Milic Vukašinovic
Encyclopedia
Milić Vukašinović, a.k.a. Mitch Valiant (Serbian Cyrillic: Милић Вукашиновић) (born March 9, 1950 in Belgrade
, Serbia
, Yugoslavia) is a musician from Serbia
of Yugoslavian
ethnicity. He was the founder of the rock
band Vatreni Poljubac and drummer of the famous Yugoslav
band Bijelo dugme
.
Born in Belgrade
, he moved with his family to Peć
when he was 6 years old. In 1963 they moved again, this time to Sarajevo
where he spent most of his time until the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
in 1995.
played bass. Čičci folded in 1969.
During spring 1970, Željko Bebek
invited Redžić to join his band Kodeksi
on club & bar tour in southern Italy
since they immediately needed someone to play bass. Redžić in turn brough along Vukašinović as well, since the struggling band that featured future Bijelo dugme leader Goran Bregović
also needed a replacement drummer. Right after arriving in Italy, Vukašinović encouraged and eventually convinced his new band mates to make a turn towards hard rock
, similar to the pioneering sound that was coming out of England
at the time epitomized by acts like Led Zeppelin
and Black Sabbath
.
The band's new style backfired as they got fired from most of the places they were regularly playing up to that point and eventually returned to Sarajevo. In late summer 1971, 21-year-old Vukašinović decided to leave for London
where he lived for the next three years. Trying to find musical success in England proved elusive, so he mostly earned a living through a series of menial jobs. Among other things he worked as a busboy
at London's Hard Rock Cafe
near Hyde Park Corner
.
After returning to Sarajevo in late 1974, he joined Indexi
, performing with them on several singles.
In October 1976, Goran Bregović offered Vukašinović the drummer spot in Bijelo dugme since their regular drummer Ipe Ivandić
suddenly had to leave for his mandatory military service. Vukašinović immediately accepted and reportedly got YUD
20 million to play on the upcoming record and the subsequent tour. He appeared on their 1976 album Eto! Baš hoću!
but decided to leave the group the following year.
He eventually formed the enthusiastic power trio
Vatreni poljubac in 1977. After recording nine studio albums between 1977 and 1986, Vukašinović disbanded the group choosing to pursue a solo career, recording five albums. After the Yugoslav Wars
he released two more albums and took part in Bijelo dugme’s 2005 farewell tour. Since November 1997 he's been living in Belgrade were he collaborates with fellow musicians.
In late 2006, he took part in a brief Vatreni poljubac reunion, the focus of which was a December 29 concert at Belgrade's SKC
.
After expressing interest to appear as one of the opening acts at the Rolling Stones concert in Belgrade on July 14, 2007, Vukašinović was booked up until a couple of days before the show. However, at that time a row between him, Stones' management and local concert organizers came to a head and he ended up not playing.http://www.blic.co.rs/zabava.php?id=7612
On March 1, 2008, he entered the Veliki brat
house as part of the show's second season in celebrity format
.
In March 2009 he entered again the Veliki brat
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...
, Serbia
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...
, Yugoslavia) is a musician from Serbia
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...
of Yugoslavian
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
ethnicity. He was the founder of the rock
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 Vatreni Poljubac and drummer of the famous Yugoslav
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
band Bijelo dugme
Bijelo dugme
Bijelo dugme was a highly influential former Yugoslav rock band, based in Sarajevo. Active between 1974 and 1989, it is widely considered to have been the most popular band ever to exist in former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and one of the most important acts of the Yugoslav rock...
.
Born 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...
, he moved with his family to Peć
Pec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
when he was 6 years old. In 1963 they moved again, this time to Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
where he spent most of his time until the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in 1995.
Career
Simultaneous to his schooling, Vukašinović started drumming, first joining the band called Plavi dijamanti before switching to Čičci where Zoran RedžićZoran Redžic
Zoran Redžić is a Bosnian musician, best known for playing the bass guitar in the popular Yugoslav rock band Bijelo Dugme....
played bass. Čičci folded in 1969.
During spring 1970, Željko Bebek
Željko Bebek
Želimir "Željko" Bebek is a popular Bosnian Croat singer most notable for being the lead vocalist of Bijelo dugme from 1974 to 1984....
invited Redžić to join his band Kodeksi
Kodeksi
Kodeksi was a cover band from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia that existed from 1965 until 1971. It is most notable as one of the predecessors to Bijelo dugme, the most commercially successful band ever to come out of SFR Yugoslavia...
on club & bar tour in southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
since they immediately needed someone to play bass. Redžić in turn brough along Vukašinović as well, since the struggling band that featured future Bijelo dugme leader Goran Bregović
Goran Bregovic
Goran Bregović is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the Balkans. He currently splits his time between Paris and Belgrade, where he settled down during the Yugoslav Wars.Bregović has composed for such varied artists as Iggy Pop and Cesária Évora...
also needed a replacement drummer. Right after arriving in Italy, Vukašinović encouraged and eventually convinced his new band mates to make a turn towards 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...
