SAMONIKLI - Samonikli (1963-1969)
SAMO NIKLI was formed in 1963, in Beograd, Serbia (ex-Yugoslavia) by four high school students. The band was named after a book of short stories by Slovenian writer Prežihov Voranc. Group members changed frequently in that early period, but by 1964 they stabilized in the following lineup: Marin Pečjak (vocals), Milan Pavlov (guitar), Marko Novaković (bass guitar), Bojan Drndić (rhythm guitar) and Vukašin Veljković (drums). Initially the band performed at school proms and college dance parties. The band covered rock hits, as well as traditional songs and 1930s and 1940s schlagers, while their own songs were mostly The Shadows-inspired instrumentals. In 1965 and 1966 they played regularly at dances at the Beograd University School of Technology and soon became widely popular. In 1966 they won first place at a country-wide Youth Festival of rock bands, which entitled them to represent their country at an international festival of youth orchestras in Hungary, which featured the best