Sveà ¾e Amputirana Ruka Satrijanija (), or S.A.R.S. for short, are a Serbian alternative rock band from Belgrade. Presenting a combination of pop rock, reggae, blues, jazz and hip hop with the ethnic music of Serbia, the band is one of the leading acts of the so-called New Serbian Scene.
The band was formed in March 2006 by Aleksandar Lukovià"Lukac" (guitar) and Dragan KovaÃÂevià"à ½abac" (vocals) along with Vladimir Popovià"Hobbo" (vocals), à ½arko KovaÃÂevià"à ½are" (vocals), Miloà ¡ KovaÃÂevià"Kriva" (bass guitar), Branislav LuÃÂià"Beban" (percussion), Goran Mladenovià"Japanac" (drums) and Ivana Blaà ¾evià"Violina" (violin). All musicians came from a different music backgrounds and spheres of interest, resulting in unique fusion sound of divergent music genres. At first they âÂÂjammedâ in garage owned by Aleksander Lukoviàbest friend Ivona VovkoviÃÂ.
After a few minor live appearances in 2007, including several performances at Belgrade clubs as well as the Nià ¡ performance as a part of the Mirovni Karavan (Peace Caravan) manifestation, the band had entered a crisis. At the time the band recorded the demo for the song "BuÃÂav lebac" ("Moldy Bread") at the Resnik RLZ, home made studio.
In early 2008, bassist Miloà ¡ KovaÃÂeviàwent to serve in the army, drummer Mladenoviàand violinist Blaà ¾eviàhad left the band, thus the band disbanded. After the break up, band's friend Sinià ¡a "Kum" decided to promote the song "BuÃÂav lebac" by using internet guerrilla marketing. He created a simple video for the song and uploaded the demo to YouTube. Without any mainstream media promotion, "BuÃÂav lebac" made by the anonymous band S.A.R.S. had become a top chart hit in Serbia and all other former Yugoslav republics.
"BuÃÂav lebac" multi-layer meanings and catchy theme got it accepted by the broad audience. The song describes social contrasts and the poor economic situation of an ordinary man by using word play and dark humor. Along with a catchy melody and innovative vocal performance, "BuÃÂav lebac" became one of the most popular alternative tracks in ex-Yugoslav countries. "BuÃÂav lebac" created a huge public and social buzz without any mainstream media promotion. After initial guerrilla release, song share rate and success was compared with pandemics growth, corresponding with band's name S.A.R.S. "BuÃÂav lebac" became offline and online meme
The Serbian swimmer NaÃÂa Higl stated that she had sung the song lyrics before the race in Rome where she became the World Champion in 200 m breaststroke, and the audience had sung the song to her at the Belgrade City Council plateau at the welcome ceremony. At the other welcome ceremony in her home town PanÃÂevo, Higl appeared on stage with S.A.R.S. who had been performing at the ceremony. The song, with altered lyrics, was also sung by Delije, the fans of the football club Red Star Belgrade, due to the economic situation within the club.
"BuÃÂav lebac" huge public success had encouraged the rest of the band to continue working. In mid-2008, bassist Miloà ¡ KovaÃÂeviàreturned from the army and the band once again entered the RLZ studio and recorded several demos including the song "Ratujemo ti i ja" ("We are at War, You and Me"), with the new members Miloà ¡ Bakalovià"Bakal" (drums) and Boris Tasev "Bora" (keyboards, accordion). During late 2008, the band got an offer from the PGP-RTS record label to record their debut album.
The album recording sessions, done with the help of the producer ÃÂorÃÂe MiljenoviàWikluh Sky, were finished within a couple of months, and the eponymous debut album S.A.R.S was officially released in March 2009. The song lyrics for the album had been written by the vocalists KovaÃÂeviàand PopoviÃÂ, and the music and arrangements were done by KovaÃÂeviÃÂ, Lukoviàand Miljenoviàand guest appearances featured former Eyesburn frontman Nemanja Kojià(trombone on "Ratujemo ti i ja" and "Zubarka" ("The Dentist"), the multi-instrumentalist Aleksandar Sedlar Bogoev (bouzouki on the same tracks), Nikola Demonja (saxophone), Kanda, Kodà ¾a i Nebojà ¡a member Vladan Rajovià(drums on "Zubarka") and the former band member Ivana Blaà ¾evià"Violina" (violin on the track "Sindrom lidera male stranke" ("Syndrome Of A Minor Political Party Leader ")).
