Patrola
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia |
| Defunct | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Zagreb , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Music albums |
Patrola (translated as Patrol) was a new wave band originating from Zagreb in 1980, during the Yugoslav music movement. Although their career was short-lived and they produced only a single studio record, Patrola held a significant position within the Yugoslav new wave genre.
History
The band Patrola came into existence in 1980, with members Renato Metessi (vocals), Aleksandar Mićunović "Amigo" (guitar), Damir Molnar (guitar), Staško Adlešić (bass), and Dragan Simonovski (drums). By the end of that year, they had gained recognition through performances at Zagreb’s Lapidarij venue during the YU Rock Moment festival, sharing the stage with key new wave performers. In January 1981, they also took part in the Pozdrav iz Zagreba festival held in Belgrade.
Their debut album, U sredini, was released in 1981 via Suzy Records. The production was handled by Husein Hasanefendić "Hus" from Parni Valjak and included guest guitar work by Rastko Milošev. The album showcased a fusion of new wave, power pop, and ska elements, generating popular tracks such as "Ne pitaj za mene," "U sredini," and "Čovjek bez slobode." However, during the album’s promotional activities, internal disagreements caused Metessi to leave the group; he subsequently established the successful band Zvijezde.
Following this departure, the original members disbanded. Molnar later reformed Patrola with a new lineup featuring vocalist Mladen Bodalec, bassist Zorislav Preskavec, and drummer Goran Markić. This ensemble recorded a second album titled Tragovi noći, which ultimately was never released due to Molnar’s conscription into mandatory military service. This circumstance led to Patrola’s final dissolution.
Post breakup
After the breakup of Patrola’s first formation, Mićunović and Simonovski created the band Tora along with bassist Mladen Megyery and keyboardist Darko Anić. Tora produced one self-titled album in 1983 before disbanding. Subsequently, Simonovski became a member of Dorian Gray. Meanwhile, Bodalec provided backing vocals on Prljavo Kazalište’s 1983 release Korak od sna and later took over as their lead singer in 1985, succeeding Davorin Bogović. In the late 1980s, Preskavec joined Parni Valjak as their bassist.
Legacy
The track "Ne pitaj za mene" was later interpreted by Croatian pop artist Ivana Banfić in 1993 as a single and was also covered by Serbian punk rock group Novembar on their 2008 album Radulizam.
Studio albums
- U sredini (1981)