Bijelo Dugme - History - The Beginnings - Kodeksi

Kodeksi

The band history begins in 1969. At the time, the future leader of Bijelo Dugme, Goran Bregović was the bass guitarist for the band Beštije. He was spotted by the Kodeksi (trans. Codexes) vocalist Željko Bebek. As Kodeksi needed a bass guitarist, on Bebek's suggestion Bregović became the member of the band. The band's lineup consisted of Ismeta Dervoz (vocals), Edo Bogeljić (guitar), Željko Bebek (rhythm guitar and vocals), Goran Bregović (bass guitar), and Luciano Paganotto (drums). After performing in Dubrovnik (before these performances the only female member, Ismeta Dervoz, left the band) Kodeksi were hired to perform in a club in Naples. After two months the band's guitarist Edo Bogeljić returned to Sarajevo, and Bregović switched to guitar. Local Italian musician was brought in to play the bass, but after he quit too, Bebek called up old friend Zoran Redžić. Redžić in turn brought along Milić Vukašinović as replacement on drums for Paganotto who also quit in the meantime. Vukašinović brought new musical influences along the lines of what Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were doing at the time. Additionally, he convinced the rest of the band on incorporating the new sound into their set. Within two weeks of his arrival, Kodeksi were fired from all the places they were playing.

The foursome of Bebek, Bregović, Redžić and Vukašinović stayed on the island of Capri. In 1970, they relocated back to Naples. At this time, the other three members persuaded Bebek to stop playing the rhythm guitar reasoning that it is not fashionable any longer. Bebek also had trouble adapting to the new material vocally. He would sing the intro on most songs and then step back as the other three members improvised for the remainder of songs. After being a key band member only several months earlier, Bebek thought his role was gradually reducing. During the fall of 1970, he left Kodeksi to return to Sarajevo.

Vukašinović, Bregović, and Redžić continued to perform under the name Mića, Goran and Zoran. Eventually, they returned to Sarajevo in the spring of 1971, when Bregović's mother and Redžić's brother came to Italy to bring them back. Upon returning, the trio continued performing around Sarajevo, however not for long, as in late summer 1971 Vukašinović decided to move to London.