Transsylvania-Phoenix band logo

Transsylvania Phoenix or, more commonly, just Phoenix, is 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Transsylvania-Phoenix_logo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Transsylvania-Phoenix_logo. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Formed in the 1960s, it began by doing covers of 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 Covaci search within the Romanian folklore, which gave them a unique sound. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as part of their first tour of the United States, promoting their first hit single there, I Want To Hold Your Hand. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Western World. ... Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci (born April 19, 1947 in TimiÅŸoara, Romania) - painter, music composer of Romanian origin, best known as the leader of Romanian Rock and cult band Phoenix, for which he is vocalist and guitar player, with more that 40 years of activity. ... In predicate logic and technical fields that depend on it, uniqueness quantification, or unique existential quantification, is an attempt to formalise the notion of something being true for exactly one thing, or exactly one thing of a certain type. ...

History

The beginning

Mugur de Fluier - 1974

Cantafabule - 1975

Phoenix was launched in the cosmopolitan town of Timişoara in 1962 by a pair of schoolboys: Nicu Covaci and Béla Kamocsa, under the name of Sfinţii (The Saints). In their first years, together with Florin "Moni" Bordeianu (born 1948), they performed in school contests and at local clubs, covering Western music hits from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, etc., and they quickly became very popular amongst the youth. In 1965 the Communist authorities demanded that the band stop performing under the name The Saints, because of the religious innuendo that the name carried. Forced to comply, the band took the name Phoenix. Nicu Covaci also changed the composition of the band, around 1963, by adding Claudiu Rotaru, Ioan "Pilu" Ştefanovici (born 1946) and Günther "Spitzly" Reininger (born 1950) to the lineup. Image File history File links Phe1. ... Image File history File links Phe1. ... Image File history File links Phe2. ... Image File history File links Phe2. ... County TimiÅŸ County Status County Capital Mayor Gheorghe Ciuhandu, Christian-Democratic Peoples Party, since 1996 Area 130,5 km² Population (2002) 325,997 Density 2,345 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci (born April 19, 1947 in Timişoara, Romania) - painter and music composer of Romanian origin, best known as the leader of Romanian Rock and Cult band Phoenix. ... Western music is the genres of music originating in the Western world (Europe and its former colonies) including Western classical music, American Jazz, Country and Western, pop music and rock and roll. ... “Rolling Stones” redirects here. ... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... The Who are an English rock band who first emerged in 1964. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ...

For the next couple of years the student band was popular in Timişoara's clubs and teen dorms, performing western songs originally by bands such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Animals, and The Rolling Stones. The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies and his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist, Dave Davies, with bassist Pete Quaife. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... “Rolling Stones” redirects here. ...

In 1965 they had their first big concert in Bucharest. Their performance brought a collaboration with Cornel Chiriac to record some of their songs. The first songs they recorded were "Ştiu cǎ mǎ iubesti şi tu" ("I Know You Love Me Too"), "Dunăre, Dunăre" ("Danube, Danube") and "Bun e vinul ghiurghiuliu" ("Good is the Red Wine"). The same year also marked the beginning of their collaboration with Victor Cârcu, who went on to write many of their most famous songs, such as "Vremuri" ("Old Times"), "Şi totuşi ca voi sunt" ("And Yet I Am Like You"), "Nebunul cu ochii închişi" ("Crazy Man with closed eyes"), "Floarea stâncilor" ("Mountain Flower") and "Canarul" ("Canary"). 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Status Capital of Romania Mayor Adriean Videanu, since 2005 Area 238 km² Population (2005) 1,924,959[1] Density 8,088 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ...

In December 1967 Phoenix had their first major series of concerts in many western cities, capped off by two huge concerts in Timişoara. After winning a few prizes in national students' contests, held at Iaşi the following year, in 1968 they recorded their first EP, Vremuri (Old Times), containing two original songs, Vremuri and Canarul (The Canary), and two covers (Lady Madonna - The Beatles and Friday on my Mind - Easybeats). A second EP would follow one year later, named Floarea stâncilor (The Flower of the Rocks), with all four songs being original compositions. Both albums sport a sound reminiscent of the beat style popular in that era. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... County IaÅŸi County Status Municipality Mayor Gheorghe Nichita, Social Democratic Party, since 2003 Area 93. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ...

