Zlatni Prsti
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | Zaječar , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Rock music, new wave music |
Zlatni Prsti (in Serbian Cyrillic: Златни Прсти, meaning The Golden Fingers) was a rock group originating from Zaječar in 1970, active within the Yugoslav music scene.
Under the leadership of guitarist and lead singer Momčilo Radenković, Zlatni Prsti became a prominent name in 1970s Yugoslav rock. During the late 1970s, as the Yugoslav new wave scene gained momentum, the band rebranded themselves as Nokaut (Serbian Cyrillic: Нокаут, translated as Knockout) and embraced a new wave style. Despite this shift, they struggled to maintain their earlier success and ultimately disbanded in the early 1980s. The group briefly reunited in 2012 and again in 2016.
1970–1981
The band was established in 1970 by brothers Momčilo (guitar) and Slobodan Radenković (bass), along with Dragan Batalo on keyboards and Dragan Trajković on drums. Initially, Jovan Rašić served as the vocalist.[1] After Rašić left to join Generacija 5, Momčilo Radenković assumed vocal duties.[1] Their breakthrough came when they won first place at the Zaječar Gitarijada Festival in 1974, which led to their inclusion on a compilation album from the Radio Belgrade program Veče uz radio with the track "Naša pesma" ("Our Song").[1] That same year, they performed at the Subotica Youth Festival presenting "Pevam ti poslednji put" ("I Sing to You for the Last Time"), featured on the live compilation Gde je ljubav: Omladina '74.[2] They returned to this festival in 1975 with "Budi hrabra".[1]
Their first full-length album, titled Zlatni Prsti, was released through PGP-RTB in 1976 and was recorded within an eighteen-hour session.[1] Most of the compositions were crafted by Momčilo Radenković with lyrics penned by Mirko Glišić.[1] Unhappy with PGP-RTB's contract conditions, the band moved to Diskos, where they issued a single featuring "Reših da se ženim" ("I Decided to Get Married") and "Posebna si uvek bila" ("You Were Always Special").[1] Later, their affiliation shifted to Jugoton, under which they released several singles including their first major hit across Yugoslavia, "Igraj rege" ("Dance to Reggae") in 1977.[1] That year also saw their participation on the live album Pop parada 1, alongside well-known Yugoslav groups like Parni Valjak and Time.[1] They contributed the song "Ne mogu sam da budem brigada" ("I Can't Be a Brigade just by Myself") to Brigadirska pesma, an album supporting youth labor initiatives.[1] Furthermore, Zlatni Prsti performed at the sixth edition of the BOOM Festival alongside other leading regional acts.[3]
In 1979, they released their second studio album entitled Nokaut!, after which they officially changed their band name to Nokaut.[1] This period also brought lineup adjustments: Dragan Batalo left temporarily due to compulsory military service and was replaced by Dušan Maslać from Prava Stvar; Slobodan Radenković exited to focus on his pizzeria business and was succeeded by Jovan Nikolić.[1]
As the 1980s commenced amid a growing wave of new wave bands, Nokaut experienced a decline in popularity.[1] Their efforts to embrace new wave influences through singles met with modest results; meanwhile, ballads featuring Momčilo Radenković’s distinctive vocals attracted some attention.[1] The group disbanded shortly afterward.[1]
Post-breakup activities
Towards the end of the 1980s, Momčilo Radenković, along with Batalo and Trajković, participated in creating two albums for folk vocalist Boban Zdravković, titled Klinka (1988) and Praštam ti, dušo (1989), both issued under Boban Zdravković & Zlatni Prsti. Additionally, Radenković composed music for several Serbian folk performers and fulfilled the role of sound engineer at Radio Zaječar. Throughout the 1990s, he held the position of president for the Zaječar division of the Serbian Renewal Movement and was also at the helm of the Association of Entrepreneurs in Zaječar.
In 1999, Raglas Records brought out a compilation named Zlatna kolekcija, which included some tracks rerecorded by Radenković. Subsequently, in 2007, PGP-RTS combined both studio albums onto a single CD under the title Zlatni Prsti & Nokaut.
Reunions in 2012 and 2016, subsequent events
The band's reunion was sparked by a 2012 documentary directed by Marko Grujić called Tačno u centar (Bullseye), leading to a reunion performance during its premiere event.
In August 2016, Radenković reformed the group to serve as the opening act for the 50th edition of the Zaječar Gitarijada Festival on the 11th.
Momčilo Radenković died in Zaječar on April 20, 2021, after battling a prolonged illness; he was 70 years old.
Studio albums
- Zlatni Prsti (1976)
- Nokaut! (1979)
Compilation albums
- Zlatna kolekcija (1999)
- Zlatni Prsti & Nokaut (2007)
Singles
- "Budi hrabra" / "Voli me ljubavi" (1975)
- "Reših da se ženim" / "Posebna si uvek bila" (1977)
- "Igraj rege" / "Prsti od plastike" (1977)
- "Kako da osvojim tebe" / "Istina" (1978)
- "Super finale" / "Ima nešto u tebi što nikom poklonio ne bih" (1979)
- "Žuti taxi" / "Noć već bledi, blizu je dan" (released as Nokaut, 1980)
- "Igraj bugi vugi" / "Kad nemaš gde da odeš" (released as Nokaut, 1981)
Additional contributions
- "Pevam ti poslednji put" featured on Gde je ljubav: Omladina '74 (1974)
- "Posebna si uvek bila" / "Pevajmo ljubavi" included in Pop parada 1 (1977)
- "Ne mogu sam da budem brigada," part of Brigadirska pesma (1977)
External links
- Zlatni Prsti discography at Rate Your Music
- Tačno u centar documentary on YouTube