Rok Mašina
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Robert Nemeček, Zoran Božinović, Vidoja Božinović, Vladan Dokić |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Rok Mašina (; translated as Rock Machine) was a Yugoslav band specializing in hard rock and heavy metal, established in Belgrade in 1980. The group was formed by ex-members of the progressive and hard rock ensemble Pop Mašina—namely Robert Nemeček (vocals, bass) alongside brothers Zoran and Vidoja Božinović (guitars). Rok Mašina produced a single studio album, Rok Mašina, before dissolving in 1982 amid the creation of their follow-up record. Some tracks intended for their second album were later issued on the influential 1983 mini-album Izrod na granici.
1980–1982
Rok Mašina was initiated in 1980 by former members of Pop Mašina, including Robert Nemeček (vocals, bass) and the Božinović brothers, Zoran and Vidoja (guitars), with Vladan Dokić (previously of Pop Šou and Opus) on drums. The band adopted a heavier and more straightforward style compared to the complex progressive/hard rock approach of Pop Mašina.[1]
Their first live appearance occurred in 1980 at the Pozdrav iz Beograda event held in Zagreb.[2] That same year, they released a 7-inch single featuring the songs "Vatra" ("Fire") and "Bilo mi je bolje" ("I Felt Better").[2] In 1981, their sole studio album, Rok Mašina, was launched through Jugodisk.[2] This record featured lyrics penned by actresses Dragana Stanaćev and Koviljka Milić from Teatar Levo, as well as backing vocals contributed by Ljuba Ninković (formerly of S Vremena Na Vreme) and Dragan Popović (formerly of DAG).[2] Produced by Nemeček,[3] it combined fresh compositions with reworked versions of "Vatra" and "Bilo mi je bolje".[2] Following the album's release, Dragan Đorđević (ex-Generacija 5) took over drumming duties from Dokić.[2]
With new wave music gaining momentum across Yugoslavia, Rok Mašina encountered shrinking commercial opportunities and ultimately disbanded in 1982 during the recording sessions for their second album.[2] Their last public performance took place at the Belgrade Rock Festival inside Pionir Hall in September of that year.[2]
Post-breakup
The unfinished material from Rok Mašina’s second studio effort was issued by Jugodisk in 1983 as the mini-album Izrod na granici (meaning Bastard on the Border). This release included a live rendition of "Bilo mi je bolje," recorded during their final show at the 1982 Belgrade Rock Festival. The track "Promašen san" ("Failed Dream") incorporated a sample of Aleister Crowley’s voice. The original cover art, created by Jugoslav Vlahović, depicted two hands pierced by feathers alongside the band's logo and title in red; however, Jugodisk rejected this design due to its perceived political sensitivity.
After Rok Mašina ceased activity, Zoran Božinović stepped away from music but re-entered the scene in the late 1990s with the blues rock band Zona B. He passed away on 12 July 2004. Meanwhile, Vidoja Božinović pursued architectural studies at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture, occasionally performing in blues venues and with the jazz group Interaction before joining the well-known band Riblja Čorba in 1985. Robert Nemeček transitioned into media roles, serving as film program editor at RTV Politika, later working at TV Pink, Radio Television of Serbia, and eventually becoming editor-in-chief at TV Avala.
In 1994, "Nulti čas" ("Zero Hour") was featured on Komuna’s compilation Pakleni vozači: Jugoslovenski hard rock (Hell Riders: Yugoslav Hard Rock). Later, in 2001, One Records issued a compilation entitled Rok Mašina, which encompassed all tracks from their debut album along with those from Izrod na granici.
Robert Nemeček released a Pop Mašina anthology box set called Antologija 1972 – 1976 in 2008. Prompted by Vidoja Božinović, he followed up with Rok Mašina’s compilation Antologija 1980 – 1983 in 2015 through Multimedia Music. This remastered anthology contained every official release, previously unreleased recordings, and an extensive band biography. A highlight was "Umbra Zonule" (Latin for "Twilight Zone"), originally performed by Nemeček’s 1960s group Dogovor iz 1804. and later recorded by Rok Mašina.
Robert Nemeček passed away in Belgrade on 8 January 2024.
Legacy
In 2012, the Serbian alternative rock group Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša performed a rendition of Rok Mašina's track "Granica" ("Border") for the New Year's Eve program Bunt (Rebellion) broadcast by Radio Television of Serbia. Later, in 2019, the Serbian blues rock ensemble Texas Flood featured the same song on their cover album titled Tražim ljude kao ja (I'm Looking for the People like Me). Additionally, the song "Nulti čas" was interpreted in 2018 by the Serbian heavy metal band Orvel 69 on their eponymous EP.
Studio albums
- Rok Mašina (1981)
- Izrod na granici (1983)
Compilations
- Rok Mašina (2001)
- Antologija 1980 - 1983 (2015)
Singles
- "Vatra" / "Bilo mi je bolje" (1980)