They then started working on a rock theater play "Omul 36/80" (The Man 36/80) which won several prizes for originality.

In 1969 Ioan "Pilu" Ştefanovici was replaced by Dorel "Baba" Vintilă Zaharia (born 1943). For the next year the band became more and more popular, frequently visiting Bucharest and being invited in talk shows about music. For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ...

In 1970, Moni Bordeianu emigrated to the US, and, for a brief period of time the band suspended its activity, also due to total censorship that followed a protesting speech held by Bordeianu in his last concert. 1970 ment the blues period of the band. The formula used was Nicu Covaci - guitar, Günther "Spitzly" Reininger - piano and voice, Zoltan Covacs - bass guitar and Liviu Butoi - oboe and flute. Phoenix was born again the next year, with Covaci, Josef Kappl, Mircea Baniciu, Costin Petrescu (replaced in 1974 by Ovidiu Lipan, nicknamed "Ţăndărică") and Valeriu Sepi. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Josef (Ioji/Joschi) Kappl is the Bass player of the Romanian Rock Band Phoenix. ... Mircea Baniciu is a Romanian musician, born in Timisoara, Romania, on the 31st of July 1949. ... Image:DSC00010. ... Ovidiu Lipan Ţǎndǎricǎ is a Romanian musician (drummer), born in Iaşi, in 1953. ...

But the Communist officials were not very comfortable with the Western-style music that they were singing, and kept creating them problems. So Phoenix abandoned beat turned to Romanian folklore, pagan rituals, mystic animals and old traditions. In this same year, Phoenix started a collaboration with the Institute of Ethnography and Folklore and the Folklore section of Timişoara University on an ambitious project, a rock poem that combined traditional wooden instruments with modern sounds. During this project the band also started collaborating with Valeriu Sepi (born 1947), who eventually joined the band. The first outcome would be the 1972 LP Cei ce ne-au dat nume (Those Who Gave Us Our Names) - the first LP to be recorded in Romania by a Romanian band. Two years later, Mugur de fluier (Flute Bud) followed. Both albums underwent severe censorship. This article on Romanian mythology covers both the mythology traditional to the Romanian people and to certain earlier civilizations that occupied the same geographic area, and whom the ethnic Romanians tend to claim either as spiritual or as more literal ancestors. ... Heathen redirects here. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

Phoenix - 1974. From left to right: Costin Petrescu, Valeriu Sepi, Nicu Covaci, Ioji Kappl, Corneliu „Schwartz” Calboreanu (up), Günther Reininger, Mircea Baniciu (down)

In 1973 Phoenix represented Romania at the "Golden harp" festival in Bratislava (Slovakia) and then in the "Disc festival" in Sopot (Poland). Also, they wanted to record a new rock-opera, named "Meşterul Manole", but the communist officials censored it all, by "losing" the unique book with costume sketches and lyrics given to them for official aproval. The result was only a EP with an extract from the opera, Meşterul Manole, uvertură (Meşterul Manole, uverture) and two older songs, Mamă, Mamă (Mother, Mother) and Te întreb pe tine, soare... (I'm asking you, sun...). Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Bratislava (see below for other names) is the capital of Slovakia, and the countrys largest city, with a population of some 450,000. ... Sopot (pronounce: [sÉ”pÉ”t]; German: ; Kashubian: Sopòt) is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000. ...

On Monday, 19 November 1973, Phoenix held a memorable concert in Bucharest, presenting their new hits "Andri Popa", "Pavel Chinezu" and "Strunga", which composed the new disc "Mugur de fluier". The new songs were still influenced by folklore yet had a new style. This style was the result of the collaboration with new songwriters Andrei Ujică and Şerban Foarţă. Based on those new songs Nicu Covaci created a new show "Introducere la un concert despre muzica veche la români" ("Introduction to a concert about old Romanian music") in which he introduced violins, flutes, archaic percussion and other traditional instruments. The show was never finished due to a new collaboration with "Cenaclul Flacăra." This period is considered the peak for Phoenix. Their sound was considered original and powerful and full stadiums were common for their concerts. November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, material culture, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or group. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ...

