Popečitelji

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Popečitelji | image = | caption = | image_size = 250 | landscape = yes | origin = Pristina, AP Kosovo, Serbia (1995–1999) Kragujevac, Serbia (1999–present) | genre = {{flatlist| * Noise rock (early) * alternative rock * instrumental rock * funk rock * folk rock }} | years_active = 1995–present | label = Mojo Beat, Odličan hrčak, Druga stvar | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = Saša Furunović Goran Furunović Dušan Lazić | past_members = Radeta Vulić Ivan Cvetković }}

'''Popečitelji''' (Serbian Cyrillic: Попечитељи, an archaism with the meaning ''Ministers'') is a Serbian rock band formed in Pristina in 1995.

Formed by brothers Saša (guitar) and Goran Furunović (bass guitar) and Radeta Vulić (drums), the group initially performed alternative/noise rock. Moving to Kragujevac in 1999, the band started performing their blend of funk rock and ethnic music. Popečitelji released their first studio album in 2004, gaining prominence on the Serbian rock scene. The group has released three more studio albums since, and Furunović brothers have embarked on several side projects.

==History== ===1995–present=== The band was formed in Pristina in 1995 by brothers Saša (guitar) and Goran Furunović (bass guitar) and Radeta Vulić (drums).<ref name="janjatović">{{cite book|last=Janjatović|first=Petar|title=Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960–2023|year=2024|publisher=self-released / Makart|location=Belgrade|page=376}}</ref> They named the band Popečitelji, which is an archaism for government ministers used in 19th century Serbia.<ref name="janjatović"/> Initially, the group performed their version of alternative/noise rock sound.<ref name="janjatović"/> After the 1999 NATO bombing of FR Yugoslavia, the group moved to Kragujevac, where they developed their blend of instrumental funk rock and ethnic music.<ref name="janjatović"/>

After a series of performances across Serbia, the band had their first performance in the country's capital Belgrade in August 2003, performing as the opening act for American saxophone player Maceo Parker on his concert in the garden of Students' Cultural Center.<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2004, the band released their debut album ''Ko radi?'' (''Who's Working''), produced by Dušan Kojić "Koja".<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2005, the group performed as the opening act for Canadian punk rock band Nomeansno on their concert in Belgrade.<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2008, the band released their second studio album ''Horizonti'' (''Horizons''), produced by themselves.<ref name="janjatović"/> The album featured the band's trademark instrumental funk rock/folk rock sound, but also included tracks with vocals.<ref name="janjatović"/> Their third album ''Sijalica'' (''Light Bulb'') was released in 2013.<ref name="janjatović"/> The album was produced by Saša Furunović, who also designed the album cover.<ref name="janjatović"/>

In 2015, Radeta Vulić left the band to join Disciplin A Kitschme, and was replaced by Ivan Cvetković.<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2015, Popečitelji started their own label Druga stvar (''Other Thing''), through which they released the singles "Kroz" ("Through") and "Bum!" ("Boom!").<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2018, Cvetković was replaced by Dušan Lazić.<ref name="janjatović"/> The band's fourth studio album ''Uvek'' (''Always'') was co-released by Druga stvar and Odličan hrčak label in 2021.<ref name="janjatović"/>

===Side projects=== Simultaneously with his work with Popečitelji, Saša Furunović started his instrumental rock side project Fitnes (''Fitness'') in 2003.<ref name="janjatović"/> He was joined by Goran Furunović and keyboardist Aca Pejčić in 2009.<ref name="janjatović"/> In 2011, in empty auditorium of Kragujevac cinema Šumadija, the band recorded the album ''Udarci i varnice'' (''Hits and Sparks'').<ref name="janjatović"/> Saša Furunović, under the pseudonym CD Ministar (''CD Minister''), performed with singer-songwriter Bojana Bulatović "Bo", and the Furunović brothers took part in the recording of Bulatović's 2008 album ''Kapetane, gde si?'' (''Captain, Where Are You?'').<ref name="janjatović"/> As CD Ministar, Saša Furunović released the album ''Zabit'' (''Backwoods'') in 2015.<ref name="janjatović"/>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Ko radi?'' (2004) * ''Horizonti'' (2008) * ''Sijalica'' (2013) * ''Uvek'' (2021)

===Singles=== *"Društvo" (2011) *"Kroz" (2015) *"Bum!" (2015)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.discogs.com/artist/1265342-Pope%C4%8Ditelji Popečitelji] at Discogs

Category:Serbian noise rock groups Category:Serbian alternative rock groups Category:Serbian instrumental rock musical groups Category:Serbian funk rock musical groups Category:Serbian folk rock groups Category:Kosovan musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1995