shulgin's career began at the age of 19 in russian rock band kruiz. the band is regarded as legendary for being the first rock band from the ussr to tour abroad (1983–1986). the popularity of the kruiz was remarkable as they were known as anti-soviet, and there was no mention of the band in mass media. with the advent of reorganization of the ussr, in 1985, the kruiz sold 20 million copies of their first album and in 1987 the album was released by wea (germany).