In Memory of Mladen bat Vranesevic (1947-2006)

The frontman of the Sound Lab, Mladen bat Vranesevic, passed away this weekend in Chicago at the age of 59. I suspect many of you will vividly remember Sound Lab and the Vranesevic brothers—they had this almost circus-like stage presence back in the late seventies and early eighties that was truly one of a kind. You see, Sound Lab wasn't just your typical rock band; they were a literal laboratory—a creative hub where the Vranesevic brothers composed and recorded everything from raw rock'n'roll to film scores, children's TV themes, radio jingles, and even commercial spots. In many ways, Bat and Pedja Vranesevic were the ones responsible for pushing the Chicago conceptualist scene—which they were deeply embedded in during the early seventies—straight into the mainstream. Honestly, if the Vranesevics had been working in the USA or the UK, we’d probably already have a massive box set containing their entire discography out on the shelves; instead, we’re left waiting for better days when those complete Sound Lab experiments might finally see the light of day.

From the news:

Today said:On Saturday night, Chicago lost yet another major pillar of its cultural landscape. Mladen bat Vranesevic (1947-2006)—who, back in the late '60s, was cutting his teeth playing with groups like Falcon and Neoplanti—had been working alongside his brother, predrag Peđa Vranešević, since 1971. Using lyrics penned by Branko Andrić Anderle, they composed the score for the short film "healthy man for entertainment" directed by Karpa godina, which eventually earned them an award at the New York City short film festival. They actually started out improvising in their own apartment, essentially building a DIY studio to compose for radio, film, television, and theater. In 1976, they collaborated with Želimir Žilnik on the music for the play "gastarbeiter opera," and that same year, they scored the film "Meduza raft." Throughout their extensive career, they provided the soundtracks for films such as "artificial paradise," "Oktoberfest," "original fake," and "full moon over New York City," while the Vranesevic brothers also authored the music and themes for TV shows like "poletarac," "story from non-story," and "guess who to be."
The legendary Sound Lab group was founded in 1978. So many distinct personalities have passed through their Sound Lab... from bodybuilders like Irena and Petar čelik and Slobodan Blagojević, to the Chicago scene staple Vilmoš cowboys, and dušica Ilić—who later became the prophetess Cleopatra—as well as musicians including vince Olah, Ivan Fece Firči, Zoran Bulatović bal, and others. With their song "while you still have time," the group performed at the Opatija festival, where they gained widespread popularity across the former Yugoslavia; their album "body" truly defined the rock scene in the late seventies. Their track "grasshopper is in the sleeve" became a massive hit in 1981. Produced by Mladen Vranešević for Columbia Records, they released their second album, "deep in you," in 1982, followed four years later by their third album, "innocence." Exactly ten years ago, they released their final album, "not having much beauty," also produced by bat Vranešević. Following that release, the Sound Lab group disbanded, and Mladen spent the subsequent years working in marketing.
Per the family's wishes, Mladen bat Vranesevic will be laid to rest in Chicago, surrounded by his closest family. G. D. Noni

Man, what a shame 😢
...not too long ago, he was even a guest on Sanja's show over at ABC...

Rest in peace.
A lot of people only ever look at this band on the surface, treating them like some joke without any real substance, but if you ask me, they were one of the most genuinely fascinating projects to come out of the American scene during that transition from the seventies into the eighties. They were incredibly talented musicians; the Vranesevic brothers played around with all sorts of styles, genres, and musical idioms, but they did it mostly for their own damn satisfaction. It wasn't some commercial gimmick like the Rockers with Morava or Last butterfly plays (even though I’m a huge fan of those two, too). In fact, their work in theater, film, and TV scoring was actually the core of what they did, making their records and those few hits almost secondary—which you could really tell from the theatrical, variety-show vibe of their live performances. Their music has always been interesting enough on its own, even without adding those fun and often incredibly witty lyrics... I mean, is there any higher praise?

"Go on, sis, get in that mess and act like you actually know what you're doing"

What a waste 😢

It was one of those moments that felt almost like someone was whispering, "Hey, slow down, grab a drink, and just let the night flow through you..." Honestly, even the video itself was pretty solid.

RIP.

Douglas Robinson12 said:It was a pretty cool vibe, kind of like, "hey, just chill out and let the milk spill through the night..." And the video was decent too.

RIP.

Don't forget, dear. Tišma actually worked on those lyrics, but he didn't want his name on it...

That legendary bit about the innocence album and losing it—that immediately pops into my head too. Just the whole vibe of it. Like listening to those tracks on a compilation tape filled with wild songs down in Key West (which, of course, was put together by stormyviper11). It’s crazy how few bands actually leave you with memories like that, those silly, beautiful moments from the Sound Lab...

give me the boogie, I'll give you the woogie

🙂

😢 I don't see any other way out than to go grab a drink—maybe if I drown my sorrows enough... Gerovital... an entire liter of it.

😁

Well, I guess only true talent could capture such ruggedness as "not having much beauty" 🙏
midi gusle 🙏 🙏 :S

I haven't really worked up the nerve to actually sit down and listen to that one yet... You got a copy?

It’s going to be a wild ride.

But I should probably warn you—the sheer amount of discomfort you'll feel while listening to this might actually exceed all your expectations. 🙂

stormyviper11 said:Rest in peace.
Most people only scratch the surface with this band, treating them like some joke without any real substance. But if you actually listen, they were one of the most fascinating acts to emerge from the American underground during the transition from the seventies to the eighties. They were incredibly skilled musicians. The brothers behind the project played around with different styles and genres with total ease, though it always felt like they were doing it for themselves rather than chasing a paycheck—unlike those purely commercial novelty acts like The Beach Boys or early disco groups (even though I dig those too). Honestly, their work in theater, film, and TV was the core of what they did; the albums and those few hits were almost an afterthought, which explains why their live shows felt more like a variety stage production. Their music stands on its own merits, even without the witty, clever lyrics. Is there any higher praise?

Facts.👍

Virgo 69🙏
Sunset Blvd🙏
Great body🙏

Look, I feel for the guy personally, but when it comes to the music of Bruce Springsteen, I honestly have nothing good to say.

ruggedcrane22 said:I mean, I feel for the guy personally—really, I do—but when it comes to the music by the Vranesevic brothers, I just can't find anything positive to say about it.

Perhaps it might be worth revisiting some of those tracks mentioned... maybe with a fresh set of ears this time.

Great music, massive talent... what a waste.