Vlada Divljan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vlada Divljan
|
|
|---|---|
Vlada Divljan performing live in 2010
|
|
| Background information | |
| Native name |
Влада Дивљан
|
| Born | 10 May 1958 Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Origin | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Died | 4 March 2015 (aged 56) Vienna, Austria |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1968–2015 |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
Vladimir "Vlada" Divljan (Serbian Cyrillic: Владимир "Влада" Дивљан; born May 10, 1958 – died March 4, 2015) was a famous Serbian singer and songwriter. He was best known as the leader of the Serbian and Yugoslav rock band Idoli. This band helped start the new wave music scene in Yugoslavia during the 1980s. Vlada Divljan also had a successful solo career.
Contents
The Start of a Musical Journey
Early Interest in Music
Vlada Divljan became interested in music in 1968. This happened after he saw a concert by Drago Diklić while on holiday. When he returned to Belgrade, he asked his friends Zdenko Kolar and Boža Jovanović to form a band. Vlada first played a small mandolin. Later, he got a guitar, Zdenko bought a bass, and Boža used a tin barrel as a drum.
Their first band was called Faraoni (Pharaohs). Vlada had a necklace from Egypt with a Tutankhamun medallion. Since another popular band was also called Faraoni, they changed their name to Holipe. Vlada and Zdenko took guitar lessons together. They often skipped school to practice in their building's boiler-room. They practiced there for about ten years.
Zvuk Ulice: A Serious Band
After finishing school, Vlada formed his first serious band in 1976. It was first called Merlin, then renamed Zvuk Ulice (Sound of the Street). The band members were Vlada Divljan (guitar, vocals), Zdenko Kolar (bass), Dragan Mitrić (keyboards), Kokan Popović (drums), and Bora Atić (saxophone).
Zvuk Ulice played a mix of melodic rock, hard rock, and jazz rock. They performed cover songs by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix. They also played their own original music. The band performed at music festivals like Zaječar Guitar festival. Zvuk Ulice stopped playing when Kokan Popović left to join the army.
Idoli: Becoming Music Idols
In late 1979, Vlada Divljan met his high school friend Srđan Šaper at a party. Srđan and his friend Nebojša Krstić wanted to start a band. Vlada jokingly offered to be their drummer. He took them to his basement where he and Zdenko kept their music equipment.
Vlada realized that Srđan and Nebojša couldn't play bass and guitar as they planned. So, he invited his old friends Zdenko Kolar (bass) and Boža Jovanović (drums) to join. The band was first called Dečaci (The Boys). They worked with photographer Dragan Papić, who published their photos in a youth magazine. These photos made the public interested in the band.
The Birth of Idoli
Dečaci changed their name to Idoli (The Idols) on March 1, 1980. At their first rehearsal, Vlada wrote the song "Retko te viđam sa devojkama" ("I Rarely See You With Girls"). Soon after, this song and "Pomoć, pomoć" were recorded. They were released as a gift with the April issue of Vidici magazine.
Positive reviews helped Idoli get a contract with Jugoton, a major record label in Yugoslavia. By the time their single "Maljčiki" came out, Idoli was already working on Paket aranžman (Package Deal). This was a compilation album with various artists. It became one of the most important rock releases in Yugoslavia.
Next, they released the VIS Idoli EP with six new songs. Vlada wrote and sang lead vocals on most of these tracks. The EP sold about 200,000 copies, which was a huge success.
Odbrana i poslednji dani and Čokolada
For their first full album, Kokan Popović, the drummer from Zvuk Ulice, joined Idoli. The album Odbrana i poslednji dani was released in early 1982. This album explored deep topics using an anthropological approach to orthodoxy. Vlada played guitar and piano, and sang lead vocals on most songs.
The Odbrana tour was successful. However, the album only sold 50,000 copies. The record company thought this was a failure. But, critics called it the best album and best album design of 1982. In 1985, "Džuboks" magazine named Odbrana i poslednji dani the best Yugoslav rock record of the 20th century.
