Atomi (trans. ''The Atoms'') were a Yugoslav

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band formed in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...

in 1961. They were one of the pioneers of the

Yugoslav rock scene Popular music in Yugoslavia includes the pop and rock music of the former SFR Yugoslavia, including all their genres and subgenres. The scene included the constituent republics: SR Slovenia, SR Croatia, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR Montenegr ...

. Heavily influenced by

The Shadows The Shadows (originally known as the Drifters) were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre- Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard ...

, Atomi were arguably the first

instrumental rock Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes musical instruments and features very little or no singing. Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style. Instru ...

band in Yugoslavia. The band gained local popularity, which gave them an opportunity to become the first rock band to make recordings for

Radio Zagreb ''Hrvatska radiotelevizija'' (abbr. HRT), or Croatian Radiotelevision, is Croatia's public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. HRT is divided into thr ...

and the first Yugoslav rock band to appear on television. The group disbanded in 1964.

History

1961-1964

Atomi were formed in

at the end of 1961 by Darko Brozović (guitar), Miro Wolfhart (guitar) and Mišo Zozoli (bass guitar). After they made their first amateur recordings, they were joined by drummer Josip "Pepi" Dajčman, after which they started to perform live. Heavily influenced by

, Atomi are considered the first

band to be formed in

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, and perhaps in Yugoslavia. The band gained local popularity and started performing regularly in the Zagreb club Neboder (''Skyscraper''). Their performances got them the attention of the media, so they were invited to make recordings for Radio Zagreb, becoming the first rock band to make recordings for that radio station. For Radio Zagreb they recorded the songs "Sedam dana oko vatre" ("Seven Days around the Fire"), "Johnny Will" (a cover of

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

song) and "Zlatna ulica" ("Golden Street", a cover of The Shadows song "Find Me a Golden Street"). These recordings increased their popularity in Croatia. In October 1962, in the Istra concert hall, the band made recordings for the Television Zagreb

children's show Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during the early evenin ...

''Slavica i Mendo'', becoming the first Yugoslav rock band to appear on television. In 1963 the band released their only record, a

7" single In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

with the songs "Driftin' (U zanosu)", a cover of The Shadows song "Driftin'", and "Golden Earrings (Zlante naušnice)", a cover of

Les Fantômes Les Fantômes were a French rock guitar group formed in 1961. They were an instrumental group modeled on the English group The Shadows.Jean Chalvidant, Hervé Mouvet La belle histoire des groupes de rock français des années 60 2851572199 - Page ...

song "Golden Earrings". Later that year the band released the EP ''Juri Gagarin'' (''

Yuri Gagarin Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin; Gagarin's first name is sometimes transliterated as ''Yuriy'', ''Youri'', or ''Yury''. (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Tr ...

'') with the vocal quartet Problem. The EP featured the songs "Juri Gagarin" (a cover of Luciano Beretta song "Yuri Gagarin"), "Havajski tvist (Hawaiian Twist)", a cover of

The Chakachas The Chakachas were a Belgium-based group of Latin soul studio musicians. Also known as Les Chakachas, Los Chakachas, or Los Chicles, they were formed by bandleader Gaston Bogaerts, percussion (conga and tumba); Kari Kenton, vocals and maracas; Vic ...

song "Hawaiian War Twist"), "Twist na ulici" ("Twist in the Street") and "Čarobni trenuci (Sweet Moments)". Atomi disbanded in 1964, when the members of the band went to serve their mandatory stints in the

Yugoslav People's Army The Yugoslav People's Army (abbreviated as JNA/; Macedonian and sr-Cyrl-Latn, Југословенска народна армија, Jugoslovenska narodna armija; Croatian and bs, Jugoslavenska narodna armija; sl, Jugoslovanska ljudska a ...

Post breakup

In 2005 Atomi songs "Driftin' (U zanosu)", "Johnny Will", "Sedam dana oko vatre", "Zlatna ulica", "Golden Earrings (Zlatne naušnice)", "Plava zvijezda (Blue Star)" and " Besame Mucho" were released on the

box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

''Kad je rock bio mlad - Priče sa istočne strane (1956-1970)'' (''When Rock Was Young - East Side Stories (1956-1970)''), released by

Croatia Records Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Zagreb ( Dubrava). Summary Croatia Records d.d. is a joint-stock company currently led by the chief executive officer Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer. It releases ...

in 2005 and featuring songs by the pioneering Yugoslav rock acts.

Discography

EPs

*''Juri Gagarin'' (with Problem; 1963)

Singles

*"Driftin' (U zanosu)" / "Golden Earrings (Zlatne naušnice)" (1963)

References

{{Reflist

External links

Atomi
at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...

Croatian rock music groups Yugoslav rock music groups Instrumental rock musical groups Musical groups established in 1961 Musical groups disestablished in 1964