The fact that Vera Brezhneva, nee Galushka, opened from a new side, became known at the end of February. The artist began to actively help refugees from Ukraine, “volunteer”, in her words. True, not in Poland, where the majority of Ukrainians rushed, but in Italy. The blonde, along with her husband Konstantin Meladze, chose this country for a long time, here they played a wedding and regularly rested.
Today, Brezhnev and her family: 2 daughters, 3 sisters with children and a mother – fully and completely support Ukraine, expressing negative attitude towards Russia in every possible way. It seems that the artist has completely forgotten where, together with her husband, producer Konstantin Meladze, she earned fabulous money for many years. However, in Russia, the blonde and working with her are well remembered.
MK managed to find out how Brezhnev made her fortune in Russia. Concert director Kirill Chibisov spoke regarding Vera’s path to fame and money: it was thorny and extremely mysterious.
“A lot can be said regarding Vera,” Chibisov admitted. – But in terms of organizing tours, at first she was quite comfortable. I often flew with Vera, I can draw conclusions regarding her. I have known her since 2013, when Brezhnev just started her solo career following VIA Gra.
– Why was it only her from VIA Gra who had a solo career?
– Vera had a long way, she was nobody, but she changed her name, changed her image. She knew how to adapt to the situation like no one else! To catch trends, to be able to play “the girl from next door” so skillfully. Own on the board – this is Vera! Always to any customers for events – Vera with a smile, with a disposition. In restaurants, at performances, she was always modest, categorically refused delicacies. She always said: “What are you?! I am simple! If there are any potato pancakes with sour cream, then bring them!” Like she is so simple, from the people, benevolent. If we talk regarding her rider, Vera even did her own makeup, she never attracted anyone. No make-up required. No frills, no alcohol or anything. But before these events, everything changed for her.
– What changed?
– A creative union with Konstantin Meladze, he removed her from the simple. He brought in the rider: 16 team members, 5 backing vocalists! Vera Brezhneva was aiming for the new queen of Russian show business. By the way, she took this status from Zhanna Friske.
Was there competition between Jeanne and Vera?
– Certainly! Jeanne was her direct competitor as the number 1 sex symbol in the country! For this status there must be: the love of the people, universal beauty, beautiful form. Vera did not resort to plastic surgery, I know that for sure. She went in for various sports, perhaps she did something with her face, but she definitely didn’t insert any silicone into herself. Well, Vera always knew how to present herself. Turned all my negatives into positives.
– What is Brezhnev like with the staff of the team?
She always had ballet, dancers. These employees were afraid to raise their eyes to her. She always demanded perfect, synchronized movements from everyone. You know how it was: we smile, we smile, we go into the dressing room, and … Let the pieces go through the back streets! Vera noticed all the schools of dancers, there was an op in the dressing room, and people came out of there almost beaten. The most unfortunate person in the Brezhneva team was its director. He was afraid of everything, poor guy. He left her a long time ago, apparently, he might not stand the schedule. There was a feeling that he was beaten with a stick from morning to evening. That was the effect of working with Brezhneva. But Vera has always been very kind to the fans. Never refused a photo. But cooperation with Konstantin Meladze began to push her away from the people, as it were.
Did Konstantin clearly know what he was doing?
– He had to compete with Loboda and Natella Krapivina. So that Vera Brezhneva does not become “Loboda for the poor.” It was very important. Although earlier, before Meladze, it was very convenient to work with Vera: she and four dancers. For the organizer of concerts, this is very convenient, especially in the Russian regions. Knowledgeable people will understand what I’m talking regarding. Zhanna Friske worked like this all her life: 4 boy dancers, ballet, she is the center and that’s it! With this composition, Jeanne managed to bring her fee to 150 thousand dollars for speaking at the December corporate party. It was at this price that Zhanna Friske left the podium. Vera partly managed to take her place. Well, of course, it’s hard to compare them: Zhanna had a huge number of hits, Vera had only one “Love will save the world …”, the rest of the compositions, frankly, are so-so. It didn’t happen to her.
– How did Brezhneva’s ex-husband, businessman Mikhail Kiperman, from whom she gave birth to a daughter, Sarah, allowed her career to develop?
Yes, he was a Ukrainian oligarch. I’ll tell you a secret, I was in Israel, there is a diamond exchange there. A very large enterprise, somehow I got there through mutual friends, and there is a wall in the office of the general director in the reception room. I don’t remember verbatim what it’s called, but it’s like “our beloved clients”. And everything is there: the wives of different presidents, oligarchs. On this wall, I saw a photo of Brezhneva with Kiperman. Amazing, isn’t it? This speaks volumes. So they were there. After all, people come to the stock exchange to order some kind of unique diamond and make it in a frame, to create an exclusive jewelry product. By the way, if you know, from the entire repertoire of the VIA Gra group, which was written by Meladze, Vera asked to take only the song “Diamonds” into her solo repertoire. Best friends of girls … As a solo singer, Vera did not sing the group’s songs too often, but she decided to take this song.
– Why did Vera prefer Meladze? In your opinion?
– I’ll tell you this: it’s simple and clear. This conflict has been going on for a long time. Any artist is a little crazy person. For Vera, the stage is much more important than family and husband. On tour there were constant conflicts between Vera and Kiperman. They have a common child. Kiperman believed that she should stay at home and raise children. This was his position as a man, so Vera had an agreement with him.
– Which?
– No more than 4 concerts and tours per month. And Vera, in addition to the director, also supervised Liana Meladze.
– Sister of Valery and Konstantin Meladze?
– Yes, that’s right. Liana Meladze carried out negotiation activities, dominated the production center. Liana then cried and said that she sent Vera on tour with pleasure, so many requests for her and so on. But, unfortunately, her husband does not let her go: only 4 concerts. Each visit of Vera from Kyiv is as many concerts as possible. This is understandable, for the production center this approach was beneficial. But Kiperman provided Vera with great benefits. In fact, what it looked like: in Kyiv, she was taken to the plane, accompanied by security guards and with flashing lights, she was transferred to business class to Moscow. And here a simple taxi, without security, was waiting for her, and Vera was going to “roll”. Kiperman got jealous! And who knows what happened to her there, on tour. There is no control. Kiperman tormented her with jealousy, according to the rider she was supposed to have one guard, this was especially necessary in the regions. There should always be a security guard on the floor. It was justified. And Mikhail always asked for the number of the guard to dial and ask if Vera was doing well. As a result, she moved further and further away from him, which is why, it seems to me, the divorce happened. With Konstantin, Vera got a creative union, as they say, everything in the family. It is very convenient.
