Azra was a Croatian and Yugoslav
rockband that was one of the most popular acts of the
Yugoslav new wave music of the 1980s. Azra was formed in 1977 by its frontman
Branimir "Johnny" Štulić. The other two members of the original line-up were Mišo Hrnjak (
bass) and Boris Leiner (
drums). The band is named after a verse [2] from "Der Asra" by
Heinrich Heine. They are considered to be one of the most influential bands from the Yugoslav new wave rock era and the
Yugoslav rock scene in general.
They released their first single in 1979 with songs "Balkan" and "A šta da radim" design by
Mirko Ilic. The first album named Azra was published in 1980 and achieved commercial success and popularized Azra in Yugoslavia. Their second album was released in 1981. Azra recorded its last studio album Između krajnosti (Between the Extremes) in 1987. In 1988 the band recorded 4LP live album under the name Zadovoljština (Satisfaction), after which Štulić disbanded the band. Štulić recorded three more solo albums since moving to the
Netherlands, where he lives in seclusion. A 2003
rockdocumentary, Sretno dijete depicts Azra as the focus of the rock scene in Yugoslavia during the 1980s, along with
Bijelo dugme. Even today, Azra remains very popular among youth in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
^"Und der Sklave sprach: “Ich heiße Mohamet, ich bin aus Yemen, Und mein Stamm sind jene Asra, Welche sterben, wenn sie lieben.”" (trans. "My name is El Muhamed/From the tribe of the old Azras/who die for love/And die when they kiss!")