Block Out was a Serbian alternative rock band formed in Belgrade in 1990. They were one of the most notable acts of the 1990s Serbian rock scene.
Originally formed under the name Ad Hoc, the band was initially hard rock-oriented, but moved towards darker, heavier sound with the arrival of guitarist and songwriter Nikola Vranjkoviàin 1991, who would become the creative core of the band. The band's albums Crno, belo i srebrno (1994), Godina sirotinjske zabave (1996) and San koji sreÃÂan sanjaà ¡ sam (1998) featured a combination of alternative rock, grunge, metal and psychedelic sound, with VranjkoviÃÂ's poetic and dark lyrics about Serbian society in the years following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and artistic music videos created by the band's vocalist Milutin JovanÃÂià"Mita". In 2004 the band released their last studio album, Ako imaà ¡ s kim i gde. Despite critical acclaim and large popularity, growing disagreements inside the band led to Vranjkoviàbeing excluded from Block Out in 2013. Vranjkoviàstarted a successful career as a solo artist and the rest of band members continued to perform as Block Out for a short period of time, before continuing their work under the name ÃÂovek Vuk (Wolf Man).
Block Out history begins with the hard rock-oriented band Ad Hoc, formed in late 1990 by Milutin JovanÃÂià"Mita" (vocals), Dragan Majstorovià"Trle" (bass guitar), Danilo PaviÃÂevià(guitar), Vladan Lazarevià(guitar), and Dean Dimitrijevià(drums). Due to the existence of another band under the name Ad Hoc, they decided to change their name. The band chose the name from at the time very popular computer game, Block Out, with the slang meaning of the phrase referring to the moment before losing consciousness. During 1991, Lazareviàleft Block Out and moved to Netherlands and Nikola Vranjkoviàjoined the band as a new guitarist, soon becoming the central creative core of the band. Vranjkoviàpreviously lived for four years in Moscow and worked with many groups, including the band Besiders, which consisted of experienced Soviet musicians. On his return to Yugoslavia, Vranjkoviàworked as a studio musician, did a tour with the pop rock band Ruà ¾, and, alongside Voja Vijatov, performed with punk rock musician Satan Panonski.
At the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars, the band moved to London. They performed at the clubs Sick of Rock and Robby's, at Finsbury Park and at the University Centre, where they performed songs with lyrics in English. They achieved an opportunity to release a single, but it never happened due to the fact the band were forced to return to Yugoslavia. Upon their return to Belgrade in 1992, they continued their work in a new lineup, which featured, beside JovanÃÂiÃÂ, VranjkoviÃÂ and MajstoroviÃÂ, the new drummer Miljko RadonjiÃÂ. In 1993 Block Out released their first recordings on the cassette tape-only release Live KST, Akademija, recorded on the band's 1991 performance in Belgrade's Akademija club and 1992 performance in Belgrade's Engineering Students' Club (KST).
In 1994 Block Out released their debut album Crno, belo i srebrno (Black, White and Silver). The first half of the album consisted of Block Out's early, hard rock-oriented songs, bringing minor hits "Sanjaj me" ("Dream of Me") and "Kià ¡a" ("Rain"), while the second part featured darker and heavier songs written by VranjkoviÃÂ. In the songs like "Neki moji drugovi" ("Some of My Friends") and the ironically titled "RoÃÂendanska pesma" ("Birthday Song") VranjkoviÃÂ's poetic lyrics dealt with depression and hopelessness caused by the Yugoslav Wars and the subsequent economic crisis. At the time of album release, inspired by various diverse bands such as Soundgarden, Pink Floyd, Slayer, Discharge and some older Serbian bands as Ekatarina Velika and Luna, under VranjkoviÃÂ's songwriting the early hard rock concept of Block Out started to move towards a darker, heavier atmosphere and sound. The album was promoted on their first solo concert, held at Belgrade's Students' Cultural Centre, featuring guest appearances by Aleksandar Balaàon guitar and Leontina Vukomanoviàand Madame Piano on backing vocals. The album was awarded with the Best Rock Record of the Year, awarded by the Belgrade city assembly.
In early 1996, revolted by the current situation in Serbia, the band recorded the track "Leto na Adi" ("Summer on Ada"), which, due to the lack of space. was not released on their second album, but appeared as a bonus track for the 2001 reissue of Crno, belo i srebrno. In 1996 the band's second album, Godina sirotinjske zabave (The Year of Poverty Amusement), was released, featuring the material written by Vranjkoviàduring the six years of the band existence. The main themes on this album were closely related to the end of socialism and the subsequent social changes. The band's new members Aleksandar Balaàon bass guitar and Dragoljub Markovià(who at the time also performed with Nià ¡ta Ali Logopedi) on keyboards debuted on the album. The album was produced by Aleksandar Radosavljeviàand as guests appeared Danilo PaviÃÂevià(guitar), Mià ¡a Savià(keyboard) and Nebojà ¡a Zulfikapraà ¡ià(guitar).
