Biography

Stepan Donets was born on 19th of August 1966 in Solotvino, Transcarpathia (that time it was a part of USSR). He grew up in a family full of musicians: mother played piano while his father (R.I.P.) on accordion. Both of his brothers were also into music, the older one Sergey (violin) and the younger László (alt). At the age of 7 he began to crash on chairs and lids. And as usual for villages, at that time there were no drum classes so he began to play on violin first. In 1979 his family moved to Uzhgorod and he decided to move on as well, namely to the class of percussion instruments. Shortly in the musical school he got acquainted with 4-row xylophone and bit later he entered the Uzhgorod Musical High-School as a drummer, but in 1985 he had been called up for military service, i.e. army. First he studied at the military musical high-school in Chernovtsi, later in Kovel (Volinskaja region) and received a sergeant-major status. In 1987 after the army he began to work in the State Dramatic Theatre in symphonic orchestra. He worked there until 2000.

In 1988 he formed his first metal band called VOLAND, later MYSTICAL. 1990 is the date of his first demo recording with band called SUD. In 1991 he began to work on with virtuoso guitarist Valerij Reznichenko in a band called DEAF. But a year later in 1992 the group disbanded. In the period from 1992 until 1994 he practiced & worked a lot.

From 1994 'til 1999 he worked as teacher in the State Uzhgorod Musical University, where he took part in a teachers' band called DIXI-DECA. With this band he played a lot of concerts in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary.

In 1995 he formed with common fellows SOULREST. Its first result was a demo recorded during 1996/1997 in the studio of Nadia Kopcha.

In 1996 they won 1st place and become laureates in the National Festival of Vinnitsa. 1994-1995 he worked in circus of Jacko, performed his own show there (playing solo with one hand and closed eyes on drums!!!). In 1995 toured Slovakia and Italy with the circus. In Italy he played along with Mihail Milmejster who performed pantomime show during his drum solo. 1998-2000 began to work in band called TEQUILA, which band's style was country music. Recorded a demo with them.

Also in 1998 he began to play as a session drummer for another local act called CASTRUM. In 2000 due to some musical disagreements he quits SOULREST and became a full-time member of CASTRUM. With CASTRUM he played numerous gigs and recorded 3 full-length albums to date.

In 2001 he entered the Kiev National University of Culture & Art. The field was chosen as earlier - percussion instruments. In 2005 he completed to pursuing studies and moved on to Hungary. He recorded a CD with local act ORFEUS, took part in Gyõr National Festival of Drummers, a proud housband, has a 5 years old son.