# Ruja

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For other uses, see [Ruja (disambiguation)](/source/Ruja_(disambiguation)).

**Ruja** was one of the foremost [Estonian](/source/Estonia) [rock bands](/source/Rock_band) of the 1970s and 1980s.[1] The name of the band comes from a [neologism](/source/Neologism) "ruja", for [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction), though there are people who believe that "ruja" is actually made up of the first letters of the band's important members (R – [Rein Rannap](/source/Rein_Rannap), U – [Urmas Alender](/source/Urmas_Alender), J – [Jaanus Nõgisto](/source/Jaanus_N%C3%B5gisto) and A – Andrus Vaht). The band released their first and self-titled album in 1979. Many of the original melodies of Ruja were composed by [Rein Rannap](/source/Rein_Rannap).

The band was created by Rein Rannap in 1971 while in the 11th grade. Ruja's 3 first members were Rein Rannap, Urmas Alender and Andrus Vaht.

On September 28, 1994, the band's lead singer, [Urmas Alender](/source/Urmas_Alender), died in the sinking of passenger ferry [M/S Estonia](/source/M/S_Estonia). After Alender's funeral concert a couple of days later, the remaining members of the band decided never to perform under the name of "Ruja" again.

## Members

### 1971–1975

- [Urmas Alender](/source/Urmas_Alender) ([vocals](/source/Singing))
- [Jaanus Nõgisto](/source/Jaanus_N%C3%B5gisto) ([guitar](/source/Guitar))
- [Tiit Haagma](/source/Tiit_Haagma) ([bass](/source/Bass_guitar))
- [Rein Rannap](/source/Rein_Rannap) ([keyboards](/source/Keyboard_instrument))
- Andrus Vaht ([drums](/source/Drum_kit))
- Toomas Veenre (guitar)
- Andres Põldroo (guitar)

### 1975–1978

- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- Tiit Haagma (bass)
- Priit Kuulberg (bass 1978–1980)
- Margus Kappel (keyboards, 12-string guitar)
- Andrus Vaht (drums)
- Ivo Varts (drums 1978–1980)

### 1980–1983

- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- Tiit Haagma (bass)
- Rein Rannap (keyboards)
- Jaan Karp (drums)

### 1985–1988

- Urmas Alender (vocals)
- Indrek Patte (vocals 1987)
- Jaanus Nõgisto (guitar)
- [Tiit Haagma](/source/Tiit_Haagma) (bass 1985–1986)
- Igor Garšnek (keyboards)
- Toomas Rull (drums, vocals 1985–1986)
- Rein Joasoo (drums, 1986–1986)
- Arvo Urb (drums 1987–1988)
- S.P. Gulliver (bass 1987–1988)
- Nevil Blumberg (guitar 1988)
- Raul Jaanson (guitar 1988)

## Discography

- *[Ruja](/source/Ruja_(EP))* (EP) (1979)
- *Ruja* (LP) (1982)
- *[Kivi veereb](/source/Kivi_veereb)* (1987)
- *[Pust budet vsjo](/source/Pust_budet_vsjo)* (1989)
- *[Must lind](/source/Must_lind)* (1994)
- *[Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 1](/source/Need_ei_vaata_tagasi..._Osa_1)* (1999)
- *[Need ei vaata tagasi... Osa 2](/source/Need_ei_vaata_tagasi..._Osa_2)* (1999)

### Videos

- "Rujavisioon" (1999). Video cassette (VHS)

## References

1. [Central Europe Review: Rock Estonian Style](https://web.archive.org/web/20000410232714/http://www.ce-review.org/00/3/huang3_culture.html)

## External links

- [Estonian progressive rock website](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224127/http://home.uninet.ee/~mel/estprog/proge/ruja.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruja) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruja?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.