Balkan (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | January 1, 1982 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Aleksandar "Leki" Cvetković |
| Headquarters | Novi Sad , Serbia |
| Products | Rock music albums |
Balkan (; ) was a rock ensemble from Serbia and the former Yugoslavia, established in Novi Sad in 1982. Fronted by guitarist and lead singer Aleksandar "Leki" Cvetković, the group gained recognition for their lyrics that critically examined social issues within Yugoslav society.
1982–1989
Balkan originated from the hard rock outfit Leki, named after Cvetković’s nickname, which experienced modest regional success. After performing at the 1982 Gitarijada festival, the band adopted the name Balkan following advice from their manager Dragan Veljkovski. Their musical style blended hard rock with influences from new wave and ska, drawing inspiration from the Yugoslav new wave movement and socially aware lyricists such as Bora Đorđević and Branimir Štulić.
In their early years, Balkan served as an opening act for notable bands including Divlje Jagode, Riblja Čorba, Rok Mašina, Parni Valjak, Drugi Način, Galija, and Atomsko Sklonište across Vojvodina, while undergoing multiple personnel changes. The lineup for their debut album Gola istina (1982) featured Cvetković, Željko Jerković on guitar, Saša Zavišić on bass, and Radivoj Bugarski on drums. Produced by Robert Nemeček of Rok Mašina fame, the album contained lyrics addressing working-class challenges in Yugoslavia. The song "Trideset peta-šesta," penned by Cvetković in 1971, emerged as a standout hit. Receiving critical praise and commercial success, Gola istina sold upwards of 30,000 copies. Following its release, Balkan toured extensively as support for Riblja Čorba and Divlje Jagode throughout Yugoslavia.
October 1983 saw the release of their second album Na brdovitom Balkanu, again under Nemeček’s production. This record showcased a heavier sound with a refreshed lineup including Zlatko Marušić on bass and Miroslav Papić on drums; guest musicians featured guitarist Vidoja "Džindžer" Božinović and drummer Boban Petrović. Continuing their focus on societal themes, the album included the minor hit "Svečanost." Their 1985 effort Homo Balcanicus, produced by Srđan Marjanović, sustained their engagement with social commentary but did not achieve significant commercial traction. That same year, Balkan took part in YU Rock Misija at Belgrade’s Red Star Stadium—a Yugoslav segment of the global Live Aid initiative.
After a period of inactivity, Balkan resurfaced in 1989 with a revised roster: Cvetković (vocals/guitar), Jerković (guitar), Bugarski (drums), Željko Glamočanin (bass), and Zoran Vasiljević (keyboards). They released Kome verovati, an album marked by somber themes and featuring the follow-up "Trideset peta-šesta II deo." Co-produced by Cvetković and Milan Ćirić, it included guest guitarist Sead Lipovača from Divlje Jagode along with a children's choir from Veternik. After limited live appearances post-release, Balkan dissolved as Cvetković moved to Vienna amidst the Yugoslav Wars.
In 1996, Raglas Records combined Balkan’s first two albums into a single CD titled Na brdovitom Balkanu.
2004–2018
The band was reassembled in 2004 by Cvetković alongside Bugarski and bassist Stanimir Gucunski. This formation produced the album Boli me nepravda (Injustice Hurts Me), released in 2007 and produced by Marinko Vukmanović. The record featured guest contributions from Divlje Jagode’s guitarist Sead "Zele" Lipovača, Osvajači’s guitarist Dragan Urošević, keyboardist Laza Ristovski, and a choir affiliated with the Temple of Saint Simeon the Myrrh-streaming in Veternik. The track "Bili smo drugari" ("We Were Friends") included lyrics written by comic artist Gradimir Smudja. In the same year, MCF Records issued a double compilation entitled Antologija 1982-2007. Subsequently, due to Cvetković’s residence in Vienna, Balkan performed only occasionally with a lineup consisting of Cvetković (guitar/vocals), Gucunski (bass), Dragan Radukin (guitar), Enver Grekoli (drums), and Zoran Stanković (keyboards).
In 2019, JD Production released the double compilation album Sećanje na stvarnost (Memory of Reality).
Studio albums
- Gola istina (1982)
- Na brdovitom Balkanu (1983)
- Homo Balcanicus (1985)
- Kome verovati (1989)
- Boli me nepravda (2007)
Compilation albums
- Na brdovitom Balkanu (1996)
- Najlepše pesme 1982–2003 (2004)
- Sećanje na stvarnost (2019)