Dobri Isak
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Niš, Yugoslavia |
| Defunct | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Niš , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Dobri Isak (in Serbian Cyrillic: Добри Исак; translated as Kind Isaac) was a Yugoslav band specializing in post-punk and darkwave genres, originating from Niš in 1983.
The group had a brief existence, producing a single studio album titled Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara in 1984 before disbanding two years later in 1986. Over time, the album achieved cult acclaim, and following its reissue in 2009, it garnered renewed critical appreciation and attention within Serbia and across other former Yugoslav territories.
1983 - 1986
Dobri Isak was initially formed toward the end of 1983 by Predrag Cvetičanin (handling guitar and vocals), alongside Zoran Đorđević (guitar), Branko (bass), and Boban (drums).[1] After some initial live shows and a self-produced demo recording, this original lineup dissolved by mid-1984.[1] Shortly thereafter, Cvetičanin reassembled the band with new members Miloš Miladinović on bass and Saša Marković "Markiz" on drums. Additionally, Nenad Cvetičanin, Predrag’s brother from the group Arnold Layne, joined the ensemble.[1]
Their only studio release, Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara (meaning "We Cry Behind Dark Glasses"), came out in 1984 through the Niš Students' Cultural Center (SKC) as the inaugural Studentkult production. This album was distributed exclusively on compact cassette with a limited pressing of just 100 copies,[2] circulated by Ljubljana Students' Cultural Center, and quickly sold out.[1]
The band performed primarily within their local scene and at regional music festivals. Notably, they earned the Best Performance Award at the 1985 Serbian Youth Festival held in Knjaževac.[1] Their appearances also included events such as the Dani Novih Omladinskih Novina festival in Split and the Pozdrav iz Niša festival in Skopje, where they shared stages with well-known groups like Padot na Vizantija.[1]
In late 1985, Dobri Isak took part in the Rock Bands Festival hosted at the Belgrade Youth Center,[1] while early 1986 saw them perform twice at Zagreb’s alternative rock festival Yu Rock Moment alongside acts such as Let 3, Oktobar 1864, and Mizar.[1] During that year, Predrag Cvetičanin also produced tracks for Niš-based synthpop band Romantične Boje, lending his vocals to the song "San." However, these recordings were never officially released due to unsuccessful negotiations with record labels.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The group’s final show occurred in June 1986 at the Niš Synagogue, where they performed alongside Arnold Layne and Mizar before disbanding.[1]
Post-breakup
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Dobri Isak’s lone album retained its cult following. In December 2009, PMK Records, an independent label, reissued Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara including seven additional unreleased tracks. This re-release sparked a resurgence of interest and critical acclaim across Serbia and other former Yugoslav nations.
In June 2010, PMK Records issued a limited edition run of 150 copies featuring an alternate cover design displaying a red band logo paired with a black CD. The album experienced its first vinyl pressing in 2015 by the same label, which also released a special limited transparent red vinyl edition restricted to 100 copies that year.
Legacy
In 2016, PMK Records brought out a tribute compilation titled I mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara, containing eleven reinterpretations of Dobri Isak songs performed by various regional artists including Asphalt Chant, Novembar, Language.Sex.Violence, among others. Earlier in 2010, Croatian rock band Mlijeko produced a cover version of the album’s title track.
The influence of Dobri Isak was further acknowledged through a 2012 documentary focused on the Niš rock scene directed by Marijan Cvetanović and Velimir Stojanović, which bore the same title as their album: Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara, solidifying its cultural significance.