Divlje jagode (trans. "Wild strawberries") are an ex-Yugoslav and Bosnian heavy metal band formed in 1977. The band are widely considered to be regional pioneers of the heavy metal genre and one of the most popular enduring icons of rock music in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region. In 40 years since its founding, the band have released 12 studio albums, the latest being 2013 release Biodinamička ljubav, several singles, compilation albums, and sold several million records.
Divlje Jagode | |
|---|---|
 Divlje Jagode performing at the 2007 Gitarijada festival. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Bihać, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Hard rock, Heavy metal |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | Jugoton, Diskoton, Logo Records, Nimfa, Croatia Records, One Records |
| Members | Zele Lipovača Livio Berak Damjan Mileković Damjan Deurić Emil Kranjčić |
| Past members | List
|
| Website | www.divljejagode.com |
Biography
1970's - Formation and initital success
Divlje Jagode were formed in 1977 in Bihać by guitarist Zele Lipovača (a former Biseri, Selekcija and Zenit member). Lipovača, a very tallented guitar player from his early years, was what was considered a local wonderkid. He was 22 years old when he formed the band. The first Divlje Jagode lineup featured vocalist Ante Janković, bass guitarist Nihad Jusufhodžić (a former Zenit member), keyboardist Mustafa "Muc" Ismailovski (a former Grešnici member) and drummer Adonis Dokuzović (a former Novi Akordi member).[1] The band achieved high popularity with their first singles: hard rock ballads "Jedina moja" and "Patkica" and a cover of Bosnian folk song "Moj dilbere". In 1978 they released their debut self-titled album Divlje Jagode, which featured, among others, a number of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath inspired songs, a new version of ballad "Jedina moja" and song "Krivo je more", the two of wich became huge hits, and remained so, until today. The album was released by Jugoton, then the largest record label and chain record store in the country. After the album was released the band made a break because part of the band's members' army obligations. Ismailovski joined Srebrna Krila, and Lipovača, alongside Marina Tucaković became spiritus movens of a disco band Mirzino Jato.
1980's - Continued success and breakthrough
In 1980, Divlje Jagode continued their activity in the new lineup: Janković, Lipovača, drummer Nasko Budimlić and bass guitarist, then relatively unknown, Alen Islamović. Unstatisfied by their previous record label's work in promotion of their first album, Lipovača makes a desicion to move to Sarajevo, and to local major record label, Diskoton. With new lineup, the band recorded their second album entitled Stakleni hotel ("Glass Hotel"), which marked their complete shift towards heavy metal. The album was recorded in Belgrade, and released through Diskoton in February, 1981. The album was produced by Lipovača and Enco Lesić. Songs lyrics were written by Elvis J. Kurtovich & His Meteors vocalist Goran Petranović, Marina Tucaković and Islamović. Album's biggest hits were "Autostop" and ballads "Dodirni me, skloni bol" and "Potraži put". On the tour that followed the album release, Divlje Jagode played around one hundred concerts. The most famous concert of the tour certainly was in September, at the Belgrade Hippodrome, where Divlje Jagode played alongside Bijelo Dugme, and Iron Maiden, which played there for first time in this region.
In 1982, lead singer Ante Janković left the band. He decided to start a career as a solo artist, and was dissatisfied with the band's direction toward a much heavier sound. They parted ways amicably. In September 1983, Divlje Jagode released their third studio album Motori ("Motorcycles"), and first with Alen Islamović on vocals. Album was recorded in "Music Park Studios" in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany, and produced by Theo Werdin. This album was a turning pount for the band and is considerd to be a major breakthrough in their carieer so far. The title track became a huge hit, and was considered to be their most famous song, even to this day. Songs "Šejla" (which Islamović wrote for his ex-girlfriend), "Zagrizi rokenrol" and ballads "Nasmiješi se" and "Ne želiš kraj" (written by Janković, before he left the band) were well accepted and brought many new fans for the band. On the tour that followed Motori release, on several occasions they were joined by Janković, their former singer. Following this album, Divlje Jagode was considered as one of the most popular bands in the entire region. They were recipients of several music avards, and were included in many popular magazines at the time.
After finishing their tour, the band starts working on therir follow-up album. Again, the place and the recording studio are the same as with the latest, and November, 1983 marks the release of the album Čarobnjaci ("Wizards"). Lipovača was in charge with production, music and some writing, while Islamović wrote majority of songs. The album didn't achieve the same popularity as Motori, but was received well enough, with title track and song "Metalni radnici" singled out. Durring the album's supporting tour Islamović receives invitation from Goran Bregović to join Bijelo Dugme as the replacement for their current vocalist Zeljko Bebek. Unsure of this proposal, and the fact that Bebek was still a member of the band, Islamović turns down this offer. Another reason is that shortley before that, Divlje Jagode were approached by "Trans Atlantic Records" in London for a potential contract, which if proven successfull would mean the band's possibile breakthrough on Eurpoean and even world market. Tensions between the band, especially with Islamović and Lipovača began to rise around this time, though they were temporarily withdrawn by Islamović's desicion to stay.
By the end of the year Divlje Jagode got another musician within their ranks. It was bass guitarist Zlatan Ćehic "Ćeha". This would mean that Islamović will concentrate only on vocals, and with this lineup, the band start work on their next studio album. Recording and mixing were done in studios "RTV Sarajevo" in Sarajevo, and "Music Park Studios" in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, as was the case with their previous releases. In March 1985, again through Diskoton, studio album entitled Vatra ("Fire"), was released. Music and compositionig was done by Lipovača, while Islamović and Slobodan Đurasović did the writing. The album was produced by Theo Werdin, who also wrote the song "Touch Me Little Girl", the only song the record wrote and performed in english language. Although with a bit less commercial success than prevous recordings, the album was well received, with several hit songs like "Ciganka", "Let na drugi svijet", "Divljakuša, and "Moja si".
