Phoenix (23)

Phoenix was one of the most prominent Romanian Rock and Roll bands of the latest decades, and also the first one to take musical inspiration from ancient Romanian folk themes. Formed in the 1960s, it began by doing covers of The Beatles songs. However, they soon had to change their style since the Romanian communist regime disliked any form of western culture. The communist regime suggested that all rock oriented bands should look for inspiration within the Romanian culture. These restrictions made the band's leader Nicolae "Nicu" Covaci search within the Romanian folklore, which gave them a unique sound. Copyright label: Phoenix (23) Current lineup: ● Florin Bordeianu – lead vocals, drums (1962–1970, 1977–1979, 2014–present) [Release contributions: Vremuri, Totuși sunt ca voi] ● Costin Adam – vocals (2014–present) [Release contributions: Vino, Țepeș] ● Nicolae Covaci – guitars, vocals (1962–present) [Release contributions: all releases] ● Cristi Gram – lead guitar, background vocals (2004–2014, 2015–present) [Release contributions: Baba Novak] ● Dzidek Marcinkiewicz – keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals (1983, 1985–1999, 2008–present) [Release contributions: Vino, Țepeș] ● Volker Vaessen – bass guitar (1992–1993, 1999–2000, 2002–2005, 2008–present) [Release contributions: SymPhoenix, In Umbra Marelui Urs, Vino, Țepeș] ● Flavius Hosu – drums (2014–present) [Release contributions: Vino, Țepeș] Former members: ● Ioan Ștefanovici – drums (1962–1967, 1969–1970) ● Bela Kamocsa – bass guitar, drums (1962–1971; died 2010) ● Claudiu Rotaru – lead guitar (1962–1968) ● Florin Dumitru – drums (1968) ● Dorel Vintilă Zaharia – drums (1967–1968, 1969–1970) ● Valeriu Sepi – percussion (1971–1974) ● Günther Reininger – keyboards, backing vocals (1968–1970, 1974–1976; died 2015) ● Mircea Baniciu – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1971–1977, 1990–1992, 1997–1998, 2001–2003, 2004–2007) ● Iosif Kappl – bass guitar, backing vocals, violin, blockflute (1971–1979, 1986–1992, 1998–1999, 2004–2008) ● Costin Petrescu – drums (1971–1975) ● Ovidiu Lipan – drums (1975–1979, 1984–1998, 2001–2012) ● Mani Neumann – violin, blockflute, backing vocals (1979–1981, 1989–2008) ● Tom Buggie – bass guitar (1980–1981) ● Lucian Cioargă – drums (1999–2000) ● Tavi Colen – lead vocals (1999–2000) ● Alin Oprea – lead guitar, backing vocals (1999–2000) ● Andrei Cerbu – guitar (2014–2015) ● Marc Alexandru Tint – guitar (2014–2016) Former touring musicians: ● Mitu Cîmpan – piano (1962–1964) ● Doru Creșneac – lead guitar (1963–1965) ● Adi Pavlovici – lead guitar, backing vocals (1962–1963) ● Zoltan Kovacs – bass guitar (1970–1971) ● Liviu Butoi – oboe, flute (1970–1973) ● Erlend Krauser – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (1976–1978) ● Cornel Liuba – drums (1970–1971, 1976–1977) ● Ștefan Bartha – bass guitar (1973) ● Eugen Gondi – drums (1975) ● Ulli Heidelberg – lead guitar, violin, backing vocals (1978–1980) ● Sabin Dumbrăveanu – cello (1980–1981) ● Bubi Dobrozemsky – cello, backing vocals 1978–1981 ● Cristoph Bank – bass guitar (1978) ● Mainolf Bauschulte – drums (1979–1980) ● Dixi Krauser – bass guitar, vocals (1987–1989, 1990) ● Dragoș Bădoi – lead vocals (1992–1994) ● Malcolm J. Lewis – lead vocals (2000) ● Eugen Tegu – bass guitar (2001–2002) ● Bogdan Bradu – lead vocals (2003–2004, 2007–2013) ● Ionuț Contraș – percussion, backing vocals (2005–2010) ● Cristina Kisseleff – violin (2014) ● Ionuț Micu – drums (2012–2014) ● Roxana Zanga – drums (2015–2016) ● Sergiu Boldor – violin (2014–2015)