Del Arno Band
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Del Arno Band, sometimes abbreviated to DAB, is a Serbian and Yugoslav
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
band formed in
Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...
in 1986. Del Arno Band are one of the pioneers of Serbian and Yugoslav reggae scenes and are considered the longest-lasting reggae band from the former Yugoslav region. The group was formed by brothers Jovan (vocals, percussion) and Vladan Matić (vocal, guitar, keyboards). Although prior to the band formation reggae influences had been present on the
Yugoslav rock scene Popular music in Yugoslavia includes the pop and rock music of the former SFR Yugoslavia, including all their genres and subgenres. The scene included the constituent republics: SR Slovenia, SR Croatia, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR Montenegr ...
, Del Arno Band are considered the first Yugoslav
roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...
band and the first Yugoslav reggae band to perform their own songs. The band gained prominence in the late 1980s, enjoying considerable mainstream popularity in Serbia during the following decades. During four decades of Del Arno Band's career, more than 150 members passed through the band, including a number of prominent musicians. Up to date, the band has released four studio albums, a live album and several compilations.


History


1980s

Brothers Jovan (vocals) and Vladan Matić (guitar, vocals), fans of
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
music, formed a ten-piece band in 1986, naming it Del Arno Band. Although influences of reggae music had been present in the works of acts from the
Yugoslav rock scene Popular music in Yugoslavia includes the pop and rock music of the former SFR Yugoslavia, including all their genres and subgenres. The scene included the constituent republics: SR Slovenia, SR Croatia, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR Montenegr ...
, especially in the works by Yugoslav new wave bands, Del Arno Band was the first Yugoslav
roots reggae Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of Ethnic groups of Africa, Africans and those in the African Diaspora, including the spiritual side of Rastafari, black liberation, revolution and the ho ...
band and the first Yugoslav reggae band to perform their own songs, with all the songs authored by the Matić brothers. After a series of successful club performanced, the band participated in the 1988
Festival Omladina Festival Omladina (English: ''Youth Festival''), also known as Omladinski Festival, is a music festival held in Subotica, Serbia. The festival was founded in 1961 as a competition of young composers of popular music. Their compositions were init ...
, entering the finals, and eventually appearing on the festival's ''The Best of 237'' various artists compilation with the song "Ne radim" ("I'm Not Working"), which was their dicographyc debut. The song was recorded in the lineup which, beside the Matić brothers, also featured Aleksandar Radosavljević (guitar), Miodrag Vidić (bass guitar), Dragan Vidojević (drums), Vladimir Lešić (percussion), Bruno Garotić (saxophone), Vladimir Vranić (trumpet) and Slobodan Grozdanović (trombone).


