Dunaj (band)

Dunaj
Also known as Pustit musíš, Kolektiv, Iva Bittová a Dunaj
Origin Brno, Czechoslovakia
Genres Alternative rock, avant-garde, art rock, rock
Years active 1986–1991, 1992–1998, 2002, 2018–present
Labels Indies Records, Rachot, Bonton Records, Panton Records
Members
  • Josef Ostřanský
  • Vladimír Václavek
  • Pavel Koudelka
Past members
  • Jiří Kolšovský
  • Pavel Fajt
  • Iva Bittová
  • Pavel Richter
  • Zdeněk Plachý
  • Václav Bartoš

Dunaj were a Czech alternative art rock band from Brno active between 1986 and 1998 and reformed in 2018. The band is notable for its inclusion of Czech rock figureheads Iva Bittová and Pavel Fajt, as well as its own international success and influence on the Czech alternative rock scene. The band's name translates in English to "Danube", referring to the river of this name.

History

The earliest performances by the group occurred in 1986 under the name Kolektiv. The initial lineup featured vocalists Bittová and Jiří Kolšovský, guitarists Josef Ostřanský and Pavel Richter, bassist Vladimír Václavek, and Fajt playing drums. The group, all of whose members were active in other projects, performed only sporadically at the time.[1]

In 1989, after the success of the Fajt/Bittová collaborative LP, the members decided to resurrect and record the Kolektiv material. In the process, the group changed their name to Dunaj, released their debut record, Dunaj a Bittová, and performed a handful of well-received concerts.[2]

Bittová and Richter left shortly after this period, leaving Kolšovský both to take over on guitar (replacing Richter) and perform the function of lead vocalist and frontman. Zdeněk Plachý also briefly joined as the group's keyboardist, performing on the group's second album, Rosol (Jelly). This dark album was released in 1991 on the Pavian Records label. After performances supporting the record, the band broke up.

The split was short-lived, however, and in 1992 the band reformed under its third and longest-lasting incarnation, based around Kolšovský, Václavek, Ostřanský and new drummer Pavel Koudelka. The band recorded and released its third record, Dudlay, in 1993, followed by 1994's IV.

1995 briefly saw the four current members rejoined by Bittová and Fajt, who re-recorded their debut album, released, along with new material, as Pustit musíš. The band toured in this incarnation prior to returning to the four-piece lineup and recording La La Lai, their final release. The group disbanded in 1998, shortly before Kolšovský's death. All surviving members remained active in the Czech music scene.[2]

In 2002, the group played a series of reunion concerts featuring participation from most past members.[2] Václav Bartoš (of Fajt's group Pluto) replaced Kolšovský for these performances.

Beginning in 2015, Ostřanský and Václavek began performing Dunaj material together live in various settings, including Dunajská Vlna, initially with drummer Michaela Antalová. In 2018, Ostřanský and Václavek officially reformed Dunaj with drummer Koudelka, planning to perform old material and begin to write new songs. A film about the band also began production.[3]

Discography

  • Dunaj a Bittová (1989)
  • Rosol (1991) (re-released in 2001 with bonus live tracks)
  • Dudlay (1993)
  • IV (1994)
  • Pustit musíš (1995)
  • La La Lai (1996)

Members

Current

  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals (1986–1991, 1992–1998, 2002, 2018–present)
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals (1986–1991, 1992–1998, 2002, 2018–present)
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums (1992–1998, 2002, 2018–present)

Former

  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar (1986–1991, 1992–1998; died 1998)
  • Pavel Fajt – drums, percussion (1986–1991, 1995, 2002)
  • Iva Bittová – vocals, violin (1986–1989, 1995, 2002)
  • Pavel Richter – guitar (1986–1989)
  • Zdeněk Plachý – keyboards (1991)
  • Václav Bartoš – vocals (2002)
Dunaj line-ups
(1986–1990)
as Kolektiv (1986–1989)
as Dunaj (1989–1990)
  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar
  • Iva Bittová – vocals
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Richter – guitar
  • Pavel Fajt – drums, percussion
  • Dunaj a Bittová (1989)
(1990–1991)
  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Zdeněk Plachý – keyboards
  • Pavel Fajt – drums, percussion
  • Rosol (1991)
(1992–1995)
  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums
  • Dudlay (1993)
  • IV (1994)
(1995)
  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar
  • Iva Bittová – vocals
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums
  • Pavel Fajt – drums, percussion
  • Pustit Musíš (1995)
(1995–1998)
  • Jiří Kolšovský – vocals, guitar
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums
  • La La Lai (1996)
(2002)
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums
  • Pavel Fajt – drums, percussion
  • Iva Bittová – vocals
  • Václav Bartoš – vocals
(2018–present)
  • Vladimír Václavek – bass, guitar, vocals
  • Josef Ostřanský – guitar, vocals
  • Pavel Koudelka – drums

References

  1. ↑ "Brno's alternative "supergroup" Dunaj". Radio Praha. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Iva Bittova: Knowing, Feeling..." All About Jazz. November 21, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Crowdfunding campaign for the movie Dunaj of Consciousness". Retrieved October 5, 2018.
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