Šafrán

Czech collective of singers/songwriters and other artists, loosely performing and recording together (or solo). Formed in May 1972 in Prague. Dissolved in 1977, after some members have signed Václav Havel’s “Charter 77” declaration, and eventually were forced to emigrate soon thereafter. Founding members: Jaroslav Hutka, Jiří Jeřábek with his band, Petr Lutka, Zuzana Michnová, Štěpán Rak, Dagmar (Andrtová-)Voňková, the group Window Song. Later members: Zuzana Homolová, Vladimír Merta, Pepa Nos, Vlastimil Třešňák, caricaturist Jiří Slíva, and others. The name was re-used by Jaroslav Hutka and former Šafrán manager Jiří Pallas for their Swedish label Šafrán 78 (and later Šafrán), where some former members were then able to release solo albums.