Falling Through the Ice

Punk group Falling Through the Ice announces the exit of bassist Georgi Popovich

By Mark Slater

Falling Through the Ice released an official statement through their publicist today saying that “Georgi is in need of time off due to recent personal issues. We are all still good friends but right now he needs a break from the hectic touring lifestyle. In the meantime, we will be going ahead in looking for a replacement.”

Last month, Popovich split from Anya, his wife of five years, after it was revealed she cheated on him in a highly publicized incident.

The band initially formed three years ago in Moscow, Russia with Popovich on bass, and Mila Babicheva on drums. Lead singer Yuri Plisetsky, then only 13, initially planned to play lead guitar as well, but the feat proved too challenging for him. As a result, the group recruited Japenese internet phenomenon Katsuki Yuuri, who gained a massive online following after posting a cover of Russian pop sensation Viktor Nikiforov’s smash hit “Stay Close to Me”. The group has several popular songs in Russian, but their English language single “Welcome to the Madness” has seen huge success since its release in the fall of 2016.

Here at Alternative Sound we love Georgi for his dramatic stage makeup and costuming, as do many fans, and we’re sad to see him go. We wish nothing but the best for Falling Through the Ice going forward, and we’re anxious to find out who his replacement will be. Fans have already floated Kenjirou Minami, a young Japenese artist and friend of Katsuki Yuuri, as a possible contender. Sound off in the comments below if you think he would fit with Falling Through the Ice’s sound.

Comments (147):

ftifan: Honestly I’m torn because I don’t think they can be the same without Georgi but I don’t want them to break up and I know he needs the time off

georgigirl: um no, no one can replace georgi and definitely not minami?? try again

rockandroller: doesn’t matter, the bassist never contributes to the sound of any band that much anyways

inthemadness: yikes anya really did a number, not just on her relationship, but on the band and the fans as well

Mila Babicheva @milaftiofficial

please don’t worry! we are all still on great terms with georgi and excited for our next chapter as a band

Yuri Plisetsky @yuricat

first of all fuck anyone who is not respecting georgi’s decision and second of all fuck anyone saying that we can’t still be a sick ass band

fallingthroughthemadness

ugh honestly not surprised right now as georgi’s relationship issues have been plastered everywhere the past month (*cough cough* no thanks media) of course i’m upset but let’s be positive. i just hope the replacement is decent

253 notes #fuckin anya too #id be happy with minami #pretty much anyone also tbh

Alternative Sound @altsound

watch Falling Through the Ice members Yuri and Mila perform with Pussy Riot here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c…

Falling Through the Ice @ftiofficial

Hello everyone! We are thrilled to announce our new bassist Otabek Altin! Please give him a warm welcome to the band

Alternative Sound @altsound

Who is Otabek Altin? 5 things to know about the Falling Through the Ice’s new bassist! http://www.altsound.com/news/entry/m…

Meet Otabek Altin, the new Falling Through the Ice bassist

by Melissa Gomez

Can anyone replace Georgi Popovich? We didn’t think so, until Falling Through the Ice introduced us to Otabek Altin. There’s not much information out there, but here are 5 facts we managed to discover about the elusive musician.

1. He doesn’t have any social media accounts

Just like future bandmate Katsuki Yuuri

2. He’s 18 years old

That’s the same age as bandmate Mila. For comparison’s sake Yuuri is 23, and Yuri is 16.

3. He originates from Almaty, Kazakhstan

That means he probably at least speaks Kazakh and Russian *swoon*

4. He used to be in a Kazakh folk music-inspired rock band

They were briefly on tour with Aldaspan

5. He actually went to music camp with Yuri Plisetsky in Russia when they were both younger

What!? This one blew our minds

Sound off in the comments below what you think of Otabek!

falloutthroughtheice

im super excited about Otabek Altin now because his old Kazakh folk rock band has one of the coolest sounds i’ve ever heard

tigerprinceplisetsky

plus he’s really attractive

falloutthroughtheice

um yeah so there’s that too not gonna lie

astanagirl33

if any of this is actually making you interested in kazakh music hmu bc i have a lot of suggestions!!!

7,362 notes