Tunel ( sr-cyr, Тунел, trans. ''

Tunnel A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...

'') was a

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...

n and 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

Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...

in 1980. Tunel was formed in 1980 as a supergoup consisting of a former

S Vremena Na Vreme S Vremena Na Vreme ( sr-cyr, С Времена На Време, trans. ''From Time To Time'') is a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1972. S Vremena Na Vreme were one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav 1970s acoustic rock scene, ...

member

Ljuba Ninković Ljuba may refer to: * Ljuba (given name), a Slavic given name * Ljuba, Serbia, a village in Syrmia, Vojvodina * 1062 Ljuba, an asteroid See also * Ljubav (disambiguation) {{disambig, geo, given name ...

(guitar), a former

Crni Biseri Crni Biseri ( sr-cyr, Црни Бисери, trans. ''The Black Pearls'') were a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1963. The band were one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav rock scene. The band started their career performing beat music, ...

member Vladimir Janković "Vlada Džet" (bass guitar) and a former SOS member Steva Stevanović (drums). In 1984 the band was joined by guitarist Vlada Negovanović, who was replaced by Predrag Guculj in 1987. Tunel ended their activity in 1992, when Ninković started working with the reunited S Vremena Na Vreme. During their career the band released five studio albums and had several hit songs.

History

1980–1992

The band was formed in 1980 by a former

member

(vocals, guitar), a former

member Vladimir Janković "Vlada Džet" (vocals, bass guitar) and a former SOS (embryonic

Riblja Čorba Riblja Čorba ( sr-Cyrl, Рибља Чорба, pronounced ; translation: lit. ''Fish Stew'') is a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1978. The band was one of the most popular and most influential acts of the Yugoslav ...

) member Steva Stevanović (drums). The band presented themselves with melodic classic rock-inspired sound, and during its initial years performed mostly on music festivals. In 1982 they released their debut album, ''Noćni prolaz'' (''Night Passage''), produced by

Robert Nemeček The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(formerly of

Dogovor iz 1804. Dogovor iz 1804. ( sr-cyr, Договор из 1804., trans. ''The 1804 Agreement'') was a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1968. Although short-lived, the band is notable as one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav progressive and psychedel ...

Pop Mašina Pop Mašina ( sr-cyr, Поп Машина; trans. ''Pop Machine'') was a Yugoslav progressive rock band formed in Belgrade in 1972. Pop Mašina was one of the most notable bands of the Yugoslav rock scene in the 1970s. Pop Mašina was formed by ...

and

Rok Mašina Rok Mašina ( sr-cyr, Рок Машина; trans. ''Rock Machine'') was a short-lasting Yugoslav hard rock and heavy metal band formed in Belgrade in 1980. Formed by former members of the progressive/hard rock band Pop Mašina Robert Nemeče ...

), through

Jugodisk Jugodisk was a record label was established in 1968, in the then Socialist Republic of Serbia in SFR Yugoslavia in Belgrade, today Serbia. Before 1981, it was known as Beograd Disk. In 2003, the company was sold at a state auction to the show bus ...

record label. Five tracks were written by Ninković and four by Janković. The album brought minor hits "Natali", "Radio", "Svako je zna" ("Everybody Knows Her"), and

erotic Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, scul ...

song "Volim sax" ("I Love Sax"). ''Noćni prolaz'' also featured a cover of Steppenwolf song "

Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first performed by the band Steppenwolf. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is most notably featured in the 1969 fi ...

". In 1983 the band released their second studio album, ''Niz tri tamne ulice'' (''Along Three Dark Streets''), also produced by Nemeček and also through Jugodisk. Besides the tracks written by Ninković and Janković, the album featured "A sad je svemu kraj", a

Serbo-Croatian Serbo-Croatian () – also called Serbo-Croat (), Serbo-Croat-Bosnian (SCB), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS), and Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian (BCMS) – is a South Slavic language and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and ...

cover of

Bobby Womack Robert Dwayne Womack (; March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Starting in the early 1950s as the lead singer of his family musical group the Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guit ...

's song "

It's All Over Now "It's All Over Now" is a song written by Bobby Womack and his sister-in-law Shirley Womack. It was first released by The Valentinos, featuring Bobby Womack, in 1964. The Rolling Stones heard it on its release and quickly recorded a cover versio ...

