Balkan (; ) was a Serbian and Yugoslav rock band formed in Novi Sad in 1982. Formed and led by guitarist and vocalist Aleksandar "Leki" CvetkoviÃÂ, Balkan were known for their lyrics with social commentary critical of the Yugoslav social reality.
Balkan evolved from the hard rock band Leki, led by guitarist and vocalist Aleksandar "Leki" Cvetkovià(and named after his nickname), which existed for a number of years but managed to gain only some local popularity. After Leki's 1982 performance on the Gitarijada festival in ZajeÃÂar, the band, after the suggestion of their manager Dragan Veljkovski, changed their name to Balkan. Balkan's sound was hard rock-oriented, but, influenced by the Yugoslav new wave scene, featured elements of new wave and ska, and CvetkoviÃÂ's social-related lyrics were influenced by the lyrics of Riblja ÃÂorba frontman Bora ÃÂorÃÂeviàand Azra frontman Branimir à  tuliÃÂ.
At the beginning of their career, Balkan performed as an opening band on Divlje Jagode, Riblja ÃÂorba, Rok Maà ¡ina, Parni Valjak, Drugi NaÃÂin, Galija and Atomsko Sklonià ¡te concerts in Vojvodina, going through several lineup changes. The lineup which recorded Balkan's debut album Gola istina (Bare Truth) consisted of CvetkoviÃÂ, à ½eljko Jerkovià(guitar), Saà ¡a Zavià ¡ià(bass guitar) and Radivoj Bugarski (drums). The album was produced by Rok Maà ¡ina member Robert NemeÃÂek and released at the end of 1982. The album lyrics dealt with social subjects and described the problems of the Yugoslav working class. The song "Trideset peta-à ¡esta" ("'35-'36"), which Cvetkoviàoriginally wrote in 1971 and dedicated to his father, became a major hit for the band. The album was well received by the critics and the audience, selling more than 30.000 copies. After the album release, Balkan performed as the opening band on Riblja ÃÂorba and Divlje Jagode tours and on youth work actions across Yugoslavia.
In October 1983, Balkan released their second studio album, Na brdovitom Balkanu (On the Mountainous Balkans), produced by NemeÃÂek and featuring lyrics dealing with similar subjects as on Gola istina. It was recorded in the new lineup of the band which, besides Cvetkoviàand JerkoviÃÂ, featured Zlatko Maruà ¡ià(bass guitar) and Miroslav Papià(drums), and featured guest appearances by guitarist Vidoja "Dà ¾indà ¾er" Boà ¾inoviàand drummer Boban PetroviÃÂ. The album featured harder sound than the band's previous release and brought the minor hit "SveÃÂanost" ("Celebration"). In 1985, Balkan released the album Homo Balcanicus, produced by SrÃÂan MarjanoviÃÂ, continuing their saga about the poor. On June 15 of the same year, Balkan, alongside 23 other acts, performed on the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade, on the concert which was a part of YU Rock Misija, a Yugoslav contribution to Live Aid. However, Homo Balcanicus saw little critical and commercial success, and the band went on hiatus.
After a longer break, in 1989, in the lineup featuring Cvetkovià(vocals, guitar), à ½eljko Jerkovià(guitar), Radivoj Bugarski (drums), à ½eljko GlamoÃÂanin (bass guitar), and Zoran Vasiljevià(keyboards), Balkan recorded the album Kome verovati (Who to Trust), with lyrics filled with disappointment and pessimism. The album featured the song "Trideset peta-à ¡esta II deo" ("'35-'36 Part II"), which tells how the father from "Trideset peta-à ¡esta" finally found peace after his death. The album was produced by Cvetkoviàand Milan ÃÂiriàand featured a guest appearance by Divlje Jagode guitarist Sead LipovaÃÂa and the choir of the Mihajlo Pupin Elementary School from Veternik. After Kome verovati was released, Balkan held only several concerts and officially disbanded, Cvetkoviàmoving to Vienna at the outbreak of Yugoslav Wars.
In 1996 Balkan's first two albums were reissued by Raglas Records on a single disc entitled Na brdovitom Balkanu.
In 2004, Cvetkoviàreformed the band in the lineup featuring himself, Bugarski and bass guitarist Stanimir Gucunski. The new lineup recorded the album Boli me nepravda (Injustice Hurts Me), produced by Marinko Vukmanoviàand released in 2007. The album featured guest appearances by Divlje Jagode guitarist Sead "Zele" LipovaÃÂa, OsvajaÃÂi guitarist Dragan Uroà ¡eviÃÂ, keyboardist Laza Ristovski and choir of the Temple of Saint Simeon the MyrrhâÂÂstreaming from Veternik. The song "Bili smo drugari" ("We Were Friends") featured lyrics written by comic book artist Gradimir Smudja. During the same year, MCF Records released the double compilation album Antologija 1982-2007 (Anthology 1982-2007). After the album release, the band performed occasionally only, due to Cvetkoviàstill residing in Vienna, in the lineup featuring Cvetkovià(guitar, vocals), Stanimir Gucunski (bass guitar), Dragan Radukin (guitar), Enver Grekoli (drums) and Zoran Stankovià(keyboards).
In 2019, JD Production record label released the double compilation album SeÃÂanje na stvarnost (Memory of Reality).