S.T.R.A.H.

Inspired by American garage rock and British pub rock, Milutin Krstić (vocals), Željko Debeljević (guitar, vocals), Aleksandar Žikić (previously a music journalist, guitar), Saša Ristić (bass guitar) and Nenad Ivković (drums) formed the band S.T.R.A.H.[1] The band chose their name after a fictional secret organization from the British comic The Steel Claw.[1]

A year after the formation, Krstić left the band, so Debeljović took over lead vocals.[1] The band performed rarely, but managed to gain cult status thanks to their innovative songs.[1] In 1988, the band released their only release, the EP Mesec (The Moon), though Produkcija Slovenija record label.[1] The EP, featured four songs, "Mesec (Lunarni Mix)" ("The Moon ("Lunar Mix)"), "Mesec (Vampire State Dub Mix)", "Noćas" ("Tonight") and "Vudu lutka" ("Voodoo Doll").[2] The songs' lyrics were horror-influenced, and the album artwork featured horror images and the inscription Metus dominus unus est (Latin for "Fear Is the Only Master").[2] The back cover featured the logo and the address of the Count Dracula Fan Club from New York City.[2]

After the release of the EP, Ivković was replaced by Aleksandar Timofejev.[1] With the outbreak of Yugoslav Wars, the band disbanded, while in the middle of recording their full-length début.[1]

Žikić continued his career as a journalist, writing for music magazines and working on television and radio.[1] He wrote theatre plays Elvira je kul (Elvira Is Cool), Overdouz (transliteration for Overdose) and Ples aveti (The Dance of the Spectres).[1] He wrote music books Fatalni ringišpil: Hronika beogradskog rokenrola 1959 - 1979 (Fatal Carousel: The Cronicle of Belgrade Rock 'n' Roll 1959, 1979, 1999), Mesto u mećavi: Priča o Milanu Mladenoviću (A Spot in the Blizzard: The Story of Milan Mladenović, 1999), and a book about whiskey entitled Vatra iz vode (Fire from Water, 2003).[1] He also wrote a pull-out book Electrodeo: Almanah nove američke muzike (Electrodeo - The Almanac of New American Music) published by magazine NON.[1]

Timofejev was a journalist on RTV Studio B, Later, he moved to Radio B92, later becoming program editor on TV B92,[1] for a time hosting his own talk show, Timofejev.[3]

In 2016, after a 25 years long hiatus, three members of the last incarnation of S.T.R.A.H. (Debeljević, Žikić and Timofejev) reunited with new bass player Felix. In June 2016, they played in Belgrade for the first time since 1991, at the closing of the Dok’n'Ritam musical documentary film festival.[4] In June 2017, they played at the opening of the Bad Music Boogaloo festival,[5] which was followed by the first full concert, alongside fellow 1980s Belgrade garage rock band Petar Pan, in September 2017 in club Elektropionir in Belgrade.[6]

• Mesec (1988)