Sead Lipovača | |
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.jpg) Lipovača in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Zele |
| Born | Sead Lipovača (1955-08-31)31 August 1955 (age 70) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Labels | Jugoton,Diskoton,Logo Records, Nimfa Sound,Croatia Records,One Records |
Sead "Zele" Lipovača (Bosnian pronunciation:[lîpoʋatʃa]; born 31 August 1955) is aBosnian andYugoslavrock musician, songwriter and music producer, currently based inZagreb,Croatia, best known as the guitarist and leader of the popularhard rock andheavy metal bandDivlje Jagode.
Lipovača started his career in mid-1970s, as guitarist for severalZagreb-based bands, before he formed Divlje Jagode in 1977. With Divlje Jagode he achieved nationwide popularity, the band also having a short-lived international career under the name Wild Strawberries. Throughout the band's career, Lipovača has remained the leader and the only mainstay member of the band. He has released 13 studio albums, a live album and a number of compilations with the group.
In addition to leading Divlje Jagode, Lipovača has released two solo albums and has cooperated as a songwriter and producer with a number of acts from the region of former Yugoslavia.
Lipovača was born 31 August 1955 inBihać.[1] After graduating from high school, he moved to Zagreb for his studies ofexternal trade.[1]
Lipovača started his career in mid-1970s, performing with Zagreb-based bandsBiseri (The Pearls) andSelekcija (Selection), before joining the band Zenit (Zenith).[1] Zenit reached the peak of their career with their performance at the 1974 edition of theBOOM Festival, held inTivoli Hall inLjubljana, with the live version of their song "Stara kuća je prazna" ("The Old House Is Empty") appearing on the live albumBoom Pop Festival Ljubljana '74, recorded at the event.[1]
In 1977, Zenit former members Lipovača, vocalist Anto "Toni" Janković and bass guitarist Nihad Jusufhodžić formed the band Divlje Jagode inSarajevo with keyboardist Mustafa "Muc" Ismailovski and drummer Adonis Dokuzović.[1] The group soon managed to sign a contract with Yugoslavia's biggest record labelJugoton, attracting the attention of the Yugoslav public and the media with their early singles featuringhard rock ballads and their 1978debut self-titled album,.[1] Their second studio albumStakleni hotel (Glass Hotel), released in 1981, marked their complete shift towardsheavy metal.[2] OnStaleni hotel, Lipovača took part in the production for the first time, co-producing the album with Enco Lesić.[2] After the album release, vocalist Anto "Toni" Janković left the band amicalbly, bass guitaristAlen Islamović taking over the vocal duties.[2] With the albumsMotori (Motorcycles, 1982),Čarobnjaci (Wizards, 1983) andVatra (Fire, 1985), the band achieved large mainstream popularity in Yugoslavia, which provided them with a contract with aBritish record label and an opportunity to record an album for the international market.[2] In 1986, the group moved toLondon,England, where they started working on their international career under the name Wild Strawberries, adopting a moreglam metal image[3][4] and recording an English language album.[2] However, doubting the success of the band's venture in England, Islamović accepted the invitation fromGoran Bregović, the leader of the most popular Yugoslav bandBijelo Dugme, to join his group as a replacement for the vocalistMladen Vojičić "Tifa", and the albumWild Strawberries was released internationally without much promotion.[2] After a hiatus, Lipovača reformed the group in Yugoslavia with Bijelo Dugme's former frontman Vojičić as the vocalist, recording the 1988 albumKonji (Horses).[2] In 1989, the band was joined by formerOsmi Putnik vocalistZlatan Stipišić "Džibo". Despite making demo recording, the lineup featuring Stipišić never made any official releases, and Divlje Jagode disbanded in 1990.[2] In 1994, Lipovača reformed the group, long-time bass guitarist Zlatan Čehić taking over the vocals.[2] The band's following releases,Labude, kad rata ne bude (Swan, When There's No More War, 1994) andSto vjekova (Hundred Centuries, 1996), the latter recorded with vocalistŽanil "Žak" Tataj, presented the band with a slightly softer, more ballad-oriented sound.[2] With the 2003 albumOd neba do neba (From Sky to Sky), recorded with vocalist Pero Galić, the band reestablished their popularity in the region of former Yugoslavia.[2]
After the disbandment of Divlje Jagode in 1990 and the outbreak ofYugoslav Wars in 1991, Lipovača moved toGermany,London and, eventually, Zagreb, recording his first solo album, entitledMagic Love and released in 1993.[2] The album featured former Divlje Jagode members Zlatan Čehić (bass guitar) and Nasko Budimlić (drums), while on vocals was former Jersey member Žanil "Žak" Tataj.[2] The album featured English language lyrics, written by Tataj and former Divlje Jagode member Zlatan Stipišić, and was produced byNikša Bratoš, who also recorded keyboard sections, and provided backing vocals. The song "Can't Stop" featured Tina Rupčić on vocals, while the song "She Is Gone" featured formerKongres member Emir Cenić on vocals.[2]
In 2016, Lipovača released his second solo album,Internal Waves of Love, featuring mostly instrumental compositions, with several tracks featuring formerBlack Sabbath memberTony Martin on vocals.[5]
In the late 1970s, during Divlje Jagode hiatus caused by the members' mandatory stints in theYugoslav army, Lipovača, together with lyricistMarina Tucaković, became thespiritus movens for thedisco groupMirzino Jato.[2] He produced Mladen Vojičić's 1995 solo albumDani bez tebe (Days Without You), also authoring part of the album songs.[5] He produced, wrote music arrangements and played bass guitar on the 1997 albumIstina (Truth) by CroatianChristian rock band Glasnici Istine (Messengers of Truth).[5] He worked as a producer, arranger and author of a part of the material in the editionTri hafiza (ThreeHafizes), recorded by singersBurhan Šaban, Aziz Alili and Mensur Malkić.[5] He composed songs for the albumJa sam vjetar zaljubljeni (I'm a Wind that's in Love) by Bosnianpop singerDeen.[5] He produced albums ofIslamic spiritual musicHori, hori vasiona (The Universe Sings in Choir, 2002) andTi si vjetar, ja sam plamen (You Are a Wind, I Am a Flame) by the Zagreb-based female choir Arabeske (TheArabesques).[5] For the various artists albumHronično neumorni (Chronically Restless), featuring songs composed on lyrics by poetMilan B. Popović, he recorded the song "Poeta umire tiho" ("Poet Dies Quietly").[5]
Lipovača owns a large collection of guitars. He uses aGibson Les Paul from 1959. He also uses anOvation 12-string guitar. Apart from these guitars, he has a collection ofFender,Charvel,Jackson and other guitars.
He is most often seen performing with aFender Stratocaster from 1967 which he modified heavily. The guitar hasDimarzio Superdistortion bridge pickup and someFender middle pickup. Lipovača also added aFloyd Rose tremolo on the guitar.
He usesMarshall andMesa Boogie amplifiers. He uses an Eventide 3000 harmonizer and Whammy effects pedal. He sometimes uses aDunlop Cry Baby wah-wah pedal.
Lipovača lived in Sarajevo until the outbreak of theBosnian War, after which he moved to Germany, London and, eventually, Zagreb,[2] where he still resides. He is married and has a daughter.
In 2000, Divlje Jagode song "Jedina moja" was polled No.89 onRock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times list.[6]
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