"Purgen are a Russian punk rock band from Moscow. Ruslan Gwozdew and Gennadij Filimonow, alias 'Tschikatilo', founded the band in 1989, inspired by bands like The Dead Kennedys and The Exploited. From 1989 to 1991 the band called itself 'Lenin-Samotik'. During this period, the third band member was the drummer 'Akkumulator', who probably left the band before 1991. The first album 'Brezhnev Lives' was recorded at home and with instruments borrowed from the 'Palace Of Pioneers'. The second album 'The Big Stench' was recorded in the assembly hall of an unnamed Moscow school, where students were taught how to carve tombstones out of marble. At the time of admission, Gwozdew was a student. The third and last album before the band was renamed was called 'Good It Is, Where We Are Not.'
The name Purgen came about when the band was supposed to play for an American delegation one evening. However, the appearance did not take place. The reason for this was that Gwozdew wanted to appear in a t-shirt by the band Dead Kennedys and Filimonow with a self-designed t-shirt and the inscription Brezhnev Lives. The shocked school management forbade the performance and expelled the band from the school. Both band members then met with other punk bands, including the band 'Punk Rats', which at the time consisted of Yevgeny Arjenov and Oleg Buchtijanow. The members then became part of the band Purgen. With this line-up the first three albums were re-released under the band name Purgen. In the 28 years of the band's history there have been various crew changes that have resulted in 21 former band members. Ruslan is the only remaining founding member. Guitarist Oleg 'Diagenz' Sobolew joined in 2008 and is next to Gwozdew the member that has been with Purgen the longest."
