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Azra (band)

{{Short description|Yugoslav rock band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Azra

| image = Band Azra.jpg

| caption = Azra promotional photo.
Left to right: Hrnjak, Štulić, Leiner.

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| alias =

| origin = Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia

| genre = New wave, rock

| years_active = 1977–1988

| label = Jugoton, Diskoton

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members = Branimir Štulić
Boris Leiner
Jura Stublić
Jurica Pađen
Mišo Hrnjak
Paolo Sfeci
Stephen Kipp [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Azra+(3) Azra] on Discogs

}}

Azra was a Yugoslav rock band that was one of the most popular acts of the Yugoslav new wave music of the 1980s. Azra was formed in 1977 by its frontman Branimir "Johnny" Štulić. The other two members of the original line-up were Mišo Hrnjak (bass) and Boris Leiner (drums). The band is named after a verse "Und der Sklave sprach: “Ich heiße Mohamet, ich bin aus Yemen, Und mein Stamm sind jene Asra, Welche sterben, wenn sie lieben.”" (trans. "My name is El Muhamed/From the tribe of the old Azras/who die for love/And die when they kiss!") from "Der Asra" by Heinrich Heine. They are considered to be one of the most influential bands from the Yugoslav new wave rock era and the Yugoslav rock scene in general.

They released their first single in 1979 with "Balkan" and "A šta da radim". Their eponymous debut was released in 1980 and achieved commercial success, giving them commercial success in Yugoslavia. Their second album was released in 1981. Azra recorded its last studio album Između krajnosti (Between the Extremes) in 1987. In 1988 the band recorded 4LP live album under the name Zadovoljština (Satisfaction), after which Štulić broke the band up. Štulić recorded three more solo albums since moving to the Netherlands, where he lives in seclusion. A 2003 rock documentary, Sretno dijete depicts Azra as the focus of the rock scene in Yugoslavia during the 1980s, along with Bijelo dugme. Even today, Azra remains very popular among youth in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

In 1986, the band released their sixth album, It Ain't Like In The Movies At Allthrough Diskoton. The triple album was recorded in the Netherlands, after Branimir Štulić had moved to that country.{{cite web|url=http://www.crorec.hr/crorec.hr/izvodjac.php?OBJECT_ID=101773|title=Branimir Štulić|work=crorec.hr|publisher=Croatia Records|language=hr|accessdate=11 March 2016}}

In 1998, music critics compiled a list of 100 best albums of Yugoslav pop and rock music. Five Azra albums were included, three of them in top 10. On the Radio B92's list of 100 greatest songs of former Yugoslavia, four Azra songs were included, all of them in the top 20.

File:Boris Leiner.jpg, former drummer (October 2016)]]

Members

  • Branimir "Johnny" Štulić – vocals, guitar
  • Branko Matun – bass (1977)
  • Paolo Sfeci – drums (1977)
  • Mladen Jurčić – guitar (1977–1978)
  • Branko Hromatko – drums (1977–1978)
  • Marino Pelajić – bass (1977–1978)
  • Jura Stublić – vocals (1978)
  • Boris Leiner (ex Kanibali) – drums, vocals (from 1979)
  • Mišo Hrnjak – bass (1979–1982)
  • Jurica Pađen – guitars (1983–1984, from 1987)
  • Stephen Kipp – bass (from 1986)

=Timeline=

ImageSize = width:850 height:auto barincrement:23

PlotArea = left:110 bottom:100 top:5 right:5

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

Period = from:03/01/1977 till:03/15/1989

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1978

ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1978

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

Colors =

id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:backing value:pink legend:Backing_vocals

id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars

id:bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion

id:session value:yellow legend:Session

id:lines value:black legend:Studio_album

id:lines2 value:gray(0.65) legend:Live_album

id:bars value:gray(0.92)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

color:black layer:back

at:05/01/1980

at:06/01/1981

at:07/01/1982

at:02/10/1983

at:02/15/1984

at:03/01/1986

at:09/01/1987

color:lines2 layer:back

at:03/01/1982

at:03/30/1988

BarData =

bar:Stublić text:"Jura Stublić"

bar:Štulić text:"Branimir Štulić"

bar:Jurčić text:"Mladen Jurčić"

bar:Pađen text:"Jurica Pađen"

bar:Matun text:"Branko Matun"

bar:Marino text:"Marino Pelajić"

bar:Hrnjak text:"Mišo Hrnjak"

bar:Cartagine text:"Remo Cartagine"

bar:Kipp text:"Stephen Kipp"

bar:Sfeci text:"Paolo Sfeci"

bar:Hromatko text:"Branko Hromatko"

bar:Leiner text:"Boris Leiner"

bar:Antonioli text:"Srećko Antonioli"