". In 1984 the band was joined by guitarist Vladimir Negovanović, a former member of the bands Butik (''Boutique''),

Doktor Spira i Ljudska Bića Doktor Spira i Ljudska Bića ( sr-cyr, Доктор Спира и Људска Бића; trans. ''Doctor Spira and the Human Beings'') were a Serbian new wave/alternative rock band from Belgrade. They were a prominent act of the Yugoslav new wav ...

and

Slađana Milošević Aleksandra Milošević Hagadone ( sr-cyr, Александра Милошевић Хагадон; born 3 October 1955), better known as Slađana Milošević ( sr-Cyrl, Слађана Милошевић, ) is a Serbian singer-songwriter, composer, ...

's backing band Ljudi (''People''). The new lineup recorded the album ''Elektirčna iluzija'' (''Electric Illusion''), produced by Đorđe Petrović and released in 1984 through

PGP-RTB PGP-RTB (abbreviation for sr, Produkcija gramofonskih ploča Radio televizije Beograd) was a major state-owned record label and chain record store in the former SFR Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, Socialist Republic of Serbia. After the breaku ...

. In 1987 the band released the album ''Do poslednje kapi...'' (''Till the Last Drop...''), produced by the band themselves and

YU Grupa YU Grupa (trans. '' YU Group'') is a Serbian (former Yugoslav) rock band. A pioneer in combining rock music with the elements of the traditional music of the Balkans, YU Grupa is credited with being the longest-lasting Serbian rock band.

guitarist

Bata Kostić Bata, Baťa, Baţa, Batá or BATA may refer to: Organizations * Bata Corporation, a multinational corporation * Bata Shoe Museum, a museum of the history of footwear in Toronto * Bay Area Toll Authority, the bridge toll administrator of the San ...

, through PGP-RTB. The album featured a

Serbian language Serbian (, ) is the standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language mainly used by Serbs. It is the official and national language of Serbia, one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina and co-official in Montenegro and Kos ...

cover of

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

's song "

Little Red Rooster "Little Red Rooster" (or "The Red Rooster" as it was first titled) is a blues standard credited to arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. The song was first recorded in 1961 by American blues musician Howlin' Wolf in the Chicago blues style. His ...

", entitled "Crveni petao" ("Red Rooster"). The album featured Kostić on guitar and Ninković's former bandmate from S Vremena Na Vreme

Asim Sarvan Asim or ASIM may refer to: *Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, a fantasy and science fiction magazine * Aseem, a male given name of Indian origin, often spelled ''Asim'' *Asem, a male given name of Arabic origin, someti ...

on vocals as guest musicians. In May 1985 Ninković participated in

YU Rock Misija YU Rock Misija (known in English as YU Rock Mission) was the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's contribution to Bob Geldof's Band Aid campaign, which culminated with the Live Aid concert. It consisted of recording the "Za milion godina" ...

, the Yugolsav contribution to

Live Aid Live Aid was a multi-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 fami ...

, and on June 15 Tunel, alongside 23 other acts, performed on

Red Star Stadium The Rajko Mitić Stadium ( sr, / , ), previously known as Red Star Stadium ( sr, / ), also known as Marakana ( sr-Cyrl, Маракана), is a multi-use stadium in Belgrade, Serbia which has been the home ground of Red Star Belgrade since ...

, on the concert which was a part of YU Rock Misija. In 1987 Negovanović moved to

Dejan Cukić Dejan Cukić ( sr-cyr, Дејан Цукић; born November 4, 1959) is a Serbian rock musician, journalist, writer and translator. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Cukić was the frontman of the new wave band Bulevar, releasing two alb ...

's Spori Ritam Band (in 1995 he would join

Bajaga i Instruktori Bajaga i Instruktori (Serbian Cyrillic: Бајага и Инструктори; trans. ''Bajaga and the Instructors'') are a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1984. Founded and led by vocalist, guitarist and principal composer ...

) and the band's new member became Predrag Guculj, who previously performed with

Rambo Amadeus Antonije Pušić (; born 14 June 1963), known professionally as Rambo Amadeus () is a Montenegrin author. A self-titled "musician, poet, and media manipulator", he is a noted artist across the countries of former Yugoslavia. His songs combine ...

