Piloti (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Piloti


Img_capt = The band at the beginning of their career
Img_size = 250
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Belgrade, Serbia
Genre = New wave
Rock
Pop rock
Years_active = 1981–1997
Label = PGP RTB
PGP RTS
Komuna
Associated_acts = Kako
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Kiki Lesendrić
Dragan Andrić
Goran Bogićević
Nenad Atanasijević
Zoran Obradović Ćera
Safet Petrovac Saja
Miško Plavi
Bane Lesandrić
Notable_instruments =

Piloti (Serbian Cyrillic: Пилоти, English: "The Pilots") was a famous band from Belgrade, Serbia. Initially immersed in the Yugoslav new wave scene, and later moving towards main stream pop-rock, they came to prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the leading pop-rock acts in former Yugoslavia.

Hisotory

1981-1982

The band was formed in 1981 by the former members of Kako, a band whose biggest claim to fame was appearing as one of the seven opening acts before Bijelo dugme's spectacular concert at Belgrade's Stadion JNA in 1979. The inaugural lineup of Piloti was: Zoran "Kiki" Lesandrić (vocals, guitar), Dragan Andrić (bass guitar), Goran Bogićević (guitar) and Nenad Atanasijević (drums).

Their first album "Piloti" was released on August 27, 1981 by PGP RTB and produced by Dragan Jovanović. All songs were composed and written by Lesandrić except "Imam diplomu", "Svi smo mi ponekad anđeli" and "Veseli momci", which he wrote together with Goran Bogićević. Song "Ne veruj u idole" (Eng. "Do Not Believe in Idols") became an instant hit, and was included in all New Wave compilation records.

After the great succes with their debut album, the second one, titled "Dvadeset godina" ("Twenty Years") was released on April 20, 1982 by PGP RTB. Produced by Saša Habić, all tracks were composed and written by Lesandrić. Minor hits from this album were songs "Dvadeset godina", "Noć u gradu", "Džoni je krenuo u rat" and "Ja sam jurio za vetrom". During late 1982 the band started work on their third album "Zvuci civilizacije" ("Sounds of Civilisation") which was never published because of Lesandrić's army obligations, and the band went on hiatus.

1984-1991

Piloti re-assembled during late 1984 with the whole new line-up. Frontman Kiki Lesandrić was the only returnee from the original lineup, while newly arrived Zoran "Ćera" Obradović (drums), Safet "Saja" Petrovac (guitar), and Miško Plavi (bass guitar) rounded out the group.

The band's third album "Kao ptica na mom dlanu" ("Like a Bird On My Palm") got released on May 25, 1987 by PGP RTB and produced by Dušan Petrović Šane. The autorh of all songs was Lesandrić except for "Noć čeka nas" which he wrote with Bogićević and "Pišem po zidu" with Ilija Stanković. Lot of musicians contributed to this album: Dejan Grujić (bass guitar), Darko Grujić (keyboard), Vlada Negovanović (guitar), Enco Lesić (keyboards), Valdet Šaćiri (keyboards), Jovan Maljoković (saxophone), Nenad Stefanović Japanac (bass guitar) and Bane Lesandrić (backing vocals), Oliver Mandić, Bajaga, Kornelije Kovač, Zana Nimani and others. The greatest hit from this album was song "Kao ptica na mom dlanu", and other hit songs were "Kada sanjamo", "Rekla je da u mojoj glavi čuje gitare i bubnjeve" and "Devojka bez imena".

The fourth album "Osmeh letnje noći" ("Midsummer Night's Smile") was published on May 11, 1988 by PGP RTB, and produced by the band for the first time. The author of all songs was Lesandrić. Musicians who contributed to this album were: Saša Lokner (keyboards), Bane Lesandrić (backing vocals), Viktorija (backing vocals in song "Sa tvoje strane ulice") and Zoran Vračević (percussion). The biggest hit from this album was "Leto" ("Summer") and minor hits were "Ako misliš da sam tužan" and "Ona". During 1989 Saja left the band and Bane Lesandrić, Kiki's brother joined.

The fifth album "Neka te bog čuva za mene" ("May the God Save You For Me") was published on March 29, 1990 for PGP RTB in band's production. The author of songs was Kiki, except for "Jedino što nam ostaje" (cover of Pete Townshend) and "Tiho, tiho" by Bane Lesandrić. Laza Ristovski contributed to this album by playing the keyboards on two songs. The special guests were Goran Bregović (Guitar solo on one song), Jovan Maljoković (saxophone), Darko Grujić (backing vocals) and Jelena Galonić (backing vocals). The biggest hit was "Tajna je u tebi skrivena" ("The Secret Is Hidden Inside You") and minor hits were "Tiho, tiho" and "Neka te bog čuva za mene".

On August 22, 1991 PGP RTB published Piloti's "Greatest Hits" album.

1993-1997

In 1993 Piloti published the soundtrack for the movie "Zaboravljeni" for PGP RTS. Songs were written by Kiki, Marina Tucaković and Goran Bregović ("Spavaju li oči nebeske") and Laza Ristovski ("Zaboravljeni"). Guests on the album were Goran Bregović, Marko Nafta, Nenad Stefanović Japanac, Bata Božanić and others. This album brought their biggest hit ever "Zaboravljeni" ("The Forgotten"), and other two hits were "Čini mi se da" and "Kao da je mesec stao za nas dvoje".

Between 1993 and 1996 Piloti were on hiatus while Kiki Lesandrić worked with many Serbian artists. The band was back on stage in 1996 for the Budva Summer Festival with the song "Neverna si" and in November 1996 Komuna published their last album "Dan koji prolazi zauvek" ("Day Which Is Passing Forever") produced by Kiki Lesandrić and Igor Borojević. All songs were composed by Kiki and Zoran Babović. Guests were Nenad Stefanović Japanac (bass guitar), Nenad Jelić (percussions, vocal), Ana Popović (guitar), Goran Bregović, Maksa Ćatović, Aca Milenković, Miša Amadeus and others. Minor hits from this album were "Neverna si" and "Dan koji prolazi zauvek". The band was dissolved in 1997, and Bread Ventures Records published the greatest hits album "Ne veruj u idole" the same year.

Discography

Albums

*"Piloti" (PGP RTB, 1981)
*"Dvadeset godina" (PGP RTB, 1982)
*"Kao ptica na mom dlanu" (PGP RTB, 1987)
*"Osmeh letnje noći" (PGP RTB, 1988)
*"Neka te bog čuva za mene" (PGP RTB, 1990)
*"Najveći hitovi 1981-1991" ("Greatest Hits 1981-1991") (PGP RTB, 1991)
*"Zaboravljeni" (PGP RTS-Komuna, 1993)
*"Dan koji prolazi zauvek" (Komuna, 1996)
*"Ne veruj u idole - Kompilacija" (Greatest Hits) (Bread Ventures Records, 1997)

ee also

*Serbian rock
*SFR Yugoslav pop and rock scene

External links

* [http://www.balkanuk.com/vremeplov.php?id=45 Vremeplov: Piloti] - Serbian
* [http://www.svastara.com/muzika/?izvodjac=133 Lyrics on Svaštara]