Atheist Rap

Infobox musical artist
Name = Atheist Rap


Img_capt = Dr. Pop - Livingroom SKC club, Belgrade.
Img_size =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|Serbia Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia
Genre = Punk-rock
Years_active = 1989 — present
Label = HI-FI Records
URL = [http://www.atheistrap.net/ atheistrap.net]

Atheist Rap is a punk rock band from Novi Sad, Serbia. Their music is often characterized as "happy punk" due to its cheerful music and vocals. Their lyrics are usually criticism of society and politics and are often humorous accounts of every day events.

The beginning

In order to trace the roots and origins of Atheist Rap, we should go as far as to the 1980s, when several of the future band members were badly infected by an incurable disease of punk. Together with a bunch of their friends they formed Flourel Tatchkash, a band that had ruled the roost across the local gyms, which were often used a concert halls back then. After an endlessly entertaining Rambo Amadeus concert, which took place on November 29th 1988 at the local club Mašinac, Aleksandar Popov (Dr. Pop) and Vladimir Kozbašić (Pećinko) propose the formation of Atheist Rap. They merged with members of Flourel Tatchkash, Radule (guitar) and Zare (bass), and experienced Goja (Kapetan Leshi, Fear of Dog, A Better Life zine) took hold of drums. The previously mentioned vocal duo had no significant experience in singing, and they never made too much effort to become knowledgeable about it, but it was their participation that instilled the additional dose of positive spirit into the band.

An official date of birth of the group is the day of their first performance, May 22nd 1989. It didn’t take long for the band members to become local concert heroes. At the end of 1989, drummer Atzke (Flourel Tatchkash, Elba) joins the group and versatile Goja switches to guitar. The rise of Atheist Rap is strongly linked to the club called Žuta Kuća (The Yellow House), the oasis of Novi Sad’s subculture, where the Atheists rehearsed, spent their time, drinking and practically living, until local authorities bulldozed Žuta kuća.

The band made first recordings in 1990, but war at the beginning of the 90s blew off the chance of releasing the first CD ever in the region. It was a 4-song EP named Compact Disc that Croatian label Jugoton never put out of press, and, as a result of this, the material was never released in this format. It was at the insisting of Tetcha Morales (manager, guitar, wheels) and Voja Žugić (Scorned Records, Three pals zine) that the band recorded their debut album Maori i Crni Gonzales (1993, reissued in 1994 by TIOLI). Wartburg Limousine and Blue Trabant, which emerged as two main ultimate hits from the album, drove Atheists to the top of the charts, and the band received the album of the year award at Brzi Bendovi Srbije, a prestigious (if not only) manifestation of the time. By means of ‘underground’ channels the album reached every corner of their former homeland.

At that time, Goja leaves the group, while the other five members continue to play wherever it is possible. A dose of rebellion and optimism that they possessed was necessary back then for the chaotic, impoverished country, which they themselves represented with dignity. Successful performances and numerous interesting events from their tour journeys gave the band the inspiration for creative work in the days to come. In 1995 the second studio album is released, entitled Ja Eventualno Bih Ako Njega Eliminišete (PGP RTS, reissued by Hi-Fi Records in 1998), which brings them closer to a wider audience. A series of successful concerts, which followed the release of the album, was suddenly brought to a halt due to Zare’s severe illness, from which he didn’t manage to recover. He passed away on 14th February 1997. The band closed their ranks and, reaching the conclusion that only by performing live could they revive the memory of their late friend, went on working. The position of bass player was permanently taken by Leki (previously member of Ove sezone vedri tonovi, Telegram sam, Naučnici, Luna, La Strada, Obojeni Program, Love Hunters, Plavi ptičić prepeličić), who had already been working with the group from the release of Jebanje in 1995, playing guitar whenever the need arose and replacing Zare on bass guitar. The band sets off on a previously arranged tour of Slovenia, where they showed both their fans and themselves that they had a reason to be. After this, they started working a new album, entitled Druga liga zapad (1998,HI-FI Records). On release of this album, Barbun (Loš spoj, Ritam nereda, BOYE) joins the band.

Beyond 2000

In the year 2000 Atheists took part in a campaign Vreme je... Izađi na crtu (The time has come - Let’s see what you’ve got), whose aim was to motivate young people to go to the polls, eventually ending Miloševićs' rule. In October of the same year band goes on Croatian tour, playing at Močvara (Zagreb), Uljanik (Pula) and Palah (Rijeka). Next year sees the release of the compilation entitled Predsednici predsedništva predsednika (HI-FI Records), which is followed by absence of concert activities. Pećinko leaves the group, remaining closely connected with the group, and so does Barbun, who dedicated himself to a solo career, while Radule starts playing the bass guitar in Bonebreaker. Barbun's place is taken by Dulles (KNO, Mitesers, Out of Control, Bonebreaker, Generacija bez budućnosti, BOYE...), a much-needed transfusion of fresh blood for the birth of album Osveta Crnog Gonzalesa (Multimedia Records, 2005), album that was recorded and produced by the band itself. The period of time before the release of this album was marked by several festival performances (Nisomnia, EXIT 03, Zagreb Open-air, Banja Luka, Sisak, Velika…) and club concerts (Močvara (Zagreb), Monte Paradiso (Pula),Baraka (Kutina)).

By the end of March, 2005, they set off on the promotion tour of Osveta, showing by some thirty concerts that they are still standing. The significant performances are their first concert in Split on the fortress of Gripe, both concerts at NS Time club, where the audience ruled the performance, as well as a mini Slovenia tour.

ongs

Typical songwriting of theirs is demonstrated in three songs about a Wartburg and a Trabant vehicle ("Wartburg limuzina", "Blue Trabant" and "Car Core"). Atheist Rap often incorporates recognizable themes from other bands in their songs. E.g:

* "Tomi Gan" uses the theme of The Clash's song "Tommy Gun."
* "Pomoćni - đubre" starts with a recognizable Smoke on the Water riff, and uses a catch phrase "o, da li?" (oh, is it so?) taken from Obojeni program's song "O, da li."
* "Tetoviranje" sounds like a parody on Ekatarina Velika's song "Tattoo." While Ekatarina Velika uses a phrase "tattoo on chest", Atheist Rap changes it to "tattoo on ass."
* "Narodna pesma" uses the theme and words of Paraf's song "Narodna pjesma."

Discography

* "Maori i Crni Gonzales" (Scorned Records 1992, Take It or Leave 1994 on tape and 1996 on CD)
* "Ja eventualno bih ako njega eliminišete" (forming an acronym "Jebanje" - "Fucking") (PGP RTS 1996)
* "II Liga Zapad"
* "Osveta crnog Gonzalesa"

Movies

*Jovan Đerić, "Bilo jednom..." (English title: "Once Upon A Time...") (Novi Sad, 2006)

External links

* [http://www.atheistrap.net/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/atheistrapns Atheist Rap at Myspace]
*Bilo jednom... rockumentary featuring music and some band members (Dr. Pop and Dulles)