ĐAVOLI

Đavoli are a Croatian pop and rock group from Split. They form in 1984 and are active until 1992, with a brief reunion in 1998. The group’s best-known line-up includes Neno Belan, Igor Kmetić on saxophone, Dragiša Mandić on bass guitar, and Željko Hajsok on drums; later line-ups include Zlatko Volarević on keyboards, Dean Radovniković and later Matko Petrić on drums, and Dragan Lukić on keyboards. The group’s name comes from “Diavoli”, a song performed by Belgian singer Rocco Granata.

Early years and style

Before Đavoli, Neno Belan plays in Narodno blago, where he performs songs by Ramones and The Rolling Stones. After his military service in 1980, he forms Đavoli in Split. Their first concert takes place at the Sailing Club Bilo jidro in November 1984. At first they perform covers from the 1950s and 1960s, especially Italian canzone and early rock and roll. Their sound combines multi-part singing in the style of Dalmatian klapa groups with what they describe as a mix of Mediterranean atmosphere and western playing style. Their repertoire also includes twist and old rock and roll, and they play in Split venues such as Shakespeare and STOP.

Recordings and albums

After their early recordings, Jugoton signs the band and issues a promotional single with “Kucaj opet”, “Zvuci ulice”, “Večeras”, and “Nebo vraća osmijehe”. Željko Brodarić Jappa produces the material, and “Kucaj opet” becomes a radio hit as a version of “Keep On Knockin’”. The band appears on television for the first time with that song on Stereovizija.

In 1986 they release their debut album, Ljubav i moda, on Jugoton, produced by Ivan Stančić. The album is named after a 1960 film directed by Ljubomir Radičević, and it becomes successful across the former Yugoslavia. Belan writes the music and Robert Čaleta writes the lyrics.

The second studio album, Hallo Lulu 22, follows in 1987 on Jugoton, with Željko Brodarić Jappa again producing. The title comes from cigarette papers made by the Rijeka tobacco factory. Their third studio album, Ostani uz mene, appears in 1988. By then the line-up changes, with Dragan Lukić replacing Zlatko Volarević on keyboards and Matko Petrić replacing Dean Radovniković on drums.

Festivals, hits and later activity

Đavoli perform at festivals across the country in this period. In 1988 they perform “Večeras” in Split, while Belan takes part in MESAM. Later that year they are involved in a traffic accident on the way to a concert in Niš and pause activity for a time. In 1989 they win first place at the Split festival with “Dugo, toplo ljeto”. That same year they issue the compilation Balade - Kada se nađem u predjelu noći, which includes that song.

At the start of 1990 they tour Russia for two months. After returning, Neno Belan focuses on a solo career. In 1991, under the name Neno Belan i Đavoli, they release the maxi single Rock galama. Their farewell concert takes place at the New Year 1993 celebration in Zagreb’s Hard Rock Caffe.

Reunion and later work

Đavoli reunite in the middle of 1998 with Belan, Kmetić and Mandić, joined by Leo Rumora on drums, Olja Dešić on guitar, and Vedran Križan on keyboards. They release the comeback CD Space twist, which includes new songs and covers of “Baby I Love You” by Phil Spector, “Memphis Tennessee” by Chuck Berry, and “Biondina” by Rocco Granata. Saša Lošić writes “Jagode i čokolada”, with Belan adding the lyrics. The group performs “Ivona” at the Split festival, where it places third with the jury, and enters “Nemoj mislit da je kraj” at Zadarfest.

The group does not last long after that, and Belan continues with Fiumensi in Rijeka. With them he releases Luna & Stelle on Dallas Records. Dragan Lukić also works with The Beat Fleet and releases solo albums Ararita in 2003 and V.I.T.R.I.O.L. in 2006, the latter produced with Željko Brodarić. In 2009, Neno Belan i Đavoli receive two Porin awards: for best compilation album with The Ultimate Collection and for best thematic-historical album with Đavoli 3CD Box.