Mandrage
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Plzeň , Czech Republic |
| Products | Pop rock music |
Mandrage was a pop rock ensemble originating from Plzeň, Czech Republic, active between 2001 and 2020. The band consisted of Vít Starý (vocals, guitar), Matyáš Vorda (drums), Josef Bolan (vocals, guitar), Michal Faitl (bass guitar), and František Bořík (keyboards). Their well-known tracks included "Šrouby a matice", "Františkovy lázně", "Hledá se žena", "Na dlani", and "Motýli".
Formation and early years: 2001–2004
In 2001, inspired by their fathers who played in the band Mediterian, Vít Starý and Matyáš Vorda began performing together under the initial name Mandraže, which was later modified to Mandrage. They started by covering songs before moving on to composing their own music. From 2002 to 2003, the duo performed with various acquaintances until the lineup became more stable following the addition of Josef Bolan and Michal Faitl. By 2004, František Bořík joined the group, finalizing the band's roster.
Debut releases and touring: 2005–2010
Mandrage independently released their first album, Říkala, že jí trápí cosi, in 2005. The subsequent year saw them sign with Universal, leading to the release of Přišli jsme si pro vaše děti in 2007. That year, they received nominations for Discovery of the Year at both the Anděl Awards and the Óčko Music Awards. During this phase, Mandrage also served as opening acts for established groups such as Peha and Wanastowi Vjecy.
The 2009 album Hledá se žena featured a title single that achieved notable success on Czech music charts. This track fueled their inaugural major tour named after the song itself and earned them the Óčko Music Award in the Rock category. Additionally, they were nominated at leading award ceremonies including the Anděl Awards and Óčko.
Decade milestone and ongoing work: 2011–2019
Celebrating ten years in 2011, Mandrage embarked on the "Tour 10 let Mandrage," performing in countries including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. They released their fourth studio album titled Moje krevní skupina and secured Band of the Year honors at the Anděl Awards. Multiple singles from this period received substantial radio play, contributing to another Óčko award win in rock.
Following this, Mandrage conducted a tour supporting Moje krevní skupina. They achieved second place for Song of the Year and first place for Group of the Year at the Anděl Awards, alongside ranking fourth in Group of the Year at Český slavík. The band also earned a nomination for Best Czech & Slovak Act at the MTV Europe Music Award.
After intensive touring and festival appearances in 2013, Mandrage released Siluety, which was met with favorable critical reception. This release was supported by tours throughout Czechia and Slovakia.
In 2015, their album Potmě jsou všechny kočky černý marked a stylistic transition towards dance music. This was followed by two additional albums: Po půlnoci in 2018 and Vidím to růžově in 2019.
Disbandment: 2020
In December 2019, Mandrage announced an indefinite pause on their activities following their scheduled "Dlouhej únor" tour in 2020, citing frontman Vít Starý's personal challenges as a reason. Prior to commencing the tour, communication with Starý ceased. The band managed only one concert at Prague's Karlín Forum, where guest performers such as Adam Mišík, Mirai Navrátil, Anna K, Debbi, Sebastian Navrátil, and Tereza Balonová substituted for Starý. The remainder of the tour was officially cancelled in January 2020.
Band members
- Vít "Víťa" Starý – lead vocals, guitar
- Matyáš "Mates" Vorda – percussion
- Josef "Pepa" Bolan – lead vocals, guitar
- Michal "Coopi" Faitl – bass guitar
- František Bořík – keyboard instruments
Discography
- Říkala, že jí trápí cosi (2005)
- Přišli jsme si pro vaše děti (2007)
- Hledá se žena (2009)
- Moje krevní skupina (2011)
- Siluety (2013)
- Potmě jsou všechny kočky černý (2015)
- Po půlnoci (2018)
- Vidím to růžově (2019)
- The Best Of (2007–2020) (2020)