Foje was one of the most successful and best known rock bands in Lithuania.
History
Foje was formed in the present-day Antakalnis Secondary School in Vilnius by Andrius Mamontovas, Arnoldas LukoÃ
¡ius and Darius TaraseviÃÂius in 1983 under the name of Sunki Muzika ("Hard Music"), few months later Algis KriÃ
¡ÃÂiÃ
«nas joined the band. In 1984 it was renamed to Foje (literal meaning: "foyer"). Through its years, the band survived a number of lineup changes, and released over 10 albums.
The group cited several influences, including the sound of the Stranglers, as well as the 1980s post-punk movement (for example the notable nod to Depeche Mode on Foje's 1989 electronica album Ã
½odÃ
¾iai ï TylÃÂ
). These influences were combined with the often gloomy, desperate lyrics of the band's leader Andrius Mamontovas.
In 1997 the band performed three farewell gigs in the Lithuanian cities of KlaipÃÂda, Kaunas and Vilnius, with attendance of 60,000 in the final performance on 17 May in Vingis Park of Vilnius. After disbanding Mamontovas started a solo career.
Two of the band's songs - "LauÃ
¾o Ã
¡viesa" ("The Light of the Bonfire") (1986) and "MeilÃÂs nebus per daug" ("There will not be too much love") (1994) - were voted by the media professionals into the Top 20 best Lithuanian songs of the 20th century in 2000.
Members
- Andrius Mamontovas (1983âÂÂ1997) - Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards
- Arnoldas LukoÃ
¡ius (1983âÂÂ1989, 1992âÂÂ1997) - Keyboards, accordion
- Algis KriÃ
¡ÃÂiÃ
«nas (1983âÂÂ1985, 1992âÂÂ1997) - Drums
- Darius Burokas (1986âÂÂ1988, 1990âÂÂ1997) - Bass, keyboards
- Darius TaraseviÃÂius (1983âÂÂ1985) - Bass
- Romas Rainys (1985âÂÂ1988) Bass, Guitar
- Eugenijus PugaÃÂiukas (1985âÂÂ1991) - Drums
- Saulius Valikonis (1986âÂÂ1988, 1989âÂÂ1991) - Saxophone
- Gediminas SimniÃ
¡kis (1988âÂÂ1989) - Bass
- Jaunius Beinortas (1988âÂÂ1989) - Guitar
- Robertas MerÃ
¾vinskas (1988âÂÂ1989) - Saxophone
- Robertas GriÃ
¡keviÃÂius (1989âÂÂ1990) - Keyboards
Discography
- 1989 - Geltoni krantai (Yellow Shores) (MC)
- 1990 - Ã
½odÃ
¾iai ï tylÃÂ
(Words Into Silence) (LP, MC)
- 1991 - Gali skambÃÂti keistai (It Might Sound Strange) (LP, CD, MC)
- 1992 - Kitoks pasaulis (A Different World) (LP, CD, MC) - first CD album in Lithuanian music history.
- 1993 - Vandenyje (In The Water) (LP, CD, MC)
- 1994 - Tikras garsas (The Real Sound) (MC)
- 1994 - M-1 (dancemixes) (CD, MC)
- 1994 - AÃ
¡ ÃÂia esu (I Am Here) (MC)
- 1994 - AÃ
¡ ÃÂia esu (LP Picture Disc)
- 1995 - Kai perplauksi upÃÂ (When You Swim Across The River) (CD, MC)
- 1995 - Live On The Air (MC)
- 1996 - 1982 (MC, CD)
- 1997 - The Flowing River EP (CD)
- 1997 - Mokykla (School) (MC)
- 1999 - Vilnius - Kaunas - KlaipÃÂda (CD, MC)
- 2002 - Paveikslas (The Picture) (CD, MC)
- 2006 - Kita paveikslo pusÃÂ (The Other Side of the Picture) (CD)
- 2013 - AM+FOJE=30 (AM - Andrius Mamontovas) (CD)
References
External links