Flamengo (Czech band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited in 2012 for a commemorative concert |
| Headquarters | Prague , Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Flamengo was a Czech rock ensemble established in 1966, gaining prominence through key members such as Vladimír Mišík, Ivan Khunt, Pavel Fořt, Jan Kubík, Vladimír "Guma" Kulhánek, and Jaroslav Erno Šedivý. Their sole studio album, Kuře v hodinkách, despite being prohibited by government authorities, eventually garnered notable acclaim. The band came together again for a commemorative concert in 2012 and was honored with induction into the Beatová síň slávy.
History
The band's initial formation included Přemysl Černý on drums, František Francl as lead guitarist, Pavel Fořt on rhythm guitar, Eduard Vršek handling keyboards, Jiří Čížek playing bass, and Petr Novák providing vocals. Novák departed in 1967 and was succeeded initially by Viktor Sodoma and subsequently by Karel Kahovec. In 1969, Newcastle-born vocalist Joan Duggan joined; following her marriage to Francl, both exited to become part of Jazz Q.
After several personnel shifts, the definitive lineup featured vocalist Vladimír Mišík, saxophonist and flutist Jan Kubík, bassist Vladimír "Guma" Kulhánek, and drummer Jaroslav Erno Šedivý. Their 1971 recording of Kuře v hodinkách incorporated lyrics predominantly penned by poet Josef Kainar, with the exception of "Stále dál," authored by producer Hynek Žalčík. Although released in 1972, the album was banned by the Communist regime during the period of Normalization, which precipitated the group's dissolution.
In 2012, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Kuře v hodinkách, Flamengo reunited featuring Mišík, Kulhánek, and Fořt. They performed at Prague’s Palác Akropolis alongside Jiří Zelenka (drums) and Pavel Skála (guitar) from Mišík's band Etc..., with additional contributions from Jakub Doležal (flute/saxophone) and Pavel Bohatý (vocals/keyboards). A live album capturing this event was issued in 2015.
The following year, Flamengo received induction into the Beatová síň slávy (Beat Hall of Fame).
Band members
- Eduard Vršek – keyboards (1966)
- Viktor Sodoma – vocals (1966)
- Jiří Čížek – bass (1966–67)
- Petr Novák – vocals (1966–67)
- Karel Kahovec – vocals, rhythm guitar (1966–68)
- Přemysl Černý – drums (1966–68)
- Pavel Sedláček – vocals (1966–69)
- František Francl – lead guitar (1966–70)
- Pavel Fořt – rhythm guitar (1966–72)
- Jaroslav Erno Šedivý – drums (1968–72)
- Joan Duggan – vocals (1969–70)
- Ivan Khunt – keyboards, vocals (1969–72)
- Vladimír Mišík – vocals, guitar (1970–72)
- Jan Kubík – saxophone, flute (1970–72)
- Vladimír "Guma" Kulhánek – bass (1970–72)
Discography
Albums
- Vím, že pláčem to skončí (Split, Bratislavská lýra, 1970)
- Kuře v hodinkách (1972)
- The Best of Flamengo – 1967–71 (1994)
- Paní v černém – singly 1967–72 (2003)
- Živé Kuře v hodinkách (DVD; 2015)
Singles
- "Já budu chodit po špičkách" / "Povídej" (1967)
- "Vyber si palác" / "Svou lásku jsem rozdal" (1967)
- "Náhrobní kámen" / "Paní v černém" (1967)
- "Džbán" / "Poprava blond holky" (1967)
- "Co skrýváš v očích" / "Zavraždil jsem lásku" (1968)
- "No Replay" (John Mayall cover) / "The Way for Horses" (1969)
- "Summertime" (Janis Joplin cover) / "Too Much Love Is a Bad Thing" (1969)
- "Každou chvíli" / "Týden v elektrickém městě" (1971)
- "Kuře v hodinkách" / "Stále dál" (1972)
Compilation contributions
- Bazarem proměn 1967–1976 – Flamengo, Jazz Q, Etc… (1990)
- Náhrobní kámen – Petr Novák, singly 1967–69 – Flamengo, George & Beatovens (1996)