Death of Vladimir Vysotsky

Vladimir Vysotsky died on 25 July 1980 in Moscow, aged 42. A Soviet singer-songwriter, poet and actor, Vysotsky became a cultural icon, performing songs with a gravelly voice and a guitar that spoke candidly of ordinary life, war, prison and the absurdities of Soviet society. His records were never officially released in large numbers, yet cassette tapes spread across the country, and he drew huge audiences. He worked at Moscow's Taganka Theatre, playing Hamlet, and acted in films and television. His fame was matched by a struggle with addiction. His funeral during the 1980 Olympics in Moscow drew enormous crowds, and his songs remain popular.

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