domingo, 16 de mayo de 2010

The Beatmen

The Beatmen were a Slovak rock band singing predominantly in English, that existed from 1964 to 1966. Although they released only 4 songs, they remain one of the most significant bands in the history of the Czechoslovak popular music. They were one of the first widely popular Big Beat bands[1] in Czechoslovakia and they were one of the first bands from behind the iron curtain to play in the western Europe, in Munich[2]. The band was the first bigger success for the singer and guitarist Dežo Ursiny, who later became a legend of the Czechoslovak music.

Music and sound of the Beatmen is mightily influenced especially by The Beatles, as is obvious from the listening. Their song Let's Make A Summer has been highly critically acclaimed and remains one of the best Czechoslovak pop songs ever written.





The origins of The Beatmen can be found in the early sixties' Bratislava bands Fontána and Jolana, where the future Beatmen were members. The Beatmen were founded at the end of 1964 by Peter Petro, Miroslav Bedrik and Marián Bednár. They took on lead guitarist Stano Herko, who left subsequently, due to his conservatory duties. His replace was Dežo Ursiny. Throughout the 1965 they gained wide success, they released their two SPs, they played several successful shows in Prague, including that at Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre. In May they played at Rokoko theatre, and later they performed at the premiere of the movie Nylonový mesiac (Nylon Moon). Little of this success could have been achieved without the effort of their manager Peter Tuchscher, who was an important person on the Bratislava rock scene those days, managing a number of bands and bringing many of them into spotlight. The Beatmen were his most successful band.

In spring 1966 they performed at Kunstmuseum in Munich, and as a support at the two Manfred Mann shows in Bratislava. Manfred Mann were so amazed by them that they wanted to take them as their support for their UK tour, but the negotiations failed. It has been rumoured[by whom?] that The Beatmen were not allowed to go unless Olympic, by then the most successful Czechoslovak rock 'n' roll band from Prague, was to go too. It was not usual that a Slovak act overshadowed a big and stable Czech one and many people[who?] were not happy about this fact. This was going to happen several times in the future, e.g. when Slovak Miroslav Žbirka was voted the best male singer of the country instead of the by-then annual winner Karel Gott in 1982. Manfred Mann's management didn't agree on Olympic and so The Beatmen were not allowed to go.

The desire for more fame and artistic freedom without limitations from the political regime made The Beatmen decide to emigrate to West Germany, but without Ursiny, who decided to stay. As a replacement they took on Juraj Eperjesi. On their travel after the concert in Vienna, Peter Petro decided to return home. In Germany they released one single with a new line-up, but it didn't obtain much interest from fans. They split soon thereafter due to personal problems and disappointment from the little success they gained. After some time, Ursiny founded a new band, The Soulmen.




Band line-up

Dežo Ursiny - lead guitar, harmonica, vocals
Miroslav Bedrik - rhythm guitar, vocals
Marián Bednár - bass, vocals
Peter Petro - drums, vocals

Former and later members:

Stano Herko - lead guitar
Juraj Eperjesi - lead guitar
Arno Biller (German) - drums

Discography

SP 1965 (Supraphon):
Safely Arrived (Bedrik/Petro)
The Enchanted Lie (Bedrik/Bednár/Petro)

SP 1965 (Supraphon):
Break It (Ursiny/Petro)
Let's Make A Summer (Ursiny/Petro)

SP 1966 (Intersound) (in Germany):
Stand Up And Go
As You Love Me

Except their official songs, The Beatmen recorded at least five other songs. These remained unreleased until 1997 and 2000, when they were included on Dežo Ursiny's compilation albums Pevniny a vrchy and Pevniny a vrchy 2. They are: Walkin' Home, Hey Mr. Jones, Schôdzka(Slovak name, but English lyrics), Mám ju rád (in two versions - a cover of Beatles' She Loves You with Slovak lyrics) and Keby som bol Nór(Slovak lyrics).




The Beatmen were from Bratislava, which in 1965 was part of Czechoslovakia, but is now the capital of Slovakia. Original members were Marián Bednár (bass guitar), M. Bedrik, and P. Petro. Lead guitarist Stano Herko joined, but soon left to be replaced by Dežo Ursiny of the group Fontana, who sang and played harmonica as well as lead guitar.In 1965 the Beatmen released two 45s almost simultaneously, becoming enormously popular in Czechoslovakia. Both records feature a Kinks-like r&b original on one side with a slower tempo song on the flip. All four songs are originals and sung in English, something bands in other East bloc countries probably couldn't have gotten away with.In 1966 they became the first one of the early East European beat groups to play in the West, with a concert in Munich, and even received a mention in Time magazine. After seeing them in Bratislava, Manfred Mann attempted to get the Beatmen on the bill of their upcoming UK shows, but the Beatmen were denied permission to tour.The Beatmen emigrated to Western Germany, leaving Ursiny, who remained in Bratislava. With new guitarist Peter Eperješi, the band failed to find much success, and the Beatmen soon split up.Ursiny formed the Soulmen in 1967, with Vlado Mally and Fedor Freso, releasing one excellent EP in '68. Ursiny's music went into a more jazzy and progressive direction after the Soulmen. He died from cancer on May 2, 1995, in Bratislava. After the Beatmen, bassist Marián Bednár joined the Braňo Hronec Orchestra for at least one single.Thanks to Yag for the music and scans. Yag tells me that four tracks of the Beatmen from a radio performance also exist.

Hi to All this post is dedicated to the Slovak Band Beatmen :


http://rapidshare.com/files/388232429/01._Keby_som_bol_N__r.mp3.html