Alen Islamović facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alen Islamović
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Islamović performing in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alija Islamović |
| Born | 17 August 1957 Bihać, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Labels | Nimfa Sound |
Alija "Alen" Islamović (born August 17, 1957) is a famous rock singer from Bosnia. He is best known as the lead singer for two very popular bands from the former Yugoslavia, Divlje jagode and Bijelo Dugme.
Islamović was born in the town of Bihać. He first discovered music when his older brother brought home a record player. He spent his childhood listening to records and learning the lyrics to songs.
Contents
Music Career
Learning to Rock
Guided by his older brother, Islamović learned to play the guitar. In 1974, he started playing bass guitar in a band called Bag. He also became the singer, since he knew so many songs from his brother's record collection.
His band became popular in their local area. They played many concerts in towns like Prijedor, Drvar, and Banja Luka. Islamović was inspired by famous rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and another Yugoslav band, Bijelo Dugme.
Joining Divlje Jagode
After his first band broke up, Islamović took a break from music. He even played football for a local club, Jedinstvo. After serving in the army, he received an exciting invitation. Sead Lipovača, the founder of the band Divlje jagode (which means "Wild Strawberries"), asked him to be their new singer.
The beginning was challenging, but the band soon became a huge hard rock success across Yugoslavia. They were so popular that in 1984, Islamović was asked to join the even bigger band, Bijelo Dugme. However, he decided to stay with Divlje jagode at that time.
Eventually, Divlje jagode broke up, and Islamović returned home to Bihać. He thought about quitting music and getting a regular job. But another offer from Bijelo Dugme was about to change his mind.
The Bijelo Dugme Years
When the singer for Bijelo Dugme left, the band's leader, Goran Bregović, asked Islamović to join them again. This time, he accepted the offer. Bregović chose Islamović not just for his voice, but also for his professional and healthy lifestyle.
Islamović handled his new fame well. After every big concert tour, he would return to his hometown of Bihać. There, he would run his own cafe, go fishing, and play table tennis.
In 1989, Islamović had to leave a tour early because of a kidney health problem. This unexpected break turned out to be the end of Bijelo Dugme for a long time. The band went on a 15-year hiatus, or break.
During his time with the band, Islamović recorded two hit studio albums: Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo (1986) and Ćiribiribela (1988). He also recorded a live album, Mramor, kamen i željezo (1987). Joining Bijelo Dugme made him one of the most famous musicians in the region.
Solo Work and Reunions
After recovering his health, Islamović recorded a solo album in 1989 called Haj, nek se čuje, čuje, haj, nek se zna. When the Bosnian War began, he moved to Zagreb and continued his music career.
In 2002, he recorded a duet called "Lopov" with the popular singer Indira Radić. The song was a massive hit. He worked with her on two more songs in 2007 and 2011.
In 2005, Islamović joined the other members of Bijelo Dugme for three huge reunion concerts in Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Belgrade. It was the first time the band had performed together since 1989.
He also formed a group called "4 Asa" with other famous musicians. Later, he joined a Bijelo Dugme tribute band called "B.A.T. Together" with the other two former singers of the band, Željko Bebek and Mladen Vojičić Tifa. They toured the world from 2006 to 2010.
Recent Years
Islamović continues to perform and create music. In 2014, he released a new solo album called Alcatraz.
He also reunited with Goran Bregović for a 40th-anniversary tour for Bijelo Dugme. They performed shows across Europe and the United States, playing the band's classic songs for thousands of fans. In 2017, he toured the United States again with Bregović and Tifa, bringing the music of Bijelo Dugme to a new generation of fans.
Personal Life
Islamović currently lives in his hometown of Bihać. He is married and has two daughters. He is also the president of the Una Gem Tennis club in Bihać, which he helped fund.
Discography
With Divlje jagode
- Stakleni hotel (1981)
- Motori (1982)
- Čarobnjaci (1983)
- Vatra (1985)
- Wild Strawberries (1986)
With Bijelo Dugme
- Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo (1986)
- Ćiribiribela (1988)
- Mramor, kamen i željezo (1987) (Live album)
Solo Albums
- Haj, nek se čuje, čuje, haj, nek se zna (1989)
- Gdje je moj rođeni brat (1992)
- Bauštelac (1994)
- Nema meni bez tebe (1995)
- Samo nebo zna (1999)
- Istok, zapad, sjever, jug (2001)
- Alcatraz (2014)
- Tajno (2019)
