Piloti (, trans. The Pilots) is a rock band from Belgrade. Formed in 1981, and initially immersed in the Yugoslav new wave scene, the band later moved towards mainstream pop rock, they came to prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s as one of the leading pop rock acts in former Yugoslavia. The band disbanded in 1997, only to be reformed in 2009 under the name Kiki Lesendrić & Piloti.
History
New wave years (1981—1982) The band was formed in 1981, by the former members of Kako, a band whose greatest claim to fame was appearing as one of the seven opening acts for Bijelo Dugme spectacular concert at the Belgrade JNA stadium in 1979. The inaugural lineup of Piloti was: Zoran "Kiki" Lesendrić (vocals, guitar), Dragan Andrić (bass guitar), Goran Bogićević (guitar) and Nenad Antanasijević (drums).
Their debut album Piloti (The Pilots) was released on August 27, 1981 by PGP-RTB and produced by the former Generacija 5 guitarist Dragan Jovanović. All of the tracks were composed and written by Lesandrić, with the exception of "Imam diplomu", "Svi smo mi ponekad anđeli" and "Veseli momci", co-written by Lesandrić and Goran Bogićević. Song "Ne veruj u idole" ("Don't Believe in Idols") became an instant hit, and was included on several new wave compilation records.
After the success with their debut album, the followup, entitled Dvadeset godina (Twenty Years) was released on April 20, 1982 by PGP-RTB, and was produced by Saša Habić. All tracks were composed and written by Lesandrić including the minor hits "Dvadeset godina" ("Twenty Years"), "Noć u gradu" ("A Night in the City"), "Džoni je krenuo u rat" ("Johnny Went to War") and "Ja sam jurio za vetrom" ("I Have Chased the Wind"). During late 1982, the band started working on their third album, Zvuci civilizacije (The Sounds of Civilisation), which was never released because of Lesandrić's army obligations, and the band went on hiatus.
Mainstream rock years (1984-1991) Piloti re-assembled during the late 1984 with the entirely new line-up, featuring Kiki Lesendrić, as the only returnee from the original lineup, and the newly arrived Zoran "Ćera" Obradović (drums), Safet "Saja" Petrovac (guitar), and Miško Plavi, formerly of D' Boys (bass guitar).
The band's third album Kao ptica na mom dlanu (Like a Bird on My Palm) was released on May 25, 1987 by PGP-RTB and produced by Dušan Petrović "Šane". The author of all songs was Lesendrić, except for "Noć čeka nas" ("The Night Is Waiting for Us") which he co-wrote with Bogićević and "Pišem po zidu" ("I'm Writing on the Wall") with Ilija Stanković. A large number of musicians contributed to the album recording: Dejan Grujić (bass guitar), Darko Grujić (keyboard), Vlada Negovanović (guitar), Enco Lesić (keyboards), Valdet Šaćiri (keyboards), Jovan Maljoković (saxophone), Nenad Stefanović "Japanac" (bass guitar), Bane Lesendrić (backing vocals), Oliver Mandić, Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga", Kornelije Kovač, Zana Nimani and others. The greatest hit from this album was the title track, and other hit songs were "Kada sanjamo" ("When we Dream"), "Rekla je da u mojoj glavi čuje gitare i bubnjeve" ("She Said She Heard Guitars and Drums in My Head") and "Devojka bez imena" ("A Girl with no Name").
The fourth album Osmeh letnje noći (A Midsummer Night Smile) was published on May 11, 1988 by PGP-RTB, and produced by the band themselves for the first time. The author of all the songs was Lesandrić. Musicians who contributed to this album were Saša Lokner (keyboards), Bane Lesendrić (backing vocals), Viktorija (backing vocals in song "Sa tvoje strane ulice") and Zoran Vračević (percussion). The greatest hit from this album was "Leto" ("Summer") and minor hits were "Ako misliš da sam tužan" ("If You Think I'm Sad") and "Ona" ("She"). During 1989, guitarist Petrovac left the band and Bane Lesandrić, Kiki's brother joined.
The fifth album Neka te Bog čuva za mene (May God Save You for Me) was published on March 29, 1990 for PGP-RTB in band's production. The author of songs was Kiki, except for "Jedino što nam ostaje" ("The Only Thing Left") (a cover of Pete Townshend) and "Tiho, tiho" ("Silently, Silently") by Bane Lesandrić. Laza Ristovski contributed to this album by playing the keyboards on two songs. The special guests were Goran Bregović (Guitar solo on "Tiho, tiho"), Jovan Maljoković (saxophone), Darko Grujić (backing vocals) and Zana vocalist Jelena Galonić (backing vocals). The greatest hit from the album was "Tajna je u tebi skrivena" ("The Secret Is Hidden inside You") and minor hits were "Tiho, tiho" and "Neka te bog čuva za mene". The following year, on August 22, 1991 PGP-RTB published Piloti's Greatest Hits album.