Their next album, Čokolada, was recorded in London. Zdenko Kolar was in the army, so Branko Isaković played bass. The album had a very commercial sound and became the band's biggest hit. Vlada did not put as much effort into Čokolada because he was busy with university studies. He wrote "Radostan dan", "Vetar i zastave", and "Ja sam tu".
After a concert in Ljubljana during the Čokolada tour, the band members had an argument. This led to the breakup of Idoli. The last Idoli release was a soundtrack album for the movie Šest dana juna. Vlada wrote the entire soundtrack himself. He considered this album his first solo work.
Vlada Divljan's Solo Career
Yugoslav Years (1985–1991)
After Idoli broke up, Vlada Divljan decided to start a solo career. His album Tajni život A. P. Šandorova was recorded with Aleksandar Šandorov, who usually worked on classical music. The album featured many different music styles. It included instrumental songs like "1986" and "1987". It also had a swing song "Neću ništa da znam" ("I Don't Want To Know Anything"). The hit song "Patuljci" ("Gnomes") used sampled sounds. Vlada used sounds like a Zastava 750 car engine, breaking glass, and cricket sounds.
For the tour of Tajni život A. P. Šandorova, Vlada was joined by Zdenko Kolar (bass), Aleksandar Šandorov (keyboards), and Marko Milivojević (drums). He also worked on soundtracks for TV shows and movies. For the movie "Kako je propao rokenrol" ("The Fall Of Rock 'n' Roll"), Vlada wrote music for one section.
Vlada also worked on children's music projects. He participated in a theater play called "Rokenrol za decu" ("Rock 'n' Roll For Children") with Srđan Gojković Gile. The music from this play was released as an album. Rokenrol bukvar (Rock 'n' Roll Alphabet) was another children's music project. It was the soundtrack for the TV show "Fazoni i fore".
In 1990, Vlada, Piko Stančić, Gile, and Zoran Radomirović Švaba released the album Lutka koja kaže ne (A Doll Who Says No). This album included a cover of Đorđe Marjanović's song "Lutka koja kaže ne". In 1991, Vlada helped Srđan Gojković Gile with the soundtrack album for the movie "Crni bombarder" ("The Black Bomber").
Australian Years (1991–1998)
In August 1991, Vlada Divljan moved to Australia. He played rock songs with local bands and worked at a Serbian radio station. He started working on TV and movie soundtracks. In 1996, he began studying sound design at the University of Sydney. He won awards for his sound design and music for short films.
During a visit to Serbia in 1995-1996, Vlada formed the Old Stars Band. This band included Aleksandar Šandorov, Zdenko Kolar, Srđan Gojković Gile, Marko Milivojević, and Boris Bunjac. They held two concerts in Novi Sad. The music from these shows was released on a live album called Odbrana i zaštita.
In 1997, back in Australia, Vlada worked on a project called "Apartchiks" with Leb i Sol keyboardist Kiril Džajkovski. Their first CD, Dekada (Decade), explored modern music.
Back in Serbia (1998–1999)
When Vlada returned to Serbia for a second time, he recorded the soundtrack for the movie Tri palme za dve bitange i ribicu ("Three Palms For Two Punks and a Chick"). This soundtrack featured new techno-style songs. It also included a new version of the old Idoli song "Pomoć, pomoć".
In July 1998, the Old Stars Band had a successful tour in Slovenia. Vlada also joined Buldožer for some concerts. In the same year, Vlada and his band recorded his comeback album Sve laži sveta. This album was released in 2000. It featured slower songs and a cover of Buldožer's hit "Novo vreme" ("New Age"). The last song, "Rodina," was sung in Russian. It was used in an Australian documentary about a Russian astronaut.
Vienna Years (1999–2015)
Vlada Divljan met Dina, who later became his wife. In January 1999, they had a son named Stevan. When Stevan was two months old, the NATO bombing campaign in Serbia began. Vlada and Dina decided to move to Vienna to raise their child away from war. They planned to stay for a short time, but Vienna became their permanent home. In September 2002, they had a second son, Pavle.
In Vienna, Vlada worked on various sound design projects. He also released an instrumental album called Vlada Divljan presents Die Tonzentrale in 2003. This album combined jazz, blues, pop, rock, and electronic music. He contributed to a tribute album for Milan Mladenović with his song "Radostan dan" ("Joyful Day").
