▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁he ▁forms ▁a ▁new ▁band , ▁the ▁Flow ers , ▁which ▁later ▁becomes ▁the ▁first ▁Soviet ▁super group , ▁in ▁effect ▁launch ing ▁the ▁rock - music ▁movement ▁in ▁Soviet ▁society . ▁▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁▁▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁The ▁Flow ers ▁release ▁their ▁first ▁single ▁on ▁the ▁Mel odi ya ▁label ▁as ▁a ▁student ▁ensemble . ▁Une x pected ly , ▁the ▁record ▁s ells ▁an ▁un pre ced ented ▁seven ▁million ▁copies . ▁▁ 1 9 7 4 ▁The ▁Flow ers ▁release ▁their ▁second , ▁equally ▁successful , ▁single . ▁The ▁Moscow ▁press ▁names ▁the ▁Flow ers ▁" the ▁Soviet ▁Beat les ", ▁and ▁N amin ▁and ▁his ▁band ▁begin ▁tour ing ▁profession ally . ▁▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁The ▁USS R ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Culture ▁b ans ▁the ▁Flow ers ▁and ▁use ▁of ▁the ▁band ' s ▁name ▁for ▁" prom oting ▁of ▁Western ▁ide ology ▁and ▁the ▁hi pp ie ▁movement ". ▁ ▁N amin ▁makes ▁use ▁of ▁his ▁forced ▁hi atus ▁from ▁the ▁band ▁to ▁finish ▁studies ▁at ▁Moscow ▁State ▁University , ▁where ▁he ’ d ▁mat ric ulated ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 . ▁During ▁this ▁time , ▁he ’ s ▁in ▁constant ▁contact ▁with ▁diss ident , ▁non con form ist ▁po ets , ▁writers ▁and ▁artists ▁b anned ▁by ▁the ▁regime : ▁An atol y ▁Z ver ev , ▁O leg ▁T sel kov , ▁An atol y ▁Br us il ov sky , ▁Joseph