Alexander Vasilyev (musician)

He spent a few years of his childhood in Sierra Leone and Lithuania, where his father was sent on work assignments, before returning to Leningrad in 1980.

Two years later, Vasilyev's parents transferred him to a mathematics-oriented school, where his previously outstanding academic performance started to slip and he learned to play guitar.

In the late '80s, while attending the Leningrad Avionics Institute, he met Alexander "Morris" Morozov, who would become Splean's first bass player.

The two started recording at Morozov's rudimentary home studio as a band called Mitra.

He did not speak directly about the full-scale invasion, but by his actions he made it clear that he was against the war in Ukraine.