Galija Band

[Abigael Ortyl]

Thecentral figures of the band are brothers Nenad Milosavljević (vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica) and Predrag Milosavljević (vocals). A large numbrer of musicians passed through the band, with Milosavljević brothers and drummer Boban Pavlović being the only mainstay members. The band's first several releases were progressive rock-oriented, bringing them a loyal fanbase, but in the mid-1980s the band moved towards more mainstream-oriented sound. In the mid-1980s, the band was joined by guitarist Jean Jacques Roskam and multi-instrumentalist Bratislav "Bata" Zlatković. This lineup of the band cooperated with poet Radoman Kanjevac on the album trilogy consisting of Daleko je Sunce (1988), Korak do slobode (1989) and Istorija, ti i ja (1991), which featured provocative political-related lyrics and with which they achieved huge mainstream popularity. The band managed to sustain their popularity throughout the 1990s, but went on a hiatus at the end of the decade. Since their return to the scene in the mid-2000s, the band remains one of the top mainstream acts of the Serbian rock scene.

Galija frontman Nenad Milosavljević started performing as a singer-songwriter while still in his teenage years.[1] Influenced by the hippie movement, he performed his songs playing acoustic guitar and harmonica.[1] He had his first public appearance in 1975, on the Evening of Poetry and Music at the Niš Film Festival,[2] performing his own songs and songs by Jos Feliciano.[1] The performance brought him the attention of the press.[3] In 1976 he performed at the Subotica Youth Festival and Belgrade Spring Festival.[1] At the time, the popular acoustic rock band Lutajuća Srca included the song "Ta je ulica meni znana" ("That Street is Known to Me"), composed by Milosavljević, into their repertoire, which brought him new media attention.[4] He composed music for plays by the Niš Puppet Theatre, the Niš Student Theatre and the Niš Youth Theatre and the amateur theatre Treća polovina (Third Half).[4]

On 11 April 1977 Nenad Milosavljević held a concert in the Niš National Theatre, on which he was accompanied by the members of the band Dva Lustera (Two Chandeliers).[1] After the concert, Milosavljević and Dva Lustera members agreed to start working together as a band.[1] They chose to name the band Galija after the famous kafana in Niš,[1] a gathering place for Niš rockers.[5] The first lineup of Galija featured Nenad Milosavljević (guitar and vocals), Goran Ljubisavljević (guitar), Predrag Branković (bass guitar), Nenad Tančić (drums) and Branislav Stamenković (keyboards).[1] Tančić soon left the band because of his mandatory stint in the Yugoslav army, and was replaced by Boban Pavlović, who would, during the following years, remain one of rare permanent members of the band.[1] Initially, in addition to their own songs the band performed covers of songs by The Rolling Stones, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Genesis and other foreign acts.[6] In 1978, with the new keyboard player, Zoran Stanković, Galija won the first place at the Gitarijada festival in Zaječar.[1] At that time they used to appear on stage in 18th century uniforms.[1] Several months after Gitarijada, they performed at the Subotica Youth Festival with Ljubodrag Vukadinović playing the keyboards.[1] During 1978 they performed as the opening band on Smak tour, and at the end of the year they performed at the BOOM Festival in Novi Sad.[1]

In 1979 the band released their debut album Prva plovidba (The First Sail) through PGP-RTB record label to mixed reviews by the critics.[7] However, the tracks "Avanturista" ("Adventurer"), "Gospi" ("To the Lady") and "Decimen" became first hits for the band.[1] Nenad Milosvaljević's brother Predrag Milosavljević appeared on the album on vocals as a guest musician, and also wrote most of the album lyrics.[1] The band went on a promotional tour, during which they performed in Niš on the amphitheater in the Niš Fortress, the concert featuring a chamber music choir.[8] In 1979 the band also appeared on Bijelo Dugme's Rock Spectacle on JNA Stadium, on which they performed alongside Bijelo Dugme, Kako, Mama Rock, Formula 4, Aerodrom, Opus, Senad od Bosne, Boomerang, Prva Ljubav, Prljavo Kazalište, Tomaž Domicelj, Metak, Suncokret, Parni Valjak, Generacija 5, Siluete and other acts.[9] After the festival, Ljubisavljević, Branković and Vukadinović left the band. The bass guitarist Zoran Radosavljević, the guitarist Dušan Radivojević and the keyboardist Nebojša Marković became the band's new members.[1]

