Iskre
Encyclopedia
Iskre was a former Yugoslav rock
band. The band is notable for being one of the pioneers of the former Yugoslav rock scene.
's Second Gymnasium: Slavoljub Bogdanović (rhythm guitar
), Miloš Sekulić (guitar
), Gligorije Milanović (bass guitar
), and Draško Reljin (drums
). The band choose their name after Iskra
amplifier
s (originally designed for movie theater
s) they used at the beginning of their career. The band started their career by playing instrumentals inspired by the music of The Tornados
, and soon achieved notable popularity.
At the 1962 May Youth Festival, held at Belgrade's Dom Sindikata, they won the first place, and at this time they were joined by Branislav "Beka" Nikolić (organ
, a former 3+1 member). The band often performed at pop
concerts and dances and appeared on Radio Belgrade
. Iskre were one of the first Yugoslav bands that appeared on recordings by pop music singers: they recorded with Zafir Hadžimanov (covers of Cliff Richard
songs), Ivanka Pavlović, Zoran Rambosek, and others. During 1963 Iskre often performed with female vocalist Brankica Sučević (an official member of Safiri). The band wanted to record their debut EP
with her, but the editors of Diskos record label insisted that the band record the EP with the then-popular female singer Ivanka Pavlović. The EP with songs "Mala Šeila", "Locomotion
", "Peppermint Twist
", and "Slušaj pesmu" was eventually released under Ivanka Pavlović's name only. The EP soon became the second best-selling Yugoslav pop music record (behind Nikola Karović's "Mala Grkinja"). After the recording of the EP Milanović left the band, and was replaced by a former Duet M member Dragan Mirković. In January 1964 the band won the first place at the Parada ritma festival held at Dom sindikata. Several months later they held their first solo concert at Kolarac People's University, and soon after released their official debut EP, with songs "Stalaktit" (a cover of a Les Aiglons
song), "Šeba", "Rock za dobro jutro" and "Zvončići". After the release of the EP Mirković left the band, and was replaced by a former Siluete
and Lutalice member Branko Gluščević.
During 1965 they recorded two EPs, both featuring four songs, three of them being instrumental tracks. They appeared in Toma Janjić's film Glasam za ljubav, becoming the first Yugoslav rock band to appear on film. At this time the band's popularity declined, due to the popularity of new rock genres. The band started covering Macedonian traditional songs, but did not see expected success. During January and February 1966 they performed at Belgrade Gitarijada (not to be confused with Zaječar
Gitarijada
) where they won the fifth place. Soon after they disbanded.
and Rokeri s Moravu
. Mirković played in Nena Ivošević's backing orchestra, and during the 1990s he was the president of the Association of Jazz and Popular Music Artists of Yugoslavia.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band. The band is notable for being one of the pioneers of the former Yugoslav rock scene.
History
The band was formed in 1961 by the students of BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
's Second Gymnasium: Slavoljub Bogdanović (rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
), Miloš Sekulić (guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
), Gligorije Milanović (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Draško Reljin (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). The band choose their name after Iskra
Iskra (company)
Iskra was an electronic equipment manufacturer in Yugoslavia, established on March 8, 1946 in Kranj, Slovenia. Starting with 850 workers, it employed as many as 35,000 at it's peak...
amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
s (originally designed for movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
s) they used at the beginning of their career. The band started their career by playing instrumentals inspired by the music of The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
, and soon achieved notable popularity.
At the 1962 May Youth Festival, held at Belgrade's Dom Sindikata, they won the first place, and at this time they were joined by Branislav "Beka" Nikolić (organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, a former 3+1 member). The band often performed at pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
concerts and dances and appeared on Radio Belgrade
Radio Belgrade
Radio Belgrade is a state-owned and operated radio station in Belgrade, Serbia.The predecessor of Radio Beograd, Radio Beograd-Rakovica, started its program in 1924 and was a part of a state wireless telegraph station. Radio Beograd, AD started in March 1929...
