Kerber

Infobox musical artist
Name = Kerber


Img_capt =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Niš, Serbia
Genre = Hard rock Heavy metal Rock
Years_active = 1981 – present
Label = ZKP RTLJ, PGP RTB, PGP RTS, Take It Or Leave It, Raglas Records
Current_members =
URL = [http://www.kerber.co.yu/ www.kerber.co.yu]

Kerber (Serbian Cyrillic: Кербер; trans. "Cerberus") is a Serbian and former Yugoslav hard rock / heavy metal band. The band is considered one of the top acts of the former Yugoslav hard rock and heavy metal scene.

Band history

1980s

The original band members of Kerber are vocalist Goran "Gale" Šepa, guitarist Tomislav Nikolić, keyboardist Branislav "Bane" Božinović, drummer and the band's songwriter Zoran Stamenković and bass guitarist Zoran Madić. In 1981, formerly known as Top ("Cannon") in Niš and the South East of Serbia, the band changed it's name to Kerber under the conceptual and artistic direction of it's drummer, Zoran Stamenkovic. In November 1981 Kerber had its first concert in Muzički klub in Niš. During 1982 the band had numerous concerts in Niš and the South East of Serbia, while working on the material for their first album. In early spring of 1981, Madić left the band due to his army obligations. He was replaced by former Mama Rock and Plamteće Nebo member Zoran "Sosa" Žikić. In May 1983, Kerber won the first place at Omladinski Festival in Subotica with the song "Mezimac". Several days later, Kerber was an opening act for Galija on their concert in Tašmajdan, Belgrade.

In July 1983, Kerber recorded their debut LP "Nebo je malo za sve" ("The Sky Is not Big Enough for All") with Nightwing's bass guitarist Gordon Rowley as a producer. In December 1983, Kerber was an opening band on Uriah Heep concerts in Yugoslavia. At about the same time, Kerber's "Nebo je malo za sve" was released, bringing hits "Mezimac", "Nebo je malo za sve" and "Heroji od staniola". In January 1984, during the tour through Macedonia, first Zikić, and then Stamenković contracted infectious hepatitis. In March of the same year, Kerber performed at the music festival in Opatija. Stamenković was temporarily replaced by Generacija 5 drummer Boban Đorđević and Madić briefly re-entered the bass player's post for this occasion. Despite very good performance, Kerber did not fit well in the pop format of the Opatija festival with their hard rock sound. After returning to Kerber, Žikić continued his attractive on-stage performance: he played an axe-shaped guitar and performed fire breathing. On May 19, 1984, during the band's open air concert in Novi Sad, Sosa got second-degree burns while attempting to breath fire under windy conditions. He continued the concert despite doctor's advice, and later on continued the tour with bandages on his face. After this episode, other members forbid Žikić to continue performing fire breathing act. In June 1984 Kerber was an opening act for Nightwing concerts in Yugoslavia. In August drummer Zoran Stamenković returned to the band for the summer performances in Greece.

In December 1984 Kerber traveled to England to record their second album, "Ratne Igre" ("War Games"). The album was recorded in Saughall, and the producer was again Gordon Rowley from Nightwing. During their staying in England, Kerber performed in Liverpool and Chester. English language version of "Mezimac" entitled "Get Me Out" was recorded on their concert in Liverpool and included on the album. In May 1985, only a week after "War Games" was released, Stamenković went to serve the army and Boban Đorđević replaced him once again. In May 1985 Kerber performed on Marakana at a concert which was a part of YU Rock Misija. In October that same year, drummer Boban Đorđević was replaced by former Mama Co Co, YU grupa and Leb i Sol member Dragoljub Đuričić. In November Kerber was awarded with Smeli Cvet (Courageous Flower), an award which was given by League of Communist Youth of Serbia for contribution to rock music. In July 1986 keyboardist Bane Božinović was replaced by Milorad Džmerković, former member of Slomljena Stakla and Peđa D'Boy band.

In 1986 Kerber recorded their third studio album "Seobe" ("Migrations"), which was produced by Kornelije Kovač. "Seobe", considered to be Kerber's magnum opus, included numerous hits: "Hajde da se volimo", "Čovek od meda", which featured Riblja Čorba frontman Bora Đorđević on vocals, ballads "Kad ljubav izda" (which featured a qote from Pero Zubac's poem "Mostar Rains") "Još samo ovu noć mi daj", power ballad "Bolje da sam druge ljubio, a haunting ballad "Seobe". Following the success of "Seobe" Kerber performed more than 200 concerts across Yugoslavia. In 1988 the band released album "Ljudi i bogovi" ("Humans and Gods"), produced by Đorđe Petrović. Major hits were "Svet se brzo okreće", "Od srca daleko" and ballad "Na raskršću". In the summer of that same year, Žikić left the band, and was replaced by former Bulevar, Suncokret and Idoli member Branko Isaković. On December 12, Kerber recorded their first live labum "121288". The album was not well received and after its release the band members made a two-year break.

1990s

At the end of 1990, the band released their fifth studio album "Peta strana sveta" ("The Fifth Side of the World"), which was produced by Saša Habić. For a retrospective evening of Belgrade Spring Festival, Kerber recorded a cover of Zdravko Čolić's song "April u Beogradu". After this event, the band made a long break in their work, during which they recorded music for a play "Blues smile". At the beginning of 1996 band released "Zapis" ("Inscription"). The album introduced new members: Saša Vasković (bass guitar), Josip Hartl (drums), Wacha Jones (acoustic guitar), and Goran Đorđević (percussion). In January 1996 they held an unplugged concert in Studio M in Novi Sad. The recording of this concert was later released on the album "Unplugged". In 1998 the band released two compilation albums: "Antologija 1982 - 1998 I" ("Anthology 1982 - 1998 I") and "Antologija 1982 - 1998 II" ("Anthology 1982 - 1998 II"), with the detailed overview of their work.

In 1998 Kerber celebrated their 15th anniversary with a concert held in Niš fortress. Pilot single "Sveti Nikola" was released, but the recording of the album was postponed. In 1999 Kerber performed as an opening band on Ronnie James Dio concert in Sofia.

2000s

During the 2000s Kerber, although officialy active, performed rarely. On February 9, 2006, the band reunited for the first time after twenty three years in its original lineup to perform in the building of Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad. Singer Goran Šepa performes actively with a former Smak and current Generacija 5 and Deliverance INC vocalist Dejan Najdanović under the name Najda & Gale.

Discography

tudio albums

*"Nebo je malo za sve" (ZKP RTLJ 1983)
*"Ratne igre" (ZKP RTLJ 1984)
*"Seobe" (PGP RTB 1986)
*"Ljudi i bogovi" (PGP RTB 1988)
*"Peta strana sveta" (PGP RTB 1990)
*"Zapis" (PGP RTS 1996)

Live albums

*"121288" (PGP RTB 1989)
*"Unplugged" (PGP RTS 1998)

Compilations

*"Antologija 1982 - 1998 I" (Raglas Records 1998)
*"Antologija 1982 - 1998 II" (Raglas Records 1998)

References

*EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006, Janjatović Petar; ISBN 978-86-905317-1-4

ee also

*Serbian rock
*SFR Yugoslav Pop and Rock scene