TIME Biography

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TIME Biography

  • TIME Biography
    Dado Topic, the key figure of the band, left KORNI GRUPA in mid-1971, moved to Zagreb and with help from Vladimir Mihaljek formed TIME. The original line-up consisted of Topic-vocals, Tihomir Pop Asanovic-organ, Vedran Bozic-guitar, Mario Mavrin-bass, Ratko Divjak-drums and Brane Lambert Zivkovic-piano, flute. The eponymous debut album was released in summer 1972, ranking among the very first LP records of rock music issued in Yugoslavia at the time. The initial edition was issued in 500 c...

Adolf Dado Topic, the key figure of the band, left KORNI GRUPA in mid-1971, moved to Zagreb and with help from Vladimir Mihaljek formed TIME. The original line-up consisted of Topic-vocals, Tihomir Pop Asanovic-organ, Vedran Bozic-guitar, Mario Mavrin-bass, Ratko Divjak-drums and Brane Lambert Zivkovic-piano, flute. The eponymous debut album was released in summer 1972, ranking among the very first LP records of rock music issued in Yugoslavia at the time. The initial edition was issued in 500 copies only, because the record company did not expect any commercial success. However, this album proved its value in the decades to come and it was re-issued several times thereafter. The original line-up split in January 1973 after several personnel changes. In 1974 Topic spent some time in prison due to avoiding military service and there he wrote most of the material for the second album. "Time II" appeared in 1975 and it was recorded by Topic-vocal, bass, acoustic guitar, Asanovic-keyboards, Divjak-drums, congas, Dragi Jelic-electric guitar (guest musician from YU GRUPA) and Dabi Lukac-moog, mellotron. Topic then moved to London where he played bass in the FOUNDATIONS during some 40 gigs across England. At the beginning of 1976, during the FOUNDATIONS tour in Yugoslavia, Topic with his bandmates Petar Petej-drums and Chris Nicholls-keyboards decided to re-form TIME. Petej would occasionally play with TIME, but two original members, Bozic and Divjak, rejoined the band for recording of the third album. "Zivot u cizmama sa visokom petom", a concept album about the life of a rock'n'roll star, was recorded in Munich, Germany with these musicians: Topic-vocal, Bozic-guitar, Nicholls-keyboards, Divjak-drums, Karel Charlie Novak-bass, Ivan Piko Stancic-drums and Zdenka Kovacicek-backing vocals. After several tours during 1976/77, TIME finally disbanded in late 1977 and Topic started his solo career. In 1998 Topic, Bozic and Divjak with several young musicians resurrected TIME for a limited number of live concerts and again in 2001, this time in original line-up with Mavrin and Asanovic, they played several gigs in Zagreb.

Their style can be described as progressive rock with jazz influences. Similar bands of the ex-Yugoslavian scene were INDEXI, KORNI GRUPA and SMAK, while on the international scene one can mention the cross between GENESIS, FOCUS, TRAFFIC and STEELY DAN for example. The first album is the best and the dominating instruments were Hammond organ, piano and flute. "Time II" is more hard rock oriented with some nice ballads with a rare use of Mellotron in ex-Yugoslavia, while the third one is the best produced and more into jazz-funk style.

For prog fans the first album "Time" is highly recommended for listening. It is one of the best debuts in the former Yugoslavian rock scene and it influenced many generations of musicians. "Time II" and "Zivot u cizmama..." are less strong pieces and less progressive in sound, but nonetheless are worth hearing, especially for enthusiasts. "Time" was reissued on CD by Croatia Records in 1993, while the second and the third one were coupled on one CD under the title "Time & Dado Topic", issued by Raglas/PGP RTS in 1996.

Sead S. Fetahagic (BiH)

Chris, Vedran, Ratko & Dado,  Brijuni 2006