Biography

Rani mraz was formed in 1978 by former Žetva member Đorđe Balašević and
Verica Todorović.
During 1978 the band recorded a number of hit singles and sold a great number of records. Balašević’s emotional lyrics and simple melodies with pop music elements saw major success.
Former Suncokret members Bora Đorđević and Biljana Krstić soon joined the band, becoming the members of the most famous, but short lasting Rani mraz lineup.

The band soon recorded Računajte na nas, which praised People’s Liberation War from a slightly different perspective than habitual socialist realism, and soon became an anthem of Yugoslav youth.
During the summer of 1978, Rani mraz held numerous concerts in Dom omladine in Belgrade. Balašević entertained the audience with his humouristic stories and Đorđević performed his songs Lutka sa naslovne strane, Mirno spavaj, Zvezda potkrovlja i suterena and others.
After recording a single with songs Oprosti mi, Katrin and Život je more Bora Đorđević left the band.
He soon formed hard rock band Riblja Čorba, which eventually became one of the top acts of the former Yugoslav rock scene.
Soon Verica Todorović left the band.

In 1979 Rani mraz released their debut album Mojoj mami … umesto maturske slike u izlogu (“To my Mother instead of Prom Photo in the Shop-Window”).
Album was produced by Josip Boček who also played the guitar. Songs were played by studio musicians: Bojan Hreljac (bass guitar), Vladimir Furduj (drums), Sloba Marković (keyboard) and Mića Marković (saxophone). Album featured hits Sve je dobro, kad se dobro svrši, Mnogo mi znači to, Neki novi klinci and Drago mi je zbog mog starog.
During the summer Đorđe Balašević and Biljana Krstić, with band Neoplanti, held numerous concerts across Yugoslavia. This was the time when Balašević started performing his well-known humorous monologues.
Poets Mika Antić and Pero Zubac made guest appearances on some of Rani mraz concerts. On the Split music festival Balašević won first place with a song Panonski Mornar. In September Rani mraz held eight sold out concerts in Dom sindikata.

In 1980 Balašević released Odlazi cirkus (“The circus is leaving”), the second and the last album under the name Rani mraz.
Album featured hits Priča o Vasi Ladačkom, Mirka, Menuet.
In 1982 Balašević released Pub (“Jack”), album with which he started his official solo career