Rok Mašina
Short-lived Yugoslav hard rock band from Belgrade.
Rok Mašina (Рок Машина, meaning Rock Machine) was a Yugoslav hard rock and heavy metal band from Belgrade, active for a short time starting in 1980. Its members were former players from the progressive/hard rock group Pop Mašina: Robert Nemeček (vocals and bass), and brothers Zoran and Vidoja Božinović (guitars). They put out just one studio album, the self-titled *Rok Mašina*, before splitting up in 1982. Some tracks from the unfinished second record later appeared on the 1983 mini-album *Izrod na granici*, which became influential.
The band formed in 1980, with drummer Vladan Dokić (ex-Pop Šou and Opus) joining Nemeček and the Božinović brothers. Their sound was heavier and less complex than Pop Mašina’s blend of progressive and hard rock with blues, psychedelic, and acid rock elements. Their first live show was in Zagreb in 1980, part of an event called Pozdrav iz Beograda. That same year, they released a 7-inch single with "Vatra" and "Bilo mi je bolje." In 1981, Jugodisk put out their only studio album. Actresses Dragana Stanaćev and Koviljka Milić from Teatar Levo wrote some of the lyrics, and backing vocals came from Ljuba Ninković (ex-S Vremena Na Vreme) and Dragan Popović (ex-DAG). Nemeček produced the album, which included new versions of the two earlier singles. After the album, Dragan Đorđević (ex-Generacija 5) replaced Dokić on drums. But with new wave bands dominating Yugoslavia, the future looked bleak, so they disbanded in 1982 while still recording their second album. Their last performance was at the Belgrade Rock Festival in Pionir Hall in September 1982.
In 1983, Jugodisk released *Izrod na granici*, a mini-album with material from the abandoned second album. It included a live version of "Bilo mi je bolje" from that final festival show. The song "Promašen san" featured a recording of Aleister Crowley’s voice. Jugoslav Vlahović designed the cover; his original idea—two hands with feathers through them, with the band’s logo and album title in red—was rejected by Jugodisk as "politically problematic," according to Nemeček in 1983.
After Rok Mašina ended, Zoran Božinović left music, returning in the late 1990s to play with the blues rock band Zona B. He died on 12 July 2004. Vidoja Božinović focused on studying architecture at the Belgrade Faculty of Architecture, occasionally playing in blues clubs and with the jazz band Interaction, bef
- formed
- 1980
- disbanded
- 1982
- origin
- Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- genre
- Hard rock, heavy metal
- label
- Jugodisk
- key_members
- Robert Nemeček, Zoran Božinović, Vidoja Božinović, Vladan Dokić
Lore & Background
Rok Mašina was formed in 1980 by former Pop Mašina members Robert Nemeček (vocals and bass guitar) and brothers Zoran and Vidoja Božinović (guitars), with Vladan Dokić on drums. The band debuted live in Zagreb in 1980 at the event Pozdrav iz Beograda, and later that year released a 7-inch single with songs 'Vatra' and 'Bilo mi je bolje'. Their only studio album, Rok Mašina, came out in 1981 through Jugodisk, featuring lyrics by actresses Dragana Stanaćev and Koviljka Milić, and backing vocals by Ljuba Ninković and Dragan Popović. After the album, Dragan Đorđević replaced Dokić, but the band disbanded in 1982 amid the popularity of new wave, with their last performance at the Belgrade Rock Festival in Pionir Hall in September 1982.
After the breakup, Jugodisk released the mini-album Izrod na granici in 1983, containing material from the unfinished second album. Its cover, designed by Jugoslav Vlahović, was rejected by the label as 'politically problematic' and replaced. Zoran Božinović retired from music until the late 1990s, when he performed with blues rock band Zona B; he died on 12 July 2004. Vidoja Božinović studied architecture and later joined Riblja Čorba in 1985. Robert Nemeček became a film program editor at TV Politika, later working at TV Pink, Radio Television of Serbia, and as editor-in-chief of TV Avala; he died on 8 January 2024.
Reader's Guide
Rok Mašina occupies a niche in Yugoslav rock history as a bridge between the progressive/hard rock of Pop Mašina and the heavier sounds that followed. Their sole studio album and the subsequent mini-album Izrod na granici are noted for their raw energy and darker lyrical themes, with the latter gaining cult status. The band's legacy is preserved through compilations: a 2001 release on One Records gathered all tracks from the album and mini-album, and the 2015 anthology Antologija 1980 – 1983 included previously unreleased material, such as the song 'Umbra Zonule'. Their songs have been covered by Serbian acts like Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša, Texas Flood, and Orvel 69, indicating enduring interest among later musicians. Though short-lived, Rok Mašina is remembered as a formative hard rock act in the Yugoslav scene.
Did You Know?
- The band's debut live appearance was in Zagreb in 1980 as part of an event called Pozdrav iz Beograda.
- The original cover for Izrod na granici, designed by Jugoslav Vlahović, was rejected by Jugodisk as 'politically problematic'.
- The song 'Promašen san' on Izrod na granici features a recording of Aleister Crowley's voice.
- Robert Nemeček's son Jan co-remastered the 2015 compilation Antologija 1980 – 1983.
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