In 2006, Vlada formed a new band called Nevladina Organizacija (Non-Governmental Organization). They performed several live shows. He also started working on a new album called Esperanto. This album was planned to have songs in Serbian, German, and Esperanto. However, the album was never released.
In 2008, he composed music for films like Na lepom plavom Dunavu ("On The Beautiful Blue Danube").
In 2012, Vlada Divljan was diagnosed with appendix cancer. He had surgery the following year. In January 2015, he was admitted to the hospital for an inflammation. He said he felt "very well" and even announced a new single. Sadly, Vlada Divljan died in Vienna on March 4, 2015. His remains were cremated in Belgrade on March 10.
Discography
With Idoli
Solo Works
- Studio albums
- Tajni život A. P. Šandorova (PGP-RTB, 1988).
- Sve laži sveta (Automatik, 2000) – as Vlada Divljan Old Stars Band.
- Vlada Divljan presents Die Tonzentrale (B92 Records, 2003) – as Die Tonzentrale.
- Live albums
- Odbrana i zaštita (B92 Records 1996) – as Vlada Divljan Old Stars Band.
Collaborations
- Studio albums
- Rokenrol za decu (PGP RTB, 1989) – with Srđan Gojković Gile.
- Rokenrol bukvar (PGP-RTB, 1990) – with Srđan Gojković Gile.
- Lutka koja kaže ne (PGP-RTB 1991) – with Srđan Gojković Gile, Ivan Stančić Piko and Zoran Radomirović Švaba.
- Recorded Supplement (Avan Garde Records, 1997) – with Kiril Džajkovski (as Aparatchiks).
- EPs
- Decade (1997) – with Kiril Džajkovski (as Aparatchiks).
- Četiri godišnja doba (2012) – with Ljetno Kino Big Band.
Guest Appearances
- Studio albums
- Tko mari za čari (Jugoton, 1987) – guitar on the track "Ne dozvoli" by Cacadou Look.
- Zaljubiška (PGP RTB, 1991) – writer of the track "Srećna Nova Godina" by Lepa Brena & Slatki Greh.
- Crni bombarder (ZAM, 1992) – guitar and backing vocals on Srđan Gojković Gile soundtrack album.
- Pirat (Round Records, 1999) – guitar on Zona B album.
- First & Last (Automatik Records, 2000) – vocals on Eva Braun version of "Hajde sanjaj me, sanjaj".
- Harmonajzer (PGP RTS, 2002) – guitar on the track "Zato stojim sam" by Električni Orgazam.
- Balcancan (Lithium Records, 2005) – vocals on Kiril Džajkovski's soundtrack album on the track "Baba zumbula".
- Autobus Calypso (Aquarius Records, 2007) – vocals on Cubismo version of "Devojko mala" entitled "Nina Bonita".
- Live albums
- Rocking at the Party Live! (Suzy Records, 1989) – Guest on the Le Cinema live album on the track "Maršal".
- Koncert (Nika, 2005) – Guest on Vlada kreslin's live album on tracks "Malena" and "Dok dobuje kiša".
- Various artists compilations
- Pop-Rok (Beogradsko Proleće '81) (PGP RTB, 1981) – as writer of Slađana Milošević & Ljudi track "Srećan ti rođendan".
Soundtracks
- Kako je propao rokenrol (Taped Pictures, 1989) – with Srđan Gojković Gile and Dušan Kojić Koja.
- Tri palme za dve bitange i ribicu (Favi, 1998).
Various Artists Projects
- Malcziki (Single) – lead vocals on tribute version of "Malcziki" (yugo-wersja).
- Yugoton (BMG, 2001) – did backing vocals on tribute versions of Idoli songs.
- Kao da je bilo nekad... (posvećeno Milanu Mladenoviću) (Circle Records, 2002) – appears on Milan Mladenović tribute album with the song "Radostan dan".
Images for kids
-
Vlada Divljan performing live in 2010
-
Vlada Divljan and Zdenko Kolar performing with Nevladina Organizacija in 2010
