Bjesovi
The band’s history began in the mid-eighties when two seventeen-year-olds, Zoran Marinković and Goran Marić Max, started writing for the famous Yugoslav rock magazine "Džuboks" under the names McCrywack & Max Radackow. At the same time, they began making some home demo recordings which led to the decision to form a band. The band was formed in 1989 in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia under the name "Baader-Meinhof". After changing the name to "Saint Gallen" and later to "China Blue", the band got the name "Bjesovi" (by a Dostoyevsky book The Possessed). Marić and Marinković, both vocalists and lyrics/music authors, were backed by Predrag Dabić and Goran Filipović on guitars, Božidar Tanaskovic on bass and Goran Ugarčina on drums.
The band then won the Čačak Guitar Festival. This lineup recored their debut album U osvit zadnjeg dana ("At The Last Day’s Dawn") released only on cassette on October 1990. Guest appearances featured Vladimir Vesović and Nikola Slavković on guitars and Dejan Marinković who provided narration on the track "On je sam" ("He Is Alone"). The album featured cover versions of Phillippe Soupault’s "Georgia" (Serbian "Džordžija") and Yugoslav beat band Tomi Soviljo i Njegove Siluete track "Vule Bule". On the track "Zli Dusi" (Evil Spirits), the lyrics included lines from the Gospel of Luke and Pushkin poetry.
The year 1991 brought the band a new lineup since Ugarčina and Tanasković left the band and were replaced by Dejan Petrović on bass and Miroslav Marjanović on drums. The band then won the Zaječar Guitar Festival in 1993 and Brzi Bendovi Srbije festival (Fast Serbian Bands Festival) in 1994 which eventually led to a recording of a new album. The untitled album, or simply Bjesovi as many people call it, proved not only to be their finest studio effort but one of the best works of Serbian/ex Yugoslav bands. It showed the band in a new, more recognizable style and opened a new chapter in the music of Serbia and whole Yugoslavia. Heavy riffs, dark ambient, pessimism and unique vocals on each track of the album proved that the band could handle with more complicated themes than the common rock topics. Two tracks from the album, "Vreme je" ("It Is Time") and "Ime" were included on a various artists tape "New Rock Power ‘93-94". A promotional video was recorded for the former and the latter included a quotation from the novel "Dune" by Frank Herbert.
Following the success of the second album, the band entered the studio to record their third studio album Sve što vidim i sve što znam ("All I See And All I Know") and after thirteen months the album was released. The lineup, which recorded the album, included a new drummer, Igor Malešević from the band Hazari, and the original bassist Božidar Tanasković. Unlike the previous record, the band made deals with religious topics, the end of socialism and more optimistic ambient. Musically, the style did not change gradually and was still recognizable. The track "Sve će se doznati" ("All Will Be Revealed") included the theme from James Bond combined with quotations from the Gospel of Luke. The album was produced by Aleksandar Radosavljević and Danilo Pavicević (guitar), Miša Savić (keyboards) and Nebojša Zulfikarpašić (guitar) appeared as guests. This album is considered to be one of the most expensive albums in ex Yugoslavia. Prmotional videos were recorded for the tracks "Dar" ("The Gift") and "Kad mi stane dah" ("When I Lose My Breath"). Soon after the release of the album, the band ceased to exist.(1998) In 1999, Marić took part in a Christian rock various artists project called Pesme Iznad Istoka i Zapada ("Songs Above East and West") which represents a tribute to Saint Nikolaj Velimirović. The project was released on Easter, April the 15th, 2001 through PGP RTS and Radio Svetigora.
2000-present
On spring 2000, Marinković, accompanied by two old members, Zoran Filipović (guitar on all three albums) and Miroslav Marjanović (drummer on the Untitled album) and two new members, Slobodan Vuković (guitar) and Dragan Arsić (bass) reformed the band. In the meantime, the Untitled album was re-released by One Records. On March 22, 2002, the band recorded their appearance in Gornji Milanovac. During the summer in the Free Zone Studio in Belgrade the recordings were remixed and post produced in a way the band thought it would be best. Aleksandar Petrović - Alek and Dejan Utvar both percussionists from the band Eyesburn made guest appearances. Na živo skipped the first album and focused on the second, with five, and third, with two songs. It also featured three new tracks, "Čekam dan" ("I Am Waiting For The Day"), "Čak i da mogu" ("Even If I Could") and "Kiša" ("Rain"). The track "Raduj se" ("Be Happy") featured lyrics "Vreme mu ističe, zato besan je" ("His time is out, that is why he is mad") which were not included on the studio version since it was dedicated to the former president Slobodan Milošević. The album was produced by Zoran Đuroski Đura from the band Eyesburn. The cover was designed by Marinković and the original band drummer Goran Ugarčina.
On May 31, 2003 at Belgrade’s KST the band, consisting of Marinković, Marjanović, Vuković, Arsić who played guitar and Marko Marković on bass, recorded a live show and released it as an official DivX, free of charge and available to anyone. The band itself financed the release and made a thousand copies given to the fans, reporters and tv stations. On the disc there is a text file where it is clearly written that this was a present to all fans and that the copying of the disc is allowed and preferable. The DivX contains songs form all four albums plus all lyrics, biographies and interviews. The band’s performance was at the highest peak. It featured light show, girls painted in black, psychedelic effects and even Marinković was taken to the stage in a coffin at the beginning of the concert. The track "Avioni pevaju" ("Aeroplanes Sing") was sung by Marić who had a guest appearance.
In 2006, the band appeared at Zaječar Guitar Festival and beside their classics presented a new track "Bolje ti" ("You Better") which would appear on the new album. In the meantime Zoran Filipović, who played guitar on the first three albums, returned to the band as a bass player. The band recorded twelve new songs in Češnjak studio in Kragujevac, and then moved to Vršac to for the mixing of the album. It will be called Bolje ti ("You Better") and beside the title track will feature tracks "Ko te vide taj se seća" ("Who Has Seen You Remembers"), "Da živi istina" ("May The Truth Live"), "Besan pas" ("Mad Dog"), "Laku noć" ("Good Night") (dedicated to the band's late friends Dragan Milekić, Vlastimir Matić and Boško Drljić) and others. Part of the material has already been promoted on various radio stations. The band recorded videos for all tracks on the album and the first video presented to the audience was for the track "Laku noć" ("Good Night"). The band is still looking for a record label.
At december 26. 2008, it was announced that Bjesovi have singed for PGP RTS, for their latest effort Bolje Ti (You Better) which was recorded in 2006 at studio Češnjak in Kragujevac. Production was done in 2007 by Momir Cvetković, and was post produced by the singer Zoran Marinković and the drummer Miroslav Marjanović.
Bolje ti was released on 13th april, 2009.
Albums
U osvit zadnjeg dana ("At The Last Day’s Dawn") (Studio album, Sound Galaxy, 1991)
Bjesovi (Untitled album) (Studio album, ITV Melomarket, 1994, One Records, 2001)
New Rock Power ’93-94 (Various artists compilation, ITV Melomarket, 1994)
Sve što vidim i sve što znam ("All I See And All I Know") (Studio album, Metropolis Records, 1997)
Na živo ("Alive") (Live album + 3 studio tracks, Metropolis Records, 2002)
Bolje ti ("You Better") (Studio album, PGP RTS, 2009)
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