1990s

In early 1990, the band released their debut album, ''Igraj dok te ne sruše'' (''Dance Until They Tear You Down''), originally released on
compact cassette The Compact Cassette, also commonly called a cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Ottens and his team at the Dutch company ...
only. Beside their own songs, the album also featured a cover version of the
Burning Spear Winston Rodney Order of Distinction, OD (born 1 March 1945), better known by the stage name Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer-songwriter, vocalist, and musician. Burning Spear is a Rastafarian movement, Rastafarian and one of the ...
song "Happy Day" with lyrics in
Serbian language Serbian (, ) is the standard language, standardized Variety (linguistics)#Standard varieties, variety of the Serbo-Croatian language mainly used by Serbs. It is the official and national language of Serbia, one of the three official languages of ...
and entitled "Ljudi dobre volje" ("People of Good Will"). The album was produced by the band themselves with the help of
Bajaga i Instruktori Bajaga i Instruktori (Serbian Cyrillic: Бајага и Инструктори; trans. ''Bajaga and the Instructors'') are a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1984. Founded and led by vocalist, guitarist and principal compose ...
bass guitarist Miroslav Cvetković. The following year, the band released a
7-inch single In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standa ...
featuring the songs "Bi-Bap" ("Be-Bop") and "Putujem" ("I Am Travelling"). The recording of the band's concert held at Belgrade's Students' Cultural Center on 21 February 1992 was released during the same year on the live album ''Godina majmuna'' (''The Year of the Monkey''). The album also included several previously unreleased songs. Live versions of the band's songs from the album featured numerous
musical quotation Musical quotation is the practice of directly quoting another work in a new composition. The quotation may be from the same composer's work (self-referential), or from a different composer's work (appropriation). Sometimes the quotation is done fo ...
s from reggae songs and a cover version of the popular 1960s Yugoslav schlager "Čamac na Tisi" ("A Boat on the
Tisa The Tisza, Tysa or Tisa (see below) is one of the major rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. It was once called "the most Hungarian river" because it used to flow entirely within the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it crosses several national bo ...
") composed by Darko Kraljić. Following the album release, musical differences caused the lineup to split up, but the Matić brothers managed to ensure a continuity in the band's work by releasing the 1993 compilation album ''Geneza'' (''Genesis''), featuring two newly-recorded songs, "Iza ugla" ("Behind the Corner") and "DAB in dub", and by performing at the January 1994
unplugged Unplugged may refer to: *Acoustic music, music not produced through electronic means * "Unplugged" (B.A.P song), 2014 * "Unplugged" (''Modern Family''), a 2010 episode of ''Modern Family'' Albums and EPs * ''Unplugged'' (5'nizza album), 2002 * '' ...
festival held in Belgrade's
Sava Centar Sava Centar ( sr-cyr, Сава центар) is an international congress, cultural and business center of various multi-functional activities located in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is the largest audience hall in the country and the enti ...
, the recording of their song "Ima mesta za sve" ("There is a Place for Everyone") appearing on the live various artists album '' Bez struje'' (''Unplugged''). After longer hiatus, the Matić brothers reformed Del Arno Band in a new lineup: Jovan Matić (vocals, percussion), Vladan Matić (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Dejan Utvar (drums), Darko Golić (bass guitar), Milan Petrić "Puroni" (percussion), Đorde Ćurčić (guitar), Aleksandar Petković (saxophone), Nemanja Kojić (trombone), Dobroslav Predić (trumpet), Zoja Borovčanin (backing vocals, violin) and Jasmina Abu El Rub (backing vocals, flute). The new lineup released the band' comeback album ''Reggaeneracija'' (''Reggaeneration'') in late 1995. As guests on the album appeared
Ekatarina Velika Ekatarina Velika ( sr-Cyrl, Екатарина Велика, lit=Catherine the Great), sometimes referred to as EKV ( sr-Cyrl, ЕКВ) for short, was a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade, and was one of the most successful and influ ...
keyboardist
Margita Stefanović Margita "Magi" Stefanović ( sr-Cyrl, Маргита "Маги" Стефановић; 1 April 1959 – 18 September 2002) was a Serbian musician best known as a keyboardist of a Yugoslav rock band Ekatarina Velika (EKV). Biography Born in Belgr ...
, the
Andean music Andean music is a group of styles of music from the Andes region in South America. Original chants and melodies come from the general area inhabited by Quechua people, Quechuas (originally from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile), Aymara people, Aymar ...
band Pachamama, the Paganke trio and
Sunshine Sunlight is the portion of the electromagnetic radiation which is emitted by the Sun (i.e. solar radiation) and received by the Earth, in particular the visible light perceptible to the human eye as well as invisible infrared (typically per ...
vocalist Bane Bojović. On the album the band introduced diverse musical influences into their material. The album brought radio hits "Dim iz moje lule" ("Smoke from My Pipe"), "DAB je tu da spaja" ("DAB Is Here to Connect") and "Više nego život" ("More Than Life"). The album also featured a cover version of
Haustor Haustor (transl. ''Passageway'') was a Yugoslav rock band formed in Zagreb in 1979. Haustor is considered one of the most prominent bands of the Yugoslav new wave scene, as well as one of the most notable and influential acts of the Yugoslav r ...
song "Treći svijet" ("The Third World"), expanded with
traditional music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
influences. The following year, the band performed at the reprise of the Sunsplash festival in
Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
, headlined by Misty in Roots. In late 1996, the band appeared on
Kornelije Kovač Kornelije "Bata" Kovač ( sr-Cyrl, Корнелије "Бата" Ковач, ; ; 1 January 1942 – 13 September 2022) was a Serbian composer. Early life Born in Niš during World War II in the Nazi-occupied Serbia to a Hungarian father an ...
's solo album ''Moja generacija'' (''My Generation'') with a cover version of the song "Oj, dodole" ("Oy,
Dodola Dodola (also spelled ''Dodole'', ''Dodoli'', ''Dudola'', ''Dudula'' etc.) and Perperuna (also spelled ''Peperuda'', ''Preperuda'', ''Preperuša'', ''Prporuša'', ''Papaluga'' etc.) are rainmaking pagan customs widespread among different peoples ...
"), originally recorded by Kovač's former band
Korni Grupa Korni Grupa ( sr-cyr, Корни Група, trans. ''Korni Group'') was a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1968. Launched and led by, as well as named after, the keyboardist Kornelije Kovač, the band was one of the first Yugoslav ro ...
. They also participated in the recording of a new version of the Serbian
rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...
Gru Gru is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''Despicable Me'' film series. Gru or GRU may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * Gru (rapper), Serbian rapper * Gru, an antagonist in '' The Kine Saga'' Organizations Georgia (c ...
's hit song "5ak" (a
pun A pun, also known as a paronomasia in the context of linguistics, is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from t ...
for "Friday"), released in 1997. Two years later, in the spring of 1999, during the
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) carried out an aerial bombing campaign against the Serbia and Montenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The air strikes lasted from 24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999. The bombing ...
, the band often held free afternoon concerts at the Belgrade KST club.


