Dah (, trans. Breath) was a Yugoslav and later Belgian progressive rock band formed in Belgrade in 1972.
Dah was formed by guitarist Zlatko Manojloviàand guitarist and vocalist Branko Maruà ¡ià"ÃÂutura", the two previously performing together in the band Dà ¾entlmeni. After the release of Dah's debut single in 1973, Maruà ¡iàleft the band, so Manojloviàtook the singing duties. After the release of their debut album, Veliki cirkus (1974), the band moved to Belgium, changing their name to Land. After spending a year in Belgium and having an international hit with the song "Shoshana", the band returned to Yugoslavia, where they released their second album, Povratak (1976). In 1976, Zlatko Manojloviàwent to serve his mandatory stint in the Yugoslav army, his brother, keyboardist Goran ManojloviÃÂ, took over leading of Dah, the group disbanding in 1977. Zlatko Manojloviàwould continue his career as the leader of the band Gordi, and later as a successful solo artist.
Prior to the formation of Dah, guitarist Zlatko Manojloviàperformed in the bands Dà ¾entlmeni and Fleà ¡ (Flash), recording a 7-inch single with the latter, released in 1972 and featuring the songs "Ne laà ¾i, draga" ("Don't Lie, Darling") and "Svet bez ljubavi" ("World Without Love"). In 1972, Manojoviàformed Dah with Branko Maruà ¡ià"ÃÂutura" (a former Albatrosi and Dà ¾entlmeni member, guitar and vocals), Branko Gluà ¡ÃÂevià(a former Iskre, Siluete and Lutalice member, bass guitar) and Radomir DubiÃÂanin (a former Fleà ¡ member, drums). In April 1973, the band performed at the third edition of the BOOM Festival, and their song "Ako poà ¾elià ¡" ("If You Wish") was released on the double live album BOOM Pop Fest '73 recorded on the festival. Soon after, the band released their debut 7-inch single with the studio version of "Ako poà ¾elià ¡" and the song "NoÃÂna buka" ("Night Noise"), which they promoted performing in the display window of a record shop.
After the release of the single, Maruà ¡iàleft the band and began his solo career. Manojloviàtook the singing duties, and Dah performed as a power trio for a year and a half. After DubiÃÂanin moved to Siluete, he was replaced by Velibor "Boka" Bogdanovià(a former Plavi DeÃÂaci, Dà ¾entlmeni, YU Grupa and Opus member). On several occasions the band worked in studio with organist Miodrag Okrugià(a former Beduini, YU Grupa and Opus member), the result of this cooperation being the single "Gitareska" ("Gitaresque").
Dah's debut album Veliki cirkus (The Big Circus) was released in 1974 through Jugoton. The album lyrics were written by the disc jockey Zoran Modli, with his lyrics for some of the songs, such as "Prohujalo sa vihorom" ("Gone with the Wind"), "Majka JugoviÃÂa" ("Mother of the JugoviÃÂ Brothers") and "Troil i Kesida" ("Troilus and Criseyde"), being inspired by great works of literature.
In 1975, the band moved to Belgium, where they performed under the name Land. The Belgian lineup of the band featured, alongside ManojloviÃÂ and BogdanoviÃÂ, Zlatko ManojloviÃÂ's brother Goran (keyboards), and two Belgian musicians, Tommy Splitwood (bass guitar) and Willy Pultz (guitar). This lineup released the single "Shoshana", the melody of which was based on Yosef Hadar's composition "Erev Shel Shoshanim". The single was very successful, Polydor Records releasing it in West Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain, and reaching No. 1 on the Morocco national radio chart. After the single release, the band performed as the opening act for Focus on their concerts in Benelux and France, as well as on several Focus concerts in West Germany. Eventually, the lineup split-up, Splitwood and Pultz continuing their career in the band Cool Breeze from Luxembourg.
In 1976, Zlatko Manojloviàreformed Dah in Yugoslavia. The new lineup featured, beside the Manojloviàbrothers, Zdenko Pomper (bass guitar), Stevan Miutinovià(drums) and Dragan Mihajlovià(violin). The new lineup recorded the band's second album, Povratak (The Return), which featured a Serbo-Croatian version of "Shoshana", entitled "à  oà ¡ana". Soon after the album release, the band leader Zlatko Manojloviàwent to serve his mandatory stint in the Yugoslav People's Army, so his brother Goran became the temporary leader of Dah. The last Dah lineup featured, beside Goran Manojloviàand Zdenko Pomper, Vidoja Boà ¾inovià(a former Dim Bez Vatre and Pop Maà ¡ina member, guitar) and Duà ¡an ÃÂukià"ÃÂuka" (a former Immamorata and Pop Maà ¡ina member, drums). This lineup of the band performed for a year and disbanded.
During one of his army leaves, Manojloviàrecorded a highly successful single "Jednoj à ¾eni" ("To a Woman"). In 1977, upon his return from the army, he formed the band Gordi. The first lineup of Gordi featured two former Dah members, Goran Manojloviàand Stevan MilutinoviÃÂ. After Gordi disbanded in 1984, Manojloviàdedicated himself to his solo career.
For a short period of time during 1978, Zdenko Pomper played bass guitar in Gordi. He lost his life in a street fight at the beginning of the 1980s.
In 2021, Croatia Records released a Zlatko ManojloviÃÂ box set entitled Od Daha do Gordih (From Dah to Gordi), featuring a reissue of Veliki cirkus.
In 1991, Serbian and Yugoslav alternative rock band Disciplina KiÃÂme sampled Dah song "NoÃÂna buka" in their song "Buka u modi" ("Noise in Fashion"). In 1994, Serbian and Yugoslav pop rock band Ruà ¾ covered the song "à  oà ¡ana" on their album NÃÂ4, which was produced by ManojloviÃÂ.