Tunel (band)

Tunel (Serbian Cyrillic: Тунел, trans. Tunnel) was a Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade.

History

1980 – 1992

The band was formed in 1980 by Ljuba Ninković (a former S Vremena Na Vreme member, guitar), Vladimir "Vlada" Janković "Džet" (a former Crni Biseri member, bass guitar), and Steva Stevanović (a former SOS member, drums).^[1] The band presented themselves with the melodic classic rock-isnpired sound, and during the initial years performed mostly on collective concerts with other bands.

In 1982, they released their debut album Noćni prolaz (Night Passage), produced by Robert Nemeček, through Jugodisk.^[2] Five tracks were written by Ninković, and four by Janković.^[3] The album featured minor hits "Natali", "Radio", "Svako je zna" ("Everybody Knows Her"), and "Volim sax" ("I Love Sax"), and a cover of Steppenwolf song "Born to Be Wild".^[4] In 1983, the band released Niz tri tamne ulice (Along Three Dark Streets), also produced by Nemeček, also through Jugodisk.^[5] Besides the tracks written by Ninković and Janković, the album featured "A sad je svemu kraj" ("And now It's All Over"), a cover of a Bobby Womack song.^[6]

In 1984, the band was joined by the guitarist Vlada Negovanović (a former Butik, Doktor Spira i Ljudska Bića, and Slađana Milošević's backing band Ljudi member).^[7] This lineup recorded the album Elektirčna iluzija (Electric Illusion), produced by Đorđe Petrović and released in 1984 through PGP-RTB.^[8] In 1987, the band released the album Do poslednje kapi... (Till the Last Drop...), produced by the band themselves and Bata Kostić, through PGP-RTB.^[9] The album featured a Serbian language cover of Willie Dixon's song "Little Red Rooster", entitled "Crveni petao" ("Red Rooster").^[10] The album featured Kostić (on guitar) and Ninković's former bandmate from S Vremena Na Vreme, Asim Sarvan (on vocals) as guest musicians.^[11] In May 1985, Ninković participated in YU Rock Misija, the Yugolsav contribution to Live Aid, and on June 15, Tunel, alongside 23 other acts, performed on Red Star Stadium, on the concert which was a part of YU Rock Misija.

In 1987, Negovanović moved to Dejan Cukić's Spori Ritam Band (and later to Bajaga i Instruktori). The band's new member became Predrag Guculj,^[12] who previously performed with Rambo Amadeus. In 1991, the band released the album Bubnjevi preko reke (Drums on the Other Side of the River), produced by themselves, through PGP-RTB.^[13] The song "Bela lađa" ("White Boat") featured rock veteran Branko Marušić "Čutura" on vocals. The album featured a Serbian language cover of The Doors song "Love Street", entitled "Ulica ljubavi".^[14] The song "Još uvek (volim sax)" ("I Still (Love Sax)") featured guitarist Borko Mitić, and the album also featured Bilja Krstić, Asim Sarvan, and Željko Marinković on backing vocals, and Saša Lokner on keyboards.^[15] In 1992, when Ninković started working with reunited S Vremena Na Vreme, Tunel disbanded.^[16]

Post breakup

In 1996, Raglas Records released the greatest hits compilation It's Only Rock 'n' Roll.^[17] Janković started working as a Radio 202 editor and host. With the guitarist Boban Birtašević (a former Siluete member) and the drummer Jovan Ljubisavljević "Kića" (a former Crni Biseri member) he formed his Vlada Jet Band.

Discography

Studio albums

• Noćni prolaz (1982)
• Niz tri tamne ulice (1983)
• Električna iluzija (1984)
• Do poslednje kapi... (1987)
• Bubnjevi preko reke (1991)

Compilation albums

• It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1996)

Singles

• "Radio" / "Svako je zna" (1980)
• "Natali" / "Svako je zna" (1981)
• "Srečna Nova godina" / "A ti me samo gledaš" (1981)
• "Ne plaši se" / "Jo Jo" (1987)

References

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

External links

• Tunel at Discogs