2000s

In 2001, the band released the double compilation album ''Retrospective'', consisting of a selection of their most popular songs, demo recordings from the early phase and live material. In 2002, the band appeared on
Ekatarina Velika Ekatarina Velika ( sr-Cyrl, Екатарина Велика, lit=Catherine the Great), sometimes referred to as EKV ( sr-Cyrl, ЕКВ) for short, was a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade, and was one of the most successful and influ ...
frontman
Milan Mladenović Milan Mladenović ( sr-Cyrl, Милан Младеновић; 21 September 1958 – 5 November 1994) was a Yugoslav and Serbian musician best known as the frontman of the Yugoslav art rock band Ekatarina Velika. Early life Born to Serb father S ...
tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century a ...
''Kao da je bilo nekad... Posvećeno Milanu Mladenoviću'' (''Like it Happened... Dedicated to Milan Mladenović'') with a cover of Ekatarina Velika song "Novac u rukama" ("Money in My Hands"). In 2006, after a long work break, the band released their third studio album ''Vreme vode'' (''Time of the Water''). The album featured the material composed by the Matić brothers and recorded in a lineup which, beside them, also featured Đorde Ćurčić (guitar), Marin Petrić (percussion), Dobroslav Predić (trumpet), Aleksandar Petković (saxophone), Veroljub Spasić (a former Petar Pan member, drums), Marko Cvetković (bass guitar), Milan Petrović (keyboards), Mihajlo Bogosavljević (trombone), Tatjana Popović (backing vocals) and Tatjana Šuletić (backing vocals). For the 2007 Serbian language translation of
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...
biography ''Catch a Fire'', Jovan Matić translated Marley's song "
Running Away "Running Away" is a single recorded by Hoobastank. It was the second single released from their self-titled debut album on April 1, 2002. The song peaked at number two on the US ''Billboard'' Modern Rock Tracks chart. Music video In the musi ...
". In 2008, on the invitation by
Laza Ristovski Lazar "Laza" Ristovski (Serbian Cyrillic: Лаза Ристовски, ; 23 January 1956 – 6 October 2007) was a Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms ...
, Del Arno Band recorded a cover of his song "Marija" for his album ''Drvo života'' (''Three of Life''). In August of the same year, Jovan Matić, together with musicians
Dado Topić Adolf "Dado" Topić is a Croatian rock musician. He was the lead singer and founder of Time, a 1970s progressive rock band from the former Yugoslavia. From 1970 to late 1971, he was also the lead singer of the popular prog-rock band Korni Grupa ( ...
,
Nenad Milosavljević Nenad Milosavljević (Serbian Cyrillic: Ненад Милосављевић, born February 6, 1954), also known as Neša Galija (Неша Галија), is a Serbian musician and politician, best known as the frontman of the Serbian and former Yu ...
and Zoran Kostić "Cane", unveiled the monument to Bob Marley in
Banatski Sokolac Banatski Sokolac () is a village located in the Plandište municipality, in the South Banat District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village has a Serb ethnic majority (91,80%) and its population numbered ...
, Serbia. During the same year, Matić published a book of poems entitled ''Što pre to kasnije'' (''The Sooner the Later''), including his lyrics written for Del Arno Band songs.


