Popečitelji | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Pristina,AP Kosovo,Serbia(1995–1999) Kragujevac, Serbia(1999–present) |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Mojo Beat, Odličan hrčak, Druga stvar |
| Members | Saša Furunović Goran Furunović Dušan Lazić |
| Past members | Radeta Vulić Ivan Cvetković |
Popečitelji (Serbian Cyrillic: Попечитељи, anarchaism with the meaningMinisters) is a Serbian rock band formed inPristina in 1995.
Formed by brothers Saša (guitar) and Goran Furunović (bass guitar) and Radeta Vulić (drums), the group initially performedalternative/noise rock. Moving toKragujevac in 1999, the band started performing their blend offunk rock andethnic music. Popečitelji released their first studio album in 2004, gaining prominence on theSerbian rock scene. The group has released three more studio albums since, and Furunović brothers have embarked on several side projects.
The band was formed inPristina in 1995 by brothers Saša (guitar) and Goran Furunović (bass guitar) and Radeta Vulić (drums).[1] They named the band Popečitelji, which is anarchaism for government ministers used in 19th century Serbia.[1] Initially, the group performed their version ofalternative/noise rock sound.[1] After the1999 NATO bombing of FR Yugoslavia, the group moved toKragujevac, where they developed their blend ofinstrumentalfunk rock andethnic music.[1]
After a series of performances across Serbia, the band had their first performance in the country's capitalBelgrade in August 2003, performing as the opening act for American saxophone playerMaceo Parker on his concert in the garden ofStudents' Cultural Center.[1] In 2004, the band released their debut albumKo radi? (Who's Working), produced byDušan Kojić "Koja".[1] In 2005, the group performed as the opening act for Canadianpunk rock bandNomeansno on their concert in Belgrade.[1] In 2008, the band released their second studio albumHorizonti (Horizons), produced by themselves.[1] The album featured the band's trademark instrumental funk rock/folk rock sound, but also included tracks with vocals.[1] Their third albumSijalica (Light Bulb) was released in 2013.[1] The album was produced by Saša Furunović, who also designed the album cover.[1]
In 2015, Radeta Vulić left the band to joinDisciplin A Kitschme, and was replaced by Ivan Cvetković.[1] In 2015, Popečitelji started their own label Druga stvar (Other Thing), through which they released the singles "Kroz" ("Through") and "Bum!" ("Boom!").[1] In 2018, Cvetković was replaced by Dušan Lazić.[1] The band's fourth studio albumUvek (Always) was co-released by Druga stvar and Odličan hrčak label in 2021.[1]
Simultaneously with his work with Popečitelji, Saša Furunović started his instrumental rock side project Fitnes (Fitness) in 2003.[1] He was joined by Goran Furunović and keyboardist Aca Pejčić in 2009.[1] In 2011, in empty auditorium of Kragujevac cinema Šumadija, the band recorded the albumUdarci i varnice (Hits and Sparks).[1] Saša Furunović, under the pseudonym CD Ministar (CD Minister), performed with singer-songwriterBojana Bulatović "Bo", and the Furunović brothers took part in the recording of Bulatović's 2008 albumKapetane, gde si? (Captain, Where Are You?).[1] As CD Ministar, Saša Furunović released the albumZabit (Backwoods) in 2015.[1]