Simultaneously with album release appeared the official video for the song "BuÃÂav lebac". It was an animated video directed by the Serbian illustrator Aleksa GajiÃÂ. In the meantime, in early 2009, the band got the award on TV Metropolis for the greatest musical discovery in 2008.
In mid-2009 after the first's album huge success, the original lineup suddenly changed. The transition from an unknown alternative underground band to an MTV featured pop band meant an earthquake. Original S.A.R.S. repertoire included hard rock, punk and heavy metal songs, not welcomed by the broader audience. Original singers Dragan KovaÃÂeviÃÂ and Vladimir PopoviÃÂ promoted anarchism and fight against authorities during live plays. S.A.R.S. frequently performed poorly on stage because of the musicians' lack of discipline. All that will change over the night when the band became commercial.
Vocalist Dragan KovaÃÂeviàbecame the band manager and band owner, his brother à ½arko KovaÃÂeviàbecame the lead singer. Dragan KovaÃÂeviàcarried out band rebuild expelling original lineup members and introducing new musicians to the band. Vocalist PopoviÃÂ, bassist KovaÃÂeviÃÂ, percussionist LuÃÂiÃÂ, and drummer Bakaloviàleft the band. Ex S.A.R.S. members together with ex S.A.R.S. violinist Blaà ¾eviÃÂ, formed a new band, VHS (an acronym for Very Heavy S.A.R.S.). VHS continued to play harder sound performing in underground clubs. New S.A.R.S will change direction towards pop music in its future albums.
New members arrived, Nenad ÃÂorÃÂeviÃÂ "ÃÂole" (bass guitar), Tihomir HiniÃÂ "Tihi" (drums), Petar MilanoviÃÂ "Pera" (trombone, saxophone) and Sanja LaliÃÂ (backing vocals). New members appeared in the second SARS video, for the song "Debeli lad" ("Thick Shade"). On November of the same year, the band recorded the video for the song "Rakija" ("Brandy"). The later song, along with "BuÃÂav lebac", was performed by the band in the Fajront Republika hosted by Zoran KesiÃÂ.
In October 2009, the band went on their first tour, performing at various Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian cities and towns, ended with a large concert at the Belgrade Youth Center. After the tour, the band entered the studio in order to record the material for the upcoming album. In the meantime, in March 2010, the band had a well-acclaimed performance at MTV. Also, the band had recorded the soundtrack for the TV series Moà ¾e i drugaÃÂije (It May Be Different), debuted in January 2010. At midnight on 31 December 2010 the band released their second studio album, Perspektiva (Perspective), released for free digital download at the MTV Adria official website. In 2011, "BuÃÂav lebac" was polled, by the listeners of Radio 202, one of 60 greatest songs released by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS. On 27 June 2012, S.A.R.S., alongside Public Enemy, Example, Jessie J, Dubioza Kolektiv and Orbital, performed on the first evening of the first Belgrade Calling festival.
In March 2013, the band released their third studio album, KuÃÂa ÃÂasti (On the House). The album, announced by the singles "Mir u svetu" ("World Peace"), "Mitohondrija" ("Mitochondrion"), was released for free download via band's official site. The album featured numerous guest appearances, including the appearance of Montenegrin hip hop duo Who See. In May, S.A.R.S. appeared on the tribute album to the band Brkovi entitled Brkati gosti (Guests with Mustaches) with a cover of Brkovi song "Naà ¡a mala zemlja" ("Our Little Country"). By the end of May 2013, the album KuÃÂa ÃÂasti overreached the number of 45.000 downloads.
In January 2014, the band released the album Ikone pop kulture (Pop Culture Icons). The album is available for free download from the band's official website. At the same time, the band, together with the duo Dont, recorded and released as a single an English language version of "BuÃÂav lebac", entitled "Moldy Bread".