In 1980 the band released their second album, Druga plovidba (The Second Sail). The album was produced by Gordi guitarist Zlatko Manojlović.[1] The songs were composed by Nenad, and the lyrics were written by Predrag Milosavljević.[1] Druga plovidba was the first Galija album to feature Predrag Milosavljević as the official band member.[1] The band promoted the album in their homecity with a concert in Čair Hall. The concert featured guest appearance by Zlatko Manojlović.[10] During the summer Galija performed in Makarska on the Adriatic shore; during the following years they would continue to hold regular concerts in the town.[1] During the same year the band performed at the Split Festival, playing at Plinara, stari stadion "Hajduka" with Azra, Metak, Drago Mlinarec, Generacija 5, Senad od Bosne, Aerodrom, Dado Topić and other acts.[11] In Zenica the band performed on the Bilino Polje Stadium, alongside Riblja Čorba, Maja Odžaklievska, Davorin Popović, Aerodrom, YU Grupa and Vatreni Poljubac, on a concert organized as a celebration of Radio Zenica 11th anniversary.[12] At this time Galija achieved huge success with the audience in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and until the beginning of Yugoslav wars the band had the biggest fanbase in Bosnia.[1] The Yugoslav press, although mostly critical of the band's second album, praised their concerts, especially Nenad Milosavljević's charismatic on-stage appearance.[13] In 1980 Pavlović left the band to serve his stint in the Yugoslav Army, and was replaced by Zoran Stamenković.[1] In 1981 the band performed, alongside Pomaranča, Tunel, Radomir Mihajlović Točak Trio, Piloti, Bulevar, Siluete and other acts, at the second edition of Belgrade Rock Festival in Pionir Hall in front of some 10,000 people.[14]

In 1982, the album Ipak verujem u sebe (Nevertheless, I Believe in Myself) was released, bringing hits "Još uvek sanjam" ("I'm Still Dreaming") and "Burna pijana noć" ("Stormy Drunken Night").[1] The album was recorded with new guitarist, Branislav Radulović.[15] At the beginning of 1982, Boban Pavlović returned to the band.[1] In 1982 Galija performed as the opening band at Joe Cocker's concert in Pionir Hall in Belgrade.[1] At the beginning of 1983 they toured Bosnia and Herzegovina with YU Grupa and Buldožer,[15] and on 10 June 1983 they held a big concert at Belgrade's Tašmajdan Stadium with Potop (The Flood) and Kerber as the opening bands.[1] Potop leader, keyboardist Saša Lokner, soon became Galija's new keyboardist.[1]

In October 1983 Galija recorded their fourth studio album Bez naglih skokova (Without Bounces), which marked the band's shift away from progressive rock towards more mainstream-oriented sound..[1] The album, released in 1984, was recorded in Manchester and was produced by Nightwing bass guitarist Gordon Rowley (who previously worked with another band from Niš, Kerber), and mixed in California.[1] The material was offered to record label Jugoton, but the label refused the material, so the band once again signed with PGP-RTB.[16] Unlike the band's previous releases, Bez naglih skokova did not bring any hits.[1] After the album release, the band performed, together with Bajaga i Instruktori, Laboratorija Zvuka and Leb i Sol, on a fundraising concert in Sarajevo, dedicated to the victims of the 1983 Kopaonik earthquake.[17] At the end of 1984, Galija were voted "The Best Live Act on the Shore" by Split youth.[1] During the year, the band started to hold regular concerts in Music Club 81 in Niš, on which they performed covers of foreign rock hits.[1] During the same year, Lokner joined Bajaga i Instruktori, and was replaced by Aleksandar Ralev.[1] Jean Jacques Roskam, a Belgian of Zaire origin, soon joined Galija as the lead guitarist. Roskam previously played in the Belgian band Machiavel and in the Yugoslav groups D' Boys and Peđa D' Boy Band.[1]

In 1986, the band released the album Digni ruku (Raise Your Hand), with the title track becoming a hit.[1] The band wanted the album cover to feature a provocative image of the Hero of Socialist Labour Alija Sirotanović with a blindfold, which the record label refused.[18] The album featured Roskam's song "Winter's Coming", with lyrics written by Dani Klein, the singer of the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios.[1] After the album release, Radulović left the band.[19]

The second part of the trilogy, Korak do slobode (One Step to Freedom) was released in 1989.[21] The album was produced by Saša Habić.[21] While Daleko je sunce lyrics were written by both Kanjevac and Predrag Milosavljević, the lyrics for Korak do slobode were written by Kanjevac only, much to Predrag Milosavljević's dissatisfaction.[23] The song "Sloboda" ("Freedom") featured Kerber frontman Goran Šepa on vocals.[21] The album hits included "Na tvojim usnama" ("On Your Lips"), "Kopaonik", "Korak do slobode" and "Kad me pogledaš" ("When You Look at Me").[21] Roskam's reggae song "Ljubavna pesma" ("Love Song") had ironic lyrics dealing with the growing nationalism in Yugoslavia.[21] Korak do slobode saw similarly good reception as Daleko je sunce. During the year, the magazine Pop Rock proclaimed "Na tvojim usnama" the Song of the Year,[24] and Nenad Milosavljević won the Composer of the Year Award at MESAM festival, although Zlatković was the composer of the album's biggest hits.[21] The band promoted the album with a concert in Belgrade Youth Center[25] and an open-air concert in Dušanova Street in Niš in front of some 20,000 people.[26] After these performances, new bass guitarist, Dušan Karadžić, joined Galija.[21]

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