Gordi (band)
Yugoslav rock band that evolved from progressive rock to heavy metal.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Gordi (Serbian Cyrillic: Горди; meaning "The Proud Ones") were a Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade, active from 1977. They began as a progressive rock group before moving into heavy metal in the early 1980s. The band is primarily remembered for its heavy metal output, and its fourth and fifth studio albums are regarded as key works in Yugoslav heavy metal.
Guitarist and vocalist Zlatko Manojlović, who had previously led the progressive rock band Dah, formed Gordi in November 1977 after finishing his military service. The first lineup included Manojlović, his brother Goran Manojlović on keyboards, drummer Stevan "Steva" Milutinović, and bassist Dragan Janković. After Zdenko Pomper replaced Janković, the band released its debut album *Čovek* in 1978 on ZKP RTLJ. Its progressive rock sound resembled Manojlović's earlier work with Dah. One track, "Misli," had originally appeared as the B-side of Dah's final single. The lyrics for "Odlazim u noć" were written by Predrag Vuković, a percussionist from the band Igra Staklenih Perli.
Pomper left soon after the debut (he later died in a street fight) and was replaced by Slobodan Svrdlan. With Svrdlan, Gordi released *Gordi 2* in 1979 on PGP-RTB. This album incorporated more hard rock elements than its predecessor, and the songs "Ovog leta idem na more" and "Baci tu cigaru" received the most radio airplay in Yugoslavia. That same year, the band won first place at an international rock festival in Poznań, Poland. In 1980, Zlatko Manojlović issued his first solo album, *Zlatko i njegove gitare*. The following year, Gordi released *Gordi 3* on PGP-RTB, featuring new drummer Čedomir Petrović. While still progressive and hard rock–oriented, the album included some pop elements. The closing instrumental "Uspavanka" was dedicated to Manojlović's son Miloš. Also in 1981, Gordi opened for the Ian Gillan Band at Belgrade's Pionir Hall.
In 1981, after Goran Manojlović left, Gordi became a power trio. They signed with Jugoton and released *Pakleni trio*, which marked their shift to heavy metal. A second heavy metal album, *Kraljica smrti*, followed in 1982, but the band could not sustain its popularity and disbanded two years later.
After the split, Manojlović focused on his solo career. Svrdlan joined the heavy metal band Ratnici, releasing two albums with them, and played bass on U Škripcu's *O je!* in 1983. In the early 1990
- formed
- 1977
- origin
- Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- genre
- Progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal
- years_active
- 1977–1984, 2024–present
- label
- ZKP RTLJ, PGP-RTB, Jugoton, Croatia Records
- notable_albums
- Pakleni trio (1981), Kraljica smrti (1982)
Lore & Background
Gordi was formed in November 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Zlatko Manojlović, former leader of the progressive rock band Dah, after his return from mandatory army service. The first lineup included Zlatko's brother Goran Manojlović on keyboards, Stevan Milutinović on drums, and Dragan Janković on bass. After Zdenko Pomper replaced Janković, the band released their debut album Čovek in 1978, featuring a progressive rock sound similar to Dah. Their second album Gordi 2 (1979) introduced more hard rock elements, and the band won first place at an international rock festival in Poznań, Poland that year. Their third album Gordi 3 (1979) continued the progressive/hard rock style with some pop elements.
Reader's Guide
Gordi's significance lies in their transition from progressive rock to heavy metal, marking a key moment in Yugoslav rock history. Their fourth album Pakleni trio (1981) and fifth album Kraljica smrti (1982) are often cited as milestones on the Yugoslav heavy metal scene. After disbanding in 1984, Zlatko Manojlović pursued a successful solo career. The band reformed in 2024 with a new lineup including Manojlović's son Todor, releasing the hard rock-oriented album Fenix. In post-Yugoslav countries, Gordi are generally best remembered for their heavy metal output, which helped define the genre in the region.
Did You Know?
- Gordi's debut album Čovek featured the song 'Misli', which was originally the B-side of the last single released by Zlatko Manojlović's previous band Dah.
- The band won first place at an international rock festival in Poznań, Poland in 1979.
- Gordi performed as the opening act for the Ian Gillan Band concert in Belgrade's Pionir Hall in 1981.
- The 2024 reformed lineup of Gordi includes two full-time members of the band Parni Valjak.
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