Timpuri Noi

This article is about the Romanian rock band. For the metro station in Bucharest, see Timpuri Noi metro station.
Timpuri Noi
OriginBucharest, Romania
Genres
[1]
Years active1980—present
LabelsMediaPro Music, VIVO
MembersDan Iliescu
Felix Sfura
Vlad Apotrosoaei

Timpuri Noi is a Romanian alternative rock band.

History
Dan Iliescu (2008)

Timpuri Noi was formed in 1980, and remained an underground act up until 1991. This was mainly due to what was perceived as "subversive lyrical content" in the Ceauşescu era. Incidentally, the name derives from a cliché of the period: its literal meaning is "New Times" (in the sense of "New Age"), used to signify Marxist Socialism. The tongue-in-cheek reference is somehow associated with the Bucharest metro station of the same name (see: Timpuri Noi). The name is also the Romanian translation of Modern Times, the title for Charles Chaplin's classic 1936 film.

In the early nineties, up to around 1995, the band was arguably the top Romanian act. Around the time, they had the opportunity to be the opening act for rather prestigious (albeit musically different) foreign acts during concerts in Bucharest: Ian Gillan and Uriah Heep in 1992, Scorpions in 1993, Saxon, Paradise Lost and Jethro Tull in 1994, Iron Maiden and Kreator in 1995, Eros Ramazzotti, Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart later in the same year.

1994 also signified an important event in both Timpuri Noi's career and Romanian music in general: Timpuri Noi gives the very first unplugged performance in this country, recorded as an album in the same year (see below).

Adrian Pleşca (2008)

In 1997, the band was presented with one of the MCM French music television and Radio France Internationale "Decouvertes de Rock a l'Est" (Eastern European New Acts) Awards, performing in a special gala concert. (The previous year, Timpuri Noi had been interviewed for MTV Europe during the Golden Stag Festival in the Romanian city of Braşov.)

The band split in 2001, with members becoming involved in personal projects - Partizan for Artan, ZIDD (sometimes mentioned as "Zid" - Romanian for "wall") for Dan Iliescu. These projects were short-lived, since Timpuri noi re-united in 2005, releasing a new record called "Back in Business".[2] In 2009, Artan leaves the group, due to disagreements with Dan Iliescu.[3]

Silviu Sanda (2008)

As of 2020, the group is still active, playing live sporadically throughout the country. They released a new full-length called "Moldova Mon Amour".[4]

Lineup

Original Lineup
  • Adrian Pleşca (Artan) - lead vocals
  • Dan Iliescu - guitar, backing vocals
  • Răzvan Moldovan - drums

Current Lineup
  • Dan Iliescu - guitar and vocals
  • Silviu Sanda - bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Felix Sfura - drums and percussion, backing vocals

Other band members over the years
  • 1982 Sorin Petroianu - guitar
  • 1982 Sorin Tirichiţă - bass guitar
  • 1984 - 1985, 1990 Marian Ionescu - bass guitar
  • 1984 - 1985, 1990 Luminita Mihaescu - keyboards, vocals
  • 1986 - 1988, 1990 Radu Cartianu - bass guitar
  • 1983, 1990 - 1991 Sorin (Croco) Badea - bass guitar
  • 1991 Marian Mihăilescu - bass guitar
  • 1991 Costel Joiţa - drums
  • 1992 - 2001 Cătălin Neagu - drums
  • 1992 - 1995 Marian Moldoveanu - guitar
  • 1992 - 1998 Adrian Borțun - bass guitar
  • 1998 - 2000 Cătălin Răsvan - bass guitar
  • 2000 - 2001 Florin Barbu - bass guitar
  • 2005 - 2010 Silviu Sanda - bass guitar
  • 2005 - 2010 Andrei Barbulescu - drums
  • 2007 - 2008 Victor Rivalet - keyboards, samplers, groove machine
  • 2009 - 2010 Vladimir Sateanu (Vlady) - bass guitar
  • Florin Tuliga - programming
  • Aurel Parocescu - samplers and drum machines

In some concerts, the band would add two backing female singers to its line-up (whether vocalists or violinists): the official site mentions Denis Iliescu, Crina Godescu and Maria Radu as its main collaborators.

Discography
  • Formaţii Rock Nr. 11 (Electrecord, 1988; split EP along with the band 'Contrast' from Suceava), last 3 tracks (LP)[5]
  • Timpuri Noi (Cartianu SRL, 1992) (LP, MC)
  • Timpuri Noi Unplugged (VIVO, 1994) (CD, MC)
  • De regiune superior (VIVO, 1995) (CD, MC)
  • Basca Abundenţei (MediaPro Music, 1998) (CD, MC)
  • Lucky Nights Unplugged (MediaPro Music, 2000) split, last 7 tracks (CD, MC)
  • Back in Business (MediaPro Music, 2006) (CD, MC)
  • Deschde-ti mintea (MHO, 2012) (CD)
  • Moldova Mon Amour (LUNA PR & EVENTS, 2020) (CD)

Notes and references
  1. "Timpuri noi review". muzicisifaze.com. Retrieved 10 may 2020
  2. "Timpuri Noi". muzica.metropotam.ro. Retrieved 10 may 2020
  3. "Am fost nevoit să plec din Timpuri Noi". cancan.ro. Retrieved 10 may 2020
  4. "Moldova Mon Amour". discogs.com. Retrieved 10 may 2020
  5. The featured songs were: 'Albele furtuni' ('White Storms'), 'Seară de mister' ('Mystery Night'), and 'Am să rămân cu tine' ('I Will Stay With You').
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