, similar to the pioneering sound that was coming out of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at the time epitomized by acts like Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
The band's new style backfired as they got fired from most of the places they were regularly playing up to that point and eventually returned to Sarajevo. In late summer 1971, 21-year-old Vukašinović decided to leave for 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...
where he lived for the next three years. Trying to find musical success in England proved elusive, so he mostly earned a living through a series of menial jobs. Among other things he worked as a busboy
Busboy
Busser, busboy and busgirl are terms used in the United States for someone who works in the restaurant and catering industry clearing tables, taking dirty dishes to the dishwasher, setting tables and otherwise assisting the waiting staff....
at London's Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
near Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is a place in London, at the south-east corner of Hyde Park. It is a major intersection where Park Lane, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place and Constitution Hill converge...
.
After returning to Sarajevo in late 1974, he joined Indexi
Indexi
Indexi was a Bosnian rock band popular in the former Yugoslavia. It formed in 1962 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and disbanded in 2001 when singer Davorin Popović died...
, performing with them on several singles.
In October 1976, Goran Bregović offered Vukašinović the drummer spot in Bijelo dugme since their regular drummer Ipe Ivandić
Ipe Ivandic
Goran "Ipe" Ivandić was a former Yugoslav rock drummer, famous for his work with the band Bijelo Dugme.-Early years:...
suddenly had to leave for his mandatory military service. Vukašinović immediately accepted and reportedly got YUD
Yugoslav dinar
The dinar was the currency of the three Yugoslav states: the Kingdom of Yugoslavia , the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia between 1918 and 2003. The dinar was subdivided into 100 para...
20 million to play on the upcoming record and the subsequent tour. He appeared on their 1976 album Eto! Baš hoću!
Eto! Baš hocu!
Eto! Baš hoću! is the third studio album released by Yugoslav rock band Bijelo dugme.Eto! Baš hoću! continues Bijelo dugme's early folkish hard rock style, although it is on this album that Goran Bregović began to react to changing trends in rock music by slowly shedding the band's heavy metal...
but decided to leave the group the following year.
He eventually formed the enthusiastic power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
Vatreni poljubac in 1977. After recording nine studio albums between 1977 and 1986, Vukašinović disbanded the group choosing to pursue a solo career, recording five albums. After the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
he released two more albums and took part in Bijelo dugme’s 2005 farewell tour. Since November 1997 he's been living in Belgrade were he collaborates with fellow musicians.
In late 2006, he took part in a brief Vatreni poljubac reunion, the focus of which was a December 29 concert at Belgrade's SKC
Studentski kulturni centar
Studentski Kulturni Centar , abbreviated as "SKC", is a cultural centre in Belgrade, Serbia.The center opened in 1971 in the building that had up to that point been used by state security agency UDBA. The opening of SKC was seen by many as the communist regime's concession to the youth of Belgrade...
.
After expressing interest to appear as one of the opening acts at the Rolling Stones concert in Belgrade on July 14, 2007, Vukašinović was booked up until a couple of days before the show. However, at that time a row between him, Stones' management and local concert organizers came to a head and he ended up not playing.http://www.blic.co.rs/zabava.php?id=7612
On March 1, 2008, he entered the Veliki brat
Veliki brat
Veliki brat is a reality show shot and produced in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a local franchised version of the Big Brother reality series, which mostly includes contestants from Serbia along with some from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.Produced by Emotion media company, the first...
house as part of the show's second season in celebrity format
Veliki brat VIP 2
Veliki Brat VIP 2 is the second season of the celebrity version of Veliki brat. It started airing on March 1, 2008 on the television channels B92, Pink BH, and Pink M. Celebrities from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro were competing for €50,000. The hosts of the show were: Ana...
.
In March 2009 he entered again the Veliki brat
Veliki brat
Veliki brat is a reality show shot and produced in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a local franchised version of the Big Brother reality series, which mostly includes contestants from Serbia along with some from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.Produced by Emotion media company, the first...
Solo albums
- Potraži me (1984, Diskoton)
- Hej jaro, jarane (1988, Diskos)
- Kao nekad (1992, Diskoton)
- Sad ga lomi (2000, Vatreni poljubac d.o.o.)
External links
- http://www.yu4you.com/eng/ostalo/vb.php
- Milić Vukašinović interview, NaDlanu.com, December 2006
- "Vatreni poljubac" ponovo na okupu, MTS Mondo, December 12, 2006
- „Vatreni poljubac“ na okupu, Blic, December 13, 2006
- Vatreni poljubac u SKC-u, Popboks.com, December 13, 2008
- Vatreni poljubac @ SKC, concert review, NaDlanu.com, December 31, 2006