 2008, the artist, together with the vocalist of the Turbomoda group Vladimir Luchnikov and a member of the Svoi group Ruslan Achkinadze, toured the country.

Their group "Track and Blues", despite the sincerity, did not find popularity among young people. And even cooperation with the infamous participant in the reality show "Dom-2" Alessandro Materazzo (2008) did not bear fruit.

In 2013, the artist, together with his wife, presented the new track "Summer-Winter" as part of the Russian internet television (PeoplestarTV) project. In 2014, the Arena Moscow club hosted a presentation of the singer's debut solo album entitled "I Can't Otherwise".

Later, the enterprising composer returned to the Track and Blues project and changed both the name and the soloist of the band. At the moment, Alexei, together with a good friend Sergei Bogdanov, is promoting their common group “Raise your hands up”.

Personal life

In the Popular Truth program (2011), Potekhin said that in his biography there was a moment when, in his youth, he and his best friend Sergei Zhukov fell in love with the same girl. At that time, the guys had friendship as a priority, and neither one nor the second thought about arranging their personal lives. The comrades agreed that no one would take care of the beauty.

It is authentically known that the performer was married twice. The man met his first wife, Irina Tolmilova, as part of the Hands Up! team. The girl danced and "sang along" to the duet to the soundtrack. The charismatic young lady won the heart of romance, and in April 2002, young people legalized their relationship.

For two years, the couple unsuccessfully tried to have a child. There were rumors that in a marriage with Alexei, a woman had a miscarriage, and Irina could no longer have children. Potekhin and Tomilova unanimously denied this information. Before finally breaking up, young people lived separately from each other for a short time. "Pause" did not become a "savior" and finally separated the lovers.

September 12, 2009 Potekhin married a second time. The name of Alexei's chosen one is Elena. The girl has nothing to do with show business and worked as a veterinarian before meeting the singer. Despite the fact that the couple did not sign "incognito", this event was not covered in the press. The fact is that on the day of their marriage there was also a wedding at and, so the attention of the media was riveted to the eminent figure skater and music producer.

In March 2010, the artist shared with fans the news that he had become a dad. The wife gave birth to Potekhin's daughter, whom it was decided to name Maria. During childbirth, the musician was in Moscow and personally delivered his wife to the Family Planning Center.

Despite the fact that Elena left work for the sake of her daughter, the young mother does not sit idle: the young lady works as a makeup artist and often participates in professional photo shoots.

Alexey Potekhin now

At the moment, Alexei continues to tour the country, performing at concerts songs from both his personal repertoire and the favorite hits of the Hands Up! group. It is authentically known that the star of the 90s is now working on new material and promises to release a fresh composition in the near future.

Among other things, the artist as an invited guest performs at various festivals and shows (“Brides of the Moscow Region”, “Big Disco”).

T-shirt with the image of Alexei Potekhin

In 2017, Potekhin began to cooperate with a company that produces textile products, and on his page

Alexey was born on April 15, 1972 in Novokuibyshevsk (Samara region). In the Potekhin family, it was customary to constantly listen to music. Moreover, the boy's mother was fond of the symphonic direction, the father - pop. The older brother instilled in Alyosha a love for foreign music.

As a child, the boy had a cocky character. His parents decided to enroll him in the basketball section and art school. After the 11th grade, Potekhin left for Samara, where he entered the river technical school. Alyosha remembers the period of study in this institution with warmth. There were teachers who, even at their venerable age, liked to joke along with the young.

Potekhin liked to follow the latest hits. At first he just listened to the songs, and then he bought a guitar and began to try to compose himself. The young man even got a job as a DJ at discos.

After graduating from a technical school in 1911, Potekhin (not without the influence of his mother) again becomes a student, now at the Samara State Technical University. In 1996, he had a diploma in the specialty "systems engineer" in his hands.

In Samara, Alexey worked at the Europa-Plus radio station as the host of the program "Potekhin's Nursery Rhymes". After moving to Tolyatti, together with Sergei Zhukov, he founded the Uncle Ray and Company group. This was the beginning of a stellar future called "Hands Up!". But at that time the project was not profitable. To stabilize the financial condition, the duo organized several discos in Tbilisi.

Arriving in Moscow, Alexey and Sergey got a job at the Pavian Records recording studio. They created arrangements for other bands for the opportunity to record their own songs. It was during this period that the duet was renamed into “Hands Up!”.

The music business took off after hiring a professional producer. Already after the release of the first album "Breathe Evenly", the group gained overwhelming popularity. The musicians began to tour around Russia and abroad. During the existence of the group, an impressive number of songs were written, many concerts were held. The duet has received many awards.

After the breakup of the group in 2006, Potekhin began producing young talents (Superboys, J Well, etc.). In two years, 3 collections of Potexinstyle dance music were released. They combined young performers and hits from well-known bands (Turbomoda, Demo, etc.).

Currently, Alexey Potekhin is working in his TREK&blues project. The manager and organizer of the performances is his brother Andrey Potekhin, a former member of such groups as Boys, Turbomoda, Revolvers.

Potekhin's personal life

Alexei was married twice. His first wife was Irina Tolmilova, whom he met as part of the Hands Up! group. The girl was at their back-dancer. For two years after legalizing the relationship, the couple unsuccessfully attempted to have a child. Before the final separation, the couple decided to live separately for a while. However, the “pause” taken could not save the marriage, the young people divorced.

