MEGAPOST : GITARIJADA 1989 - O.D. Uljanik, Pula, 24.05.1989

This is actually a megapost, the shitty speed for uploading the videos makes me upload those videos for more than two weeks (too long to explain, actually, while I was uploading the videos, the internet in the whole house was incredibly low). But ok, now it is all up, so let me tell you the story, as a direcly involved guy in it.

PS: I would like to dedicate this post to all the guys in these videos that are not with us anymore:

GORAN ŠETIĆ ZEC (presenter / jury member)

DAMIR KUSAČIĆ (drummer of Condition Critical)

DAVOR PETRAŠ (vocalist of Nirvana)

ERNIS KUPINIĆ ( vocalist of Dionis)

P.S.2: after the DVD ripping, I noticed that there is only one audio channel, as much times I ripped that DVD, it always came only with one audio channel, so excuse me if I didn`t succeded in making it on both channels. The only thing I did is doubling the existing audio track, so it came out a bit louder.

This "guitar contest" (my free translation of the word "gitarijada") was probably the biggest GC in Pula since 1981 or 1983. There were the biggest number of bands there, all the bands had 15 minutes to expose themselves, The three members jury consisted of : Bruno Langer (Atomsko Sklonište), Paul Bilandžić (Lilihip) and Goran Šetić Zec (journalist). The bands were announced by Goran Šetić Zec.

01. PNEUMONIA

First came out Pneumonia, at the time already evolved from a simple HC band to a more complicated crossover. On stage they looked pretty nervous, even they thrashed their set really good. Constantly provoking the audience, Pneumonia earned themselves the anger of the bouncers (who weren`t too familiar with pogo, moshing and similiar stuff) and had problems with them during the rest of that evening.

02. DELIRIUM TREMENS

This was (as far as I know, never heard of them before or after this) their first and last gig, probably because the guitarist Klor very soon became the frontman of the Thrash-Death Metal band Sexton. What they showed here was a very harsh Death Metal, but fun performance. I remember that the guy on the bass was once (and I mean once, and I forgot the guys name) in plan for the next Devastation bassist.

03. EXCALIBUR

Excalibur were probably the most experienced band that evening. When I say experienced, I mean the pedigree of most band`s members, mostly coming from Žablja Perspektiva and Kronos. The band very soon changed the name to Crna Ruža/Rosa Nera. I can`t remember too well, but I think this may be also their only live performance. Simple Hard`n`Heavy.

04. CONDITION CRITICAL

CC were the first Thrash/Speed Metal band from Pula after Devastation, and the performance here was completely sensational. Three of four band members will afterwards become members of Devastation/Hatross. This was in my opinion one of the best performances of the evening.

05. NIRVANA

Yes, yes, I know... blah blah... at the time very few people in Pula knew about the Seattle`s Nirvana, so let`s skip this fact..

Nirvana was a rock band formed by members of the band Čudna Spika, plus the very talented vocalist previously in Sumrak Ideja, Davor Petraš Petko. If you ask me, I would compare them to The Cult, that kind of Hard Rock. As far as I remember, they didn`t lasted long.

06. THE SWINDLE

Next up were The Swindle, a band whose members previously played in a band Diskretni Šarm Buržoazije, and after changed the name to Ulični. They play a very simplified Punk Rock, and here they haven`t surely got a brilliant night. First the bass drum in the first song was moving forward, and at the end the presenter cut their performance just before the last song.

07. DIONIS

Dionis were a very harsh Hard Rock band, favourites of the local girls, mostly for their love songs already popular in this discotheque. They had a slightly longer performance, and that was probably a fail from the presenter.

08. DEVASTATION

Well, as a directly involved guy, I must say that this was one of our worst performance ever. And during our show a fight started in the audience, and I was forced to stop the song.

But the surprise came later...

09. TUTTA FORZA

The only band of the evening that was not from Pula (we actually didn`t knew who were them and haven`t noticed them for the whole evening), TF were from Labin, and as such, I must admit, completely ignored. They also had the longest performance, while others were all around the 15 minutes, they extended their show to 20 minutes.

bonus guests - VRAŽJI VIHOR

This was the special guests moment of the evening, a band made out of 14 year old boys, playing few very simple covers. Their show was actually pretty good, with the audience filled with little girls and boys from their school (the OŠ Neven Kirac).

... AND THE WINNER IS...

Well, how to say this.. Devastation won the 1989 guitar contest. With a push from one jury member.

I myself would never give a dime on us, but... one time goes good to some, other time to others.

The final positions were 01. DEVASTATION 02.EXCALIBUR and 03.NIRVANA

If you ask me.. never mind..

PS: just before we started playing Napalm Fields, someone put a fire fountain in front of the stage, the fountain fell and lied horizontally, threatning to burn the cables on the stage. I went down to straighten it up, when the fountain started to throw sparks, right in my right eye. Luckily, I closed it very fast so I haven`t got injuries inside the eye, but had the eyelid pretty burned.

Of course, the moment is visible on this video.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS POST!!