Cult Soviet rock icon Viktor Tsoi would have turned 51 on June 21 had it not been for his untimely death in a car accident at the young age of 28.
The tragedy in the early 1990s elevated him to cult status among a generation of Russian rock fans, and although gone, it is clear that he is far from forgotten.
Across Russia, as far east as the island city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and even outside the country's borders, in Ukraine and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, people will be celebrating his would-have-been birthday.
In Moscow, Plan B Club is staging its annual "Kinomania" event. Kino was Tsoi's band, and more than 40 of their songs will be played across the evening. Their first event took place in 2001 and has continued ever since.
The graffiti-covered "Tsoi Wall" at the intersection of Arbat and Krivoarbatsky Pereulok will also see a surge in people wanting to contribute their dedications.
"Kinomania" will be held at Club Plan B on June 21, 4:30 p.m. — 8 p.m. 7 Sovetskoi Armii, Metro Novoslobodskaya.
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