Zlatni Prsti

Zlatni Prsti (Serbian Cyrillic: Златни Прсти, trans. Golden Fingers) was a Yugoslav rock band from Zaječar. In the late 1970s, the band changed their name to Nokaut (Serbian Cyrillic: Нокаут, trans. Knockout).

Zlatni Prsti
Background information
Also known as	Nokaut
Origin	Zaječar, Serbia, Yugoslavia
Genres	Rock
Years active	1970 – 1981 (reunions: 2012, 2016)
Labels	PGP-RTB, Diskos, Jugoton, Raglas Records, PGP-RTS
Associated acts	Generacija 5
Past members	Momčilo Radenković Slobodan Radenković Dragan Batalo Dragan Trajković Jovan Rašić Dušan Maslać Jovan Nikolić

Band history

1970 – 1981

The band was formed in 1970 by Momčilo Radenković (guitar), Slobodan Radenković (bass guitar), Dragan Batalo (keyboards) and Dragan Trajković (drums).[1] The band's first vocalist was Jovan Rašić.[1] After he moved to Generacija 5, the singing duties were taken over by Momčilo Radenković.[1] The band gained the public's attention after winning the first place at the Zaječar Gitarijada festival in 1974, after which they appeared on the various artists record published by Radio Belgrade show Veče uz radio (Evening by the Radio) with the song "Naša pesma" ("Our Song").[1] During the same year, the band appeared on the Festival Omladina, with the song "Pevam ti poslednji put" ("I Sing to You for the Last Time"), which was published on various artists live album Gde je ljubav: Omladina '74 (Where Is Love: Youth Festival '74), recorded on the festival.[2] In 1975, the band appeared on the same festival with the song "Budi hrabra".[1]

In 1976, the band released their debut self-titled album through PGP-RTB.[1] The recording of the album lasted only eighteen hours.[1] Most of the songs on the album were composed by Momčilo Radenković, while the lyrics were written by lyricist Mirko Glišić.[1] After the album was released, the band, dissatisfied with the deal they had with PGP-RTB, signed with Diskos, releasing a 7" single with the songs "Reših da se ženim" ("I Decided to Get Married") and "Posebna si uvek bila" ("You Were Always Special") through the label.[1] After that, they signed for Jugoton, releasing their first hit through the label, "Igraj rege" ("Dance to Reggae") in 1977.[1] In 1977, the band appeared on the double various artists live album Pop parada 1 (Pop Parade 1), recorded in Pinki Hall, with the songs "Pevajmo ljubavi" ("Lets Sing to Love") and "Posebna si uvek bila".[1] During the same year, the band also appeared on the various artists album Brigadirska pesma (Brigadiers' Song), recorded for the needs of youth work actions, with the song "Ne mogu sam da budem brigada" ("I Can't Be a Brigade just by Myself").[1] During the same year, the band performed on the sixth BOOM Festival.[1]

In 1979, the band released their second studio album, entitled Nokaut!.[1] Soon after the album was released, they decided to adopt Nokaut as their new name.[1] With the new name came changes in the lineup: Batalo had to leave the band due to his army obligations, and was replaced by Dušan Maslać (a former member of the band Prava Stvar), and Slobodan Radenković left the band to dedicate himself to his pizzeria, and was replaced by Jovan Nikolć.[1]

At the beginning of the 1980s, at the time of the popularity of new wave bands, the band saw a decline of popularity.[1] They tried to keep up with younger acts with new wave influenced songs published on 7" singles, but only their ballads saw some moderate success, mostly thanks to Momčilo Radenković's raspy voice.[1] Soon after, the band ended their activity.[1]

Post-breakup

In the late 1980s, Momčilo Radenković, Batalo and Trajković played on two albums by folk singer Boban Zdravković, Klinka (Little Girl, 1988) and Praštam ti, dušo (I Forgive You, My Darling, 1989), and the albums were released under the Boban Zdravković & Zlatni Prsti.[3]

In 1999, Raglas Records released the compilation album Zlatna kolekcija (Golden Collection), for which some of the songs were rerecorded by Momčilo Radenković.[1] In 2007, PGP-RTS released the bands both studio albums on one CD, entitled Zlatni Prsti & Nokaut.[4]

2012 and 2016 reunions

In 2012, a documentary about the band, directed by Marko Grujić and entitled Tačno u centar (Bullseye), was released.[5] The band reunited to perform at the premiere of the film.

In 2016, Momčilo Radenković reunited the band, in order to perform on the 50th edition of Zaječar Gitarijada Festival. The band opened the festival with their performance on August 11.[6]

Discography

Studio albums

• Zlatni Prsti (1976)
• Nokaut! (1979)

Compilations

• Zlatna kolekcija (1999)
• Zlatni Prsti & Nokaut (2007)

Singles

• "Budi hrabra" / "Voli me ljubavi" (1975)
• "Reših da se ženim" / "Posebna si uvek bila" (1977)
• "Igraj rege" / "Prsti od plastike" (1977)
• "Kako da osvojim tebe" / "Istina" (1978)
• "Super finale" / "Ima nešto u tebi što nikom poklonio ne bih" (1979)
• "Žuti taxi" / "Noć već bledi, blizu je dan" (as Nokaut, 1980)
• "Igraj bugi vugi" / "Kad nemaš gde da odeš" (as Nokaut, 1981)

Other appearances

• "Pevam ti poslednji put" (Gde je ljubav: Omladina '74, 1974)
• "Posebna si uvek bila" / "Pevajmo ljubavi" (Pop parada 1, 1977)
• "Ne mogu sam da budem brigada" (Brigadirska pesma, 1977)

Sources

1. Janjatović, Petar (2007). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960 - 2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 246.
2. Gde je ljubav: Omladina '74 at Discogs
3. Zlatni Prsti at Discogs
4. Zlatni Prsti & Nokaut
5. "Film:Zaboravljeni bend Zlatni prsti", b92.net
6. "POLA VEKA GITARIJADE -Rokonačelnici grada članovi Zlatnih prstiju", radiomagnum.rs

External links

• Zlatni Prsti discography at Discogs
• Zlatni Prsti discography at Rate Your Music
• Tačno u centar documentary on YouTube