In September 2009, Potekhin married again. His chosen one this time was the girl Elena, who has nothing to do with show business. Before meeting Alexei, she worked as a veterinarian. In March 2010, Potekhin became a happy dad. His wife bore him a daughter, Maria. Elena left work for the sake of the baby. However, she does not sit idle. The young mother moonlights as a make-up artist, periodically takes part in professional photo shoots.

Alexei Evgenievich Potekhin. Born on April 15, 1972 in Novokuibyshevsk, Samara Region. Russian musician, radio host, producer. Former member of the group "Hands Up!".

The elder brother is Andrey Potekhin.

Everyone in the family loved music, which Alexei also joined from an early age.

He studied at the art school and the basketball section.

He learned to play the guitar, composed songs, and worked as a DJ at discos. At that time he was into hard rock - Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Foreigner, The Cult, Metallica.

After graduating from high school, he went to study in Samara at the river technical school, from which he graduated in 1991.

He was a presenter at the Europa-Plus radio station in Samara, where he hosted the program "Nursery from Potekhin." There, on the radio in 1993, he met with.

In December 1994 they move to Togliatti, where they try to record songs in the studio. At the same time, they regularly go to Samara to listen to the broadcasts of Europe Plus radio.

In Togliatti, together with Sergei Zhukov, he created the Uncle Ray and Company group.

In May 1995 they find themselves in Moscow. They worked as DJs at the Moscow radio station "Rocks", then held a series of discos in Tbilisi.

At the end of 1995, the musicians handed over a cassette with several songs to the radio "Maximum" and signed: "This music will make you raise your hands up." The cassette fell into the hands of the presenters Olga Maksimova and Konstantin Mikhailov, who put on their show the song “Good Morning” and announced: “Young group“ Hands up! Since then, this name has stuck with the group - "Hands up!".

Then producer Andrei Malikov became interested in the group, concerts and tours began.

Group "Hands up!" recorded the song "Baby", which became popular, then the hit "Student" was released. The songs "Baby" and "Student" are knocked out in the top ten of the hit parade "Russian Radio" "Russkaya Gorka". In the spring and summer of 1997, video clips were shot for these songs. To record the female parts, a session vocalist Elizaveta Rodnyanskaya, a member of the Melissa group, was found.

In 1998, the group received six silver medals, three gold medals and one platinum disc for the huge number of copies sold. In 1999, the group became the laureate of three diplomas at once from the second annual award of the Russian recording industry.

In 1999, the album "Without Brakes" was released, which was sold in 12,000,000 copies.

Their songs “My Baby”, “I'm Sorry”, “Ai Yai Yai Girl”, “Alyoshka”, “I Thought”, “Kind, Gentle, Affectionate”, “Little Girls”, “He Kisses You”, “Go away” became hits. , "Omut".

Hands up - Ai yay yay girl

In the late 1990s, the team created its own music label "Dancing Men" ("B-Funky Productions"), which began to produce the pop groups "Turbomoda", "Boys", "Revolvers", "Shark", singer Murphy.

In 2006, the group "Hands Up!" broke up. Alexey Potekhin said about the reasons for his departure: “Everyone asks me why I left Hands Up!” I will answer you: because we all became adults, but Sergey did not think so, he was comfortable. He is comfortable now. I always wanted fame, but I didn't."

He admitted that although the whole country sang their songs, he didn’t earn much money: “The most interesting thing is that of all the two hundred and thirty songs that we wrote, everyone was interested in only the simplest ones.“ La-la-la-la, all day I I sing" - we became famous on such songs. Every girl in the country had "Hands Up!" cassettes, but this did not affect our financial situation in any way.

After the collapse of the group "Hands Up!" in 2006, Alexey Potekhin, together with his friend Vladimir Luchnikov, created a project called "Raise Hands Up". With the team, he began to tour. Released a collection of dance music Potexinstyle-3.

Alexey also started producing young performers such as Superboys, J Well (ex-member of the Discomafia group). During the period 2006-2008, 3 collections of Potexinstyle dance music were released, combining many young performers and hits from famous groups such as Demo, Turbomoda, Planka, etc.

Then Alexei took up the TREK & blues project, in which he invited the ex-vocalist of the Turbomoda group Vladimir Luchnikov and the ex-member of the Svoi group Ruslan Achkinadze. In 2007, Alessandro Materazzo, a former member of the TV show Dom-2, was invited to the TREK & blues group, who toured with them in the summer of 2008 in southern Russia.

In 2013, the artist, together with his wife, presented the new track "Summer-Winter" as part of the Russian internet television (PeoplestarTV) project.

In 2014, the Arena Moscow club hosted a presentation of his solo album entitled "I can't do otherwise."

In 2016, at a concert dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the Hands Up! group, Potekhin and Zhukov reunited on stage again. However, their communication never resumed.

For the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Alexei Potekhin wrote a song for Buranovskiye Babushki.

Cooperates with a company engaged in the production of textile products.

The growth of Alexei Potekhin: 182 centimeters.

Personal life of Alexei Potekhin:

Was married twice.

The first wife is Irina Tomilova, a dancer in the Hands Up! group. They got married on April 13, 2002. Divorced in 2004.