A lot of chronicles were written since that event, but our story begins on the second half of the 20th century.

There is a city called Riga, and that's where that crazy guy - Aivars Rakovskis was born.

As time passed by and Aivars grew up in strength & wisdom, it somehow happened, that he started to show an interest in music. And believe it or not - the loudest and wildest notes falled precisely in to his heart.

He started to look for some guitar and by the age of 12 he really found one. Even 4 strings were included (the other 2 suffered badly in the musical fights of its first owner).

But Nicollo Paganini was not the only one able to play a violin almost with no strings. Aivars was able to play such guitar too. It took not so long time for him to play "The Grasshoper" * of N. Nosov and V. Shainski without using any notes at all. That was the first concert piece of him.

After a year or so, he saw a play called "Bastard". As Aivars testifies, he understood nothing but one - his group would be called "The Bastards", because it sounds cool.

During the service in Soviet Army he continued to play guitar in an army group "Zvaigznite" (The Star). Aivars returned home after two long years of service and participated in such bands as "Pulss", "Meloss", "Credo" and in a band of Adrian's Kukuvass, but his musical talents most fully were shown in his own group - "Bastards", which became a project, where a lot of famous Latvian musicians were found.

"Bastards" became one of the most interesting Latvian group, which were known abroad. "The Voice of America" discussed at least one of their concert.

The KGB too found "Bastards" suspicious, after there appeared songs on "forbidden" lyrics of Vizma Belsevica. It seems that while taking participation in "Riga's Rock Club" (~1984-1986), "The Bastards" had a file on them.

During years members of group came and went so that is not so easy to name them all, but what can be said for sure is that "The Bastards" is one of the "richest" group, if we count soloists. Ojars Suvorovs, Eriks Bakis (83), Ivo Fomins (85), Janis Veide (88), Peteris Tilss (93), Alex (95), 95. - 98. g. Eriks Budevics, not to mention Tony Sheridan.

You read it right! That's him - Tony Sheridan or Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity, who taught George Harrison to play guitar, and used "The Beatles" as a background group while recording " My Bonnie"

When Tony saw "Bastards" playing in Germany, he came to play with them so creating one of the most unique lineup.

It is impossible not to mention Janis Valters - the very best Latvian keyboard player, who is a member of the band since 1994. His keyboards together with guitar of Aivars have created the sound of "Bastards". (BTW He has some very interesting solo projects - CD "Nippon" of his "John Walter's Band", for example, and he also takes participation in other bands - "Opus Pro", "Holy Lamb" etc.)

In 1995, when returning from tour in Germany, Juris Veremejs (drums) and Uldis Krumins (bass) left "Bastards", it was Janis Valters who managed all the programming work of rhytm section.

Aivars Rakovskis and Janis Valters are those ''atlants" who have held "Bastards" on their shoulders for some years.

But now they are five - Aleksandrs Rodionenko (bass), Eriks Rachinskis (drums), Agnese Rakovskis (voc.), and of course Aivars and Janis.

Right now there is hard work beeing done making a brand new album which is already tested and promoted by tour.