La Strada (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Slobodan Tišma |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Novi Sad , Serbia |
| Products | Music albums, live recordings |
La Strada (; translating to The Road in Italian) was a Serbian band originally part of the Yugoslav new wave movement, later evolving into an alternative rock group based in Novi Sad.
Established in 1979 by Slobodan Tišma, the band produced a three-track demo that gained considerable airplay on Radio Novi Sad. Despite changes in personnel and favorable audience reactions during live shows, the group dissolved in 1981. Subsequently, Tišma, together with Zoran Bulatović "Bale" and Ivan Fece "Firchie," formed the band Luna. Following Luna’s breakup, Tišma revived La Strada in 1984, enlisting bassist Danijel Stari, former Luna member and vocalist/keyboardist Jasmina Mitrušić "Mina," guitarist Žolt Horvat, and drummer Robert Radić. This ensemble recorded their debut album La strada, which was released in 1987. Although further lineup adjustments occurred after the album's release, the band soon ceased activity. In 2004, Luna reunited for the Exit festival, while Tišma performed La Strada material solo at the Pančevo Grrr! festival; this performance was later issued in 2011 under the La Strada name.
New wave period (1979–1981)
In 1979, Slobodan Tišma ("Deda"), an experienced rock musician and poet influenced by Yugoslavia’s burgeoning new wave scene, founded La Strada, choosing the name inspired by Federico Fellini’s film La Strada. The original lineup featured Danijel Stari on bass guitar and arrangements, Boris Oslovčan "Bora" also on bass guitar, guitarists Siniša Ilić "Siki" and Dragan Nastasić "Gane", with Siniša Sekulić "Sekula" as a temporary drummer. Due to members’ preferences regarding live performances, the band maintained separate studio and live formations: Stari did not perform on stage and was replaced live by Oslovčan; similarly, Sekulić abstained from live shows, leading to the use of a rhythm machine during concerts.
Their initial recordings consisted of three tracks—"On," "Sat," and "Narcis"—produced at the Vranešević brothers' studio. These songs were frequently aired on Radio Novi Sad programs hosted by Dragan Gojković "Goja," a significant advocate for new wave music in Novi Sad. Two of these tracks later appeared on the semi-official compilation Hokej klub Virginitas, released by Ding Dong Records in 1988.
Following these sessions, guitarists Ilić and Nastasić departed, replaced by Predrag Ostojić "Preža" on guitar and Ivan Fece "Firchie" on drums. This lineup made its live debut in 1980 as the opening act for Električni Orgazam at Novi Sad’s club No. 1. In 1981, they performed at Festival Omladina and supported Film at Novi Sad’s Danube park handball playground. After a June show at Belgrade’s KST club, internal conflicts led to the exit of bassist Oslovčan and guitarist Ostojić. Tišma assumed sole guitar duties while former Pekinška Patka member Zoran Bulatović "Bale" joined as bassist. Although preparing for a mini tour arranged by Muzička Omladina alongside Lačni Franz, Čista Proza, and Fotomodeli, the band ultimately dissolved despite positive audience feedback. Subsequently, Tišma, Fece, and Bulatović established Luna.
Reformation phase (1984–1987)
Following Luna's dissolution in 1984, Tišma reunited La Strada with Danijel Stari on bass, former Luna keyboardist and vocalist Jasmina Mitrušić "Mina," guitarist Žolt Horvat, and drummer Robert Radić. Early in 1985, Džuboks magazine recognized La Strada as the year’s most promising act. Their track "Želje" was included on the compilation Ventilator 202 vol. 3. After successful gigs across Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Zagreb, they recorded their debut album at Radio Novi Sad's studio under producer Mitar Subotić (Rex Illusivi). The entire album was completed within a single day; however, Tišma expressed dissatisfaction with his vocal performance due to fatigue after watching Live Aid.
Initially considered for release by PGP RTB editor Petar Popović, the recordings were ultimately rejected by his successor Oliver Mandić. In 1987, music editors at Radio Novi Sad decided to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of Randevu sa muzikom by releasing limited editions (500 copies) of both La Strada's album and Rex Illusivi's work. Contrasting with Luna’s debut sound, La strada presented a more subdued and melodic style influenced by 1960s psychedelic rock paired with Tišma’s poetic lyricism. The album featured radio-friendly tracks such as "Okean," which also received a promotional video.
