Galija (; ) is a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Niš in 1977.
The central figures of the band are brothers Nenad Milosavljević (vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica) and Predrag Milosavljević (vocals). A large numbrer of musicians passed through the band, with Milosavljević brothers and drummer Boban Pavlović being the only mainstay members. The band's first several releases were progressive rock-oriented, bringing them a loyal fanbase, but in the mid-1980s the band moved towards more mainstream-oriented sound. In the mid-1980s, the band was joined by guitarist Jean Jacques Roskam and multi-instrumentalist Bratislav "Bata" Zlatković. This lineup of the band cooperated with poet Radoman Kanjevac on the album trilogy consisting of Daleko je Sunce (1988), Korak do slobode (1989) and Istorija, ti i ja (1991), which featured provocative political-related lyrics and with which they achieved huge mainstream popularity. The band managed to sustain their popularity throughout the 1990s, but went on a hiatus at the end of the decade. Since their return to the scene in the mid-2000s, the band remains one of the top mainstream acts of the Serbian rock scene.
Band history
1977–1984: progressive rock years
Galija frontman Nenad Milosavljević started performing as a singer-songwriter while still in his teenage years. Influenced by the hippie movement, he performed his songs playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. He had his first public appearance in 1975, on the Evening of Poetry and Music at the Niš Film Festival, performing his own songs and songs by José Feliciano. The performance brought him the attention of the press. In 1976 he performed at the Subotica Youth Festival and Belgrade Spring Festival. At the time, the popular acoustic rock band Lutajuća Srca included the song "Ta je ulica meni znana" ("That Street is Known to Me"), composed by Milosavljević, into their repertoire, which brought him new media attention. He composed music for plays by the Niš Puppet Theatre, the Niš Student Theatre and the Niš Youth Theatre and the amateur theatre Treća polovina (Third Half).
On 11 April 1977 Nenad Milosavljević held a concert in the Niš National Theatre, on which he was accompanied by the members of the band Dva Lustera (Two Chandeliers). After the concert, Milosavljević and Dva Lustera members agreed to start working together as a band. They chose to name the band Galija after the famous kafana in Niš, a gathering place for Niš rockers. The first lineup of Galija featured Nenad Milosavljević (guitar and vocals), Goran Ljubisavljević (guitar), Predrag Branković (bass guitar), Nenad Tančić (drums) and Branislav Stamenković (keyboards). Tančić soon left the band because of his mandatory stint in the Yugoslav army, and was replaced by Boban Pavlović, who would, during the following years, remain one of rare permanent members of the band. Initially, in addition to their own songs the band performed covers of songs by The Rolling Stones, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Genesis and other foreign acts. In 1978, with the new keyboard player, Zoran Stanković, Galija won the first place at the Gitarijada festival in Zaječar. At that time they used to appear on stage in 18th century uniforms. Several months after Gitarijada, they performed at the Subotica Youth Festival with Ljubodrag Vukadinović playing the keyboards. During 1978 they performed as the opening band on Smak tour, and at the end of the year they performed at the BOOM Festival in Novi Sad.
In 1979 the band released their debut album Prva plovidba (The First Sail) through PGP-RTB record label to mixed reviews by the critics. However, the tracks "Avanturista" ("Adventurer"), "Gospi" ("To the Lady") and "Decimen" became first hits for the band. Nenad Milosvaljević's brother Predrag Milosavljević appeared on the album on vocals as a guest musician, and also wrote most of the album lyrics. The band went on a promotional tour, during which they performed in Niš on the amphitheater in the Niš Fortress, the concert featuring a chamber music choir. In 1979 the band also appeared on Bijelo Dugme's Rock Spectacle on JNA Stadium, on which they performed alongside Bijelo Dugme, Kako, Mama Rock, Formula 4, Aerodrom, Opus, Senad od Bosne, Boomerang, Prva Ljubav, Prljavo Kazalište, Tomaž Domicelj, Metak, Suncokret, Parni Valjak, Generacija 5, Siluete and other acts. After the festival, Ljubisavljević, Branković and Vukadinović left the band. The bass guitarist Zoran Radosavljević, the guitarist Dušan Radivojević and the keyboardist Nebojša Marković became the band's new members.
