Paraf

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Paraf
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Rijeka, Croatia
Genre = Punk
Post-punk
Gothic rock
Years_active = 1976–1986
Label = ZKP RTLJ
Status = Disbanded

Paraf is a punk rock and later post punk band from Rijeka, Croatia. They are known as one of the first legendary punk bands in the former Yugoslavia.

Biography

Paraf was formed at the end of 1976 by three teenagers from Rijeka, influenced by early punk music: Valter Kočijanić (vocal, guitar), Zdravko Čabrijan (bass) and Dušan Ladavac (drums).

Their first discography appearance was a single "Rijeka/Moj život je novi val" 1979. One year later they released their first LP "A dan je tako lijepo počeo..." (translated: "But The Day Started So Good..."). It was a straight-forward punk-rock album. Because of quite provocative lyrics and attitude, this record was put under a high tax rate and censorship. However, after that Paraf stayed to be as a one of the most controversial musical acts in the former communist Yugoslavia.Some of their gigs were remembered with police repression towards bandmembers and their fans.

Their famous track "Narodna pjesma" was included in the Novi Punk Val compilation released by ZKP RTLJ.

After this first album, frontman Valter Kočijanić left Paraf. He was replaced by female singer Pavica Mijatović who was always presented under the pseudonym Vim Cola, and also with a new guitarist.

Second album "Izleti" (translated: "Excursions") was released 1982. From this album and previous single "Fini dečko/Tužne uši" (1981) band started to experiment with keyboards and soon moved from classic punk-rock sound to more artistic, post punk oriented music, but kept their controversial and quite politically involved attitude in their concept.

The third LP titled "Zastave"(translated: "Flags") was released 1984. Produced with the help of Aldo Ivančić (member of Slovenian EBM band Borghesia), this album logically followed musical path from "Izleti" but only with more references to the early seminal gothic sounds of the likes such as Siouxsie & the Banshees and The Cure. It was also the last release from Paraf, because band disappeared from the scene (although they had never officially announced their disbanding). At the time of releasing guitarist Robert Tičić committed suicide; also "Zastave" didn't achieve almost any commercial success and attention in the media and as well band didn't tour and promote this album. But, however, this highly conceptual and artistic album achieved a cult status and became hailed as one of the all-time best releases of Croatian rock few years later.

Paraf reunited only once in their original line-up 1994 just to do a few gigs in Croatia, but there's no plans for real reunion and new works.

Line-ups

1976-1980

* Valter Kočijanić - vocals, guitars
* Zdravko Čabrijan - bass
* Dušan Ladavac - drums

1980-1982

* Vim Cola - vocals
* Mladen Vičić - guitars
* Zdravko Čabrijan - bass
* Dušan Ladavac - drums
* Raul Varlen - keyboards

1982-1984

* Vim Cola - vocals
* Robert Tičić (ex-Termiti) - guitars
* Zdravko Čabrijan - bass
* Dušan Ladavac - drums
* Raul Varlen - keyboards

Discography

Albums

* "A dan je tako lijepo počeo..." LP (ZKP RTLJ, 1980)
* "Izleti" LP (ZKP RTLJ, 1982)
* "Zastave" LP (ZKP RTLJ, 1984)

ingles

* "Rijeka/Moj život je novi val" (RTV Lj, 1979)
* "Fini dečko/Tužne uši" (RTV Lj, 1981)

Bootlegs

* "Goli Otok/Narodna pjesma" (1979) - Two songs performed live. "Goli Otok" was highly provocative and controversial song that was never officially released. "Narodna pjesma" is a song that was featured on their debut LP, but here, as well on the Novi Punk Val compilation, is included with the original uncensored version of the lyrics.

Compilations

*Novi Punk Val

ee also

*Punk in Yugoslavia

Links

* [http://punklektira.topcities.com/Paraf.htm Paraf] at [http://punklektira.topcities.com/ Hrvatska Punk Lektira]
* [http://members.iinet.net.au/~predrag/recenz.html Reviews (in Serbian)]