2010s

In 2011, on
Human Rights Day Human Rights Day (HRD) is list of minor secular observances#December, celebrated annually around the world on 10 December every year. The date was chosen to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December ...
, the band was awarded with the New Optimism Award by the New Optimism Movement from
Zrenjanin Zrenjanin ( sr-Cyrl, Зрењанин, ; ; ; ; ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Central Banat District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The city urban area has a population of 67,129 inh ...
, holding an unplugged performance on the award ceremony. On 29 September 2012, the group performed in
Belgrade Youth Center Belgrade Youth Center (; abbr. DOB) is a cultural center in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, dedicated primarily to youth. History At the corner of the ''Dečanska'' and ''Makedonska'' streets, where the youth center is today, was the locati ...
, on a celebration of the 50th anniversary of
Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
's independence. In 2015, the band recorded the song "Misli" ("Thoughts") for the various artists album ''Hronično neumroni'' (''Chronically Restless''), on which various artists recorded songs on lyrics by poet
Milan B. Popović Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
. The band celebrated 30 years of activity with the release of the
box set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...
''Igraj dok te ne sruše – 30 godina'' (''Dance Until They Tear You Down – 30 Years''). The five-piece box set, released in December 2016, features the band's three studio albums and one live album, as well as a disc with covers and duets originally appearing on various releases and previously unreleased material, including their cover of
Riblja Čorba Riblja Čorba ( sr-Cyrl, Рибља Чорба, pronounced ; ) is a Serbian and former Yugoslav Rock music, rock band formed in Belgrade in 1978. The band has been one of the most popular and most influential acts of the Popular music in the So ...
song "Pravila, pravila" ("Rules, Rules"). In 2019, the band released their fourth studio album, ''Ako ne znaš šta da radiš'' (''If You Don't Know What to Do''), the band's first release recorded without Vladan Matić. The album was previously announced by two singles, "Stari lek" ("Old Medicine") and "Još uvek ima nade" ("There Is Still Hope"), the latter recorded with their former member Nemanja "Hornsman Coyote" Kojić (who, after leaving Del Arno Band, fronted successful band
Eyesburn Eyesburn is a Serbian band that combines hardcore punk and crossover thrash with reggae music. History 1994–2007 The band was formed in 1994, and the original line-up featured former Dead Ideas guitarist Nemanja "Kojot" Kojić (guitar, b ...
). The album was released with a package of
rolling paper Rolling paper is a specialty paper used for making cigarettes (commercially manufactured filter cigarettes and individually made roll-your-own cigarettes). Rolling papers are packs of several cigarette-size sheets, often folded inside a cardbo ...
.


2020s

On 14 February 2025, the band held a concert in Belgrade's Dorćol Platz in honor of Bob Marley's 80th birthday, dedicating the concert to the students leading the 2024–2025 Serbian anti-corruption protests.


Legacy

In 2021, the album ''Reggaeneracija'' was polled No.33 on the list of 100 Best Serbian Albums Since the Breakup of
SFR Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...
. The list was published in the book ''
Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji ''Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji'' (trans. ''How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Came to an End'') is a book by Duško Antonić, published in 2021. The book features a number of Antonić's essays on Serbian rock scene, as well as a list o ...
'' (''How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Came to an End'').


Discography


Studio albums

* ''Igraj dok te ne sruše'' (1989) * ''Reggaeneracija'' (1995) * ''Vreme vode'' (2006) * ''Ako ne znaš šta da radiš'' (2019)


Live albums

* ''Godina majmuna'' (1992)


Compilation albums

* ''Geneza'' (1993) * ''Retrospective'' (2001)


Box sets

*''Igraj dok te ne sruše – 30 godina''


Singles

* "Bi-bap" / "Putujem" (1991)


Other appearances

* "Ne radim" (''Best of 237''; 1988) * "Ima mesta za sve" ('' Bez struje''; 1994) * "Oj, dodole" (''Moja generacija''; 1996) * "5ak" (with
Gru Gru is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''Despicable Me'' film series. Gru or GRU may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * Gru (rapper), Serbian rapper * Gru, an antagonist in '' The Kine Saga'' Organizations Georgia (c ...
; ''Time Out''; 1997) * "Novac u rukama" (''Kao da je bilo nekad... Posvećeno Milanu Mladenoviću''; 2002) * "Marija" (''Drvo života''; 2008)


References


External links


Del Arno Band
at
Discogs Discogs ( ; short for " discographies") is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Database contents are user-generated, and described in ''T ...
{{Authority control Serbian reggae musical groups Serbian pop rock music groups Yugoslav rock music groups Musical groups established in 1986