Griva
Yugoslav hard rock band known for folk-influenced glam metal.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Griva (Serbian Cyrillic: Грива; trans. Mane) was a Yugoslav hard rock band from Novi Sad, founded in 1982. Its founders were guitarist Josip Sabo and drummer Zlatko Karavla, both previously in the band Ibn Tup. Original vocalist Zoran Gogić left shortly after the band formed, and Karavla took over as frontman. The debut album came out in 1983. The second studio album sold poorly, and the group broke up soon after its release. At the record label’s insistence, Karavla recorded a third, self-titled album in 1987 with session musicians; it was a major hit due to its folk-influenced glam metal sound, prompting Karavla to reform the band. One more studio album followed before the group disbanded in 1990, as the Yugoslav Wars began. The final official album was recorded by Karavla and came out two years after the breakup. In 2002, the band reunited for an unplugged show in Novi Sad, and that performance was released as both a live album and a video album.
- formed
- 1982
- origin
- Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
- genre
- Hard rock, glam metal, folk-influenced
- years_active
- 1982–1990, 2002 reunion
- label
- Jugoton, Panonija Koncert, Jugodisk, PGP-RTB
- notable_album
- Griva (1987, also known as Vojvodino, Vojvodino, što si tako ravna)
Lore & Background
Griva's roots trace to the band Ibn Tup, formed in 1973 by Josip Sabo, Zlatko Karavla, and Dušan Bečelić. Ibn Tup played covers of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath, later shifting to folk-influenced funk. After several lineup changes and releases, Sabo and Karavla were drafted into the army in 1979, and Ibn Tup disbanded. In 1982, Karavla and Sabo formed Griva with former Ibn Tup vocalist Zoran Gogić, bassist Đorđe Jovanović, and keyboardist Laslo Novak. The band was initially named Bela Griva after a children's book, but shortened it to Griva. Gogić left after a few rehearsals, and Karavla took over vocals, with Janoš Kazimić joining on drums. Griva's first live appearance was opening for Buldožer in Novi Sad, and they later toured with Divlje Jagode.
Reader's Guide
Griva achieved early success with their debut single, a heavy metal cover of Lepa Brena's 'Sitnije, Cile, sitnije', released as a giveaway with a comic book magazine. Their debut album sold over 250,000 copies, earning gold record status. Despite the commercial failure of their second album, the band's 1987 self-titled album, recorded by Karavla with studio musicians on the label's insistence, became their biggest success, blending glam metal with Vojvodina folk music. The album's fluorescent cover was a first on the Yugoslav rock scene. After reforming, Griva released one more studio album before disbanding in 1990 amid the Yugoslav Wars. Their last official album was released two years after disbandment. The 2002 unplugged reunion in Novi Sad produced a live and video album. Griva's significance lies in their fusion of hard rock with local folk elements and their role in the Yugoslav rock scene of the 1980s.
Did You Know?
- Griva's debut single was a heavy metal cover of Lepa Brena's folk song 'Sitnije, Cile, sitnije', given away with the 751st issue of the comic book magazine Stripoteka.
- The band's 1987 self-titled album featured a fluorescent print logo, the first such cover on the Yugoslav rock scene.
- Griva performed as the opening act for Motörhead on their concert in Pionir Hall in Belgrade on 24 September 1984.
- The ballad 'Još uvek mislim na nju' from the 1987 album was later covered by Hungarian musician Tamás Takáts and achieved large success in Hungary.
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