Bezobrazno Zeleno
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Bojan Vasić |
| Defunct | 1991 (first period) |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited 1988, disbanded 1991; reunited 2017, ended 2019 after Vasić's death |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Yugoslavia (now Serbia) |
Area served | Yugoslavia, Serbia |
Key people | Bojan Vasić, Dragoljub Spasić, Vojislav Bešić, Katarina Benedetić, Srđan Todorović, Zoran Ilić, Branislav Petrović, Saša Komadinović, Ivan Kljajić |
| Products | Music albums: BZ1 (1983), Neonske bajke (1989) |
| Website | www |
Bezobrazno Zeleno (, translated as Rudely Green) was a rock group originating from Belgrade in 1980 during the Yugoslav era.
Under the leadership of bassist Bojan Vasić, the ensemble belonged to the second wave of Belgrade's new wave movement and contributed to the notable Artistička radna akcija compilation. Their first album, BZ1, came out in 1984, but the band dissolved shortly thereafter. They reunited in 1988, adopting a more power pop-oriented style for their sophomore album, Neonske bajke (1989). The band ceased activity again in 1991 as the Yugoslav Wars erupted. In 2017, Vasić and original drummer Dragoljub Spasić reassembled the group, releasing several tracks hinting at a forthcoming album that was ultimately left unfinished due to Vasić’s passing in 2019.
New wave period (1980–1984)
Bezobrazno Zeleno was established in 1980 by Bojan Vasić (bass), Vojislav Bešić "Beške" (guitar, vocals), Dragoljub Spasić "Điđi" (drums), and vocalist Katarina Benedetić. The band's name expressed a defiant attitude toward being labeled "green" or inexperienced youth. They contributed "Bežim niz ulicu" and "Beograd" to the 1981 Artistička radna akcija compilation, showcasing Belgrade’s new wave scene.
Following Bešić and Spasić’s departure for compulsory military service, drummer Srđan "Žika" Todorović and guitarists Zoran Ilić and Branislav Petrović "Banana" (formerly of Pasta ZZ) joined the lineup. Katarina Benedetić left to focus on her art studies and painting; the band briefly featured vocalist Zoran Janić before his retirement from music.
In early 1983, they participated in the Ventilator Demo Top 10 radio program with the track "Običaji". Later that year, their debut album BZ1 was released, produced by Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga" from Riblja Čorba and including guest vocals by Vlada Milačić of Roze Poze. The record contained reimagined versions of songs such as "Bežim niz ulicu", the popular ballad "Gibaj se", and "Jutro", originally performed by Butik. Due to concerns from their record label about nationalist themes, the track "Long live moja Srbijo" was omitted, and lyrics in "Momci sa juga" were modified.
In spring 1984, they supported Bajagić during his solo tour at Belgrade Trade Union Hall before disbanding. Afterward, Petrović joined Električni Orgazam; Todorović pursued an acting career alongside collaborations with Disciplina Kičme, Ekatarina Velika, and Kazna Za Uši; while Vasić took up work as a postal employee. Janić withdrew from music and died in the mid-1980s.
Reunion and subsequent dissolution (1988–1991)
The band was revived in 1988 by Vasić and Ilić with Spasić returning on drums, accompanied by former Šlogirani Karanfil vocalist Saša Komadinović "Džeger," and guitarist Ivan Kljajić. Their comeback album Neonske bajke (Neon Fairytales) was released in 1989. Composed by Vasić and Ilić, it featured backing vocals from Dejan Cukić and was produced by Miroslav Cvetković "Cvele", bassist of Bajaga i Instruktori. The album included covers such as Frank Zappa’s "Bobby Brown" and The Sweet’s "The Ballroom Blitz," which was adapted into Serbian as "Divlje dete" ("Wild Child").
Among its tracks was the hard rock single "Bombarderi" ("Bombers"). Additionally, it featured Vasić's composition "Diraš me" ("You're Touching Me"), later recorded by Cukić on his solo project, and Ilić's "Deca sa meseca" ("Children from the Moon"), which was also interpreted by Riblja Čorba under the title "Ja je gledam kako spava" ("I Am Looking at Her while She Is Asleep") on their Koza nostra album.
The onset of the Yugoslav conflicts in 1991 prompted Komadinović to relocate to South Africa, resulting in the band's final split.
Post-breakup activities
In 1992, Vasić established the supergroup Babe alongside Žika Milenković, the vocalist of Bajaga i Instruktori, Električni Orgazam’s drummer Goran Čavajda "Čavke," and Ilić, who had become a member of Riblja Čorba. Shortly thereafter, Vasić departed from Babe to join Komadinović in South Africa, where they created a club cover ensemble. Upon returning to Serbia in 1994, Vasić formed Kurajberi with Margita Stefanović, the keyboardist from Ekatarina Velika; Goran Milisavljević, formerly the lead singer of Van Gogh; and Ivan Kljajić and Dragoljub Spasić, both ex-members of Bezobrazno Zeleno. Kurajberi focused on performing covers of international and Yugoslav rock classics before disbanding in 1995 when Vasić shifted his career towards graphic design and tattoo artistry. Additionally, he contributed lyrics for Dejan Cukić and the band Njujork.
Ilić continued his tenure with Riblja Čorba until 1996, remained active with Babe until their breakup in 1999, and took part in their reunion in 2013. Meanwhile, Kljajić transitioned into music production and joined Ana Stanić’s live backing ensemble.
Bešić briefly collaborated with Glissers alongside Margita Stefanović before completing a degree in dentistry. During the 1990s, he relocated to New York City to perform with the band LFAnt, later moving to Mexico where he practiced dentistry serving impoverished communities at a Catholic convent. His experiences there inspired him to write the novel Gringo.
Later recordings and Vasić's passing (2017–2019)
Between 2017 and 2018, Zoran Vasić and Dragoljub Spasić recorded several tracks influenced by southern rock, featuring Vasić on lead vocals, which they released under the Bezobrazno Zeleno name. These included songs such as "Opet u sedlima," "Luda ženo," "Divljina," "Rekla si," "Kafana," along with a rendition of Robert Johnson’s "Come On in My Kitchen," all made available via the band’s official YouTube channel. They announced plans for a new studio album entitled Bezobrazno Zeleno 001. Unfortunately, Bojan Vasić succumbed to lung cancer on 9 September 2019, which brought the comeback project to an abrupt halt.
Influence and recognition
In 2008, the Serbian punk group Novembar recorded a cover version of Bezobrazno Zeleno’s track "Bombarderi" for their album Radulizam. The song "Gibaj se" was honored in 2011 when listeners of Radio 202 voted it among the top 60 songs released by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS throughout six decades. Furthermore, the lyrics from "Beograd" and "Bežim niz ulicu" were featured in Petar Janjatović's anthology dedicated to ex-Yugoslav rock poetry.
Studio albums
- BZ1 (1983)
- Neonske bajke (1989)
Compilation appearances
"Beograd" / "Bežim niz ulicu" (included on Artistička radna akcija, 1981)