PlotData=

width:13

bar:Štulić from:03/01/1977 till:01/01/1979 color:guitar

bar:Štulić from:03/01/1977 till:01/01/1979 color:vocals width:3

bar:Štulić from:05/01/1979 till:03/01/1984 color:guitar

bar:Štulić from:05/01/1979 till:03/01/1984 color:vocals width:3

bar:Štulić from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1988 color:guitar

bar:Štulić from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1988 color:vocals width:3

bar:Štulić from:07/01/1982 till:12/01/1983 color:bass width:7

bar:Stublić from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1979 color:vocals

bar:Jurčić from:03/01/1977 till:01/01/1979 color:guitar

bar:Jurčić from:03/01/1977 till:01/01/1978 color:backing width:3

bar:Jurčić from:01/01/1978 till:01/01/1979 color:vocals width:3

bar:Jurčić from:05/01/1979 till:06/30/1979 color:backing

bar:Jurčić from:03/01/1980 till:04/01/1980 color:backing

bar:Jurčić from:02/01/1981 till:03/01/1981 color:backing

bar:Jurčić from:05/01/1979 till:06/30/1979 color:session width:3

bar:Jurčić from:03/01/1980 till:04/01/1980 color:session width:3

bar:Jurčić from:02/01/1981 till:03/01/1981 color:session width:3

bar:Pađen from:12/01/1983 till:03/01/1984 color:guitar

bar:Pađen from:12/01/1983 till:03/01/1984 color:backing width:3

bar:Pađen from:01/01/1987 till:10/01/1988 color:guitar

bar:Pađen from:01/01/1987 till:10/01/1988 color:backing width:3

bar:Matun from:03/01/1977 till:09/01/1977 color:bass

bar:Marino from:09/01/1977 till:01/01/1979 color:bass

bar:Hrnjak from:07/01/1979 till:07/01/1982 color:bass

bar:Cartagine from:12/01/1983 till:03/01/1984 color:bass

bar:Kipp from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1988 color:bass

bar:Sfeci from:03/01/1977 till:09/01/1977 color:drums

bar:Hromatko from:09/01/1977 till:01/01/1979 color:drums

bar:Leiner from:05/01/1979 till:07/01/1982 color:drums

bar:Leiner from:05/01/1979 till:07/01/1982 color:vocals width:3

bar:Leiner from:07/01/1983 till:03/01/1984 color:drums

bar:Leiner from:07/01/1983 till:03/01/1984 color:backing width:3

bar:Leiner from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1988 color:drums

bar:Leiner from:01/01/1986 till:10/01/1988 color:backing width:3

bar:Antonioli from:01/10/1983 till:01/25/1983 color:drums

bar:Antonioli from:01/10/1983 till:01/25/1983 color:session width:3

Discography

=Studio albums=

=Live albums=

  • Ravno do dna (Jugoton, 1982)
  • Zadovoljština (Jugoton, 1988)

=Compilation albums=

  • Singl ploče 1979-1982 (Jugoton, 1982)
  • Kao i jučer – singl ploče 1983-1986 (Jugoton, 1986)
  • Nikom nije lepše (Hi-Fi Centar, 1998)
  • The Ultimate Collection (Croatia Records, 2007)

=Singles=

  • "Balkan" (The Balkans) / "A šta da radim" (And What Should I Do?) – (suzy 1979)
  • "Lijepe žene prolaze kroz grad" (Pretty Women Passing Through Town), "Poziv na ples" (An Invitation to Dance) / "Suzy F". – (Jugoton, 1980)
  • "Đoni, budi dobar" (Johnny Be Good) / "Teško vrijeme" (Hard Time) – (Jugoton 1982)
  • "E, pa što" (So What) / "Sloboda" (Freedom) / "Gluperde lutaju daleko" (Jerks Wander Far) – (Jugoton 1982)
  • "Nemir i strast" (Restlessness and Passion) / "Doviđenja na Vlaškom drumu" (Farewell on the Valachian Road) – (Jugoton 1983)
  • Klinček stoji pod oblokom (A Carnation Grows Under the Window ) / Flash (Jugoton 1983.) from the album "Krivo srastanje"
  • Mon ami / Duboko u tebi (My Love/Deep Inside You) (Jugoton 1984.) from the album "Krivo srastanje"
  • "The Balkans" / "Pretty Women Passing Through Town" / "Vondel Park" (Marginal Face Production 1985)

Videography

  • Zadovoljština (Zagreb, live concert, 1988)
  • Klincek stoji pod oblokom (Video compilation, 1990)
  • Das Ist Johnny (Sarajevo, live film, 1991)

References

{{more citations needed|date=January 2009}}

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.youtube.com/user/PETROVICPETAR] – Azra YouTube Channel

{{Azra}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azra}}

Category:Croatian rock music groups

Category:Croatian new wave musical groups

Category:Yugoslav rock music groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1977

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1990

Category:Musical groups from Zagreb

Category:1977 establishments in Croatia

Category:Jugoton artists