1989 KRAMER GORKY PARK SIGNATURE - The David Leach Collection

To learn more about this eclectic collection of guitars andDavid Leach's career, check out the Reverb article here:https://reverb.com/news/signed-guitars-from-willie-nelson-rick-nielsen-sting-and-more-arrive-on-reverb

1989 KRAMER "GORKY PARK" SIGNATURE W/ RARE ORIGINAL CASE

In 1987, guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov (both from Moskva band), bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov, guitarist Yan Yanenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 1970s Soviet musician, became the band's manager. Because Mikhail Gorbachev lifted the censorship, many underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to gain wider popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for the United States in search of a record deal.

In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was musician Frank Zappa. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora also helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records where David Leach was head of promotion.

The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials 'GP' stylized as a Hammer & Sickle on the cover. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and a growing interest in Soviets to western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang", received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time", received rotation on mainstream radio stations.

Gorky Park participated in that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, Cinderella, Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. Guitarist Alexey Belov in fact played a red Kramer balalaika shaped guitar at the concert! Gorky Park joined the other acts from the Moscow Music Peace Festival in the compilation album, Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell. This album included each band performing one song from an artist who died from, or a band who lost a member to, drug problems. Gorky Park's contribution was a cover of The Who's "My Generation".

The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional Russian style, waving Soviet and American flags. In 1991, the band received Scandinavian Grammis award as the best new international act.

Kramer’s Dennis Berardi became interested in the band and formed a management company to handle them. The Kramer Gorky Park Guitar was intended to be a promotional item in support of that effort.

Built for Kramer in Korea in 1989, the Gorky Park had a cool balalaika shape and graphics and signatures of the band members. The guitar was really pretty nice actually. It has one hot Seymour Duncan humbucker and a licensed Floyd Rose.

This guitar is brand new and was never sold or played.  It was given to David by Dennis Berrardi. It still has the hang tags and the rare original hard case.

 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY SIGNED BY BOTH DAVID LEACH AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF BOSTON GUITAR ALSO INCLUDED!

 THIS ITEM WILL BE PROFESSIONALLY PACKED AND PROMPTLY SHIPPED FULLY INSURED BY BOSTON GUITAR!