IRIS (Romanian band)

IRIS
Iris (from left to right: Mihai Alexandru, Nelu Dumitrescu, Eugen Brebu, Valter Popa, Cristian Minculescu, Doru Borobeică)
Background information
Origin	Bucharest, Romania
Genres	Classic rock, hard rock, pop rock, blues rock, heavy metal, speed metal, symphonic rock
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Electrecord, Zone Records, Roton
Associated acts	Harap Alb, Voltaj, Totuşi, Holograf, Rosu şi Negru
Website	http://www.trupairis.ro/ https://www.facebook.com/trupairis/
Members	Cristi Minculescu Nelu Dumitrescu Doru "Boro" Borobeică Valter Popa Relu Marin

IRIS is a Romanian rock band established in 1976 by Ioan Dumitrescu (drums), Ion Olteanu (lead solo guitar and vocals) and Emil Lechinţeanu (bass guitar). They achieved success, followed by tours throughout Romania and recordings for radio broadcast. At the 2006 MTV Romania Music Awards, Iris won the Best Rock Award and were nominated for Best Band and Best Live Act.

Iris began in 1976 with Emil Lechiteanu, Nelu Dumitrescu, Nutu Olteanu. Through the years, the band has experienced many line-up changes. In 33 years of activity, Iris became one of the biggest names in Romanian music history. At the beginning of the 1980s, Cristi Minculescu and Nelu Dumitrescu, who are still present in the current line-up, played with Nutu Olteanu (guitar), Florin Ochescu (guitar) and Marty Popescu (bass guitar). Together they released a debut-album, Iris I, which included songs that became some of the most popular Romanian rock songs: "Doar Pentru Voi" ("Only for You"), "Trenul Fără Naș" ("The Train without a Ticket-collector"), "Pe Ape" ("On Water"), and "Cei Ce Vor Fi" ("The Ones to Come").

In 1987, Iris II was released with an extravagant cover depicting the communist regime, a cover which represented one of Cristi's idols, Angus Young, "in action". The band's line-up was Cristi Minculescu (vocal), Nelu Dumitrescu (drums), Valter Popa (guitar), Mihai Alexandru (guitar, vocal) and Doru "Boro" Borobeica (bass guitar). On this album, notable songs included "Strada Ta" ("Your Street"), "În Parc" ("In the Park"), and "Zi Și Noapte" ("Day and Night").

One year later, Iris released its third album, Nu Te Opri ("Don't Stop"), which featured the same line-up as Iris II. The disc contained eight tracks, but the most important are "Floare De Iris" ("Iris Flower"), "Uită Tot Ce-a Fost" ("Forget all that was"), "Eu Și Cu Tine" ("Me and You"), "Ploaia De Vise" ("The Rain of Dreams").

In December 1989, when the downfall of the Romanian communist regime began, Iris recorded the album Iris IV in Tomis Studio, without Mihai Alexandru, but with Cristi, Nuțu, Boro and Valter. The hits from this album include "De Ce Oare Ai Plecat?" ("Why Did You Leave Me?"), "Vino Iar" ("Come Again"), "Rock And Roll", and "Cine Mă Strigă În Noapte?" ("Who Is Calling Me in the Night?").

In 1992, Iris held an anniversary concert called Iris 15 ANI ("Iris 15 years") at Sala Polivalentă in Bucharest in front of 10,000 people. This was a record audience for a Romanian band, unequalled since that time. That same year, at the Cannes Festival, Iris won second place in the rock section and they appeared on MTV.