| Grešnici | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Years Active: | 1965-1975 |
| Label: | Jugoton, Orfej |
| Past Members: | Krešo Pavlić Kruno Pavlić Vedran Božić Vlado Bastajić Darko Jambrek Nikola Sarapa Vlado Delač Neven Frangeš Branko Blaće |
Grešnici (trans. The Sinners) were a Yugoslav rock band formed in Zagreb in 1965. They are notable as one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav rock scene.
Grešnici were formed in Zagreb in 1965 by brothers Krešo (organ, piano) and Kruno Pavlić (saxophone, organ, piano, vocals), Vedran Božić (guitar), Vlado Bastajić (bass guitar, vocals) and Darko Jambrek (drums).[1] [2] Initially, the band performed covers of international rock hits, and managed to gain some local popularity, holding regular concerts in Tucman club in Zagreb.[3]
After their 1968 Yugoslav tour, on which they performed with new guitarist, Nikola Sarapa (who came to the band after Božić moved to Roboti), the band went on hiatus.[3] In 1969, the band continued their activity in the new lineup, featuring, beside Bastajić on bass guitar and Jambrek on drums, new members: guitarist Vlado Delač (formerly of Zlatni Akordi), organist Neven Frangeš and guitarist and vocalist Branko Blaće,[3] moving from performing covers towards performing their own material.[1] The band had local success and gained media attention, Delač's compositions receiving praise, and Frangeš, who was 16 at the time, described by the press as a wunderkind.[3]
During the first half of the 1970s, the band, led by Delač, went through numerous lineup changes,[3] but managed to release eight 7-inch singles, with the songs "Mali trg" ("Little Town Square"), "Dok sam bio zelen i mlad" ("While I Was Green and Young") and "Rijeka snova" ("River of Dreams") becoming minor hits.[1]
The band ended their activity in 1975.[1]
In 1996, the record label Orfej released the compilation album entitled 1970-1975, featuring songs from the band's 7-inch singles, and, as bonus, recordings on which they performed as the backing band for pop singer Marijan Kašaj.[1]