Parni Valjak (; trans. Steam Roller) is a Croatian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Zagreb in 1975. They were one of the most popular acts of the Yugoslav rock scene, and have maintained large popularity in all former Yugoslav republics after the breakup of the country.
The band was formed by guitarists Husein Hasanefendić "Hus" and Jurica Pađen (both former members of Grupa 220), vocalist Aki Rahimovski, bass guitarist Zlatko Miksić "Fuma" and drummer Srećko Antonioli. Immediately attracting the attention of the public with their energetic live performances and boogie rock sound, the band gained popularity with their early studio albums, Dođite na show! and Glavom kroz zid. Following the release of their second studio album, Pađen left the band to form Aerodrom, and was for a very brief period of time replaced by Branimir "Johnny" Štulić, later of Azra fame. During the following decades, Hasanefendić and Rahimovski would remain the key figures and the only two mainstay members of the band. After a brief attempt to break into international market with an English language album released under the name Steam Roller, the band joined in on the Yugoslav new wave scene with the 1980 album Vruće igre, which launched them to the top of the Yugoslav rock scene. With their following releases the band made a shift towards mainstream rock sound, scoring a large number of hits and remaining one of the most popular Yugoslav rock acts until the country's dissolution. They maintained large popularity in Croatia during the early 1990s, also restoring their popularity in other former Yugoslav republics in the following years and decades. In 2005, the group announced their disbandment, only to reunite four years later. After Rahimovski's death in 2022, the band continued their activity with vocalist Igor Drvenkar.
Biography Formation, rise to prominence and first releases (1975–1978) After the disbandment of the band Grupa 220, the group's former guitarists Husein Hasanefendić "Hus" and Jurica Pađen and former manager Vladimir Mihaljek decided to form a new band under the name Parni Valjak. At the time, Bijelo Dugme enjoyed the status of the most popular Yugoslav band, and Mihaljek, who had just ended his cooperation with Bijelo Dugme leader Goran Bregović, envisioned Parni Valjak as Zagreb-based competitors of Bijelo Dugme. Hasandefendić and Pađen were joined by veteran bass guitarist Zlatko Miksić "Fuma", former member of Zlatni Akordi and the founder of Boomerang, drummer Srećko Antonioli, formerly of Delfini, and vocalist Aki Rahimovski. Prior to the formation of Parni Valjak, Rahimovski was a DJ, played organ in the band Krvna Braća (Blood Brothers), then moved to the band Vakum (Vacuum) and eventually became a vocalist for Macedonian band Tor (Thor). With Tor, he performed on the 1975 edition of BOOM Festival held in Zagreb, where he was spotted by Mihaljek and suggested to Hasanefendić and Pađen. Parni Valjak was officially formed ond 29 November (celebrated in SFR Yugoslavia as the Republic Day) 1975.
The band immediately gained the attention of the Yugoslav public with their glam rock outfits and three-minute boogie rock tunes released on 7-inch singles. The band had energetic and attractive live performances, but their early singles were criticized by Yugoslav music press because their guitar riffs resembled the riffs from rock foreign hits, and because of trivial lyrics. At the time, the band's lyrics were written by Josip Ivanković, who attempted to imitate lyrics of Bijelo Dugme's Balkan folk-influenced songs; much later, Ivanković would start a successful cooperation with the folk band Zlatni Dukati (Golden Ducats).
In 1976, the band released their debut album, entitled Dođite na show! (Come to the Show!) through PGP-RTB record label. The record was a concept album, telling the story of the rise and decline of the fictional band Ludi Šeširdžija i Jahači Rumene Kadulje (Mad Hatter and the Riders of the Purple Sage); the second part of the band's name was inspired by the title of a Western novel by Zane Grey, which enjoyed large popularity among Yugoslav teenagers during the 1960s. The album songs were written primarily by Hasanefendić and Pađen, although Rahimovski also contributed with his song "Pjesma o starosti" ("Song About Old Age"). The album was co-produced by guitarist Vedran Božić and composer Jovan Adamov. On the album recording, Rahiomvski played the piano, while the synthesizer was played by Hobo keyboardist Mato Došen. Of the album's songs, the title track and "Prevela me mala žednog preko vode" ("Baby Made a Fool Out of Me") saw most airplay. The album also included two instrumental tracks, "Inge" and "Svim slomljenim srcima" ("To All the Broken Hearts"). Following the album release, the band performed on the 1976 edition of BOOM Festival, their song "Ljubavni jadi jednog Parnog valjka" ("Love Miseries of a Steam Roller"), originally released on a 7-inch single, appearing on the various artists live album BOOM '76 recorded on the festival. On the double various artists live album Pop parada I (Pop Parade I), recorded on a concert in Belgrade's Pinki Hall and released in 1977, the band appeared with the songs "O šumama, rijekama i pticama" ("Of the Forests, Rivers and Birds"), "Prevela me mala žednog preko vode" and "Parni valjak".
In 1977, the band released their second album, Glavom kroz zid (Head Against the Wall), featuring the cover designed by renowned comic book artist Igor Kordej. Stylistically similar to their debut, Glavom kroz zid also brought the ballads "Crni dan" ("Dark Day") and "Noć" ("Night"). The album's main hits were the songs "Kravata oko vrata" ("Tie Around the Neck") and "Lutka za bal" ("Doll for the Ball"). Following the album release, the band once again performed on the BOOM Festival, live versions of "Ljubavni jadi jednog Parnog valjka" and "Prevela me mala žednog preko vode" appearing on the various artists live album BOOM '77. In 1978, Hasanefendić and Rahimovski were both drafted to serve their mandatory stints in the Yugoslav People's Army, and Parni Valjak went on hiatus.
