Katarina II -

Katarina II was a Yugoslav new wave band from Beograd, Serbia, that released a 1984 self-titled album on ZKP and subsequently changed their name to Ekatarina Velika for an additional four albums.

Members: Milan Mladenović (vocals, guitar), Margita Stefanović [Magi] (keyboards), Bojan Pečar (bass, 1983-85), Dragomir Mihajlović [Gagi] (guitar, 1982-84), Dušan Dejanović (drums, 1982), Branko Kuštrin [Mango] (drums, 1982), Zoran Radomirović [Švaba] (bass, 1982), Ivan Vdović [Vd] (drums, 1983-84), Ivan Fece [Firči] (drums, 1984-85)

Background

Katarina II formed in February 1982 in Belgrade when singer-guitarist Milan Mladenović joined guitarist Dragomir “Gagi” Mihajlović, bassist Zoran “Švaba” Radomirović, and drummer Dušan Dejanović. The latter three previously backed Dr. Spira i Ljudska Bića and decided to form a separate group after a concert at Atelje 212.

Mladenović and Mihajlović teamed earlier in Limunovo Drvo, which initially included Dejanović. Mihajlović left after an April 1980 concert with Pankrti at the Belgrade Student Cultural Center (SKC). Mladenović continued through autumn 1981 in Šarlo Akrobata, a trio with drummer Ivan Vdović. Mihajlović named Katarina II after a recent love interest.

Katarina II initially rehearsed around dual guitars and funk-based rhythms. In July 1982, drummer Branko “Mango” Kuštrin temporarily replaced Dejanović. They opened for Električni Orgazam in Zrenjanin as a trio with Mladenović on bass. Dejanović returned that autumn, while bassist Bojan Pečar joined from Via Talas, following earlier membership in BG 5. Radomirović subsequently joined Du Du A.

Katarina II reconfigured with classically trained pianist Margita “Magi” Stefanović, who met Mladenović through the Električni Orgazam circle at the SKC. Stefanović studied architecture at the University of Belgrade and attended an early Katarina II concert at the Topčiderska zvezda cinema.

The expanded group rehearsed “Treba da se čisti,” “Vrt,” “Ja znam…” and “Jesen.” Mladenović introduced the acoustic-guitar chords for “Jesen” at a rehearsal with Stefanović and Dejanović. Stefanović devised a keyboard figure; Mihajlović later added the middle section. Katarina II performed at the Zagreb Music Biennale in April 1983 with “Jesen” as an encore. Dejanović subsequently cleared out for Ivan “VD” Vdović, the Šarlo Akrobata drummer.

Sessions first commenced at Enco Lesić’s Druga Maca studio, where equipment problems and scheduling delays stalled the sessions for five months. An early version of “Jesen” received airplay on the Studio B program Diskomer. With support from RTV Ljubljana, Katarina II recorded the album material anew at Akvarijus studio in Belgrade in December 1983, with Đorđe Petrović as producer.

Discography:

Katarina II (1984)

References and notes

Romansa buke — Saša Rakezić and Predrag Popović, Džuboks No. 142, June 4, 1982. Contemporary interview identifying the Dr. Spira i Ljudska Bića connection, the original lineup, the Atelje 212 concert, and the group’s early rehearsal methods. (Zadužbina Milana Mladenovića)
Katarina, moja prva ljubav — Željko Antović, Džuboks No. 172, December 1983. Interviews with Milan Mladenović, Margita Stefanović, and Ivan Vdović concerning the group name, composition of “Jesen,” collaborative arrangements, and problems at Enco Lesić’s studio. (Zadužbina Milana Mladenovića)
Milan — Snežana Golubović, Rock, 1985. Mladenović recounts the formation, early two-guitar music, arrival of Stefanović and Pečar, Zagreb Biennale performance, Dejanović’s departure, and the two recording attempts. (Zadužbina Milana Mladenovića)
Ekatarina Velika: Dobar vetar uz lice — Vojislav Pantić, Pop-Rock No. 139, January 1990. Retrospective with detailed formation history, the temporary Kuštrin lineup, Stefanović’s recruitment, the Biennale appearance, Studio B airplay, and RTV Ljubljana’s involvement. (BStudio archive)
Hronologija Milana Mladenovića — Chronology covering Limunovo Drvo, Šarlo Akrobata, the 1982 formation, Milan’s introduction to Margita in May, and the unsuccessful Druga Maca sessions. (Zadužbina Milana Mladenovića)
Diskografija: Katarina II — Album personnel, producer credits, December 1983 sessions at Akvarijus, and spring 1984 release information. (Zadužbina Milana Mladenovića)
Deset godina bez Margite Stefanović — September 18, 2012. Biographical account of Stefanović’s classical piano education, architecture studies, and introduction to the Belgrade rock scene. (B92)