Kraljevski Apartman
Serbian heavy metal band from Belgrade, popular since the 1990s.
Kraljevski Apartman (Serbian Cyrillic: Краљевски Апартман; translated as Royal Suite) is a Serbian heavy metal band from Belgrade. They gained widespread popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, establishing themselves as one of the leading acts in the Serbian heavy metal scene.
The band’s roots go back to 1979, when guitarist Zoran Zdravković—who had previously played in Exodus, Zvučni Zid, Bicikl, and Tvrdo Srce i Velike Uši—formed the hard rock group Apartman 69. This earlier outfit released only one album, *Seti se moje pesme*, in 1983. The recording lineup featured Dragan Blažić on vocals, Zdravković on guitar, Dejan Mihajlović on keyboards and backing vocals, Milan Mastelica on bass and backing vocals, and Jovan Simonović on drums. At one point, the band also included Zvonimir Đukić (now frontman of Van Gogh) on rhythm guitar and Vladan Dokić (drummer for Rok Mašina). Apartman 69 disbanded after its album release, largely due to the rising popularity of new wave music.
Thirteen years later, in 1995, Zdravković revived the project with support from Riblja Čorba frontman Bora Đorđević. Together with vocalist Zoran "Lotke" Lalović, he formed Kraljevski Apartman. The initial lineup quickly fell apart, but a new one soon emerged: Lalović (vocals), Zdravković (guitar), Zoran Rončević (drums), Nebojša Čanković (guitar), and Vladimir Rajčić (bass). Riblja Čorba drummer Vicko Milatović was asked to join on bass but declined. This group recorded the band’s debut album, *Long Live Rock 'n' Roll*, for Rock Express Records. Its title track is a cover of a Rainbow song of the same name. The album contained eight songs, with notable tracks including "Mračan grad," "Ne verujem u lažne anđele," "Misterija," and "Oprosti mi." A promotional video was made for "Misterija." Zdravković wrote most of the lyrics and music. The band supported Riblja Čorba on tour, introducing their debut to Serbian audiences.
In 1999, Rončević left, and the lineup shifted to include drummer Srđan Duždević and rhythm guitarist Miroslav Šen. This version of the band recorded the second album, *Izgubljen u vremenu*. It had a heavier sound, with hits like the title track, "Slomljeno srce," "Nikad se ne predajem," "Ne traži đavola," and "Posle oluje (Javi se...)." The album also featured a cover of Uriah Heep’s "Lady in Black," retitled "Slike." The CD edition included four bonus tracks fro
- origin
- Belgrade, Serbia
- genre
- Heavy metal
- years_active
- 1995–present
- founder
- Zoran Zdravković
- notable_albums
- Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1997), Izgubljen u vremenu (1999), Rocker (2002), Ruka pravde (2004), Čuvar tajni (2008), Igre bez pravila (2012)
Lore & Background
The band's history began in 1979, when guitarist Zoran Zdravković formed the hard rock band Apartman 69, which recorded only one album in 1983. After 13 years, Zdravković, with support from Riblja Čorba's frontman Bora Đorđević, formed Kraljevski Apartman in 1995 with vocalist Zoran 'Lotke' Lalović. The first lineup soon split, and a new lineup recorded the debut album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll in 1997 for Rock Express Records. The band performed as a support act on Riblja Čorba's tour.
In 1999, the band released their second album Izgubljen u vremenu, featuring a heavier sound. After lineup changes, the third album Rocker (2002) added keyboards and became well known in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The 2004 album Ruka pravde was considered by fans and critics to be one of the band's finest works. In 2005, the band released a live DVD and album titled 10 Godina sa vama - Live SKC. After further lineup changes and the departure of vocalist Lalović in 2008, Ivan Đerković briefly replaced him for the album Čuvar tajni, but Lalović returned later that year. Lalović died on May 3, 2015, after a short illness. The band continued with new vocalist Jovan Baranin in 2015.
Reader's Guide
Kraljevski Apartman emerged from the Serbian heavy metal scene in the mid-1990s, building on the legacy of guitarist Zoran Zdravković's earlier hard rock band Apartman 69. Their debut album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll established them as a notable act, and subsequent albums like Izgubljen u vremenu and Rocker expanded their audience beyond Serbia, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. The band's 2004 album Ruka pravde was widely praised, and they shared stages with international acts such as Deep Purple and Whitesnake. Despite lineup changes and the death of longtime vocalist Zoran Lalović in 2015, the band continued to release new material. Their significance lies in their sustained popularity on the Serbian heavy metal scene and their ability to adapt musically over decades, from hard rock beginnings to a more melodic heavy metal sound.
Did You Know?
- The band's first album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll includes a cover of Rainbow's title track.
- Zoran Zdravković, the band's founder, was a former member of the bands Exodus, Zvučni Zid, Bicikl, and Tvrdo Srce i Velike Uši.
- The band performed as an opening act for Deep Purple in Belgrade in 2004 and for Whitesnake in 2013.
- Vocalist Zoran 'Lotke' Lalović died on May 3, 2015, after a short illness.
More in Serbian heavy metal musical groups 1-19
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