Parni Valjak (; trans. Steam Roller) is a Croatian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Zagreb in 1975. They were one of the most popular acts of the Yugoslav rock scene, and have maintained large popularity in all former Yugoslav republics after the breakup of the country.

The band was formed by guitarists Husein Hasanefendić "Hus" and Jurica Pađen (both former members of Grupa 220), vocalist Aki Rahimovski, bass guitarist Zlatko Miksić "Fuma" and drummer Srećko Antonioli. Immediately attracting the attention of the public with their energetic live performances and boogie rock sound, the band gained popularity with their early studio albums, Dođite na show! and Glavom kroz zid. Following the release of their second studio album, Pađen left the band to form Aerodrom, and was for a very brief period of time replaced by Branimir "Johnny" Štulić, later of Azra fame. During the following decades, Hasanefendić and Rahimovski would remain the key figures and the only two mainstay members of the band. After a brief attempt to break into international market with an English language album released under the name Steam Roller, the band joined in on the Yugoslav new wave scene with the 1980 album Vruće igre, which launched them to the top of the Yugoslav rock scene. With their following releases the band made a shift towards mainstream rock sound, scoring a large number of hits and remaining one of the most popular Yugoslav rock acts until the country's dissolution. They maintained large popularity in Croatia during the early 1990s, also restoring their popularity in other former Yugoslav republics in the following years and decades. In 2005, the group announced their disbandment, only to reunite four years later. After Rahimovski's death in 2022, the band continued their activity with vocalist Igor Drvenkar.

Biography

Formation, rise to prominence and first releases (1975–1978)

After the disbandment of the band Grupa 220, the group's former guitarists Husein Hasanefendić "Hus" and Jurica Pađen and former manager Vladimir Mihaljek decided to form a new band under the name Parni Valjak. At the time, Bijelo Dugme enjoyed the status of the most popular Yugoslav band, and Mihaljek, who had just ended his cooperation with Bijelo Dugme leader Goran Bregović, envisioned Parni Valjak as Zagreb-based competitors of Bijelo Dugme. however, the brief cooperation would influence Parni Valjak's sound in the following several years. Hasanefendić recorded lead vocals for the song "Stojim već satima" ("I'm Standing for Hours"). After the release of the album, Milošev left the band and started a solo career, releasing the album Granice: Ras, 2va, 3ri (Borders: One, 2wo, 3hree) in 1990. Zoran Cvetković returned to Parni Valjak, stepping into Milošev's place, and the new lineup recorded the band's second live album, E = mc², released in 1986. Bučević also recorded a solo album, Eclipse, released in 2006 and featuring mostly instrumental themes. The recordings from the concert were released on the DVD Live Beogradska arena (Live Belgrade Arena). "Godine prolaze" was covered by Croatian and Yugoslav country music band Plava Trava Zaborava on their 1999 live album 16 Nam Je Godina Tek – Koncert (We're Only 16 – Concert), Rahimovski making a guest appearance in the song. Serbian and Yugoslav rock singer Viktorija covered Parni Valjak songs "Molitva" and "'Ajde igraj" ("C'mon Dance") on her 2000 album Nostalgija (Nostalgia). Croatian pop singer Vanna recorded a cover of "Stranica dnevnika" on her 2007 album Ledeno doba (Ice Age), Hasanefendić and Rahimovski making guest appearances in the song. The song "Uhvati ritam" was covered on the 2001 album Yugoton, featuring covers of songs by Yugoslav rock acts recorded by Polish musicians. In 1987, in YU legende uživo (YU Legends Live), a special publication by Rock magazine, Koncert was proclaimed one of 12 best Yugoslav live albums.

In 2000, "Sve još miriše na nju" was polled No. 22, "Jesen u meni" was polled No. 48, "Stranica dnevnika" was polled No. 57 and "Hvala ti" ("Thank You") was polled No. 85 on the Rock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times list. In 2006, "Uhvati ritam" was polled No. 68 and "Stranica dnevnika" was polled No. 96 on the B92 Top 100 Domestic Songs list.

In 2015, the group was awarded the City of Zagreb Award for "highest merits in promoting [the city's] social life.

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! scope="row"| "Moja glava, moja pravila"<br/><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Igor Drvenkar)</span>

| rowspan="2"| 2023

| 1

| rowspan="2"

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! scope="row"| "Bogati će pobjeći na Mars"<br/><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Igor Drvenkar)</span>

| 6

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| colspan="22" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

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References

  • Official website