Omega (band)
| Omega | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Budapest, Hungary |
| Genres | Psychedelic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, space rock |
| Years active | 1962–1987, 1994–present |
| Labels | Qualiton, Pepita, Bacillus |
| Associated acts | Locomotiv GT |
| Website | www.omega.hu |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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Omega is one of the most successful Hungarian rock bands.
Omega was formed in Budapest in September 1962 by core members' keyboardist/flutist/trumpeter/vocalist László Benkő and vocalist János Kóbor; along with trombonist Győző Bánkúti, drummer/percussionist Tamás Künsztler, saxophonist Péter Láng, guitarist Ferenc Tornóczky, and bassist István Varsányi. The band's initial line-up did not last long, with co-founders Bánkúti and Tornóczky opting to leave within a couple of months of the band's formation; the latter being replaced by András Kovacsics whilst the former was not replaced. More changes ensued over the following couple of years; with Láng departing in 1963 to be replaced by László Harmat, who subsequently departed the following year along with Künsztler; leading to drummer József Laux, saxophonist Tamás Somló, and vocalist Mária Wittek being recruited to the band. This new septet provided the band with its first stable line-up, one which would last until 1967.
In 1967, Omega's line-up was augmented by keyboardist/vocalist Gábor Presser, and thus the band started taking steps towards writing and recording their first album; however this had not come about without creating further instability in the band's line-up. Within a few months of Presser's recruitment, both Varsányi (who was by this point the only founding member in the band other than Benkő and Kóbor) and Wittek departed; the role of bassist falling to Tamás Mihály at this point. Later in the year, longstanding guitarist Kovacsics also opted to leave the band, and was replaced by György Molnár. The following year Somló departed the band, and the remaining sextet (Benkő-Kóbor-Laux-Mihály-Molnár-Presser) ultimately proved to be the line-up that ultimately ended up releasing the band's debut album (1968's Trombitás Frédi és a rettenetes emberek – Trumpeter Fred and the Terrible People), as well as the following two (1969's 10 000 lépés – 10 000 Steps and 1970's Éjszakai országút – Night Highway). These first albums were heavily influenced by the music of The Beatles and psychedelic rock, but they also looked forward to the band's future more hard rock, then progressive and space rock styles. In 1968 come the band's english album too, this was Omega Red Star from Hungary.
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