Kokan Popovic
Encyclopedia
Kokan Popović is a Serbia
n drummer notable for playing in bands Idoli and Propaganda
.
and lived at Alekse Nenadovica street connecting "Slavija" and "Metropol" hotel, inhabited by people from highest social positions, such as lawyers, politicians, musicians, sportsman, etc, to the lowest, such as prostitutes, drug dealers, thieves, etc.
In his early youth he brought some LP compilations of Opatija festivals and played them while using a wooden cigarette box as a drum and after hearing The Who
's album A Quick One
, he decided to become a drummer.
His real drum practices started after moving to Bombay with his father (then being in Yugoslavian Foreign Services), Dejan and mother, Bozica (sister, I don't remember the name-stood in Belgrade) where he, for the first time, had the chance to practice on a real drum set. His first live appearance was at a Bombay college anniversary.
On return to Belgrade
Popović first joined the band Dag, with whom he recorded a single "Voz" / "Smiljana" in 1973. After Dag, he formed a hard rock
trio Jocker, and then Jesen before joining the band of Slađana Milošević.
and bass guitarist Zdenko Kolar formed a band called Merlin. The band also included Popović on drums, keyboard player Dragan Mitrić, Bora Atić on saxophone and Dragana Milković on piano and vocals. Beside their own songs the band often performed songs by Jimi Hendrix
, The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
. Their musical style was a combination of melodic rock, jazz rock and hard rock
. The band often performed at Belgrade
's SKC (Studentsk Kulturni Centar AKA SKC or Students Cultural Centre), appeared on the last BOOM festival in Novi Sad
and Zaječar
Guitar festival. They did not have any releases, but had some recordings, recorded in Radio Belgrade studio, which were broadcast from time to time.
In early 1979 Popović's future wife got pregnant (gee, I didn't noticed that one?) and he also had to serve the Yugoslav People's Army
which caused the breaking up of the band. He made a two year break and joined Idoli.
In 1982 Popović (guitar, vocals) with Mitrić (keyboards), Branko Isaković
(bass, rhythm guitar) and Nenad Morgenstern (percussion) formed the off project Propaganda. The band recorded only one album, Apatija javnosti which partially featured material from Zvuk Ulice period. The sound was a Pop rock
combined with other musical forms. After the album release, the band split up.
. The band started recording their first long play album in Radio Belgrade studios during the late 1981 and early 1982. Odbrana i poslednji dani
surprised the critics as much as the fans. It got the name by a Borislav Pekić book with the same title on which the whole album is based on. It is a complex concept album dealing with an anthropological approach towards orthodoxy. Since the album was sold in only 50,000 copies, which was considered a failure by Jugoton
the band had to completely turn towards commercial music.
The next release was the album Čokolada featuring bassist Branko Isaković
instead of Zdenko Kolar who went to serve the Yugoslav People's Army
. It was recorded in London
with producer Bob Painter who completely changed the band's style. The record was sold in 350,000 copies which was a record at that time in Yugoslavia
.
Even though the band had a successful tour, the relationships between the band members became colder. After the Ljubljana
show due to a quarell, Idoli ceased to exist.
The last release as Idoli was a soundtrack album for Šest dana juna which was written by Divljan while the rest of the band recorded their parts.
bassist Dušan Kojić Koja and Električni Orgazam
guitarist Branislav Petrović Banana).
In the early nineties he moved to Johannesburg
, South Africa
and formed his own band The Traitors. The lineup featured Belgrade
musicians living in Johannesburg
: Popović on rhythm guitar and vocals and Marka Benini on drums, with musicians from South Africa
Derrick Skihippers (lead guitar) and Kahlan Merchant (bass guitar). The band performs a heavier version of rock and roll
standards.
In 2006 Kokan & The Traitors performed in Belgrade
and Zdenko Kolar appeared as guest musician.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n drummer notable for playing in bands Idoli and Propaganda
Propaganda (Serbian band)
Propaganda was a former Yugoslav New Wave band from Belgrade, consisting of former Zvuk Ulice and Bulevar members. The band released only one album, Apatija javnosti, and disbanded.- Zvuk Ulice :...
.
Getting interested in music, first bands
Popović was born in 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...
and lived at Alekse Nenadovica street connecting "Slavija" and "Metropol" hotel, inhabited by people from highest social positions, such as lawyers, politicians, musicians, sportsman, etc, to the lowest, such as prostitutes, drug dealers, thieves, etc.
In his early youth he brought some LP compilations of Opatija festivals and played them while using a wooden cigarette box as a drum and after hearing The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's album A Quick One
A Quick One
A Quick One is the second album by English rock band The Who, released in 1966. The American record company executives at Decca Records released the album under the title Happy Jack, rather than the sexually suggestive title of the original UK release, and due to "Happy Jack" being a top 40 hit in...
, he decided to become a drummer.
His real drum practices started after moving to Bombay with his father (then being in Yugoslavian Foreign Services), Dejan and mother, Bozica (sister, I don't remember the name-stood in Belgrade) where he, for the first time, had the chance to practice on a real drum set. His first live appearance was at a Bombay college anniversary.
