St. Petersburg bid farewell to Anatoly “George” Gunitsky, co-founder of the iconic rock group Aquarium, at a ceremony held at the St. Petersburg Crematorium on Shafirovsky Prospekt. The service drew a crowd of fellow musicians, rock photographers, and journalists who gathered to honor his memory.

Among those present was DDT frontman Yuri Shevchuk, who lauded Gunitsky as a courageous thinker and a guiding influence for his peers. Shevchuk emphasized the significant impact Gunitsky had on those around him, saying he “opened a great deal to them”.

Other notable figures from the rock scene in attendance included Seva Gakkel, Villi Usov, Alexander Semenov, Andrei Burlaka, and Anton Belyankin.

Anatoly Gunitsky, known for his absurdist poetry, played a crucial role in shaping the lyrical landscape of Aquarium, with many of their songs based on his verses. He co-founded the band with his school friend Boris Grebenshchikov, later becoming a respected musician, rock journalist, and editor.

Gunitsky’s passing was announced on June 5.

A memorial gathering is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Fish Fabrique club within the Pushkinskaya, 10 art center.