Every winter the members of the band would retreat to Mount Semenic and plan their upcoming songs. That winter the show "Zoosophia", a title that would later change to "Cantafabule", was created. The show began by "calling" all mythic animals and continued by dedicating a song to each of them, finishing with the Phoenix, the band's symbol. The year 1975 brought a newcomer to the band, Ovidiu Lipan "Ţăndărică" (born 1953). The "Cantafabule" show was first presented in Timişoara in February 1975. The disc was recorded in a very short time and was published the same year with a misspelling in the title: "Cantofabule." What followed were two years of almost continuous concerts but also the creation of the soundtrack for the movie "Nemuritorii". The phoenix from the Aberdeen Bestiary. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

By this time, the popularity of Phoenix had grown huge; people loved their songs not only for what they were, but also because they contained thinly-veiled allusions to the Communist regime. The band members, especially Nicu Covaci, found themselves increasingly harassed by the Securitate. Covaci married a Dutch woman and left the country in 1976. He returned in 1977, bringing in relief aid for those struck by the powerful earthquake on March 4. After two grandiose concerts in Constanţa and Tulcea, Covaci surprisingly left the country again, this time with all the band members (except Baniciu) hidden inside their Marshall speakers - a huge undertaking, since in Communist Romania it was extremely difficult to obtain approval to travel abroad, and illegal border crossing carried the death penalty. The Securitate (Romanian for Security; official full name Departamentul Securităţii Statului, State Security Department), was the secret police force of Communist Romania. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Bucharest - Ienei Church - 1977 The 1977 Bucharest Earthquake occurred on Friday, 4 March 1977, 21:20 local time and was felt throughout the Balkans. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (64th in leap years). ... County ConstanÅ£a Mayor Radu Åžtefan Mazăre Area 124. ... County Tulcea County Status County capital Mayor Constantin Hogea, Democratic Party , since 2004 Population (2002) 91,875 Geographical coordinates , Web site http://www. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The 1980s

After arriving in Germany, Phoenix disbanded. Kappl and a few others (Erlend Krauser, Ovidiu Lipan) formed a new band, Madhouse and released a not very successful album named From The East. In 1981, Covaci co-opted Neumann and Lipan and English bassist Tom Buggie, who had an amazing technical playing ability, under the name Transsylvania Phoenix (since a band named Phoenix already existed) and released an LP named Transsylvania, containing two old Phoenix songs translated into English to target the Western audience and five new ones. Covaci together with Kappl also released two EPs and one maxi single as Transsylvania-Phoenix. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The comeback

Baba Novak album (2005)

In 1990 Phoenix made a triumphant comeback to Romania, with a highly emotional concert in their hometown Timişoara, the city that sparked the popular revolt in December 1989 that eventually led to the downfall of the Communist regime. In the following years, Phoenix toured a lot and released a few compilations of their older recordings. Internal frictions, especially between Covaci and Baniciu, were making headlines in the media. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... Combatants Communist Romania Ad hoc local Romanian militias Commanders Nicolae CeauÅŸescu Various independent militia leaders Casualties 1,104 deaths The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a week-long series of riots and fighting in late December of 1989 that overthrew the Communist regime of Nicolae CeauÅŸescu. ...

A new album appeared in 2000, the first original album after their 1990 comeback; with the exception of Covaci, the lineup comprised none of the members from the '70s. 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2002, the 40th Anniversary of the band brought together almost all former members in a supershow.

