Ilya Prusikin
Илья Прусикин
Prusikin on Vidfest 2016, Saint Petersburg
Born
Ilya Vladimirovich Prusikin

(1985-04-08) 8 April 1985
Ust'-Borzya, Ononsky District, Chita Oblast, RSFSR, USSR
Alma materSaint Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2020)​
ChildrenDobrynya Prusikin
Musical career
OriginSaint Petersburg
Genres
Member ofLittle Big
Formerly ofTenkorr

Ilya Vladimirovich Prusikin (Russian: Илья́ Влади́мирович Пруси́кин, born 8 April 1985) is a Russian musician, singer, record producer, vlogger, video director and screenwriter. He is best known as the front person and founder of Saint Petersburg punk-pop-rave group Little Big. He is also known under the stage name Ilich (Russian: Ильич), an in-joke referencing Vladimir Lenin's patronymic and Oblomov character.

Life and career

Ilya Prusikin was born in Siberia, in the village of Ust'-Borzya, Chita Oblast (now Zabaykalsky Krai). In his early infancy, he moved to Sosnovy Bor, situated in Leningrad Oblast, with his parents.[1] He studied piano at a local children's musical school. Prusikin later graduated from Saint-Petersburg State University of Culture and Arts with a degree in psychology.

In 2011, he started a collaboration with a subsidiary project of the Russian fun-production studio "My Ducks Vision" by Yuri Degtyarev named "Thank you, Eva!", uniting video bloggers into one large affiliate network, and in 2012 he directed "Guffy Gough Show" (2012) and "The Great Rap Battle" (2012). Both of his programs went on to become the network's highest-rated videos. Also in 2012, Prusikin produced and directed the Internet sitcom "Police Weekdays" (Russian: «Полицейские будни»). After three episodes, the show was cancelled indefinitely.

In 2013, Prusikin and Eldar Dzharakhov founded the artistic partnership “ClickKlak”. According to them, the audience of ClickKlack consists of "boys and girls with an active lifestyle and a good sense of humour". The channel's page contains such shows as “Give the Bream” (Russian: «Дай леща»), “Thrash Lotto” (Russian: «Трэш лото»), “As You Say” (Russian: «Как скажешь»), “Shocking Karaoke” (Russian: «Шокирующее караоке»), “Experiments' Destroyers” (Russian: «Разрушители экспериментов»), “Kick the Bucket” (Russian: «Сыграл в ящик»), etc.

Musical career

Ilya Prusikin with Little Big at VK Fest 2018 in Saint Petersburg, July 2018.

In 2003, Ilyich became a member of nu-metal band Tenkorr. Prusikin also gained experience working with the other groups, Like A Virgin, St. Bastards and Construktorr among them. Ilya has since achieved greater domestic and international recognition with the band Little Big, founded on April 1, 2013. All music videos of the band are shot by its co-founder, Alina Pasok (Russian: Алина Пязок).

Personal life

On July 6, 2016, Ilya Prusikin married musician Irina Smelaya, better known by her stage name Tatarka[2]. Their son Dobrynya was born on November 26, 2017.[3]

On August 21, 2020 Smelaya and Prusikin announced their separation on YouTube.[4]

Political views

In 2018, Prusikin quoted the famous aphorism: "The [Russian] state has murdered my Motherland" and criticised the Russian populace's easy-going attitude towards life and, especially, local indifference towards corruption.[5] In a 2019 interview with Xenia Sobchak, Prusikin spoke of his total dislike of modern Russian politics, emphasising the increased "cult of intolerance and anger" in internal politics after 2012. He publicly supported Ivan Golunov during the journalist's persecution.[6]

In 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ilya stated "We adore our country, but we completely disagree with the war in Ukraine, moreover, we believe that any war is unacceptable." He also got a tattoo saying "No war" on his arm. He announced that he had left the country and relocated to Los Angeles with the singer Sonya, stating that "we are so disgusted by the Russian military propaganda machine that we decided to drop everything and leave the country."[7][8] Later on 23 June 2022 he (as Little Big) released the single Generation Cancellation.

On January 7, he skateboarded in the form of a cross, which caused great outrage among Christians in Russia, Europe, and America.[9][10]

After that, Orthodox activists wrote a statement against the leader of Little Big Prusikin to the investigative committee of Russia outraged by the “satanic ritual” of riding a skateboard in the form of a cross. Georgy Soldatov, a lawyer for the movement, said the "talented performer" deliberately uploaded a video of him riding a cross-shaped plank because he was convinced he would not return to Russia.

“I’m sure the case will be initiated, and it will be more difficult for Mr. Prusikin to return to Russia,” Soldatov said.

January 27 2023, he was included by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in the list of "foreign agents".[11]

References

  1. ↑ "ВИДЕО (ВНИМАНИЕ! Содержит ненормативную лексику! Ограничение просмотра по возрасту — "18+"). "Вписка" и "Ильич" ("Little Big") — о знакомстве с Ирой Смелой, работе с "Lizer", почему Киркоров панк (на 18:22 говорит о месте рождения)". // YouTube (пользователь — «ВПИСКА»). October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Когда состоялась свадьба Ирины Смелой и Ильи Прусикина, фотография?" (in Russian). Интернет-сервис «Большой вопрос» // bolshoyvopros.ru. 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Кто родился у Иры Смелой и Ильича (солиста Little Big)?" (in Russian). nasmillion.ru. December 25, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Ilya Prusikin spoke about the reasons for parting with his wife and the beginning of an affair with Sophia Tayurskaya: "There was love at once"". NewsyList. June 8, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Ильич о знакомстве со Смелой, депрессии и Киркорове. Солист Little Big стал героем "Вписки", и ох как он мил" [Ilyich about meeting Smelaya, depression and Kirkorov. The lead singer of Little Big is a hero of Vpiska, and oh, how cute he is]. Medialeaks (in Russian). October 19, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ "LITTLE BIG успех Skibidi, коллаба с Киркоровым и рэп-баттл с Навальным ОСТОРОЖНО, СОБЧАК!" [LITTLE BIG The success of Skibidi, collab with Kirkorov and rap battle with Navalny BEWARE, SOBCHAK!]. Xenia Sobchak (in Russian). Retrieved March 17, 2020 – via YouTube. starting 53:26
  7. ↑ "Группа Little Big выпустила "антивоенный манифест" — песню "Generation Cancellation". И объявила, что уезжает из России". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Popular Punk-Rave Group Leaves Russia Over War In Ukraine". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Богаева, Гиляна. "«Мерзкое гнидное существо»: Илья Прусикин в Рождество прокатился на кресте и вызвал гнев публики | STARHIT". www.starhit.ru (in Russian). Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pikabu.ru (January 7, 2023). "Когда уже не знаешь как хайпануть". Пикабу (in Russian). Retrieved July 20, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  11. ↑ "В России объявили «иноагентами» лидера Little Big Илью Прусикина, представителя Далай-ламы и Дарью Серенко из «Феминистского антивоенного сопротивления»". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved July 20, 2023.
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