Poll (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Kostas Tournas, Robert Williams, Stavros Logaridis, Kostas Papaioannou |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Athens , Greece |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Poll was a Greek pop ensemble established in 1971 by Kostas Tournas, Robert Williams, Stavros Logaridis, and Kostas Papaioannou. Recognized as a landmark Greek band of the 1970s, their groundbreaking lyrics deeply connected with the youth of Greece. Their repertoire is esteemed as among the finest in Greek music history. Poll holds the distinction of being Greece's most commercially triumphant band to date.
Origins
Childhood companions Kostas Tournas and Robert Williams initiated their musical journey in 1964 with the group Teenagers, producing their debut track "You don’t love me".
By 1967, the group had adopted the name "Dinos and the X-Rays," but disbanded shortly after due to Tournas’s military enlistment and Williams’s two-year residence in Rhodesia.
Eventually reuniting, they joined forces with Stavros Logaridis to create a new band, which was initially formed without professional aspirations. The name "Poll" was chosen after considering alternatives such as "Paul" (inspired by Paul McCartney) and "Omega Limited". Alongside Nostradamos, Poll emerged as one of Greece’s earliest pop bands.
Poll
Embracing the motto Poll is love, the band adopted a stylized dove as their emblem. Their debut performance occurred at Pedion tou Areos in Athens. They rose to prominence by playing folk rock infused with hippie culture influences at Athens venues Kyttaro and later Elatirio, drawing inspiration from groups like Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young. New additions included vocalist Nasia Sandi and drummer Kostas Papaionannou; vocalist Despina Glezou also briefly joined before embarking on a solo path.
The group held rehearsals at the residence of Kostas Charalambides’ grandmother; Charalambides, employed by Greek record label Elladisk (a Philips affiliate), assisted in submitting their demo to Christos Fasolas of Elladisk, which led to securing a recording deal.
In April 1971, Poll launched their first single through Polydor: "Anthrope Agapa" (Mankind Love Each Other) accompanied by "Ela Ilie Mou" (Come My Sun). Stavros Logaridis contributed during this session and soon became an official member.
Debut album
September 1971 saw the release of Poll’s inaugural album Anthrope... (Άνθρωπε...), which later editions included the track "Anthrope Agapa." The album achieved sales of 200,000 copies, an unprecedented accomplishment for a Greek band at that time. It introduced innovative musical elements and was notably packaged in a gunny sack.
The song "Anthrope Agapa, ti Fotia Stamata" (Mankind Love Each Other, Stop the Gunfire) is acknowledged as Greece’s first anti-war rock anthem, released amid the Greek military junta of 1967–74. Drawing inspiration from the Vietnam War and echoing the hippie mantra Make love not war, it became a significant hit blending political activism with countercultural sentiments. Additional prominent tracks included "Poll Means Love," "Ela Ilie Mou," "Stin Pigi Mia Kopela" (A Girl At the Fountain), and "I Genia Mas."
In spring 1972, Poll recorded the hit single "Aety" (Eagles) paired with "I Genia Mas." Later that year, they performed "Molyvies Fotografies" (Sketches) at the Thessaloniki Song Festival, subsequently releasing it with "Oses Fores" as its B-side.
Lefko and dissolution
Following Anthrope..., their sophomore album Poll—commonly referred to as Lefko (Λευκό, meaning White) due to its minimalist white cover inspired by the Beatles' White Album—was released. This final record featured songs such as "Ελένη" (Eleni), "Πες της μαϊμούς να μη με πειράζει με το δάχτυλό της" ("Tell The Monkey Not To Disturb Me With Its Finger"), and "Ξημερώνει" ("It's Dawn"). Additionally, the album's packaging included a comic book narrating the band's journey.
By late 1972, shortly before their split, Williams had assumed the role of principal songwriter, succeeding Tournas who had previously dominated the band's creative output. Their concluding live appearance occurred in January 1973 during Nikos Mastorakis's New Year's television special on YENED TV, where they performed their popular track "Aety" ("Eagles").
Poll disbanded soon after releasing Lefko, as Tournas opted to embark on a solo path. He attributed the group's end to an artistic necessity unmet within the band, emphasizing that he could not suppress his creative drive for sentimental reasons. Tournas reflected on the breakup as a significant loss, admitting that while there had been hopes for longevity, forcing Poll's continuation as a business venture seemed unfeasible.
Reunions
On 24 September 1982, Poll came together once more for a concert at Lycabettus, which was recorded and subsequently issued as an album. This event sparked renewed interest leading to re-releases of their initial two albums, both of which had become sought-after collector’s items. Another performance at Lycabettus took place in September 1991, generating speculation about an ongoing reunion that ultimately did not come to fruition.
Message and impact
In contrast to many of their contemporaries in pop music, Poll engaged with sociopolitical issues beyond conventional romantic themes. Their hit "Anthrope Agapa" stood out as an anti-war statement, while several other songs addressed challenges faced by youth during the junta era, including societal prejudices against long hair. Their love songs were distinguished by inventive rhythmic patterns featuring notable dynamic variations. Poll's concerts across Greece consistently drew large audiences, highlighted by their sold-out performances at Athens' Elatirio club in 1972.