Illés (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Budapest , Hungary |
| Products | Rock and beat music albums and singles |
Illés (Hungarian: Illés együttes) was a prominent Hungarian rock and beat group active from 1960 to 1973, playing a crucial role in the rock music surge in Hungary during the 1960s and 1970s. Frequently likened to the Beatles because of its cultural significance and lasting appeal, Illés had a major influence on the Hungarian music industry.
Name
The band's name originates from the surname of member Lajos Illés. Their emblem features a chariot crafted from musical notes, pulled by two horses above the word "Illés" and set against the sun, symbolically alluding to the prophet Elijah’s (Illés in Hungarian) chariot as depicted in the Old Testament, thereby emphasizing their cultural identity.
Members
- Levente Szörényi (born 1945, Budapest) – lead guitar and lead vocals
- János Bródy (born 1946, Budapest) – rhythm guitar, recorder, flute, vocals
- Szabolcs Szörényi (1943–2024) – bass guitar and vocals
- Lajos Illés (1942–2007) – vocals, string instruments, keyboards
- Zoltán Pásztory (1944–2005) – drums (later succeeded by Örs Szörényi)
History
Established in 1960, Illés rose to prominence by 1963 amid the expanding youth culture influenced by unauthorized broadcasts from Radio Luxemburg. As trailblazers in Hungary’s beat music movement, their 1966 track Még fáj minden csók sparked debate due to Levente Szörényi’s unique vocal delivery. Despite political challenges, they benefited from state endorsement under the Communist government's "small liberties" approach and received multiple accolades.
Their debut album was released in 1967 as the soundtrack for Ezek a fiatalok, a film celebrating modern youth culture featuring leading bands such as Illés and Omega. By the late 1960s, Illés alongside Omega led Hungary’s beat scene, generating fierce fan rivalries reminiscent of the Beatles versus Rolling Stones dynamic in the West.
After Illés
The group disbanded in 1973, likely influenced by political pressures; an interview critical of authorities resulted in a one-year prohibition from Budapest venues and monetary penalties. Principal members Levente Szörényi and János Bródy continued their partnership with Fonográf, merging country and Hungarian folk elements into popular songs like Lökd ide a sört! and Mondd, hogy nem haragszol rám!, while also collaborating with singer Zsuzsa Koncz.
Illés reunited occasionally for major concerts, notably performing at Népstadion in 1990 following regime changes and again in 2001 alongside Omega and Metró. In 1983, Szörényi and Bródy composed the rock opera István, a király, centered on Saint Stephen I of Hungary—achieving commercial success and enduring cultural resonance.
Following political shifts after 1990, Bródy embraced liberal Free Democratic Party views, whereas Szörényi focused on nationalist Christian themes in subsequent operas including Atilla, Isten kardja (1994) and Veled, Uram! (2000), which serves as a sequel to István, a király.
Drummer Zoltán Pásztory emigrated to West Germany during the 1970s and passed away in 2005; Örs Szörényi took over drumming duties for Illés concerts that same year. Founding member Lajos Illés continued leading a band under the Illés name into the early 1980s before retiring to Kisoroszi where he dedicated himself to composing church music until his death in 2007.
Albums
Studio albums:
- Ezek a fiatalok (1967 - soundtrack for film)
- Nehéz az út (1969)
- Illések és pofonok (1969)
- Human Rights (1971)
- Add a kezed (1972)
- Ne sírjatok, lányok (1973)
Compilation albums:
- A koncert (1981 - live recording)
- Illés kislemezek (1984 - collection of singles)
- Népstadion 1990 (live album)
- Az Illés összes kislemeze (1990 - complete singles compilation)
- Az Illés másik oldalán - Válogatás (1996 - B-sides selection)
- Best of Illés - Balladák és lírák (1996)
- Best of Illés - Miért hagytuk, hogy így legyen (1996)
- Illés '96 (live album)
Notable songs (selection)
- Az utcán
- Itt állok egymagamban
- Még fáj minden csók
- Igen
- Nem érti más, csak én
- Oh, mondd
- Ne Gondold
- Amikor én még kissrác voltam
- Sárga rózsa
- Keresem a szót
- Little Richard
- Igérd meg
- Nem akarok
- Miért hagytuk, hogy így legyen?
- A szó veszélyes fegyver
- Kislány, add a kezed
- Good bye London