On return to Belgrade
Belgrade
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...
Popović first joined the band Dag, with whom he recorded a single "Voz" / "Smiljana" in 1973. After Dag, he formed a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
trio Jocker, and then Jesen before joining the band of Slađana Milošević.
Zvuk Ulice and Propaganda
In 1976 guitarist and singer Vlada DivljanVlada Divljan
Vladimir "Vlada" Divljan , is a Serbian singer and songwriter. He is known as the frontman for the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Idoli, as well as for his solo works.-Early activity:...
and bass guitarist Zdenko Kolar formed a band called Merlin. The band also included Popović on drums, keyboard player Dragan Mitrić, Bora Atić on saxophone and Dragana Milković on piano and vocals. Beside their own songs the band often performed songs by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. Their musical style was a combination of melodic rock, jazz rock and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
. The band often performed at Belgrade
Belgrade
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 SKC (Studentsk Kulturni Centar AKA SKC or Students Cultural Centre), appeared on the last BOOM festival in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
and 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...
Guitar festival. They did not have any releases, but had some recordings, recorded in Radio Belgrade studio, which were broadcast from time to time.
In early 1979 Popović's future wife got pregnant (gee, I didn't noticed that one?) and he also had to serve the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
which caused the breaking up of the band. He made a two year break and joined Idoli.
In 1982 Popović (guitar, vocals) with Mitrić (keyboards), Branko Isaković
Branko Isakovic
Branko Isaković is a Serbian bass player born in Valjevo in 1958. He was a member of notable rock bands active in former Yugoslavia. He closely collaborates with Dejan Cukić and Bilja Krstić and has his own projects TeodulIja and Divine Sound, focusing on ambiental, ethno and spiritual music.-...
(bass, rhythm guitar) and Nenad Morgenstern (percussion) formed the off project Propaganda. The band recorded only one album, Apatija javnosti which partially featured material from Zvuk Ulice period. The sound was a Pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
combined with other musical forms. After the album release, the band split up.
Idoli
Popović joined Idoli as a replacement for Boža JovanovićBoža Jovanovic
Boža Jovanović was the first drummer of the Serbian rock band Idoli. He was the band member until 1982 and released two singles and one EP with the band.- Biography :...
. The band started recording their first long play album in Radio Belgrade studios during the late 1981 and early 1982. Odbrana i poslednji dani
Odbrana i poslednji dani
Odbrana i poslednji dani is the first studio album by former Yugoslavn New Wave band Idoli released in 1982....
surprised the critics as much as the fans. It got the name by a Borislav Pekić book with the same title on which the whole album is based on. It is a complex concept album dealing with an anthropological approach towards orthodoxy. Since the album was sold in only 50,000 copies, which was considered a failure by Jugoton
Jugoton
Jugoton was the largest record label and chain record store in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based in Zagreb, Socialist Republic of Croatia. After the breakup of Yugoslavia the company continued to work in independent Republic of Croatia under the name Croatia...
the band had to completely turn towards commercial music.
The next release was the album Čokolada featuring bassist Branko Isaković
Branko Isakovic
Branko Isaković is a Serbian bass player born in Valjevo in 1958. He was a member of notable rock bands active in former Yugoslavia. He closely collaborates with Dejan Cukić and Bilja Krstić and has his own projects TeodulIja and Divine Sound, focusing on ambiental, ethno and spiritual music.-...
instead of Zdenko Kolar who went to serve the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
. It was recorded in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with producer Bob Painter who completely changed the band's style. The record was sold in 350,000 copies which was a record at that time in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
.
Even though the band had a successful tour, the relationships between the band members became colder. After the Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
show due to a quarell, Idoli ceased to exist.
The last release as Idoli was a soundtrack album for Šest dana juna which was written by Divljan while the rest of the band recorded their parts.
Post-Idoli career
After Idoli disbanded Popović joined the band Mučenici and also played with a super-session band Kod Tri Balona (featuring Disciplina KičmeDisciplina Kičme
Disciplina Kičme , is a Serbian band, one of the two spin-offs of the seminal Yugoslav New Wave and later post-punk band Šarlo Akrobata, the other being Ekatarina Velika...
bassist Dušan Kojić Koja and Električni Orgazam
Električni Orgazam
Električni Orgazam is a Serbian rock band from Belgrade. Originally starting as a combination of New Wave, punk rock and post-punk, the band later slowly changed their style, becoming a mainstream rock act.- New Wave years :...
guitarist Branislav Petrović Banana).
In the early nineties he moved to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and formed his own band The Traitors. The lineup featured Belgrade
Belgrade
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...
musicians living in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
: Popović on rhythm guitar and vocals and Marka Benini on drums, with musicians from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
Derrick Skihippers (lead guitar) and Kahlan Merchant (bass guitar). The band performs a heavier version of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
standards.
In 2006 Kokan & The Traitors performed in Belgrade
Belgrade
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...
and Zdenko Kolar appeared as guest musician.
External links and references
- EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006, Janjatović Petar; ISBN 978-86-905317-1-4
- Kokan Popović at Discogs
- Kokan Popović at Popboks