Grupa I ( sr-Cyrl, Група И; trans. ''Group I'') was a

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

n and Yugoslav rock 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 1979. Although short-lived. the group was a prominent act of the late 1970s and early 1980s Yugoslav rock scene. The band was formed in 1979 by Dejan Kostić (guitar), Predrag Mijović (guitar), Branko Kojić (bass guitar), Branko Kuštrin (drums) and Branko Bogićević (vocals). After the release of the band's debut 7-inch single during the same year, Bogićević left the band, Kojić taking over the vocal duties. The band's debut album, ''Na svom talasu'' (1980), presented a combination of diverse musical influences, primarily

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

, but also

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a subgenre of rock music and form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, ...

, ska and reggae. After the album release, Mijović left the band, Grupa I continuing as a trio. With their second album, ''I zvuci za I ljude'' (1981), the band joined in on the Yugoslav new wave scene. After the release of the EP ''Nove vrednosti'' in 1982, the group ended their activity, Kostić continuing his career as the leader of the band Du Du A.

History

1979–1982

The band was formed in January 1979 by guitarists Dejan Kostić and Predrag Mijović, bassist Branko Kojić (former Zdravo member), drummer Branko "Mango" Kuštrin (former Tarkus member), and vocalist Branko Bogićević. The lineup recorded their debut 7-inch single "Sestra Vera" ("Nurse Vera"), with "Miris ulice" ("The Smell of the Street") as the single B-side, released by PGP-RTB in 1979. The single saw large success with the Yugoslav audience. However, soon after the single release, Bogićević left the band, and bassist Kojić took over the vocal duties. The debut album ''Na svom talasu'' (''Riding Our Own Wave''), released by PGP-RTB in 1980, presented a combination of diverse musical influences –

, ska and reggae. The album was produced by Slobodan Marković, who also played keyboards on some of the songs. The tracks "Tinejdž bluz" ("Teenage Blues"), "G.S.B-S.O.S.", "Mirela" and "Jugo rok" ("Yugo Rock"), the latter featuring quotations from lyrics of songs by Srebrna Krila, Srđan Marjanović and Seid Memić "Vajta" and a sample of chorus of the Vatreni Poljubac song "Doktor za rokenrol" ("PhD for Rock & Roll"), saw most radioplay. After the album release, guitarist Predrag Mijović left the band. He would work with the band on their second studio album, but not as an official member. In 1981, the band, consisting of Kostić, Kuštrin and Kojić only, released the single "Sa tobom, bez tebe" ("With You, Without You"), with "Bekstvo" ("Escape") as the B-side. The B-side appeared on the following studio album, ''I zvuci za I ljude'' (''I Sounds for I People''), which marked the band's shift towards new wave, with more experimental sound than on the band's debut. The album featured prominent tracks "Bekstvo" ("Escape"), "Nove vrednosti" ("New Values") and "Složena procedura opstanka" ("A Complex Survival Procedure"), mainly ska oriented. Guest appearances featured Vuk Vujačić on saxophone and Disciplina Kičme frontman Dušan Kojić "Koja" on backing vocals. In 1981, simultaneously with his work with Grupa I, Kostić formed the band Du Du A. In 1982, Grupa I released the four-track EP ''Nove vrednosti'' through PGP-RTB, featuring a dub version of "Nove vrednosti" produced by Dušan Kojić. Soon after the EP release, the group ended their activity.

Post-breakup

Kostić continued his career as the leader of the influential

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band Du Du A, with which he worked throughout the 1980s and the 1990s. He had also made a guest appearance on the Bebi Dol album ''Ruže i krv'', playing guitar and bass, and wrote the music for Jovan Jovanović's film ''Pejzaži u magli'' (''Fogscapes''). After working with his former band on their second studio album, Mijović retired from music, moving to Botswana. Kuštrin made a guest appearance on the Du Du A debut single "Ja Tarzan ti Džejn" ("I Tarzan, You Jane"), released in 1982. During the same year, in February, he became the drummer of Katarina II, and remained the band member until the following year. He had also performed with Doktor Spira i Ljudska Bića and Električni Orgazam, appearing on their debut self-titled album and the tour following the release of the 1983 cover album '' Les Chansones Populaires''. He committed suicide in 1985.

Legacy

Serbian

band Sinestezija released a cover of Grupa I song "Promene" ("Changes") on their 2016 album ''Snovi o slobodi'' (''Dreams of Freedom'').

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Na svom talasu'' (1980) * ''I zvuci za I ljude'' (1981)

Extended plays

* ''Nove vrednosti'' (1982)

Singles

* "Sestra Vera" / "Miris ulice" (1979) * "Sa tobom, bez tebe" / "Bekstvo"(1981)

References

External links

Grupa I
at Discogs {{Authority control Serbian hard rock musical groups Serbian new wave musical groups Serbian ska musical groups Serbian power pop groups Yugoslav hard rock musical groups Musical groups from Belgrade Musical groups established in 1979 Musical groups disestablished in 1982