At the end of 2005 the band (in its classic gold lineup) released a new album, named Baba Novak. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

As of 2006, the band still performs at live events. For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Members:

• Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci - Guitar, vocals, composer, founder and leader of the band. Member since 1962.
• Josef (Joschi) Kappl - Bass guitar, vocals, violin, flute, composer. Member since 1971, with short interruptions.
• Mircea Baniciu - Vocals, guitar. Member since 2001, previously between 1971 and 1976, also sporadically during the 90's.
• Ovidiu Lipan (Ţăndărică) - Drums. Member since 2001, previously between 1974 and 1978, 1980-1981, then between 1984 and 1998.
• Manfred (Mani) Neumann - Violin, flute, vocals. Member since 1989, previously between 1978 and 1981. Active member of the "Farfarello" band (violin, flute).
• Ionut Contraş - Backing vocals, percussion. Member since 1998 . Is official manager since 2004 and Executiv Producer of "Baba Novak" album.
• Cristi Gram - Electric guitar. Member since 2004.

Nicolae (Nicu) Covaci (born April 19, 1947 in Timişoara, Romania) - painter and music composer of Romanian origin, best known as the leader of Romanian Rock and Cult band Phoenix. ... Josef (Ioji/Joschi) Kappl is the Bass player of the Romanian Rock Band Phoenix. ... Mircea Baniciu is a Romanian musician, born in Timisoara, Romania, on the 31st of July 1949. ... Ovidiu Lipan Ţǎndǎricǎ is a Romanian musician (drummer), born in Iaşi, in 1953. ... Manfred (Mani) Neumann- German composer and violin and flute player. ...

Past members

• Florin (Moni) Bordeianu (1962-1970, 1977-1978) - vocals
• Kamocsa Béla (1962-1970) - drums, bass guitar
• Günther Reininger (1966-1971, 1974-1976) - piano, keyboards, vocals
• Costin Petrescu (1972-1975, 1990) - drums
• Valeriu Sepi (1971-1974) - percussion
• Erlend Krauser (1976-1978) - violin, guitar
• Ulli Heidelberg (1978-1980) - violin, guitar, vocals
• Christoph Bank (1978) - bass
• Meinolf Bauschulte (1979-1980)- drums, vocals
• Volker Vaessen (1992-1993, 1999-2000) - bass guitar
• Tom Buggie (1980-1981) - bass guitar
• Adi Pavlovici (1962-1963) - guitar, vocals
• Liviu Butoi (1970-1972) - oboe, flute
• Eugen Gondi (1975) - drums

Image:DSC00010. ...

Discography:

In Romania:

• Vremuri (Old Times), 1968, EP
• Floarea stâncilor (The Flower of the Rocks), 1969, EP
• Cei ce ne-au dat nume (Those Who Gave Us Names), 1972, LP (re-edited on CD in 1999)
• Meşterul Manole, 1973, EP
• Mugur de fluier (Flute Bud), 1974, LP (re-edited on CD in 1999)
• Cantofabule (Cantafables), 1975, 2LP

In Germany (under the name Transsylvania Phoenix):

• Transsylvania, 1981, LP
• Ballade For You/The Lark, 1987, single
• Tuareg/Mr. G's Promises, 1988, single
• Tuareg, 1988, maxi-single

In Romania (after 1989): Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: , Michail Sergeevič Gorbačëv), IPA: , surname more accurately romanized as Gorbachyov; born March 2, 1931) is a Russian politician. ...

• Ciocîrlia/Perestroika (The Lark/Perestroika), 1990, single
• Remember Phoenix, 1991, LP
• SymPhoenix/Timişoara, 1992, CD/MC/2LP
• Evergreens, 1993, CD/MC
• Cantafabule - Bestiar, 1996, CD
• Aniversare 35 (35th Anniversary), 1997, CD/MC
• Vremuri, anii '60... (Old Times, The 60s), 1998, CD/MC
• Ora-Hora, 1999, Promo Maxi-CD
• În umbra marelui urs (In the Shadow of the Big Bear), 2000, CD/MC, re-edited in 2003 as În umbra marelui URSS (In the Shadow of the Big USSR)
• Baba Novak, 2005

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

External links

• Phoenix's official website
• Phoenix discography - English language reviews
• The Phoenix Fan Site FORUM
• Nicu Covaci's personal website
• Farfarello homepage