Nicu Covaci

Nicu Covaci
Nicolae Covaciu

Nicu Covaci performing live with Phoenix at Sala Palatului, Bucharest, 17 November 2006.
Background information
Birth name Nicolae Covaciu
Born April 19, 1947 (1947-04-19) (age 64)
Timişoara, Romania
Genres Hard rock, folk, heavy metal
Occupations Musician
Instruments Guitar, Vocals
Years active 1960–present
Associated acts Phoenix

Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci (born 19 April 1947 in Timişoara, Romania) is a Romanian painter, music composer, best known as the leader of Romanian Rock and cult band Phoenix, for which he is vocalist and guitar player, with more than 40 years of activity.

Contents

Biography

Nicolae Covaci was born in Timişoara, on 19 April 1947. He took up playing guitar at the age of 15 and in 1962 he, together with Moni Bordeianu, founded a band called Sfintii (The Saints).

1960s

  • 1962: Nicolae Covaci founds the student band "Sfintii" (The Saints) in Timişoara. The band wins second prize at the Bucharest Student Festival. From the very beginning the band is criticized for having a western European influence.
  • 1963: The band's recordings of their own compositions first receive radio air play.
  • 1965: The Saints are banned. The authorities accuse the band of spreading religious propaganda, and the band is forced to change its name. PHOENIX is born. Under their new name, the band plays three times a week at the School of Engineering cantina, and later at "Lola", the club of the Construction Industry Union in Timişoara.
  • 1968: PHOENIX wins the Grand-Prix of the Romanian Festival in Iasi. The band receives its first recording contract and makes regular appearances on radio and TV. PHOENIX releases its first record "Vremuri"(Times), an EP with four songs.
  • 1969: The band wins prizes for creativity and interpretation at the Romanian student festival at the School of Architecture in Bucharest. Their second four-song EP called "Floarea stincilor" (The flower of the rocks) is released.

1970s

  • 1970: PHOENIX again wins a prize at the Romanian student festival at the School of Architecture in Bucharest- this time for originality.
  • 1971: The band changes its style and finds its own direction, inspired by pre-Christian rites and customs of the Balkans. Their third EP "Mesterul Manole" is released with three songs. PHOENIX is invited to play at the "Bratislawa Lyra" and "Sopot" festivals in Czechoslovakia and Poland-the band is a big hit.
  • 1972: Cei ce ne-au dat nume (The Ones Who Gave us the Name), the band's first LP is released. After the release of the second LP with the metaphoric title Mugur de fluier (Flute bud) the authorities ban PHOENIX from appearing in Romania.
  • 1973: Cantafabule is released. It is their first double LP and a milestone in Romanian music history.
  • 1974: PHOENIX plays concerts with the ensemble "The Drummers from Brăneşti", a group of 25 men from a small village in the Carpathians, who play traditional rhythms on different drums.
  • Leaving 1976: Nicu Covaci renounces his Romanian citizenship and leaves Romania for Amsterdam. Nicu Covaci founds a new band with musicians of different nationalities.
  • 1977: Covaci returns to Romania and helps the members of his band escape. He hides his boys in the Marshall speakers and smuggles them across four borders through half of Europe to Germany.

1980s - the new Phoenix

  • 1978: The band breaks up. The band members leave Covaci and try to make it on their own under the name "Madhouse".
  • 1981: PHOENIX releases its first production in English, the LP Transsylvania Phoenix. The band disintegrates anew.
  • 1983: Nicu Covaci plays with Dzidek Marcinkiewicz as a duo.
  • 1986: Nicu Covaci and Erlend Krauser contribute to the production of Evita in Osnabrück.
  • 1987: "The Lark" + "Ballade for You". Nicu Covaci contributes to the production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Osnabrück.
  • 1988: Release of the single "Tuareg" + "Mr. G's promises".

1990s - Covaci returns to Romania

  • 1990: PHOENIX launches a gigantic come-back in Romania. The band raffles off 5000 singles of "Ciocirlia".

Monumental tours in Romania.

  • 1992: Nicolae Covaci produces the CD Symphoenix with the Romanian choir "Song" and the Radio Bucharest Symphonic Orchestra.
  • 1993: The CD version of Cantafabule is released.
  • 1994-1997: Various tours in Romania.
  • 1997: The CD Aniversare 35 (35th Anniversary) is released. Vremuri - Anii 60 is released on CD.
  • 1998: PHOENIX is going on big Romania-Tour with the mamut-show Cantafabule.
  • 1999: Cei ce ne-au dat nume and Mugur de fluier are released on CD.

