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Bjesovi

From Alfawiki
Bjesovi
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1989 in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia
FounderZoran Marinković, Goran Marić
Defunct1997; 2023
FateDisbanded (with plans to reunite in 2024)
Headquarters
Gornji Milanovac
,
Serbia
Area served
Serbia, former Yugoslavia
Key people
Zoran Marinković, Goran Marić, Predrag Dabić, Goran Filipović, Božidar Tanasković, Goran Ugarčina, Miroslav Marjanović, Slobodan Vuković, Dragan Arsić, Marko Marković, Ivan Kovačević, Ramon Hamel
ProductsStudio albums: U osvit zadnjeg dana (1991), Bjesovi (1994), Sve što vidim i sve što znam (1997), Bolje ti (2009), Svetla svetlosti (2015); Live albums: Na živo (2002); Singles and video albums
Websitewww.bjesovi.com

Bjesovi (; translation: The Demons) is a Serbian alternative rock group that originated in Gornji Milanovac in 1989. The band became a significant figure within the 1990s Serbian rock landscape.

Initially formed by vocalists and songwriters Zoran Marinković and Goran Marić under the name Baader-Meinhof in 1989, they rebranded as Bjesovi in 1990 and launched their first album, U osvit zadnjeg dana, in 1991. Their 1994 self-titled album, noted for its heavy instrumentation and introspective, somber lyrics, received critical acclaim. After releasing the 1997 album Sve što vidim i sve što znam, which explored religious themes, the band dissolved. Marinković revived Bjesovi in 2000. The 2009 release Bolje ti broadened their appeal to mainstream audiences, while the 2015 cover album Svetla svetlosti preserved their artistic integrity. The group disbanded once more in 2023, with plans to reunite in 2024.

Formation, rise to prominence and breakup (1989–1997)

The band's origins trace back to the mid-1980s when Zoran Marinković "Marinko" and Goran Marić "Max" contributed writings under aliases to the Yugoslav music publication Džuboks while simultaneously creating demo recordings. Established as Baader-Meinhof in 1989, after brief periods using the names Saint Gallen and China Blue, they ultimately adopted the name Bjesovi, inspired by the Croatian edition of Dostoyevsky's novel Demons. Alongside vocalists and principal songwriters Marić and Marinković, the lineup included guitarists Predrag Dabić and Goran Filipović, bassist Božidar Tanasković, and drummer Goran Ugarčina.

Their debut cassette album U osvit zadnjeg dana (1991) featured contributions from guest musicians. It contained "Džordžija," a track based on a poem by Philippe Soupault, and a rendition of "Vule Bule," itself an adaptation of "Wooly Bully." The lyrics incorporated references from the Gospel of Luke as well as poetry by Alexander Pushkin. This release garnered attention due to its dark musical atmosphere and lyrical content.

In 1991, lineup adjustments introduced Dejan Petrović on bass and Miroslav Marjanović on drums. Triumphing at the 1993 Gitarijada Festival and the 1994 Brzi Bendovi Srbije festival paved the way for their influential untitled album produced by Goran Živković and Aleksandar Radosavljević. Drawing inspiration from grunge, this work presented a heavier sound paired with dark and mystical themes. Songs such as "Vreme je" and "Ime," which incorporates a quote from Frank Herbert's Dune, were featured on the compilation New Rock Power '93 - '94. The album received widespread critical praise.

Their third studio effort, Sve što vidim i sve što znam (1997), saw drummer Igor Malešević from Hazari join alongside returning bassist Božidar Tanasković. This record adopted a more hopeful tone with religious subject matter and reflections on the decline of socialism. The track "Sve će se doznati" uniquely blended a James Bond theme with quotations from the New Testament. Co-produced by the band and Ivan Kljajić, it included guest appearances on keyboards, double bass, percussion, and backing vocals. Shortly after this release, Bjesovi ceased activity.

Afterward, Marić began hosting a program on Christian radio station Svetigora starting in 1998 and took part in the 1999 Christian rock compilation Pesme iznad istoka i zapada, which featured lyrics authored by Nikolaj Velimirović.

