Translated to English, Hladno Pivo turns out not to mean the many inspiring and motivational things that, in our wildest imaginations, it could mean. Hladno Pivo means Cold Beer, and I think that’s pretty darn cool for a punk band from Croatia.
Hladno Pivo was formed in Zagreb, in 1986 by four very loud, very angry Croatian punks: Zok, Tedi, Suba and Mile who were joined a year later by Stipe. Influenced by classic punk bands like the Ramones, Sex Pistols (not that their bassist could actually play bass, but who’s counting.) and the Dead Kennedys. Somewhat oddly, for a punk band in the 80’s at least, they also list The Beatles, Motorhead, Metallica and AC/DC as some of their other influences. It was only in 1988 that the first Hladno Pivo performance happened in Kumrovec little did these five miscreants know that they would go on to become one of the most popular bands in Croatia. The following year Stipe left the band just before they could record their first demo. Consisting of six songs, this shining example of punk nonchalance was recorded at Jozo studios in Tresnjevka one week before Mile and Zok were whisked away into their compulsory, but short term, military careers. Hladno Pivo’s very first cassette (yes, cassette) was recorded in 1990 when the two unlikely soldiers returned from their year of service.
The boy’s first and only video, to this writer’s knowledge, was a little gem filmed in Mile’s house for a grand total of (drum roll please) 200 German marks. Buba Svabe, a remake of the Toy Dolls classic Spiders in the Dressing Room was broadcast on the local TV show Hit Depo in April 1992, spitting Hladno Pivo into unsuspecting living rooms across Croatia; the band’s first real exposure. T.R.I.P. records in conjunction with Croatia Records approached the band in the same year to contribute two songs to their newest compilation CD, boosting the band further up the ladder towards fame. 1992 was a big year for the four Zagreb punks, seeing them open for KUD Idijoti, appear at the Tivoli festival and, in November, record their first studio album Dzinovski.
Dzinovski came out in 93 and was a smash hit, which is surprising in such a conservative country. Hladno Pivo played about ten big shows that year in Croatia and Slovenia, and lost Tedi in June of the same year. Not easily phased, the band replaced him with Hadzo and got back into studio for some much needed practice. During preparation for their next album, the band played about 40 concerts across Croatia, Slovenia and even one in Bergenz, Austria. Following all of this, Hladno Pivo was awarded the Porin music award for the best alternative rock album of 1993. The next year would see them open for their idols, the infamous Ramones in Tresnjevka. Hladno Pivo’s second album, G.A.D. was recorded under T.R.I.P. Records/Croatia Records and was released in 1995. 1997 saw the band recording Desetka, their third album, at Jabukaton studios in Slovenia. Hladno Pivo marked their 20th anniversary as a band by performing in front of 20 000 deranged fans in their home town.
The next two years saw yet more changes to the lineup- Hadzo quit, and was replaced by Sokec on bass guitar, Suba was strong armed into the military and temporarily replaced by Matko and two new members (Stipe and Milko) joined. Album number four, Pobieda was recorded in august of 99 under Gajba records; the band’s own record label founded due to lack of control of the creative process.
Vijet Glamura, the band’s seventh album, was released in April of 2011. This followed the band taking a well earned rest, and composing the album in Jelov Klanac near the natural beauty of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Vijet Glamura was recorded at Novo Mesto in Slovenia and mastered at Cutting Room in Sweden.
Mile describes their new direction as somewhere between Foo Fighters and Gogol Bordello. The first single Ezoterija was released in all six ex Yugoslav countries simultaneously and so far has proven The Exploited’s ancient moniker “PUNKS NOT DEAD!” to be entirely true.