PHOENIX releases a new 3 song maxi-CD with Numai Una, Iovano, and Ora-Hora and performs November concerts in Germany at "Works" and "Erdbeerblau" in Osnabrück, and in the "Osterfeldhalle" in Esslingen

2000s

  • 2000: Spring tour in Romania. For the first time in history, a free CD is given with each ticket purchased. 35,000 Maxi-CDs are given as gifts.
  • 2000: The CD In the Shadow of the Big Bear is released. It expresses Nicu Covaci's disappointment with the current situation in Romania.
  • 2000: December Germany Tour: In the Shadow of the Big Bear.
  • 2001: The CD In the Shadow of the Big Bear sung in English by Malcolm J. Lewis is released.

Baba Novak (2005) A new album, called Baba Novak is released. The guitarist Cristi Gram joins the band in 2004. The release of the album is followed by a tour of the band in many cities of Romania.

Break-up (2007) Following some conflicts between Nicu Covaci and the vocalist of the band, Mircea Baniciu, the latter leaves Phoenix. Soon, the bassist, Ioji Kappl, and the violinist, Mani Neumann, leave the band. While Mani continues his musical activity with his band "Farfarello", in Germany, Mircea Baniciu hooks up with Ioji Kappl and form a new folk duo.

2008 - Back to the Future In 2008, Nicu Covaci re-built up the band, and the new membership of the band include, beside Covaci, Moni Bordeianu (the first vocalist of the band), Bogdan Bradu (vocals), Dzidek Madenkiewic (Keyboard), Volker Vaessen (bass), Ovidiu Lipan Tandarica (Drums) and Cristi Gram (Guitar). The album Back to the Future is recorded, including some songs composed by Moni Bordeianu during the time he was in the USA.

2010 - SymPhoenix The band carries out a new musical project, called Sym Phoenix, with the Symphonic Orchestra of Bucharest. The show had its premiere on 28 April 2010 in Bucharest.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Transsylvania Phoenix — Phoenix Mircea Baniciu, Nicu Covaci Josef Kappl, Ovidiu Lipan Ţăndărică Background information Also known as Transsylvania Phoenix …   Wikipedia

  • Mircea Florian (musician) — Mircea Florian Also known as Florian din Transilvania M. A. N. Florian FloriMan Born December 5, 1949 (1949 12 05) (age 61) Satu Mare, Romania Genres Folk revival, f …   Wikipedia

  • Transsylvania Phoenix — Phoenix Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Progressive Rock Gründung 1962 Auflösung 1981 Neugründung 1984 Websi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Miklós Kovács (footballer) — Nicolae Covaci redirects here. For the musician, see Nicu Covaci. Nicolae Kovács Personal information Date of birth 29 December 1911(1911 12 29) …   Wikipedia

  • List of Romanians — Note: Names that cannot be confirmed in Wikipedia database nor through given sources are subject to removal. If you would like to add a new name please consider writing about the person first. If a notable Romanian is , please add your request… …   Wikipedia

  • Timişoara — otherusesof|TimişInfobox Settlement subdivision type = Country subdivision name = ROU timezone=EET utc offset=+2 timezone DST=EEST utc offset DST=+3 map caption = Location of Timişoara nickname = Little Vienna|official name=Timişoara image shield …   Wikipedia

  • List of 12-string guitar players — The twelve string guitar is an acoustic or electric guitar with twelve strings (four tuned an octave apart), which produces a richer, more ringing and jangly tone than a standard six string guitar. Notable performers include: Acoustic* Daron… …   Wikipedia

  • André Demptos — est un auteur dramatique français, né en 1953 à Langon (Gironde). De son vrai nom André Blanc, Il fut l élève de Laurence Constant chez René Simon. Il a écrit Le mirage de Gilda (créé en 1990 à Paris par Aude Brenner, Anahita et La danseuse au… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Demptos andré — André Demptos André Demptos est un auteur dramatique français, né en 1953 à Langon (Gironde). Il fut l élève de Laurence Constant chez René Simon. Il a publié Le mirage de Gilda (créé en 1990 à Paris par Aude Brenner, Anahita et La danseuse au… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Temesvar — Timişoara  Roumanie Judeţ de Timiş Timişoara Statut : Chef lieu …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”