Reformation, new releases, and second disbandment (2000–2023)

During the spring of 2000, Marinković revitalized the group by bringing back original members Zoran Filipović (guitar) and Miroslav Marjanović (drums), alongside newcomers Slobodan Vuković (guitar) and Dragan Arsić (bass).

On 22 March 2002, the band recorded a live performance in Gornji Milanovac, which was later issued as the live album Na živo. This release included live renditions from their second and third studio albums, complemented by three fresh tracks: "Čekam dan," "Čak i da mogu," and "Kiša." Notably, the song "Raduj se" featured previously excluded lyrics referencing former FR Yugoslavia president Slobodan Milošević. The production was handled by Zoran Đuroski "Đura" from Eyesburn, while the album artwork was created by Marinković together with original drummer Goran Ugarčina.

On 31 May 2003, at Belgrade's Engineering Students' Club (KST), the lineup consisting of Marinković, Marjanović, Vuković, Arsić (who had switched to guitar), and Marko Marković (bass) recorded a concert that was released as an official DivX titled Live at KST, Belgrade 31.05.2003. A total of one thousand copies were distributed free of charge to fans and media outlets. The show incorporated theatrical components such as psychedelic visuals and Marinković’s dramatic entrance inside a coffin. Guest vocalist Goran Marić contributed vocals on the track "Avioni pevaju."

In 2006, Filipović rejoined the band, this time taking on bass duties. That year saw the recording of Bolje ti, which initially lacked an official release but was promoted through radio play and music videos. On 3 July 2007, Bjesovi served as the opening act for Type O Negative in Belgrade. By December 2008, the band secured a contract with PGP-RTS, officially releasing Bolje ti in April 2009 as a DVD set that included videos for all songs.

Multimedia Records issued a live compilation in 2010 featuring the track "Ne budi me (Ubij me)" from a 1995 performance at KST.

Early in 2011, guitarist Ivan Kovačević joined from Plišani Mališan. By 2013, Dutch drummer Ramon Hamel became part of the group alongside Marjanović; Hamel handled drums on new cover album recordings while Marjanović performed on older material.

In February 2015, the band released their cover album Svetla svetlosti as a free download. The recordings took place between 2010 and 2013 in Kragujevac and Mostar. The ensemble featured Marinković on vocals; Vuković, Kovačević, and Arsić on guitars; Marko Marković on bass; with drummers Marjanović, Hamel, and Aleksandar "Alek" Petrović from Eyesburn. Production was managed by Momir Cvetanović with editing by Caspar Wijnberg. Guest keyboard contributions came from Vasil Hadžimanov and Đorđe Tomić. The album presented covers of songs originally by Ekatarina Velika, Angel's Breath, Idoli, Električni Orgazam, Mizar, Borghesia, Tako, Grč among others. Additional singles included Braća Left’s "Aikido" and a medley combining Bajaga i Instruktori’s "Godine prolaze" with Riblja Čorba’s "Užasno mi nedostaje."

In April 2016, the band unveiled "Probudi se," an unreleased track from the Bolje ti sessions. This was followed by two more singles: "Šta to bi?" in May and "Skoro 100%" in October—all recorded during the same period with lyrics dating back to 1984.

Metropolis Records reissued a remastered version of Sve što vidim i sve što znam in 2018. Later, in 2021, Novi Sad Students' Cultural Centre released Svetla svetlosti on CD.

In September 2023, Marinković declared that Bjesovi would disband for a second time due to reasons resembling those behind their initial breakup in 1997.

Legacy

In 2021, the album Bjesovi secured the 2nd position, Sve što vidim i sve što znam was placed 28th, and Bolje ti appeared at number 50 on the compilation of the 100 Greatest Serbian Albums Since the Dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia, featured in the publication Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji (How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Ended). Additionally, the tracks "Ime" and "Vraćam se dole" were included in Petar Janjatović's collection titled Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007.

Studio albums

Live albums

Singles

  • "Vreme je" / "Ime" (1994)
  • "Dar" (2002)
  • "Kad mi stane dah" (2002)

Video albums

Other appearances

"Ne budi me (Ubij me)" featured on the compilation Groovanje devedesete uživo (2009)

External links

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