Band history
1982 - 1992
The band was formed in 1982 by former Ibn Tup members, vocalist Zlatko Karavla and guitarist Josip Sabo. Band's first commercial success was a heavy metal cover of Lepa Brena's song "Sitnije, Cile, sitnije" (Griva's version was titled "Sitnije, sestro, sitnije"). Single with songs "Sitnije, sestro, sitnije" and "Tebi je vana samo lova" was given as a present to buyers of a comic book magazine Stripoteka.
Griva's debut album, Kog sam đavola traio u tebi (What the Hell I Saw in You), released in 1983 was very successful. Griva became a support band on Divlje Jagode's Yugoslav tour, but after several concerts, Griva members decided to start their own tour. The band also had several concerts outside Yugoslavia, and was an opening band for Motörhead on their concert in Pionir Hall in Belgrade. The band refused an invitation of Motörhead's manager to join Motörhead as an opening band on the rest of their European tour.
New material recorded in 1985 was refused as non-commercial by Griva's record label Jugoton. Album Nisi ni ti anđeo (You're Not an Angel as Well) was released through an independent label Panonija Koncert, but was not followed by presentation in media and a tour. Album featured a cover of Joan Jett's song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", Griva version titled "I law Myroslaw" (the title referring to folk music singer Miroslav Ilić). After the album was released, Zlatko Karavla recorded "Kaljinka", a provocative song about Chernobyl disaster with Divlje Jagode frontman Alen Islamović, but the broadcasting of the song was forbidden for the media.
In 1986 the band released self-titled album Griva, usually referred to as Vojvodino, Vojvodino, to si tako ravna (Vojvodina, Vojvodina, Why Are You so Flat) after its biggest hit. The new album brought glam metal-oriented songs with elements of Vojvodinian folk music. The album featured a Serbian language cover of Omega's song "Gyöngyhajú lány", Griva version titled "Devojka biserne kose".
In 1988 band's fourth studio album to te tata puta samu (Why Does Your Daddy Let You Go Alone) was released through PGP-RTB. In May Griva performed at the international rock festival in Budapest as one of the headliners. After returning to Yugoslavia, Griva held a concert in Spens Sports Center in Novi Sad with Sing, sing, singers, Osmi Putnik, Viktorija and Alen Islamović appearing as band's special guests. TV Novi Sad produced Griva's special show, and Griva went on their last Yugoslav tour.
In 1991 the band started recording their last studio album Pij, Jedi, Veseli Se... (Drink, Eat, Be Happy...), which was, due to the situation in Yugoslavia and the outbreak of Yugoslav wars, recorded for more than year and a half. Zlatko Karavla finished album recording with various musicians and released it under the Griva moniker in 1992 for an independent label Megaton. Two videos were recorded but there were no live performances, and Griva officially disbaned.
Reunions
In September 2002 record label One Records released a compilation Samo najbolje (Only the Best), and in December the band reunited for an unplugged concert Studio M in Novi Sad. In 2004 the band reunited to perform at Moto Fest in Novi Sad.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griva