Following the album release, Jasmina Mitrušić and Danijel Stari left; they were succeeded by guitarist Zoran Lekić "Leki" and young bassist Ilija Vlaisavljević "Bebec". This configuration performed live while developing material for a second album. Nevertheless, after a late-1987 concert in Subotica, Tišma decided to disband La Strada once again, leaving their sophomore album unreleased.
Activities Following the Split
Once La Strada ceased to exist, Tišma shifted his focus away from music toward literature, publishing two poetry collections titled Marinizmi (1995) and Vrt kao to (1997). His earlier literary works were featured in various magazines and later compiled in the volume Blues Diary - Pitoma religiozna razmišljanja (2001). Tišma also penned the autobiographical novel Urvidek (2005) and crafted the libretto for Andraš Urban's multimedia pseudo-opera Kralj šume. Meanwhile, Mitrušić completed her studies at the Musical Academy and moved to Italy. In 2001, she took part in the project Pesme iznad istoka i zapada, which involved Serbian rock artists setting Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović’s poetry to music. The year 2004 saw Tišma and Mitrušić come together again with Luna for a performance at the Exit festival. Additionally, Tišma performed solo at Pančevo's Grrr! festival, with the recording eventually issued as La Strada’s official bootleg album Grrr! 2004, limited to 150 CD copies. In 2012, Tišma earned the esteemed NIN Award for his novel Bernardijeva soba.
Enduring Influence
La Strada’s legacy continues to resonate within Serbia’s music landscape, evidenced by numerous covers from prominent bands. Novi Sad’s indie rock group Boye integrated Tišma’s lyrics from "Mlad i radostan" into their 1990 song "Ja sam radosna". The alternative rock band Veliki Prezir from Vrbas recorded a rendition of "Okean" featured on the 1999 compilation Korak napred 2 koraka nazad. Niš-based punk band Novembar covered "Mlad i radostan" on their 2008 release Radulizam. Belgrade’s alternative ensemble Horkestar performed "Neautentičan sneg" live accompanied by a large choir. Notably, "Okean" was ranked 39th on Radio B92’s Top 100 Domestic Songs list in 2006, underscoring La Strada’s lasting significance in Serbia’s rock history.
Band Lineup
Previous members
- Slobodan Tišma "Deda" – vocals, guitar (1979–1981, 1984–1987)
- Daniel Stari – bass guitar (1979–1981, 1984–1987)
- Dragan Nastasić – guitar (1979–1980)
- Siniša Ilić "Siki" – guitar (1979–1980)
- Boris Oslovčan "Bora" – bass guitar (1979–1981)
- Siniša Sekulić "Sekula" – drums (1979–1980)
- Predrag Ostojić "Preža" – guitar (1980–1981)
- Ivan Fece "Firchie" – drums (1980–1981)
- Zoran Bulatović "Bale" – bass guitar (1981)
- Jasmina Mitrušić "Mina" – keyboards, backing vocals (1984–1987)
- Žolt Horvat – guitar (1984–1987)
- Robert Radić – drums (1984–1987)
- Zoran Lekić "Leki" – guitar (1987)
- Ilija Vlaisavljević "Bebec" – bass guitar (1987)
Albums
- La strada (1987)
Live Recordings
- Grrr! 2004 (2011)
Contributions to Compilations
- "Želje" (from Ventilator 202 vol. 3; 1985)
- "On" / "Sat" (featured on Hokej klub Virginitas; 1988)
References
- NS rockopedija, novosadska rock scena 1963-2003, Bogomir Mijatović; Published by SWITCH, 2005
- EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006, Petar Janjatović
- Biographies of Luna and La Strada on Slobodan Tišma's unofficial blog
External links
- Serbian new wave musical groups
- Serbian post-punk music groups
- Serbian alternative rock groups
- Serbian indie rock groups
- Yugoslav rock music groups
- Serbian neo-psychedelia groups
- Serbian indie pop groups
- Musical groups from Novi Sad
- Musical groups established in 1979
- Musical groups disbanded in 1987
- 1979 establishments in Serbia
- Musical groups disestablished in 1987