DAG (former Yugoslav Band)

DAG ( sr-cyr, ДАГ), also known as Trio DAG (Трио ДАГ) were a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1972. Although short-lasting, they were one of the most notable representatives of the Yugoslav acoustic rock scene.

The band consisted of Dragan Popović (guitar, vocals) and brothers Grujica (percussion, vocals) and Aleksandar Milanović (guitar, vocals). Initially the band performed acoustic music, but on the recording of their only studio album, ''Sećanja'', released in 1974, they played electric instruments. The album, featuring poetic lyrics written by lyricist Marina Tucaković, was praised by the critics, but saw little commercial success, and Popović left the band, DAG ending their activity soon after.

History

1972-1975

The band was formed in 1972 as an acoustic trio consisting of Dragan Popović (guitar, vocals), and brothers Grujica (percussion, vocals) and Aleksandar Milanović (guitar, vocals). They named the band using the initials of their first names (Dragan, Aleksandar, Grujica).

In 1972 the band released their debut 7-inch single, featuring the songs "Voz" ("Train") and "Smiljana". With the song "Rastanak" ("The Leave"), released on a 7-inch single in 1973, they won the third place at the 1973 Zagreb Festival. In 1974 they released their only studio album, ''Sećanja'' (''Memories''). Although they started their career as a part of the Belgrade acoustic rock scene, on the album they used electric instruments. The poetic lyrics were written by Marina Tucaković, and the album cover was designed by Grujica Milanović. The album was produced by the band members themselves with Boban Petrović, and featured numerous guests: Sloba Marković on keyboards, Robert Nemeček on bass guitar, Ljubomir Ristić on sitar, Branimir Malkoč on flute, and drummers Raša Đelmaš, Nikola Jager and Mihajlo Popović. Although praised by the critics, the album saw little commercial success. After it was released, Popović left the band forming the acoustic band Maj (''May'') with Aleksandar Bijelić and Bane Zarin.

After Popović left the band, Milanović brothers recorded the single "Kako ti je ime, devojčice" ("What's Your Name, Little Girl") with popular singer Miki Jevremović. The B-side featured song "Za dečji san" ("For a Child's Dream") published under the DAG moniker. For a short period of time the brothers performed with the female singer Suzana Mančić, and after the release of the single with the songs "Daj mi ruku" ("Give Me Your Hand"), for the recording of which they reunited with Popović, in 1975, they ended their activity.

Post breakup

Aleksandar Milanović sold part of his unrecorded songs to Oliver Mandić, and worked with him on his early albums as a guitarist and arranger.

Dragan Popović, with the band Maj, recorded the single with the songs "Još uvek sanjam" ("I'm Still Dreaming") and "Vreme žetve" ("Time of Harvest"), and the song "A ja bih je ljubio" ("And I Would Kiss Her"), released on the various artists album ''Uspomene'' (''Memories'') dedicated to San vocalist Predrag Jovičić, who died in concert from an electric shock. With S Vremena Na Vreme, Maj performed in Atelje 212 play ''(Ne)sumnjivo lice'' (''The (Un)Suspicious Person''), directed by Zoran Radmilović. After Maj ended their activity, Popović worked as a music critic for ''Omladinske novine'' and ''Mladost''. He composed music for the Radio Belgrade show ''Index 202'', four of them released on the various artists album ''Index 202'' in 1981. During 1981 he worked with a short-lived band Dragstor (''Drugstore''), and later formed the band Lift (''Elevator'') with the bass guitarist Boba Orlić. He participated in the recording of Doktor Spira i Ljudska Bića album ''Dijagnoza''. During the 1980s he worked as a sound engineer in the Akademija Studio and composed children's music. In the 1990s he moved to Sweden, where he performed in clubs, worked as a music teacher and for some time worked in the Ericsson company. In Sweden he founded Teater Kapija (''Gate Theatre''), and with the actress Janna Eriksson formed the duet Itch.

In 1994 DAG song "Daj mi ruku" appeared on Komuna compilation album '' Sve smo mogli mi: Akustičarska muzika'' (''We Could Have Done All: Acoustic Music''), which featured songs by Yugoslav acoustic rock acts.

In 2013, the album ''Sećanja'' was reissued on CD by Austrian record label Atlantide.''Sećanja'' reissue at Discogs
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Legacy

The lyrics of four songs by the band were featured in Petar Janjatović's book '' Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007'' (''Songs of Brotherhood, Childhood & Offspring: Anthology of Ex YU Rock Poetry 1967 - 2007'').

Discography

Studio albums

*''Sećanja'' (1974)

Singles

*"Voz" / "Smiljana" (1972)
*"Rastanak" / "Svitanje" (1973)
*"Kako ti je ime devojčice" / "Za dečji san" (with Miki Jevremović, 1974)
*"Tragovi u pesku" / "I sad..." (1974)
*"Daj mi ruku" / "Jedan dan u Vojvodini" (1975)

References

External links

DAG
at Discogs
DAG
at Prog Archives

{{Authority control

Serbian rock music groups
Serbian progressive rock groups
Serbian folk rock groups
Yugoslav rock music groups
Yugoslav progressive rock groups
Musical trios
Musical groups from Belgrade
Musical groups established in 1972
Musical groups disestablished in 1975