Iskre
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Rock music, instrumental rock |
Iskre (; English translation: The Sparks) was a pioneering Yugoslav rock ensemble originating from Belgrade in 1961. Recognized as one of the earliest rock groups in Yugoslavia, they played a significant role in shaping the Yugoslav rock scene.
1961–1966
Established in 1961 by students of Belgrade's Second Gymnasium—Slavoljub Bogdanović (rhythm guitar), Miloš Sekulić (guitar), Gligorije Milanović (bass), and Draško Reljin (drums)—Iskre had actually begun performing two years prior at school gatherings using acoustic instruments. Their band name was inspired by the Iskra amplifiers they utilized during their initial phase. Their early style focused on instrumental rock, drawing influence from groups like The Tornados and Johnny and the Hurricanes, which quickly earned them a following.
At the 1962 May Youth Festival held in Belgrade, they secured first place, coinciding with the addition of organist Branislav "Beka" Nikolić to their lineup. After shifting their rehearsals to the Radio Belgrade Youth facilities, Iskre started performing at matinée dances, pop concerts, and on Radio Belgrade broadcasts. They were among the first Yugoslav rock bands to support pop vocalists, collaborating with artists such as Zafir Hadžimanov, Ivanka Pavlović, and Zoran Rambosek.
In 1963, Brankica Sučević from Safiri occasionally took on vocal duties with the group. Although there were plans to record their debut EP featuring her as lead singer, the Diskos label preferred Ivanka Pavlović for that role. The resulting EP included covers like "Locomotion" and "Peppermint Twist," achieving status as the second highest-selling pop record in Yugoslavia at that time. Shortly afterward, Milanović departed and Dragan Mirković stepped in as bassist.
January 1964 marked a milestone when Iskre won first place at the innovative Parada ritma festival—the inaugural rock festival in Yugoslavia and potentially the first within a communist nation. Later that year, they performed their debut solo concert at Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment and released an official EP featuring tracks such as "Stalaktit" and "Rock za dobro jutro." Subsequently, Mirković was replaced by Branko Gluščević.
Throughout 1965, Iskre produced two EPs primarily consisting of instrumental pieces and appeared in Toma Janić's film Glasam za ljubav, becoming the first Yugoslav rock band to feature in a motion picture. Despite these achievements, their popularity declined due to emerging new rock styles. Plans for two additional EPs—including interpretations of Macedonian traditional songs—were abandoned after Diskos declined funding because of insufficient sales. In early 1966, Iskre finished fifth at the Belgrade Gitarijada festival and disbanded shortly thereafter.
After disbandment
Following the breakup, Gluščević pursued musical projects with groups like Dah and Rokeri s Moravu. Mirković became part of Nena Ivošević's backing orchestra and later served as president of the Association of Jazz and Popular Music Artists of Yugoslavia during the 1990s.
Draško Reljin passed away in 2020.
EPs
- Stalaktit (1964)
- Tequila (1965)
- Bossa nova (1965)