Haustor (Croatian new wave rock)

Haustor (transl. Passageway) was a Yugoslav rock band formed in Zagreb in 1979. Haustor is considered one of the most prominent bands of the Yugoslav new wave scene, as well as one of the most notable and influential acts of the Yugoslav rock scene in general. The band was formed by vocalist and occasional guitarist Darko Rundek and bass guitarist Srđan Sacher, the two being the group's key creative figures. Haustor gained the attention of the public with their new wave sound influenced by ethnic music and their theatrical live performances. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1981—today considered one of key albums of Yugoslav new wave—launched them to nationwide fame and critical acclaim. In 1984, the band released the album Treći svijet, featuring distinctive world music-influenced sound with Rudnek's poetic lyrics inspired by various works of literature, films and comics. Despite the album receiving praises from Yugoslav music press, Sacher left the band after the follow-up tour, leaving Rundek as the band's sole composer and lyricist. The albums Bolero, released in 1986, and Tajni grad, released in 1988, were well received by the public and the music critics. However, the band suddenly disbanded in 1990, while in the midst of recording their fifth studio album. After the group ended their activity, Rundek made a highly successful career as singer-songwriter. Haustor reunited in 1996 with both Rundek and Sacher for a live performance in Zagreb. The group made one more one-off reunion, in 2022, when the lineup that worked on the album Treći svijet reunited to rework the title track for the album's vinyl reissue. The basis of the band was formed in 1977, when Darko Rundek and Srđan Sacher started the informal group Komuna (Comune), with which they performed occasionally. At the time, Rundek studied literature and wrote theatre reviews for newspapers, and was for a period of time the editor of the cultural column in Studentski list (Student Paper). In 1979, the two formed Haustor, the first lineup featuring Rundek (vocals, occasionally guitar), Sacher (bass guitar), Boris Leiner (drums) and Ozren Štiglić (guitar), the latter formerly of the band Eustahijevi Virtuozi (Eustachi's Virtuosos). The band was initially named Nagradni Bataljon (Prize Battalion), having rehearsals in the premises of Kugla glumište, with which they often cooperated. At the beginning of the band's career, drummer Boris Leiner simultaneously performed with Haustor and the band Azra, before he was replaced in Haustor by Zoran Perišić. The band was soon joined by Zoran Vuletić (keyboards), Damir Prica "Capri" (saxophone) and Nikola Santro (trombone). In 1980, thanks to the aid of radio journalist Anđelko Maletić and music critic Dražen Vrdoljak, the band got an opportunity to record two songs for Radio Zagreb. One of the two songs, "Moja prva ljubav" ("My First Love"), the lyrics of which were partially inspired by the short story "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses" by Irwin Shaw, soon became a radio hit. The band gained new attention of the public with their well-received performance at the 1980 Subotica Youth Festival. They were noted for their artistic songs and performances, influenced by Rundek's and Sacher's interests – Rundek, who had switched to studies of directing at the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art, introduced theatricality, pantomime and theatrical makeup into the band's performances, while Sacher, who was at the time a student of archaeology and ethnology, introduced elements of Yugoslav and foreign ethnic music into the band's new wave sound. At the beginning of 1981, the band recorded their debut release, a 7-inch single with a new version of "Moja prva ljubav" and the song "Pogled u bolju budućnost" ("A View into a Better Future"), the first recorded with Leiner playing the drums. Following the single release, Haustor performed in Belgrade, on the Pozdrav iz Zagreba (Greetings from Zagreb) festival held in Belgrade Youth Center, opening for and gaining more attention of the audience than the already established Prljavo Kazalište. During the spring, Perišić was replaced by new drummer, Srđan Gulić, with whom they started recording their debut album. The band's self titled-debut album was released in 1981 through Jugoton record label. It was produced by Parni Valjak guitarist Husein Hasanefendić "Hus", who also played guitar on several tracks. The album brought, alongside "Moja prva ljubav", which went on to become a major hit, slightly mystical and psychedelic songs "Radio", "Mijenjam se" ("I'm Changing"), "Tko je to" ("Who Is That"), "Duhovi" ("Ghosts"), "Crni žbir" ("Black Spy"), "Lice" ("Face") and "60–65." ("'60-'65"). "Lice" and Sacher's intimate and nostalgic song "60–65." later appeared in Adi Imamović's film Nemir (Unrest). The album should have featured the song "Radnička klasa odlazi u raj" ("The Working Class Goes to Heaven"), named after the 1971 film by Italian director Elio Petri. However, prior to the album release, Jugoton executives removed it from the album on the insistence of the Yugoslav Secretariat for Culture. The band's debut and their effective live appearances soon made them one of four most prominent bands of the Zagreb new wave scene, alongside Prljavo Kazalište, Azra and Film. On 15 May 1981, at the Music Biennale Zagreb, Haustor and Belgrade new wave band Šarlo Akrobata played as opening acts for the British band Gang of Four. At the end of 1981, Haustor released a 7-inch single with the songs "Zima" ("Winter"), "Majmuni i mesec" ("Monkeys and the Moon") and "Capri", the latter dedicated to their saxophonist Damir Prica "Capri". Haustor's work on their second studio album was interrupted when part of the members was drafted to serve their mandatory stints in the Yugoslav People's Army in February 1982. The band had their last concert before the hiatus in Zagreb club Kulušić, with the concept of the performance envisioned as journey to the future. The band continued their activity at the beginning of 1983, in the lineup featuring Rundek, Sacher, Prica, Gulić, and a new member, guitarist Zoran Zajec. With former Metak guitarist Željko Brodarić "Jappa" as the producer and with a brass section, the band recorded their second studio album Treći svijet (Third World), releasing it in 1983. The album was marked by their musical explorations, which ranged from reggae, over Latin American music to elements of pop. Rundek's lyrics were influenced by Biblical symbolism, various works of literature, adventure films and Hugo Pratt's comics. The songs "Neobičan dan" ("Unusual Day"), "Zadnji pogled na Jeršaleim" ("The Last Look at Yerushaláyim"), "Babilonske baklje" ("Torches of Babylon"), "Skriven iza lažnih imena" ("Hidden Behind False Names") and the title track brought a distinctive atmosphere which was novel to Yugoslav rock scene. The album also featured the song "Radnička klasa odlazi u raj", previously removed from the band's debut album by Jugoton executives. Despite the critical success of the album, the follow up tour was not very successful, and Saher and Prica left the band in 1984, forming the band Brojani (The Counted). The band's third album Bolero was recorded by Rundek, Prica and Zajec, with Gulić and Santro, although they had at the time already left the band, nevertheless taking part in the recording sessions. The bass guitar on the recording was played by Rundek, and on some tracks the band used rhythm machine. Other musicians who took part in the album recording were Jurij Novoselić (of the band Film, alt saxophone and keyboards), Rastko Milošev (of Parni Valjak, guitar), jazz musician Neven Frangeš (keyboards), with female members of the reggae band Naturalna Mistika (Natural Mystique) and actress Anja Šovagović recording backing vocals. The album also featured guest appearance by actor Rade Šerbedžija, who recited in the song "Take the Money and Run". The album was produced by Dragan Mačinović and Mitar Subotić.