Oktobar 1864 (; trans. October 1864) was a Yugoslav rock band formed in Belgrade in 1984.
Formed and led by guitarist Goran TomanoviÃÂ and fronted by vocalist Tanja JoviÃÂeviÃÂ, the band gained mainstream popularity in Yugoslavia in mid-1980s with their funk rock and jazz pop sound. During their activity, the band released three studio albums with a number of hit songs. Despite commercial success and critical acclaim, due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars, the band members decided to end their activity in 1992.
Oktobar 1864 was formed in 1984 by guitarist Goran TomanoviÃÂ, who looked for first band members over the newspaper ads. In the initial phase, Oktobar 1864 was a five-member group performing classic rock and going through frequent lineup changes. The band had their first notable performance in Taà ¡ club in Belgrade at the beginning of 1985, performing with vocalist Tanja JoviÃÂeviÃÂ. Prior to joining Oktobar 1864, JoviÃÂeviàperformed with a little-known rhythm and blues band from Zemun and performed jazz standards in Belgrade clubs. In 1985, Oktobar 1864, alongside 102 other bands from all parts of Yugoslavia, performed at the battle of the bands festival which was a part of Palilulska olimpijada kulture (Palilula Olympics of Culture), winning first place. The band also won the Best Demo Band Award at the MESAM festival. With their first successes, the band got a steady lineup, featuring Goran Tomanovià(guitar), Tanja JoviÃÂevià(vocals), à ½eljko Mitrovià(bass guitar), Ivan ZeÃÂevià(drums), Dean Krmpotià(keyboards), Marko Lalià(saxophone), Branko BaÃÂovià(trumpet) and Nebojà ¡a Mrvaljevià(trombone).
In 1987, the band released their debut self-titled album. The album was produced by Saà ¡a Habiàand released via Jugodisk record label. It featured guest appearances by Jovan Maljokoviàon saxophone, Zoran Lazareviàon bass guitar, Bojan Zulfikarpaà ¡iÃÂâÂÂwho also co-authored the song "Morning" ("Jutro")âÂÂon keyboards, and former S Vremena Na Vreme members Ljuba Ninkoviàand Asim Sarvan on backing vocals. The album brought the jazz pop hits "Carte Blanche" and "Pomisli" ("Think"), as well as "NaÃÂi me" ("Find Me"), which was the band's version of Yugoslav jazz singer Nada Kneà ¾eviÃÂ's cover of the Four Tops' "Reach Out I'll Be There".
The band's second album Igra bojama (Play with Colors), released in 1988 through PGP-RTB label, was recorded in a new line-up, with Dejan Abadiàon keyboards and Vuk Diniàon trombone. The album was produced by Rex Ilusivii and Theodore Yanni, and featured guest appearances by saxophonists Deà ¾e Molnar and Josip KovaÃÂ, and by Milan Mladenovià(of Ekatarina Velika) and Nera (formerly of Aska) on backing vocals. The album brought sophisticated white soul hits "Sam" ("Alone"), "Pratià ¡ trag" ("You're Following the Trace") and "à ½elim te" ("I Want You"). At the end of the year, readers of Yugoslav music magazine Pop Rock polled the band the Biggest Hope of the Year, JoviÃÂeviàwas polled the Female Vocalist of the Year, and Igra bojama album cover, designed by comic book artist Zoran Janjetov, was polled the Album Cover of the Year.
During 1989, the band held numerous performances across Yugoslavia, often holding joint concerts with Ekatarina Velika, held a sold-out concert in Belgrade Youth Center and performed in Oberhausen and Berlin. During the year, the band was joined by two new members, Goran TomanoviÃÂ's cousin Ljubinko "Ljuba" TomanoviÃÂ (bass guitar) and Slobodan AndriÃÂ (saxophone), and the group opened the new stage of Belgrade's Bitef Theatre with their performance. At the end of the year, JoviÃÂeviÃÂ was once again polled the Female Vocalist of the Year by the readers of Pop Rock.
In March 1990, Oktobar 1864 recorded their third album Crni ples (Black Dance) in Titograd. The album was produced by Theodore Yanni and the band members, and featured guest appearances by Deà ¾e Molnar on tenor and alto saxophone and keyboards, Dragan KozarÃÂiàon trumpet, Anton Horvat on baritone saxophone, Milan Mladenoviàon backing vocals, Blagoje Nedeljkoviàof the band Rock Street on drums (in "Denis") and Ted Yanni on guitar (solo in "Crni ples"). The cover was once again designed by Zoran Janjetov. The album brought the hits "Crni ples", "Miris predgraÃÂa" ("Smell of the Suburbs"), "Denis" and "Put" ("Road"). On the follow-up tour, they were joined by new members, Deà ¾e Molnar (saxophone) and SrÃÂan Jovanovià(drums). During the year, the band wrote and recorded music for Darko BajiÃÂ's feature film PoÃÂetni udarac (Kick Off) and for à  ahin à  ià ¡iÃÂ's documentary film Izlazak u javnost (Coming Out) about Zagreb comic book artist Emir Meà ¡iÃÂ.
Despite large popularity and praises coming from Yugoslav music critics, due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars, the band members decided to end their activity. They held their farewell concert in Students' Cultural Center in Belgrade in January 1992. During the band's last tour, a documentary about them was filmed by TV Sarajevo. The film, entitled Oktobar 1864, was broadcast only once, in 1992, and was subsequently lost during the Bosnian War.
After Oktobar 1864 disbanded, Goran and Ljubinko Tomanoviàformed the alternative rock band BraÃÂa Left with two former members of the band Armagedon, Miodrag à  uà ¡a (guitar, vocals) and Goran Milanovià(drums). They released two studio albums, BraÃÂa Left 1 (1994) and BraÃÂa Left 2 (1996). Tanja JoviÃÂeviàmade a guest appearance on the latter, in the song "AnÃÂeo" ("Angel"). After BraÃÂa Left disbanded, Tomanoviàstarted the band Manú.
Tanja JoviÃÂeviàpursued solo career as a jazz singer, often appearing on albums by other artists. In 1990, on a festival in Ulm, she held a performance entitled AnÃÂeoski prah (Angel Dust) with Ekatarina Velika frontman Milan MladenoviÃÂ. She toured with Ekatarina Velika and Bajaga i Instruktori as guest. She sang in the theatre play Look Homeward, Angel directed by Balà ¡a ÃÂogo. In the 2000s, she returned to performing rock with her backing bands Oktobar and Happy Family. She provided vocals for the album 10 (2010) by the band Richbitch, performing for some time with them. With pianist Vlada MariÃÂiÃÂ, she recorded the album Magija koja ne prestaje (Magic That Doesn't Stop), featuring, alongside MariÃÂiÃÂ's compositions, covers of Oktobar 1864 songs "Carte Blanche" and "à ½elim te".
à ½eljko Mitroviàperformed for a time with the comedy band Rokeri s Moravu. He founded Pink TV station and City Records label, Goran Tomanoviàworking as an editor for the latter.
In 2006, PGP-RTB successor PGP-RTS reissued Igra bojama and Crni ples on CD.
The band's version of "NaÃÂi me" was covered in 2004 by Serbian rock and pop singer Ana StaniÃÂ on her album U ogledalu (In the Mirror), with JoviÃÂeviÃÂ making a guest appearance on backing vocals.
In 2011, the song "Crni ples" was polled, by the listeners of Radio 202, one of 60 greatest songs released by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS during the sixty years of the label's existence.