Years active 1961 – 1966 Active until 1966 | Labels Diskos Origin Belgrade, Serbia (1961) | |
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Past members Slavoljub Bogdanović
Miloš Sekulić
Gligorije Milanović
Draško Reljin
Branislav Nikolić
Dragan Mirković
Branko Gluščević Genres Beat music, Rock music, Instrumental rock Associated acts Siluete, Dah, Rokeri s Moravu Similar Siluete, Zlatni Dečaci, Tomi Sovilj i Njegove Siluete, Džentlmeni, Bele Višnje | ||
Iskre nebeski jaha i ghost riders in the sky
Iskre (Serbian Cyrillic: Искре, trans. The Sparks) was a former Yugoslav rock band. The band is notable for being one of the pioneers of the former Yugoslav rock scene.
Contents
History
The band was formed in 1961 by the students of Belgrade'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 amplifiers (originally designed for movie theaters) they used at the beginning of their career. Iskre started their career by playing instrumentals inspired by the music of The Tornados, Johnny and the Hurricanes, The Champs, The Coasters, The Drifters, Santo & Johnny, and soon achieved notable popularity.
At the 1962 Youth Festival, held at Belgrade's Dom Sindikata, they won the first place,after which they were joined by Branislav "Beka" Nikolić (organ, a former 3+1 member). This lineup of the band often performed at pop concerts and dances and appeared on Radio Belgrade. Iskre were one of the first Yugoslav bands that performed as a backing band on the recordings of 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 the band 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" ("Little Sheila"), "Locomotion", "Peppermint Twist", and "Slušaj pesmu" ("Listen to the Song") was eventually released under Ivanka Pavlović's name only and soon became the second best-selling Yugoslav pop music record. 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" ("Stalactite", a cover of a Les Aiglons song), "Šeba" ("Sheeba"), "Rock za dobro jutro" ("Good Morning Rock") and "Zvončići" ("Litle Bells"). 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. During the same year they appeared in Toma Janjić's film Glasam za ljubav (I Give My Vote to Love), becoming the first Yugoslav rock band to appear on film. However, 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. At the beginning of 1966 they performed at Belgrade Gitarijada where they won the fifth place. Soon after they disbanded.
Post breakup
Gluščević continued his career in bands Dah 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.