Chaif

Chaif (Чайф) is a Russian rock band formed in 1984 in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), Russia, by Vladimir Shakhrin and Vladimir Begunov.[1] Their name is derived from the word chai, meaning tea, and kaif (slang word), meaning pleasure.[1] The band reached national fame in 1992 with songs such as Ne Speshi (Don't Hurry) and 17.[1] By 1997, the popularity of rock music had declined and they were playing smaller venues than at the height of their fame.[2] They have released several albums and are very popular in Russia and former Soviet states, but they are virtually unknown to the rest of the world. Their musical styles range from rock and roll to Blues and even some songs which feature a strong reggae influence. The band is still touring and releasing albums occasionally.[3]

Chaif (Чайф)
Concert in Toronto (Nov 2017)
Background information
Origin	Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), USSR (Russia)
Genres	rock, blues rock, reggae, rock and roll, punk rock(early)
Years active	1985 (1985)–present
Labels	Nikitin
Website	chaif.ru
Members	Vladimir Shakhrin, Vladimir Begunov, Valery Severin, Vyacheslav Dvinin
Past members	Vadim Kukushkin, Silas Warren, Vladimir Nazimov, Igor Zlobin, Alina Nifanteva, Anton Nifantev, Vladimir Privalov, Vladimir Zheltovskih, Pavel Ustyugov

After the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Chaif took part in cultural meeting between delegations from Crimea and Sverdlovsk Oblast.[4] The lead singer of the band, Vladimir Shakhrin, was critical of Andrei Makarevich for supporting Ukraine's position in the conflict.[5]