Legendary Russian drummer Nikolai Ksenofontov dies at 66 after stroke complications
Nikolai Ksenofontov, the former drummer of Mashina Vremeni and Splin, has died at the age of 66. His passing follows complications from a stroke, which he had been recovering from for some time. The musician’s funeral will take place on May 9 in his hometown of Berezichi, Kaluga Oblast, where he was born on May 30, 1959. Ksenofontov began his music career in the 1980s when he co-founded the band Kvartal alongside Arthur Pilyavin. He stayed with the group for over two decades, contributing percussion to many of their well-known tracks, such as Island of White Birds, Southern Cross, Snow, There, Paramaribo, on Tahiti, and Night Tram. His work with Kvartal alone spanned nearly 50 albums, including collaborations with other artists.
After leaving *Kvartal*, he joined *Mashina Vremeni* and toured extensively with the band. Later, he recorded two albums with *Splin*, further expanding his influence in Russian rock music. In recent years, Ksenofontov had been recovering his speech following a stroke, which ultimately led to the complications that caused his death.
Ksenofontov’s death marks the end of a long and influential career in music. His contributions to bands like Kvartal, Mashina Vremeni, and Splin leave behind a lasting legacy in Russian rock. The funeral service will be held in Berezichi, where friends, family, and fans will gather to pay their respects.