Soon after they finished their tour, the band signed a contract with British record company Logo Records, located in London. This would mean recording and toruing in Enngland, with much awaited opportunity for international success. This was a feat not yet accomplsihed by any other band from this region. Divlje Jagode, from that point on, would perform by their name, translated in english language: Wild Strawberries.
1986-1990 - Wild Strawberries and lineup changes
In 1986 they started recording an English language album with new bass guitarist Zlatan Čehić. Eight of their old songs were rerecorded with English language lyrics and the album featured two new songs, "Fire on the Water" and "Wild Boys". Album featured keyboardist Don Airey as guest musician. At this time Lipovača was approached to join Whitesnake as lead guitarist[citation needed], but refused focusing on Wild Strawberries career.[citation needed] Adopting a glam metal outlook, the band performed at The Marquee and a number of English clubs. The pilot single with song "Shayla" was released, but being suspicious about Wild Strawberries' success in Great Britain, Islamović accepted Goran Bregović's invitation and joined Bijelo Dugme, and Wild Strawberries' debut release was delayed. Album Wild Strawberries appeared in 1987, but the band did not have any live performances following the album release. Wild Strawberries was soon released in Sweden, Germany, Italy and Netherlands.
The same year Budimlić temporarily retired. Stevie Doherty, vocalist of the band Zero Zero from Glasgow was approached to join the band, but eventually Mladen "Tifa" Vojičić, the former Bijelo Dugme singer, joined the band as the new frontman. The album Konji was recorded by Lipovača, Tifa, Čehić, keyboardist Vladimir Podany (a former Armija B member) and drummer Edin Šehović (a former Country Carma, Bandoleros and Tusk member). It featured rerecorded "Divlje jagode" from their first album and a cover of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Turkish March. This lineup did not last long either: in the middle of 1988, during a tour, Tifa, Podany and Šehović left the band. Čehić took over the vocals and the drums were played by Dragan "Điđi" Jankelić. In 1989 the former Osmi Putnik frontman Zlatan Stipišić became the new Divlje Jagode vocalist. This lineup recorded demos, helping Lipovača sign a five-year contract in the United States, but that project was never realised, and Divlje Jagode disbanded.
1990s
During the Yugoslav wars Lipovača lived in London and Zagreb. After releasing his solo album Magic Love Lipovača reunited Divlje Jagode. In 1994 they released album Labude, kad rata ne bude ("Swan, when there Is no more War"). In 1996 Lipovača, Budimlić, bass guitarist Sanin Karić and vocalists Žanil "Žak" Tataj and recorded a softer, ballad-oriented album Sto vjekova ("Hundred Centuries").
2000s
At the end of 1990s Lipovača, Budimlić and Thomas Balaz and vocalist Pero Galić recorded Divlje Jagode latest album Od neba do neba ("From Sky to Sky") which was released in 2003. First Divlje Jagode singer Ante Janković, as well as other former members Žanil Tataj, Emir Cerić, Livio Berak and Marko Osmanović, joined the band on their live performances on several occasions. In 2006 the band released the single "Piramida", which was accompanied with a music video. On January 25, 2012, the band released a new single "Ne, Nisam Ja", which will be also released on the band's new album. The music video was shot in Sarajevo.[2] In February and March 2012, Jagode went on tour in Australia, performing three concerts in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on "On the Road Again" tour.[3]
2013
Divlje Jagode released a new album, called Biodinamička Ljubav, after a 10-years break. The album featured 11 songs. The line-up consisted of Zele Lipovača (guitars, backing vocals), Livio Berak (vocals), Damjan Deurić (keyboards), Nasko Budimlić (drums) and András Ispán (bass). Guest musicians were Žanil "Žak" Tataj (vocals), Ivana Peters (vocals), Vladimir Kmoniček (vocals), Zlatan "Čeha" Čehić (bass) and Vlatka Pokos (backing vocals).
Members
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Divlje jagode (1979) (Wild Strawberries)
- Stakleni hotel (1981) (Glass Hotel)
- Motori (1982) (Motorcycles)
- Čarobnjaci (1983) (Wizards)
- Vatra (album) (1985) (Fire)
- Wild Strawberries (1987) - as Wild Strawberries
- Konji (1988) (Horses)
- Labude, kad rata ne bude (1994) (Swan, when the war is gone)
- Sto vjekova (1997) (100 Centuries)
- Od neba do neba (2003) (From Heaven to Heaven)
- Biodinamička ljubav (2013) (Biodynamic love)
Compilations
- Najbolje (1986)
- Sarajevo, ti i ja (1993)
- Antologija 1 (1995)
- Antologija 2 (1995)
- The Very Best Of: Let na drugi svijet (2004)
- The Ultimate Collection (2008)
- The Love Collection: Najljepše ljubavne pjesme (2011)
- Greatest Hits (2015)
Singles
- "Jedina moja" / "Rock 'n' Roll" (1977)
- "Moj dilbere" / "Prijatelj" (1977)
- "Patkica" / "Kad bi vi, gospođo" (1978)
- "Nemam ništa protiv" / "Bit će bolje" (1979)
- "Piramida" (2006)
- "Ne, nisam ja" (2011)
- "Evo banke cigane moj" (2016)
References
- ^ Duraković, Jasmina (February 7, 2012). "Pitam se jesam li čarobnjak ili svirač". Oslobođenje. p. 37. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ^ Divlje jagode - novi singl i video spot. party.hr. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ^ Australian Tour 2012 - Melbourne - Brisbane - Sydney Welcome to the Show![permanent dead link]. divljejagode.net. Retrieved April 14, 2012.