Kodeksi

Kodeksi was a cover band from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia that existed from 1965 until 1971. It is most notable as one of the predecessors to Bijelo dugme, the most commercially successful band ever to come out of SFR Yugoslavia. Many of the future Bijelo dugme members came up through Kodeksi.

During its final few months, the band was known as Mića, Goran and Zoran.

Kodeksi were formed in 1965 by Edo Bogeljić as a hobby cover band. The group also featured Ismeta Dervoz on backing vocals and Luciano Paganotto on drums. Not too long after formation, Bogeljić invited Željko Bebek to join as singer and rhythm guitarist. Simultaneous to high school studies, Kodeksi members spent the rest of the decade covering tunes they heard on Radio Luxembourg and playing local dance parties. In the process they built up somewhat of a local youth following.

As the band had problems filling the bass player spot all throughout this period, Bebek recommended 18-year-old Goran Bregović after seeing him play with another local cover band Beštije in 1969. Realizing Kodeksi were more established on the scene than his Beštije, Goran immediately jumped at the opportunity.

The band's musical activity began to assume a more serious form immediately after Bregović's arrival.

In the summer of 1969, Kodeksi secured a season-long gig in Dubrovnik's Splendid bar, but just before they were set to depart for Adriatic coast Ismeta Dervoz left the band choosing to devote her full attention to university studies. Their Dubrovnik repertoire was aimed at tourists and consisted mostly of pop covers, folk standards, and easy-listening tunes.

Though it clearly didn't inspire much in terms of creativity, Dubrovnik stay proved useful as they got spotted by Italian club owner Renato Pacifico who offered a two-month gig in his Naples club. Infused with new energy, the band went back home to hone a new progressive rock set (along the lines of Cream, Jimi Hendrix, etc.), and to obtain the necessary paperwork.

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