What his close friends said
For over two hours, hundreds of relatives, friends and fans waited their turn to say their last goodbye to the rock legend Kiril Marichkov yesterday at noon. From the capital’s “Sveta Sofia” temple, where the worship was held, the queue along “Georgi S. Rakovski” street reached almost to the Military Club. His favorite guitar was placed next to the coffin in the church.
Condolences were accepted by his wife Veselin, his son Kiril Marichkov Jr. and the musician’s sister – Lyuba.
The funeral was scheduled for 1:00 p.m., but an hour earlier people began to gather to pay their respects to the frontman of “Crickets”. Dozens of wreaths were arranged in front of the church, sent by popular names, politicians and state institutions. There were flowers from Lili Ivanova, from the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, from Slavi Trifonov and “Ku-Ku Band”, from the Committee on Culture and Media, from the parliamentary group of GERB-SDS, from the Bulgarian National Radio, the Sofia Philharmonic, from the Minister of internal affairs Atanas Ilkov and many others. The TV presenter
Niki Kanchev brought a wreath on behalf of the “Tangra” group
Among the first who came to say goodbye to Kiril Marichkov were Hristo Mutafchiev, the publisher of “24 Chasa” Venelina Gocheva, Katerina Evro, Marta Vachkova, Vezhdi Rashidov. His colleagues from the “Foundation”, who were with him in his last moments, said their last goodbye to the great musician. Doni, Ivan Lechev, Slavcho Nikolov and Venko Poromanski placed flowers on the coffin. The funeral was also attended by Momchil Kolev, Yordan Karadjov from “Signal”, Nasko from BTR, the poet Alexander Petrov, Bogdana Karadocheva and Stefan Dimitrov, the Argirovi brothers, Valdi Totev, Ivo Indjev, Ersin Mustafov, Stoyan Yankulov – Stundji, Vasil Gyurov, Mihaela Fileva, Yordanka Hristova, Stefan Sofianski with his daughter Iva, Vasko Krpkata, Stoyan Mihalev, former Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov. Among the mourners were Stanka Zheleva, Nayo Ticin, Asen Grigorov, singer Milena, Dicho, Mariyana Popova, former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Rafi Bohosyan, Stanislava Armutlieva, Vasil Naydenov, Orlin Goranov, Denis Rizov and his daughter, Hristo Shopov, Nikolay Sotirov, Emanuil Yordanov.
The tragic loss of the legendary “cricket” last Friday saddened everyone who grew up and lived with his music. Marichkov barely left
20 days before his 80th birthday
in a ridiculous incident in the Selanovtsi village of Vratsa.
On the occasion of the assembly, there was supposed to be a concert by the “Foundation” in the village. During the sound check, Kiril Marichkov goes on stage, steps on an empty violin case, trips, spills forward and falls, hitting his head badly. The incident happened around 18:45.
The loss of the rock legend sparked spontaneous actions in his memory. On Sunday, more than 200 guitarists gathered in front of the NDK and played “Oath” in his honor. People left candles and flowers outside his home to pay tribute to the legend.
Vasil Naydenov: It was Don Quixote
He was Don Quixote. He was a fighter for rights, for truths, he had a naivety that was supported by extraordinary intelligence and competence not only in music. It remains a phenomenon for the generations. Kiro loved him.
Vezhdi Rashidov: A friend has passed away, and Bulgaria has lost an outstanding musician
So much love and respect for the talent and everything he’s done. A person who became a legend, an example of behavior, an extremely delicate person. A friend has passed away, and Bulgaria has lost an outstanding musician.
Denis Rizov: I am a musician because of him
I am a musician because of him. In 1979, I met him in the kindergarten of “Crystal” and my classmate and I asked for his autographs. Kircho had no cards and gave us stickers. I wondered where to put this sticker for a long time, and finally I put it on a guitar that I bought from TSUM, the only instrument store. And so through him I became a musician.
He helped us a lot when we learned to play and became a band. The first tour of “Agate” was with “Crickets”, very decisive for our career. That was the first time we sang in stadiums. The last tour we did together was in 2004, but after that we heard from each other regularly. He is a person who makes people become musicians, people like him are the basis for others to want to do the same thing. Great man!
Ivan Lechev: We will do a concert as he wanted – in a big hall where everyone can sing his songs
The void that remains is huge. The good thing is that with his work, with his whole life, he created a monument for himself during his lifetime. He was not only a great musician, but also a very great person, with versatile interests, very honest, very straightforward. Such a person should serve as an example to all.
We wondered if it would be right to do the concert at the end of the month, but in the end he himself would like it to happen – a big hall where everyone can sing his songs. Let’s send it off properly!
Niki Kanchev: Open the windows of freedom through your music
He made a huge contribution to the development of Bulgarian music, especially from a human point of view, and in times when it was impossible to create, to publish. He is one of the people who opened the windows of freedom in this country through his songs. Angelic and at the same time his voice was like a whip on the “Musketeer March” he sang. He attacked the “shiny simpletons”, “Greed and Song”, “The Flock of Blind Shepherds” (quote and titles of his signature songs – note ed.), which for a long time led us nowhere, as it turned out. A strong and democratic voice.
And at the same time he was playing some kind of code game. There were several songs through which he said how he would break up by going there. “Tam” is one of his last songs from the new album with lyrics by Alexander Petrov. What will I need there? I wouldn’t buy a new outfit and move 100 things. With one love I will leave, with one smile and a tear.