. In 1991 the band released the album ''Bubnjevi preko reke'' (''Drums on the Other Side of the River''), produced by themselves, through PGP-RTB. The song "Bela lađa" ("White Boat") featured rock veteran Branko Marušić "Čutura" on vocals. The album featured a Serbo-Croatian cover of

The Doors The Doors were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential ro ...

song "

Love Street "Love Street" is a song performed by the American rock band the Doors. Sequenced as the second album track on '' Waiting for the Sun'', its lyrics were written by lead singer Jim Morrison and as with other songs, it was dedicated to his girlfrien ...

", entitled "Ulica ljubavi". The song "Još uvek (volim sax)" ("I Still (Love Sax)"), with similar erotic lyrics as "Volim sax", featured guitarist Borko Mitić. The album featured

Bilja Krstić Biljana "Bilja" Krstić (Serbian Cyrillic: Биљана "Биља" Крстић, Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: ǐʎana bǐːʎa kř̩ːstitɕ born 9 November 1955) is a Serbian singer. She was born in 1955 in Niš and brought up on the folk t ...

, Asim Sarvan, and Željko Marinković on backing vocals and Bajaga i Instruktori member

Saša Lokner Saša is a South Slavic given name. It is a diminutive of Aleksandar (see Sasha), but in the South Slavic countries it is often a formal name as well. It may refer to: * Saša Antunović (born 1974), Serbian footballer *Saša Bjelanović (born 197 ...

on keyboards. In 1992 Ninković started working with reunited S Vremena Na Vreme and Tunel ended their activity.

Post breakup

After Tunel disbanded, Janković started working as a Radio 202 editor and host. With guitarist Boban Birtašević (a former

Siluete Siluete ( sr-cyr, Силуете, trans. ''The Silhouettes'') were a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1961. They were one of the pioneers of the Yugoslav rock scene. Soon after the formation, Siluete, fronted by charismatic ...

member) and drummer Jovan Ljubisavljević "Kića" (a former Crni Biseri member) he formed his Vlada Jet Band. With the new band he recorded six studio albums, the 2005 album ''Brand 40'' featuring Ninković on backing vocals. In 1996 Raglas Records released Tunel greatest hits compilation ''It's Only Rock 'n' Roll''. In 2021 Long Play record label released the album ''Uživo 1982–1985 (Official Bootleg)'' (''Live 1982–1985 (Official Bootleg)''), featuring recordings from the band's performance in Kulušić club in Zagreb and from perofmances on

youth work actions Youth work actions (Serbo-Croatian: ''Omladinske radne akcije'', often abbreviated to ''ORA'', Slovenian: ''Mladinske delovne akcije'') were organized voluntary labor activities of young people in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The ...

Negotin Negotin ( sr-cyrl, Неготин, ; ro, Negotin) is a town and municipality located in the Bor District of the eastern Serbia. It is situated near the borders between Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. It is the judicial center of the Bor District. ...

Paraćin Paraćin ( sr-Cyrl, Параћин, ) is a town and municipality located in the Pomoravlje District of central Serbia. It is located in the valley of the Velika Morava river, north of Kruševac and southeast of Kragujevac. In 2011 the town had a p ...

and

Pirot Pirot ( sr-cyr, Пирот) is a city and the administrative center of the Pirot District in southeastern Serbia. According to 2011 census, the urban area of the city has a population of 38,785, while the population of the city administrative area ...

.""TUNEL" SE VRAĆA POSLE 30 GODINA: Rok veterani objavili svoj prvi koncertni album", Novosti.rs
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Discography

Studio albums

*''Noćni prolaz'' (1982) *''Niz tri tamne ulice'' (1983) *''Električna iluzija'' (1984) *''Do poslednje kapi...'' (1987) *''Bubnjevi preko reke'' (1991)

Live albums

*''Uživo 1982–1985 (Official Bootleg)''

Compilation albums

*''It's Only Rock 'n' Roll'' (1996)

Singles

*"Radio" / "Svako je zna" (1980) *"Natali" / "Svako je zna" (1981) *"Srečna Nova godina" / "A ti me samo gledaš" (1981) *"Ne plaši se" / "Jo Jo" (1987)

References

External links

Tunel at Discogs
{{Authority control Serbian rock music groups Yugoslav rock music groups Musical groups from Belgrade Musical groups established in 1980 Musical groups disestablished in 1992