. Iskre were one of the first Yugoslav bands that appeared on recordings by pop music singers: they recorded with Zafir Hadžimanov (covers of Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
songs), Ivanka Pavlović, Zoran Rambosek, and others. During 1963 Iskre often performed with female vocalist Brankica Sučević (an official member of Safiri). The band wanted to record their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
with her, but the editors of Diskos record label insisted that the band record the EP with the then-popular female singer Ivanka Pavlović. The EP with songs "Mala Šeila", "Locomotion
The Loco-Motion
"The Loco-Motion" is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song is notable for appearing in the American Top 5 three times – each time in a different decade: for Little Eva in 1962 ; for Grand Funk Railroad in 1974 ; and for Kylie Minogue in 1988 "The...
", "Peppermint Twist
Peppermint Twist
"Peppermint Twist" is a song written by Joey Dee and Henry Glover, recorded and released by Joey Dee and the Starliters in 1961. Capitalizing on the Twist dance craze and the nightclub in which Dee performed , the song hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 1962...
", and "Slušaj pesmu" was eventually released under Ivanka Pavlović's name only. The EP soon became the second best-selling Yugoslav pop music record (behind Nikola Karović's "Mala Grkinja"). After the recording of the EP Milanović left the band, and was replaced by a former Duet M member Dragan Mirković. In January 1964 the band won the first place at the Parada ritma festival held at Dom sindikata. Several months later they held their first solo concert at Kolarac People's University, and soon after released their official debut EP, with songs "Stalaktit" (a cover of a Les Aiglons
Les Aiglons
Les Aiglons were a 1970s Guadeloupean cadence band. They were the best selling Antillean band with their record Cuisse-La, until the release of Kassav's Zouk-La Se Sel Medikamen Nou Ni...
song), "Šeba", "Rock za dobro jutro" and "Zvončići". After the release of the EP Mirković left the band, and was replaced by a former Siluete
Siluete
Siluete was a former Yugoslav and Serbian rock band from Belgrade, notable for being one of the pioneers of the former Yugoslav rock scene.-1961 - 1971:...
and Lutalice member Branko Gluščević.
During 1965 they recorded two EPs, both featuring four songs, three of them being instrumental tracks. They appeared in Toma Janjić's film Glasam za ljubav, becoming the first Yugoslav rock band to appear on film. At this time the band's popularity declined, due to the popularity of new rock genres. The band started covering Macedonian traditional songs, but did not see expected success. During January and February 1966 they performed at Belgrade Gitarijada (not to be confused with Zaječar
Zajecar
Zaječar is a city and municipality in the eastern part of Serbia. According to the 2011 census the town has a population of 36,830, and its coordinates are 43.91° North, 22.30° East...
Gitarijada
Gitarijada
Gitarijada is a musical festival held in Zaječar, Serbia in order to promote demo bands. Held since 1969, Gitarijada is one of the longest lasting festivals in Serbia and in South Eastern Europe and the largest festival of young and unsinged bands in South Eastern Europe...
) where they won the fifth place. Soon after they disbanded.
Post breakup
Gluščević continued his career in bands DahDah (band)
Dah was a former Yugoslav/Belgian progressive rock band. Originally formed in Yugoslavia in 1972, the band, in 1975, moved to Belgium and changed the name to Land...
and Rokeri s Moravu
Rokeri s Moravu
Rokeri s Moravu was a Serbian band from the 1980s. Their music was an mix of Serbian folk substratum, with rock elements and the lyrics in folksy dialect of Šumadija and Morava valley, mixed with numerous popular culture references...
. Mirković played in Nena Ivošević's backing orchestra, and during the 1990s he was the president of the Association of Jazz and Popular Music Artists of Yugoslavia.
EPs
- "Stalaktit" / "Šeba" / "Rock za dobro jutro" / "Zvončići" (1964)
- "Tequila" / "Kuća izlazećeg suncaThe House of the Rising Sun"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans...
" / "Jahanje na vetru" / "Žuta jakna" (1965) - "Bossa nova" / "Ukrajina" / "Nebeski jahači" / "Želim da sam tvoj" (1965)