Reformation, joining in on the new wave scene and nationwide popularity (1979–1980) During the band's hiatus, Pađen decided to leave Parni Valjak to form his own group, Aerodrom. After Hasanefendić and Rahimovski returned from the army, the band continued their activity with new guitarist, Branimir "Johnny" Štulić. The lineup featuring Štulić lasted for only two weeks, and he would leave Parni Valjak to reform his band Azra, Hasanefendić producing their debut single; however, the brief cooperation would influence Parni Valjak's sound in the following several years.
At the time, American record label CBS Records got interested in the band, and would co-release their third studio album and several future releases with Yugoslav record label Suzy. The band recorded their 1979 album Gradske priče (City Stories) in Milan, with Italian producer Valentino Maggioni. The album was recorded by a new lineup of the band, consisting of Hasanefendić, Rahimovski, Miksić, guitarist Zoran Cvetković (formerly of Prljavo Kazalište) and drummer Ivan "Piko" Stančić (formerly of Grupa 220 and Time). Under the influence of Stančić and earlier cooperation with Štulić, the record announced the band's future shift towards new wave. The album featured a cover of Azra song "Jablan" and brought two large hits, "Ulične tuče" and the ballad "Stranica dnevnika" ("A Page from the Diary"). The songs from the album were recorded with English language lyrics and released by CBS Records on the album City Kids. Additionally, the album featured the English language version of the song "Predstavi je kraj" from the band's debut album, entitled "When the Show Is Done". On 7 January 1980, the band performed as Steam Roller in the Mian discoteque Odissea 2001.
At the end of 1980, the band released the album Vruće igre (Hot Games), joining in on the exuberant Yugoslav new wave scene. The album was, as the band's previous release, recorded in Milan, and was produced by Tini Varga. It featured new members, guitarist and saxophonist Rastko Milošev, bass guitarist Srećko Kukurić and drummer Paolo Sfeci; Zoran Cvetković had in the meantime left the band to form Parlament, and Stančić had moved to the band Film. Miksić would spend the following two years performing in West German clubs, also performing with the Zagreb-based cover band Cadillac, and in 1982, he drowned in the Sava river. Vruće igre album cover presented the band's new image – the members were dressed in black formal suits and wore skinny ties. It brought successful songs in trend with the popular new wave sound – ska-influenced "Neda", "Ona je tako prokleto mlada" ("She Is So Bloody Young") and "Javi se" ("Give Me a Call"), the latter featuring a musical quation from the hit "Needles and Pins". Hasanefendić paid tribute to Štulić by covering Azra song "Kad Miki kaže da se boji" ("When Mickey Says He'd Been Afraid"), and the album for the first time featured Hasanefendić on lead vocals, in the song "Ne udaraj me nisko" ("Don't Hit Me Low"). The album saw large commercial and critical success and launched the band to the top of the Yugoslav rock scene.
Shift to mainstream rock and new successes on the Yugoslav scene (1981–1991) The band's long-awaited success with mass audience and the Yugoslav music critics brought by Vruće igre was followed by a series of albums. In 1981, they released the album Vrijeme je na našoj strani (Time Is On Our Side), once again produced by Tini Varga, but this time recorded in Sweden. The album featured a combination of 1960s pop music and 1980s rock sound, but also included The Platters- and doo wop-influenced "Kao ti" ("Like You"). The band repeated the successful formula of recording ballads, this time "Kao ti" and "Staška", alongside firm pop-influenced tracks, most prominently "Moje dnevne paranoje" ("My Daily Paranoias"). However, the band also paid homage to their boogie rock roots with the song "Djevojčice ne..." ("Girl, Don't..."). Vrijeme je na našoj strani was followed by the double live album Koncert (Concert), recorded on the group's concert in Zagreb's Dom Sportova hall.
On the album Glavnom ulicom (Down the Main Street), released in 1983, the band continued in the similar manner. Beside Hasanefendić's songs, the album featured tracks composed by Milošev and Kukurić. The album brought the hits "Kao prije" ("Like Before") and "Ma 'ajde / Gledaj stvari mojim očima" ("C'mon / Look at the Things from My Point Of View"). Hasanefendić recorded lead vocals for the acoustic ballad "A ja bih s vragom..." ("And I Would With the Devil..."). Saxophonist Miroslav Sedak and Novi Fosili keyboardist Rajko Dujmić made guest appearances on the album. After the album was released, Milošev went to serve his stint in the Yugoslav army, and was replaced on live performances by Vedran Božić.
Milošev returned to the band for the recording of their eight studio album, Uhvati ritam (Catch the Beat), released in 1984. The album featured one song authored by Milošev, "Ponovo sam" ("Alone Again"). The album featured guest appearance by keyboardist Zoran Kraš, and in the title track, which would go on to become a large hit, the backing vocals were sung by journalist Dražen Vrdoljak and Bajaga i Instruktori members Momčilo Bajagić and Dejan Cukić. The album Pokreni se! (Move Yourself!), released in 1985, featured guest appearances by Ekatarina Velika keyboardist Margita Stefanović, singer-songwriter Drago Mlinarec, who provided vocals for the song "Idu dani" ("Days Are Passing"), and saxophonist Miroslav Sedak. Hasanefendić recorded lead vocals for the song "Stojim već satima" ("I'm Standing for Hours"). After the release of the album, Milošev left the band and started a solo career, releasing the album Granice: Ras, 2va, 3ri''' (Borders: One, 2wo, 3hree) in 1990.