In 1998 the band's third album, San koji sreÃÂan sanjaà ¡ sam (A Dream You Are Dreaming Alone Happy), was released. Produced by Aleksandar RadosavljeviÃÂ, the album brought Block Out's unique version of artistic rock, capturing a depressing picture of the reality of life in Serbia in the songs like "Zvezdane staze" ("Star Trek"), "Najduà ¾i je poslednji sat" ("The Last Hour Is the Longest"), "U krtogu" ("In the Pit") and "Armatura" ("Framework"). The album was met with wide critical acclaim. The album release was followed by artistic music videos created by JovanÃÂiÃÂ. As guests on the album appeared Nebojà ¡a Zulfikarpaà ¡iàon guitar, Orthodox Celts member Dejan Laliàon mandolin, Eyesburn frontman Nemanja Kojiàon trombone and SrÃÂan Sretenoviàon cello.
The band performance at Belgrade's Students' Cultural Centre on 11 September 1999 was recorded and released in 2001 on the double CD/triple musical cassette release IzmeÃÂu dva zla (Between Two Evils). The following year, Vranjkoviàreleased his poetry book Zaovdeilizaponeti (Forhereorfortake). The book included his poems as well as all his lyrics written for Block Out. In addition to the book came his first solo album of the same title, characterized by calmer, minimalistic and acoustic music, but still in the vein of Block Out's melancholic atmosphere. In 2002 the band appeared on the Milan Mladenoviàtribute album Kao da je bilo nekad... PosveÃÂeno Milanu MladenoviÃÂu (Like It Happened Someday... Dedicated to Milan MladenoviÃÂ), with the cover of the Ekatarina Velika track "Soba" ("Room"). In February 2003 the band entered the studio, starting to work on the album under the working title Nema vià ¡e lakih protivnika (No More Easy Opponents). In the meantime, Markoviàleft the band and was replaced by Dejan HaseÃÂiÃÂ, a former Speed Limit and Slaves member.
In April 2004 the band released their fourth album entitled Ako imaà ¡ s kim i gde (If You Have With Whom And Where). The album was produced by VranjkoviÃÂ, with the complete material written by him. As guests on the album appeared Ana ÃÂokià(synthesizer), Nemanja Popovià(backing vocals), Darko Markovià(guitar) and Duà ¡an à ½ivanovià(percussion). In December 2005 the band performed at the Belgrade Youth Center, with the recording of the performance released in 2007 on the video album Block Out DVD. The album featured, beside the performance, music videos recorded during the band's career. The following year the band appeared on the Pankrti tribute album Pankrti 06, with the cover version of the song "Volkovi" ("Wolves"). In 2007 the band performed as an opening act for Kaiser Chiefs on their concert in Belgrade Arena and started writing new material. Some of the new songs, like "Fotelja" ("Armchair"), "Nikad (Dve hiljade i kusur godina)" ("Never (Two Thousand And Something Years)") and "Sve à ¡to mogu reÃÂi" ("All I Can Say"), were performed live during 2008 and 2009.
In 2011 the band released the CD single "Beograd spava" ("Belgrade is Sleeping"), a cover of the song by the Yugoslav band U à  kripcu. The Block Out cover featured a recording of writer Miloà ¡ Crnjanski reading his poem "Lament nad Beogradom" ("Lament over Belgrade"). The CD featured the edited version of the song and a promotional video for the track. On 9 June 2012, Block Out performed, alongside Marilyn Manson, Mizar, Laibach and Dirty Vegas, at the IQ Festival, held in Belgrade Arena. In October 2012 the band released the single "Prokletije Live" ("Accursed Mountains Live"). In February 2013 the band released the single "Nikad (Dve hiljade i kusur godina)" ("Never (Two Thousand and Something Years)").
On 1 September 2013 the band had their last performance with Nikola Vranjkoviàon a one-day festival in Nià ¡, where they performed alongside Van Gogh and Bajaga i Instruktori. Several days after the festival, JovanÃÂiÃÂ, through his official Facebook profile, stated that VranjkoviÃÂ, author of all Block Out songs of the last almost 20 years, is no longer a member of Block Out. VranjkoviÃÂ's departure saw mixed reactions by the fans, with some expressing support to the band and others expressing doubt the band will keep the quality without VranjkoviÃÂ's songwriting.
Block Out continued their activity, stating they will not perform songs written by VranjkoviÃÂ. In December 2013 the band released the single "Reka" ("River"), which featured Riblja ÃÂorba frontman Bora ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ on backing vocals, and on December 21 had their first performance without VranjkoviÃÂ, on a concert in Belgrade club Sioux. The concert was co-headlined by the band PopeÃÂitelji, with Block Out performance featuring Bora ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ as guest. During the same month, JovanÃÂiÃÂ stated that the band is working on other new songs with producer Oliver JovanoviÃÂ.
In October 2014 it was announced that the remaining four members of Block Out would continue their activities under the name ÃÂovek Vuk (The Wolf Man), stating VranjkoviÃÂ's acquisition of rights to the Block Out name in the Serbian Institute for the Protection of Intellectual Property as the reason for such a decision, Block Out thus ceasing to exist.
In 2021 the album Godina sirotinjske zabave was polled 20th and the album San koji sreÃÂan sanjaà ¡ sam was polled 26th on the list of 100 Best Serbian Albums Since the Breakup of SFR Yugoslavia. The list was published in the book Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji (How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Came to an End).
In 2000 the song "Manastir" ("Monastery") was polled No.100 on Rock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times list.
The lyrics of 9 songs by the band were featured in Petar JanjatoviÃÂ's book ' (Songs of Brotherhood, Childhood & Offspring: Anthology of Ex YU Rock Poetry 1967 - 2007).
Final lineup
Former members
Studio albums